Sunday, 12 December 2021 Today is the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patroness of Mexico. Well before first light Oaxaca was shaken by the explosion of innumerable cohotes – skyrockets shot into the pre-dawn darkness – as church bells pealed throughout the city. In Teotitlan del Valle preparations were under way for the annual performance of the Danza de la Pluma – the elaborate dance pageant reenacting the Spanish conquest of Mexico in the 1500’s. In a far less elaborate ritual, ten mountain bikers set out to pedal 29 kilometers (18 miles) from central Oaxaca to the imposing statue of a feather dancer that stands atop a hill near the town of Zimatlan in the valley of the same name. Though involving a significant round-trip distance, the ride was rated easy because the terrain covered is remarkably flat – save for the short but steep climb up the hill to the base of the statue. Pedaling at a leisurely pace, the ride took a bit over five hours to complete. The six men and four women riders declared the outing a worthwhile endeavor.
How would you like to ride a bike with a helmet like this big fella’s?