Category: Countryside

Countryside, GPS, MTBing, Photos

Feria de Barro Rojo

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San Marcos Tlapazola is famous for the red clay pottery the women of the village produce. This enterprise is the main economic engine that keeps the community alive. Once each year the town hosts a feria to highlight the industry. Today’s ride there entailed a 71.5 km (44.4 mile) round trip ride from Oaxaca city to the far reaches of the Tlacolula valley. While most of the ride was on paved and dirt roads through flat countryside, there were some rolling hills and a few sketchy sections near San Marcos to challenge the group. At the feria in the town center ladies set up tables to display their wares; a very talented band provided rousing music; and there were several food stalls selling tasty treats. Weatherwise, it was a perfect day for such an outing, with lightly overcast skies ensuring moderate temperatures throughout the day.

Rolling along through the Tlacolula valley.
Vast fields of agave have supplanted the corn which once dominated local agriculture.
Flat terrain gives way to rolling hills on the approach to San Marcos.
A boundary marker in a farm field.
Today’s route included a short section riding in an arroyo.
Women of San Marcos display their work at the Feria de Barro Rojo.
The covered plaza in front of the municipal building served as bandstand and dance floor.
An example of the elaborate dress which is everyday wear for the ladies of San Marcos.

Countryside, Foothills, GPS, MTBing, Photos

Recreation Park In Zautla

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The village of San Andrés Zautla boasts an extensive Parque Recreativo in the hills northwest of that town. There are miles of jeep roads and single track trails in the area, all of them rated moderate in terms of steepnesss and technical challenges. This is a fun area to spend several hours exploring. On the map below the park is the 10.8 km (6.7 mile) loop in the upper left corner. Zautla is located 24 kilometers (15 miles) northwest of Oaxaca city, just west of the cuota to Mexico City. There is a toll-free exit from the cuota at Zautla, making for easy access by vehicle. Those pedaling to Zautla from Oaxaca can choose from several rural unpaved roads to get there.

Today’s out & back ride covered 72.4 kilometers (45 miles), with an elevation gain and loss of 565 meters (1853 feet) along the way. Moving at a leisurely pace, the ride took six hours to complete.

Here is another map of the same area showing a continuous loop ride along the three major trails in the park, with a few detours to explore intersecting trails. This ride took three hours.

A festive wall mural in Zautla.
Pedaling into the recreation park at San Andrés Zautla.
Two gringos on bikes.
Riding through rolling hills in the park.
There are many lovely vistas to be enjoyed.
This being the rainy season in Oaxaca, the trail became a watercourse at this point.
An altogether excellent day and place to be out mountain biking!

Countryside, GPS, MTBing, Photos

West Etla Valley – South Loop

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What we call the West Etla Valley trail is a rough farm access road that runs along a creek in the hills northwest of Cuilapam. It is a delightful place to hike or mountain bike. On this particular day the trail was ridden out and back on a route that proceeded from Oaxaca to Cuilapam, then continued from Cuilapam to Zaachila and thence back to Oaxaca. This route covered 51.8 kilometers (32.2 miles) and had an elevation gain and loss of about 370 meters (1216 feet). This ride is rated moderate. Time in the saddle amounted to 3.5 hours.


Countryside, GPS, Mountains, MTBing

Over The Top, Down And Around

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This classic ride takes one on a grand circle up and over the mountains which form the western wall of the Valley of Oaxaca. It is not for the faint of heart, as there is over 1500 meters (5000 feet) of climbing along the route, which stretches for 88.7 kilometers (55.1 miles). Someone with stout legs and lungs – or riding an ebike – can accomplish the loop in five or six hours time. The loop can be ridden equally well in either direction.

Countryside, GPS, MTBing, Photos

Tlacolula Two

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Almost ten years ago to the day this author first rode along the abandoned railroad line connecting Oaxaca with Tlacolula and points beyond. In 2014 the Nitos Ciclistas En Movimiento bike club regularly attracted a good many cyclists for their weekly Sunday rides. There were about twenty participants in the ride on 11 May. Sadly, the club went into hibernation during the Covid pandemic of 2020-2021 and has never regained its former strength. Today’s excursion followed almost the identical route, but went counter-clockwise this time. What was noticably different was the change in the trail from the ruins of Dainzu to Tlacolula. In 2014 it was a barely visible, thorn infested track; now it is in regular use by all sorts of vehicles. Still, two bikers got flat tires today where the gang in 2014 had eight punctures. There were thirteen participants in the group – nine natives and four gringos. The stats for the day are: 74.3 km (46.2 miles) traveled, with an elevation gain and loss of 275 meters (902 feet).