Author: Larry

Countryside, MTBing, Photos, Uncategorized

Dodging Raindrops

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The summer rainy season has begun in earnest in Oaxaca, and so the weatherman plays a deciding role in planning and executing rides. On this Sunday ride (19 June 2022) the goal was to pedal to Teotitlan and back. Three riders set out from Santo Domingo at 9 am, with the goal of passing through Tule, Tlacochahuaya, Dainzu and Macuilxochitl before reaching the turn-around point in Teotitlan. However, clouds building above the Sierra Norte suggested it would be wise to stop the ride at the ruins of Dainzu and head for home before things got wet. That turned out to be a good decision, as raindrops began to fall as our group wrapped up the ride. Of special note was the number and variety of bike riders on the trail today. We encountered nearly two hundred cyclists on our 4.5 hour outing, including a large group of sixty or so riders of all ages clustered in the zocalo in Tule. Upon inquiry, we learned the riders where from seven different clubs in Oaxaca. It was gratifying to see so many riders again after the hiatus in group rides caused by the pandemic.

  • Cyclists from seven different clubs in Oaxaca join forces for a large group ride.
  • Riders gather in the zocalo in Tule.

Countryside, Foothills, GPS, MTBing, Photos, Uncategorized

Ride on the Lower Mil Rios Trail

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The lower part of the Mil Rios trail runs from Tlalixtac some two or more miles up into a mountain valley. Its close proximity to the city makes it a fine place for a Sunday excursion, whether aboard a mountain bike, on horseback or simply hiking. The stream coming down the mountain feeds a series of small reservoirs behind four dams that divert water into an aqueduct providing irrigation to farm fields in the valley. The trail crosses the stream in several places, but there was not a drop of water in the creek at this late date in the dry season. Our group of riders racked up 37 kilometers (23 miles) on this out & back ride, climbing and descending a total of 335 meters (1099 feet) along the way. Ride time was 3.5 hours.

  • Ours was a small group of cyclists for today’s ride.
  • Dhruba chose to ride the pedestrian bridge over the Panamerican highway.
  • An agent from the community was collecting a toll of 20 pesos to ride the trail.
  • It was easy pedaling on the well maintained service road,
  • Today was Rafa’s first time riding the Mil Rios trail.

Countryside, GPS, MTBing, Photos, Uncategorized

Sun Ceremony At Mogote

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At noon on May 8 the sun is directly overhead in Oaxaca so objects cast no shadow to the side. In ancient times this was considered a propitious day to begin construction of a home or temple. Our Sunday bike group just happened to be at the old temple ruins in San Jose el Mogote on this very day and witnessed a ceremony marking the occasion. A small assembly of young people re-enacted a ritual of purification celebrating the event. Prayers and invocations were recited and the group – including our bikers – danced around the sacred circle. This was a wonderful and totally unexpected addition to an otherwise pleasant but ordinary ride.

  • A sacred circle was laid out atop the temple pyramid in Mogote on 8 May.
  • The circle was adorned with flowers, fruit, grain and sea shells.
  • Participants in the ritual were purified using incense, chants and the blowing of a conch.
  • Elaborate rattles were worn on the legs.
  • A giant conch sounded repeatedly.
  • Bikers in our group joined in the dancing around the sacred circle . . .
  • . . . to the beat of a drum . . .
  • . . . and the sound of rattles.
  • Meanwhile riders in two other Oaxaca clubs passed by the Mogote site.
    which is a popular destination for Sunday outings.
  • Eventually it was time to get back in the saddle and pedal home.

Countryside, Foothills, GPS, MTBing, Ride Routes

Sunday Ride: Derailed and Deflated

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Dhruba volunteered to lead our outing on Sunday, 1 May 2022 and planned a long ride through the Tlacolula valley, going to the village of San Marcos Tlapazola, famous for the red clay pottery many women of the town produce and sell. Ten cyclists gathered in the plaza in front of the church of Santo Domingo for the 9 am departure. While on the bike path to Tule we encountered a roadie going our way, so he accompanied us as far as Rojas de Cuauhtemoc. Sad to say, the ride was plagued by the failures of the rear derailleurs on three bikes and flat tires suffered by two other members of the group. This was a most unusual – and unwelcome – occurrence, as we rarely have any mechanical problems on our Sunday excursions. These breakdowns slowed the group considerably, as we spent about 90 minutes dealing with the several problems. Two of the riders had to complete the ride on single-speed bikes when their rear derailleurs proved inoperable. Even so, the gang pedaled on and completed the circuit successfully. However, it was 6 pm by the time riders got back to Oaxaca – making for a grueling nine hours in the saddle. That included a most welcome stop for a late lunch at a favorite restaurant in Santa Maria del Tule on the last leg of the journey. It was a tired and sunburned bunch who finally made it home at the end of the day. The stats for the ride: 80.3 kms (49.9 miles) with 553 meters (1815 feet) of elevation gain and loss in the course of the ride.

  • Lots of open countryside in the Tlacolula valley.
  • The first of three bikes having a derailleur failure on the ride.
  • Despite having several competent mechanics in the group,
    the rear derailleur could not be repaired.
  • Our leader felt the ride was jinxed because of all the problems and delays.
  • Once arrived in San Marcos Tlapazola exhausted and behind schedule
    riders relished a chance to relax with snacks and cold beverages.

Countryside, Foothills, GPS, MTBing, Photos, Ride Routes

Lobera Or Bust

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Steve was the ride leader today and proposed the group of eight cyclists pedal to the village of La Lobera, situated at the western edge of the Zimatlan valley some 9.8 kilometers (6.1 miles) directly west of Zaachila. The moderate out & back ride covered a distance of 50.4 kilometers (31.3 miles), most of it on fairly level terrain. The overall elevation gain and loss of 422 meters (1386 feet) was accomplished mainly in the last 4.1 kilometers (2.5 miles) before reaching the destination. In that segment the first 2.7 kilometers (1.7 miles) had a very mild gradient of 2.5%, but the final 1.4 kilometers (0.9 miles) into Lobera averaged a steeper grade of 10%. As has become our custom when going this way, the group stopped at the Sabor A Ti restaurant for cold drinks and some delicious home-cooked Mexican dishes. Even with the lunch stop the group got back to Oaxaca in 4.5 hours, passing through Cuilapam both going and coming. Needless to say, it was a perfect day to be out on a bike, with clear skies and the thermometer hovering around 26ª Celsius (80º Fahrenheit). You just gotta love Oaxaca’s weather!

  • Two of today’s riders had never seen the monastery ruins in Cuilapam,
    so of course we had to stop there for a group photo.