Thirteen riders showed up on this Sunday in mid-January to pedal to the village of Magdalena Apasco near the northwestern limit of the Etla valley. The thermometer registered 58ºF (14.4ºC) as the group assembled in the plaza in front of the church of Santo Domingo at 8 am, then climbed to 83ºF (28.3ºC) by the time the ride ended at 2 pm. The gang was composed of a mix of men and women, natives and expats, full-time residents and folks just passing through Oaxaca. Most riders were aboard hardtail mountain bikes, but there was one touring bike, a gravel bike and one full-suspension ebike in the pack. Participants seemed evenly matched in terms of bike skills and stamina. The total round trip distance amounted to 42.0 miles (67.6 kms). The troop enjoyed a hearty lunch at a restaurant in Villa de Etla on the return leg of the outing. When all was said and done, it was an excellent bike adventure.
To see a map of the route we followed and some additional photos, please see:
