Oaxaca has enjoyed a recent influx of tourists with an interest in mountain biking, as was evidenced by the fact that six of the ten riders who showed up for today’s Sunday ride were visitors just passing through the state. They rode an assortment of bikes rented from local shops, some of which included helmets in the deal and some that did not. Our destination for the day’s excursion was Lobera, a frequent end-point for Sunday outings. The group skirted the major road construction taking place on Simbolos Patrios on the way to the airport, then followed both dirt and paved roads through the countryside on the way to Zaachila, where the band stopped at the mercado gastronomico for fruit drinks. From there it was a straight shot going west to Lobera. Though other options were available, the gang decided to return to Oaxaca using the same route. By the end of the ride the group had covered 58.6 kilometers / 36.5 miles, with an elevation gain and loss of 286 meters / 937 feet, mainly in the last mile up the hill to Lobera. Ride participants spent just over five hours in the saddle.