This Sunday morning ride was a bit different. After meeting at the plaza in front of Santo Domingo at 9 am, the group of seven riders loaded their bikes into a van for a long but scenic drive up to the plateau above San Pablo Quatro Venados. Once there, they set out first on a two-hour, 11.6 mile (18.7 km) easy ride on the well-graded unpaved roads that crisscross the region, passing through the village of Soledad Peras going both out and back. While hardly level, this route entailed just moderate climbs and descents, taking riders up and down a total of 1150 feet (351 meters). Once returned to the starting point, two cyclists opted to ride in the van back to Oaxaca. The other five riders chose to then cycle back to Oaxaca on the road that passes by Santa Inés del Monte and through Lobera and Zaachila. This extended route added 24.4 miles (39.3 km) to the day’s tally. More importantly, it let the bikers descend a thrilling 4,209 feet (1283 meters) on a combination of unpaved and paved roads. Unfortunately, one of our riders lost control and crashed on a curve while racing downhill just past Santa Inés. A local ambulance took him to a clinic in Zaachila where he was patched up. Three cheers for the Mexican healthcare system! The drive to the trailhead took two hours each way. Those doing just the short ride got home at 3:30 in the afternoon. The guys taking the long way back did not return to Oaxaca until 6:00 pm – delayed by the accident and then stopping for lunch at the mercado gastrinomico in Zaachila.
Unloading bikes from the van. 
Riders and bikes ready to go. 
A traveling vendor selling paletas. 
Yummm! 
Lured on by open road and brilliant sky. 
Great riding at 9200 feet elevation. 
Time for a drink. 
Local family meets bike group. 
Grabbing a quick nap. 
View from near Santa Inés del Monte. 
The long road home – thankfully all downhill!