Another of the great rides in the rolling hill country of the western Etla valley, this particular loop is certainly one of the most intimidating, as the climb up through San Cristobal is steep and unrelenting. If you want even more pain, continue up the mountain to Cuatro Venados before reversing direction for a screamer of a downhill run. Your legs and lungs are guaranteed a real workout! Just be careful to moderate your speed coming down or you may wipe out in the loose scrabble of the dirt roadway.
Author: Larry
Countryside, GPS, MTBing, Ride Routes
Tlacolula Loop
by Larry • • 0 Comments
This loop ride comprises a tour through the open country on the southern side of the Tlacolula valley, linking Oaxaca with Tlacochahuaya and Tlacolula and skirting the mountains that form the southern rim of the valley.
Countryside, GPS, Mountains, MTBing, Photos
Oaxaca to Juquila Pilgrims’ Route
by Larry • • 0 Comments
The notion of making a religious pilgrimage is an ancient tradition. In contemporary Mexico, the concept of making a pilgrimage to a religious shrine is very much alive and well. Almost two million people flock to the basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City on her feast day (12 December). Here in Oaxaca state there is a lesser-known shrine to the Virgin Mary in the small mountain community of Juquila, 203 kilometers (126 miles) southwest of the capital. People from all parts of the state go there – many by bicycle or on foot – to lay petitions before the Holy Mother. Whether you want to visit Juquila out of religious fervor or just because it is a worthy destination for an epic bike ride, here is how to get there.
Be aware that this route is on the shoulder of the secondary highway linking Oaxaca city with the Pacific coast. The road is narrow, steep, very sinuous and has little or no shoulder. Vehicle use is light most of the time, and speeds are rarely higher than 30 miles per hour. There is a fair amount of pedestrian and bicycle traffic all along the way. Nevertheless, this is a hazardous route for cyclists, so be exceptionally vigilant.
GPS, Hiking, Mountains, MTBing, Photos
Cuajimoloyas Loop
by Larry • • 0 Comments
The village of Cuajimoloyas attracts a number of tourists. Its location high in the Sierra Norte (elevation: 10,398 feet / 3169 meters) is a draw, as are its hiking and biking trails. This short (3.1 mile / 5.0 km) loop trail is not worth driving all the way from Oaxaca city; but if you are already in the neighborhood, it’s worth checking out. Perhaps afterward you will want to take a ride on the community’s zip line, which is the longest and highest in this part of Mexico.
Countryside, GPS, MTBing
Mitla
by Larry • • 0 Comments
After Monte Alban, the Zapotec ruins in Mitla are the most spectacular and important in the Valles Centrales of Oaxaca state. It is quite feasible for visitors to Oaxaca city to get to Mitla by bicycle. Those who want to get in a full day of exploring archeological sites can stop at Dainzu on the way to Mitla, then check out the palace complex at Yagul on the way back to the capital city. The track below is not complete, but you can probably figure it out and adapt it to help you get to where you want to go.