What in Columbus had 46 wheels and 46 feet? The 2026 Timberline Southern Tier Coast-to-Coast Biking Tour Did!

by BigAddison
Dateline 3/20-21/2026

I always say Columbus, NM may be in the middle of nowhere, but our nowhere is in just the right place.

A testament to that fact is how we are becoming a beacon for bicycling enthusiasts around the world. Why? Well, as it happens the village sits on two of the most famous cross-country cycling routes in the United States. First, we are the southern terminus of the Continental Divide Trail (CDT), which hosts the start or finish to the 3300 mile Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (GDMBR) that stretches from Columbus, NM to Banff, Canada.

Secondly, we also sit on the southern tier route for cycling coast-to-coast. BAM!
And that’s where this story starts….

My first encounter with Timberline Adventure tours came in 2024 when the March winds blew them to my doorstep. Almost literally. You can read about that gusty adventure here at “The Hole Cycle Stops Here”.  This year however, the tour stop was booked in advance for a two-day respite that I hope becomes a permanent fixture on their schedule. I did all I could to accommodate them including building a “wash center” for their bikes and more importantly, an outdoor hot & cold running shower. Something they don’t find at their average camp site along the 3000 mile coast-to-coast route. It was a hit!

Tanner, the Timberline Chef rolled in first. He needs to get to the kitchen so he can begin preparing a high-carb high-protein dinner for 32 people in four hours. Twenty three of which will have pedaled 94 miles in 95 degree heat to get here today.

Next comes the advance set-up team. Cal – Megan – and Chance. Their task-at-hand is to set up 25 Semi-luxury 8×8 Canvas Tents. Each completed with an inflated air mattress. Remember it’s 95 degrees for them too. After the tents go up, they pull in the rented “Luggage Van” and layout every riders belongings for them to claim when they arrive. Finally they turn my garage/workshop into the “Meeting Hall” where all their meals and meets will take place during their visit.

And right on cue, the frontrunners of the day start to roll in. Amazingly the entire group was only separated by a couple of hours. It wasn’t long before the property was abuzz, and every place a bike could lean against was populated.

Their fist night here was all about getting in, getting showered, getting fed, AND GETTING TO BED! By the time the sun set, the property was nearly as quiet as I’m used too when I’m here alone. Nothing but crickets and coyotes could be heard echoing in the moonlit warm Spring night.

And then there was the O’Reilly Factor

Megan O’Reilly to be precise. I forgot to mention the seven member staff were staying in my Bed & Breakfast, the riders were outside on my RV & campground rental site. While it was all quiet on the outside, the staff was finally “off work” and they started making plans. Megan announced she wanted to go for a walk in the morning and asked if I knew a way up to the top of the Tres Hermanas. Somewhat astonished, I told her I never even thought about it, but I could definitely point out some good walking paths just out my driveway, and I think I must of laughed it off. Well guess what? The next morning Megan and Cal got to the top, and Megan took some amazing photos along the way. Chance? Well, let’s just say he sort of nested the morning away on my sunrise perch.

I’ll bet like me, for many of the Columbus locals this will be your first time seeing the views on and atop our Three Sisters.

This last shot is such a great picture of Megan and Cal standing on the East Sister Summit. You know why it’s so great? I mean besides the obvious celebration of the their efforts? Because there wasn’t anyone else with them. Get it? Who took the picture? HAHA! Just imagine one of them had to set the timer and run back into place to get the shot. I have to wonder how many times it took, or did they get lucky? Or maybe both. 😬 BTW – That ain’t Superman to their right. It’s a dove.

Meanwhile back at camp Chance is still sleeping but the bikers are up and at ’em! Tanner the chef has prepared a full on brekki including scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, potatoes, every kind of toast and bagel, and all the fixins. I can assure you it was delicious.

Then came my time in the spotlight as I addressed the whole body with the oral version of my Ghosts of Pancho Villa Raid Day Guided Tour. (Below is an excerpt)

Today is a free day for the riders to do as they wish, and in Columbus there’s really only one thing to do if you only have a day to visit. That would be crossing the border and having lunch at the infamous Pink Store in our over-the-border sister city of Palomas, Mexico.

A great time was had by all in Palomas. For those of us that know, one margarita at the Pink Store is a fun time. Two? Well that’s a nap when you get home. And sure enough, the rest of the day was a lazy day back at “Camp Columbus”.

The 2026 Timberline Group Photo in front of the Pancho Villa statue at the Palomas city square.

And then there’s the Orion Factor

Closing the last night out under the constellation of Orion in the southern skyline above us, Chuck and I took our seats in a spot I set up far and away from the others. Why? Because my new best friend Chuck had cigars.

So, it turns out Chuck is a real-life demolition man. Blowing things up and tearing things down made Chuck a very happy man that can enjoy the pleasures of riding a $10,000 bike I’m guessing, (that I picked up with my pinky), cross-country. And as it happens, he can also enjoy the stature of being a real Cigar Aficionado. A term used way too lightly by wannabes.

Nope this man’s the real deal. And being a lifelong cigar smoker myself, I sat there and basked in the glory of Orion, astoned by Chuck’s stories, and raptured by the olfactory effects of smoking the Arturo Fuente Hemingway Signature Cigar Chuck offered me. A little slice of heaven right here in Columbus. And why I so love having a Bed & Breakfast here.

The next morning is all business as the riders were up pre-dawn to dress, pack, eat, and be ready to ride when their staged group time is called for departure. I decided to ride out in front of them so I could see them off and bid them “Vaya con dios!” as they headed east out of town on Hwy 9.

See ya next year Timberline!
–BigA