Thirteen eager cyclists turned out for this ride on Palm Sunday to Teotitlan del Valle. The route took advantage of mainly unpaved back roads and trails through farm fields to avoid riding along Hwy 190. Distance traveled amounted to 56.2 kms (34.9 miles) and took about five hours, allowing an hour for brunch at the market in Teotitlan.
Five cyclists showed up for this Friday group ride from Oaxaca to La Raya and back, using a combination of roads and trails which formed a large loop through the countryside of the Zimatlan valley to the south of Oaxaca. It was a great five hour ride of a bit over 56 kms (35 miles) on a warm spring day.
There is a lovely, secluded valley situated between the villages of San Antonio Buena Vista and Santa Cecilia Jalieza in the outer reaches of the Teitipac region of the Tlacolula valley to the southeast of Oaxaca city. Well off the beaten path, few people venture this way. The valley is most beautiful in the summer and fall when the hillsides and farm fields are a vibrant green. But the area has an austere aesthetic even in the driest part of the year, when the blue sky contrasts with the various shades of brown and grey vegetation. This loop ride covers 75.2 km (46.7 miles), with an elevation gain and loss of 437 meters (1435 feet). Expect to spend five to six hours in the saddle to finish the course, riding at a moderate pace and with a stop in San Juan Teitipac for brunch.
Our Sunday group ride this week took the gang to the obscure town of San Juan del Estado, located in the northeastern portion of the Etla valley. The out & back distance amounted to 66.8 km (41.5 miles), with an elevation gain and loss of 389.5 meters (1278 feet) along the way. A total of eight cyclists – seven men and one woman – took part in the outing.
San Andres Zautla is a small community situated 24 kilometers (14.9 miles) northwest of Oaxaca city. It was the destination for a Sunday group ride on 25 February 2024.
