The riding that I did manage in New Mexico was at least of high quality. It's an arid land of high desert - think cowboy country - and higher mountains, topping out at over 4000m. In December, the peaks would normally be under snow and the average temperature rarely into double digits and frequently below zero. Not this year. You can read about an average Albuquerque winter here.

I took the opportunity to ride high when I could as even the highest local road near Albuquerque, Sandia Peak at 3200m, was free from snow and ice. I went up it a couple of times, both via the dirt way. Little did I realise it would be some of the roughest gravel I have ridden on a road bike. Somehow, it didn't stop me returning, the second time armed with a gravel bike! I also had a new experience on the mountain, hunger flatting at over 3000m. It wasn't pretty. I was feeling hungry with about 10km to go - at that altitude, that's about 50 mins of climbing - but I thought that I would be ok to eat at the summit. Wrong. The lights went out about 2km from the top and I stood on the side of the road and sought resurrection in a gel and a banana.

New Mexico was an unexpectedly fun place to ride a bike, both on-road and off. The roads in general have well maintained shoulders and drivers are very courteous and accommodating to bike riders. I never experienced any hassles or close passes and I have no doubt that the 5ft minimum passing distance had a lot to do with it. On top of that there are some fantastic bike paths through the major cities. The ride to Santa Fe was a highlight, possibly because it ended at a brewery for beer and green chile fries. Come to Albuquerque for Breaking Bad, stay for the cycling and breweries (there are 57 in New Mexico).

I definitely felt the effect of the altitude. It pulls at your legs and makes you wonder where your strength and fitness had gone. You keep looking for another gear or wonder if your brakes are rubbing. I shudder to think what it feels like to try and ride a bike at 5000m in Tibet.

The question was, would the altitude give me enough of a training effect to get me through the Alpine Classic?

Every bike is a gravel bike

13 of the best from a year of limited adventure

Part 3 - Downhill to the Med

Part 2 - Les Grandes Alpes

Part 1

Finally!