Category: Countryside

Countryside, GPS, MTBing, Photos, Uncategorized

Easter Sunday Ride

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Easter fell on 4 April in 2021, which also happened to be the day Mexico switched to daylight savings time. So the ride began at 9 am, as usual, but in fact it was an hour earlier in terms of daylight and the sun having a chance to take the chill out of the air. We were expecting a large turnout, as eight young Mexican bikers said they would take part in today’s outing. However, only three riders showed up at the appointed time, one of whom was a young man from the U.S. just recently arrived in Oaxaca eager to explore the territory on a rented mountain bike. From el centro, the group rode through San Agustin Yatareni to Huayapam, then out and back on the Los Molinos trail in Tlalixtac – a perennial favorite among local bikers. The threesome covered 22.3 miles ( 35.9 km) on the outing, gaining and losing a total of 1450 feet (442 meters) in elevation on the loop. The highest point of the ride was at the end of the Los Molinos trail, which topped out at 5751 feet (1753 meters). From there it was a swoopy and fast downhill run all the way back to Oaxaca. All in all, a great Easter excursion!

  • Jake, a visitor to Oaxaca, eager to go for a bike ride.
  • Easter proved a lovely day for a ride in the country.
  • Ron is a very strong rider for a guy in his 70’s.
  • Posing at the ruins of the old water-powered grain mill.
  • Lots of open space.
  • Jake pedaled like a champ on his first bike ride in Oaxaca.

Countryside, GPS, MTBing, Photos, Uncategorized

Spring Ride

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Spring has officially arrived in Oaxaca, though the weather is as perfect today as any other day of the year. Only the Jacaranda trees blooming in all their purple majesty are indicative of a change of seasons. Fourteen riders gathered this Sunday morning to avail themselves of another day of gorgeous sunshine to go for a ride through the countryside. As the group was an eclectic mix of experienced cyclists and newbie riders, the day’s outing was an easy one. Pedaling at a leisurely pace, the band traveled from el centro through Tlalixtac, Tomaltepec and Tule on the way to Tlacochahuaya, which was the turnaround point. Almost all of this distance was covered on dirt roads. After pausing for refreshments at the market, the group retraced their route to Tule where three of the group broke off to take a more adventurous route back to Oaxaca while the rest opted for the paved bike path into town. All told, riders covered 29 miles (46.6 kms) and gained and lost 666 feet (203 meters) in elevation on the outing, which lasted almost exactly four hours.

  • The group gathers before the ride.
  • Pedaling through town.
  • Little traffic on a Sunday morning.
  • Into the countryside.
  • Plenty of blue sky and sunshine.
  • Lots of other bikers out today.
  • On the way home.
  • Jacaranda tree in full bloom.

Countryside, GPS, MTBing, Photos, Uncategorized

Another Sunday in the Saddle

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It is late November but the weather in Oaxaca continues to be ideal for mountain biking. Blue skies and mild temperatures are a strong lure to get riders out into the countryside for another Sunday ride. As is often the case, the rolling hill country of the Etla valley beckons today’s group of riders. From the esplanade in front of Santo Domingo the band pedaled to the Plaza Bella shopping center, then up the hill towards Monte Alban before cutting off on a side road leading down to Arrazola. From there various dirt lanes led through farm fields, across ridgelines and down along streams — all open country basking in the sunshine. Eventually the route took riders into Cuilapam, where they stopped for icy drinks at a stand set up near the ruins of the never-completed monastery. From that point it was an easy run back into Oaxaca on pavement. The day’s outing covered 25.0 miles (40.0 kms), with riders gaining and losing 2354 feet (717meters) of elevation on the circuit. The high point in the hills northwest of Cuilapam was 5807 feet (1770 meters). Riders spent about four hours in the saddle.

  • Tinkering with the rear derailleur before the ride.
  • Because of the pandemic there are few tourists on the pedestrian mall.
  • Not much vehicular traffic on Sunday, either.
  • The long climb up towards Monte Alban.
  • A sparkling clear day.
  • Caution! Lots of loose rubble on the downhill.
  • Crossing a spring-fed stream.
  • Through the rolling hills.
  • One last climb.
  • A fast downhill to Cuilapam.
  • Stopping for colorful agua frescas.
  • Riding the highway from Cuilapam to Oaxaca.

Countryside, GPS, MTBing, Photos

Santo Tomas Mazaltepec Loop Ride

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Cyclists looking for a pleasant ride through the Etla Valley west and north of Monte Alban should consider this route, which features a nice mix of paved and gravel roads and some good hill climbs. This outing is rated moderate to difficult on account of the length and some serious uphill segments. The round trip distance amounts to 38.4 miles (62 kms) with a vertical gain of 1035 feet (315 meters) going over the ridge of hills separating San Felipe Tejalápam and Santo Tomas Mazaltepec. Highest point on the trail:  6111 feet (1863 meters). The scenery along the way makes the effort worthwhile, though. Total ride time should be about six hours, including a thirty-minute lunch stop.

Countryside, Foothills, GPS, MTBing, Photos

Another Grand Loop Ride

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        It is mid-November and the weather in Oaxaca continues to be ideal for mountain biking. The thermometer registered 54ºF / 12ºC at sunrise, with a forecast high of 81ºF / 27ºC for the day. The morning boasted clear blue skies, but clouds built up by mid-day, though with no threat of rain. A biker who is a relative newcomer to Oaxaca proposed riding a long and rather challenging loop south out of town through San Bartolo Coyotepec, then across a mountain ridge to San Sebastian Teitipac in the Tlacolula valley to the east. From there the way home would loop through Rojas de Cuauhtemoc and Tule. Four fellows met at the appointed place and began the ride at 9 am. It took an hour to pedal to San Bartolo, using mainly country roads. Then the climb began. The trail was a rough jeep road that ascends 925 vertical feet (282 meters) to a pass crossing the ridge of hills. The riders spent 1.5 hours getting from San Bartolo to San Sebastian Teitipac. From there it was an easy ride on mainly paved roads to Tule and thence back to Oaxaca on the bike path. While riding through San Sebastian our cyclists encountered ten members of the Chalinos bike club from Rojas de Cuauhtemoc who were also enjoying a Sunday ride. They were an impressive sight, as all wore matching uniforms. It was early afternoon by the time the group reached Tule, so it was decided to stop for lunch at a seafood restaurant there. Some cold beer and ceviche really hit the spot!                                                                                                                                       Here are the stats for the day’s outing.  Distance ridden: 35.9 miles / 57.8 kms.  Total elevation gain and loss on the circuit:  1524 feet / 464 meters. Low point on the loop:  4959 feet / 1511 meters.  Highest point: 5891 feet / 1796 meters.  Total elapsed time (including lunch break):  5.5 hours.  Rating:  difficult because of length of ride and roughness of uphill sections on jeep road.