Albuquerque maintains a great network of paved trails for cycling in the city, and the mountains and foothills are lined with challenging dirt tracks. The city publishes a map of designated on-street bike routes, off-road recreational trails, and other bike-friendly spots around town; download it at the city’s bike info page (www.cabq.gov/bike), or pick up a copy at any bike shop.

But recreational cyclists need head no farther than the river, where the Paseo del Bosque, a 16-mile-long, completely flat biking and jogging path, runs through the Rio Grande Valley State Park.

The natural starting point is at Alameda/Rio Grande Open Space (7 a.m.–7 p.m. daily) on Alameda Boulevard; you can also reach the trail through the Rio Grande Nature Center State Park (8 a.m.–8 p.m. daily, $3 parking), at the end of Candelaria and at several other major intersections along the way.

Corrales is also good for an afternoon bike ride: The speed limit on the main street is low, and you can dip into smaller side streets.

The excellent Stevie’s Happy Bikes (4583 Corrales Rd., 505/897-7900, 10 a.m.–7 p.m. Tues.–Sat. May–Sept., 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Tues.–Sat. Oct.–Apr.) can rent comfy cruisers ($25/day), and even tandems ($35/day), and advise on the best routes on and around the river.

You could bike along the road one direction, perhaps stopping at the church and Casa San Ysidro, and then loop back on the riverfront path, an extension of the Paseo del Bosque.

Mountain bikers can take the Sandia Peak Tramway to the ski area and then rent a bike to explore the 30 miles of wooded trails. Bikes aren’t allowed on the tram, though, so if you have your own wheels, you can drive around the east side of the mountain.

Advanced riders will appreciate the challenge of rocky Faulty Trail, which runs about 11 miles north–south along the lower elevations of Sandia Peak, connecting with other trails that lead down to main roads as well as higher up the mountain.

Or you can stay in the city and explore the foothills. Locals built the small but fun Embudo Mountain Bike Terrain Park at the end of Indian School Road; it is packed with jumps and berms.

For a longer cruise, head for the foothills trails, a web of dirt tracks all along the edge of the Northeast Heights.

Trail 365, which runs for about 15 miles north–south from near the tramway down to near I-40, is the best run. You can start at either end (near the tramway is the easiest—park in the lot here and ask for directions), or go to Elena Gallegos Open Space, off the north end of Tramway Boulevard at the end of Simms Park Road, where there’s access to the midpoint of the trail. Elena Gallegos in particular is very popular, so go on a weekday if you can, and always look out for hikers and other bikers.

Aside from the occasional sandy or rocky patch, none of the route is technical, nor is it steep. More complex trails run off to the east; pick up a map at the entrance booth at Elena Gallegos.

For hard-core road bikers, a popular tour is up to Sandia Peak via the Crest Road on the east side—you can park and ride from any point, but cyclists typically start somewhere along Highway 14 (the Turquoise Trail) north of I-40 and then ride up Highway 536, which winds 13.5 miles along increasingly steep switchbacks to the crest.

The New Mexico Touring Society (www.nmts.org) lists descriptions of myriad other ride options and organizes group rides.