Category: Countryside

Countryside, Foothills, GPS, MTBing, Photos, Uncategorized

Once More Around The Loop

by Larry • 2021-12-06 • 0 Comments

The Sundays of December 2021 are turning out to be warmer than usual, with daytime highs consistently near 85º Fahrenheit / 29º Celsius. Most of our cyclists are fine with that, as the morning chill burns off quickly and the temperature is ideal when we start pedaling at 9 am. Today’s excursion was a repeat of a favorite – though challenging – loop that took the group through Tule and San Sebastian Teitipac before crossing a ridge of hills and descending into San Bartolo Coyotepec and then back to Oaxaca. There were several new riders among the nine participants who showed up, and they were apprehensive about the length of the ride and the challenge of riding the rough and steep trail over the ridgeline. To their credit, all stuck to the task and succeeded in finishing the ride, which covered 50 kilometers (31 miles), with an elevation gain and loss of about 396 meters (1300 feet).

In the Tlacolula valley.
At the high point of the ride.
Starting the long descent.

Countryside, GPS, MTBing, Photos

Presas of Tomaltepec

by Larry • 2021-11-28 • 0 Comments

The two presas in the mountain valley above Santo Domingo Tomaltepec are a frequent and much-loved destination for scenic bike rides from Oaxaca. The nearest, Presa Rosita, is not as pretty or accessible as the second, Presa Mina. The latter was the end point for both our small group of eight bikers and quite a number of other cyclists out enjoying a Sunday ride on a lovely day at the end of November. Quite a few fishermen were also gathered at the lake, testing their luck with a variety of lures. Two of our party went for a swim in the lake. The day’s gentle loop ride covered 39 kilometers (24.2 miles), with 265 meters (870 feet) of elevation gain and loss on the circuit. Moving at a leisurely pace, with a stop along the way to sample tamales from a street vendor in Tlalixtac, the group spent four hours in the saddle.

Countryside, GPS, MTBing

In Praise Of Tubeless Tires

by Larry • 2021-11-14 • 0 Comments

I have been mountain biking around Oaxaca for eleven years and have never had a flat tire, despite the abundance of thorns in the area, thanks to running my tires tubeless with Stan’s sealant. Today, though, I came close to getting a flat. Six friends joined me for this 51.5 kilometer (32 mile) Sunday ride on what I call the West Etla Valley Loop – see map below. Somewhere in the hills west of Monte Alban my front tire picked up two thorns. One, a bit more than one centimeter (1/2 inch) long, embedded itself in the sidewall just above the side knobbies where it still resides. The other penetrated the center of the tire tread. Neither were a problem while they remained in place. But the second thorn pulled loose while riding at speed on a paved road. Suddenly I could hear air streaming out of the tire and a geyser of Stan’s sealant spouted from the hole left by the thorn. In theory the sealant should have plugged the hole. But to be on the safe side, a riding buddy broke a small thorn from an acacia tree and inserted it. That did the trick! I aired up the tire and rode home without further incident. Some years back I amazed my biking buddies by using a needle-nosed pliers to pull 72 thorns out of the carcass of an old tire I was replacing with a new one. Most were very tiny, but at least two were about a centimeter long. Any of them might well have caused a flat tire if I were using inner tubes. But thanks to running tubeless I had worn out the tire without it ever going flat. So, yes, count me among those who are believers in going tubeless.

The gateway to San Agustin de las Juntas
At the boundary of Zaachila
The Zimatlan valley is a wide open space
Along the road to Cuilapam

Countryside, GPS, MTBing, Uncategorized

Another Ride to San Jose el Mogote

by Larry • 2021-11-07 • 0 Comments

The ride from Oaxaca to the archeological ruins of San Jose el Mogote is always a popular one. Traversing a dozen miles (19 kilometers) over flat terrain, the preferred route is along the old railroad line that once linked Oaxaca with Mexico City and the coast. This route avoids major traffic and runs through farmland a good part of the way. A group of eleven riders – four women and seven men – turned out for today’s Sunday excursion. The weather was predictably perfect, with fluffy clouds dotting the sky, an afternoon high temperature of 24º C (76º F) and a pleasant breeze. After reaching the ancient temple mound at Mogote, some of the group headed off to San Agustin Etla for pizza and beer. The remainder of the band headed back to Oaxaca, with most retracing the outbound route but two fellows opting to ride the Libramiento Norte up and over the ridge from Viguera to San Felipe del Agua instead.

Countryside, GPS, MTBing, Photos

Dia de los Muertos Ride

by Larry • 2021-10-31 • 0 Comments

31 October 2021 — last day of the month; last Sunday of October; first day of return to Central Standard time; Halloween & first day of Dia de los Muertos all wrapped into one! Adding yet another dimension to this Sunday ride was the presence of five snowbirds newly arrived from the U.S. for the winter, eager to get back in the saddle. A dozen riders assembled in front of Santo Domingo to take part in this excursion to San Juan Teitipac and back, a distance of 56.3 kilometers (35.1 miles) through the open countryside of the Tlacolula valley. Despite the significant distance the ride was rated “easy” because of flat terrain all the way. A special treat was a visit to the cemetery in San Juan where locals were busy decorating graves with flowers in anticipation of spending the night in vigil, welcoming the spirits of departed loved ones returning for the Day of the Dead.