According to the BMBA (Borderland Mountain Bike Association):

El Paso is pure Chihuahuan Desert.  Riding here can present some unique challenges and people are always trying to figure out how to make their riding experience more enjoyable….which is quite tough to do here.

Since I received an email from one our club members regarding this topic, I figured, “Why not?”  After 7 years of pounding around on a variety of bikes, tires, and setups, and being able to successfully complete huge all-day rides in the Franklins without flatting or running out of water, I think I’m pretty qualified to pass along some wisdom.

1. Use BIG tires and lots of sealant, carry a good pump or lots of CO2 cartridges, have a good patch kit, and always have something to boot the tire when it gets cut (radial car tire patches work the best).  We have some of the rockiest trails in the world.  So don’t be afraid to use a large volume tire with substantial tread.  The bigger you are and the faster you ride, the bigger and tougher your tires should be.  Make sure you use sealant in your tubes or go with a tubeless setup using Stan’s or other similar sealant.  Make sure your spare tube has sealant in it.  Why?  If you flat, there’s a good chance you will have dozens of thorns in your tire.  You can spend all day trying to remove them, or throw in a tube with fresh sealant and be on your way.  Most people have had bad luck with SLIME brand tubes.  There is a locally made tube sealant called B&D Sealant.  It’s the best I’ve ever used.  I still experiment with a variety of tubeless sealants.  Don’t be afraid to try different things.  Mountain biking was invented by people who loved to experiment.  Help keep the tradition alive.
2. Carry lots of water.  The hotter it is, the more you will need.  During the cooler months, I carry a minimum of 24 oz per hour.  When it’s hotter, I may carry about 50% - 80% more depending on how hard I want to push myself. 
3. Ride early or at night.  Starting off at sunrise can allow you to get 2 or 3 hours of cool riding in before the sun starts to cook you.  If you aren’t an early bird, riding in the late evening or at night can extend your ride time as well.  The east side of the mountains cool off much faster in the afternoon but it heats up quickly in the mornings.  The west side takes a little longer to heat up in the morning, but it can stay hot well past sunset.
4. Wear protective gear!  At minimum you should wear a helmet and gloves (remember that everything falls at 9.8 m/s/s).  Eyewear will keep the rocks and ocotillo out of your eyes as well as protect you from the relentless year round sun.  Some people like to wear shin guards due to rocks that like to jump up from under your front tire and put holes in shin.  They also help protect you from all the lechugia or Spanish daggers.  Sunscreen is good idea as well and it will allow you to ride longer in the hot weather.
5. Be wary, but not afraid.  There are lots of things that make people afraid of the outdoors.  Being prepared and having a little bit of knowledge should keep you returning to the desert for more adventures.  We do have some big snakes.  The worst is the Western Diamondback rattlesnake.  These guys will let you know when you get too close by rattling and coiling up.  I’ve even had them rattle and coil when I was about 15 feet away!  Westerns can be identified by their “coon tail”.  I’ve heard rumors of the Mojave rattler being in the Franklins, but I’ve yet to see one.  These bad boys look like Westerns, but have a little snout-like thing between their eyes.  They are especially dangerous because their venom contains neurotoxin.  If you are close enough to see the stout, you’re probably too close.  The rattlesnake you will most definitely come upon (if you ride regularly) will be the Black Tail rattlesnake.  These guys can get really big and fat.  I’ve bumped one with my front tire that was at least 5 inches in diameter and about 4 feet long.  The good thing about these guys is they are pretty mellow.  I’ve yet to see one coil up and rattle.  Most of the time they won’t rattle at all and you’ll ride right past them clueless to their presence.  It may take a toss of a rock or two to get them move off the trail and I’ll be very suprised if they rattle when you do that.  They are still deadly poisonous, so keep your distance.