There is a network of newly made roads and older bike trails in the hills above San Felipe de Agua, all accessed from the never-finished Libramiento Norte. This was a favorite playground of local mountain bikers until about 2020 when property owners began stringing fences, putting up gates and declaring the area off limits for recreation. Paradoxically, as new homes were built on the mountainside it was necessary to widen and grade the unpaved roads and the chains strung across the road had to be lowered to allow for traffic. Consequently the area is perhaps more accessible now than before. In any case, it is still a joy to ride in the hills so close to Oaxaca.
Category: MTBing
Countryside, GPS, MTBing, Photos
Tlacolula Two
by Larry • • 0 Comments
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).
GPS, Mountains, MTBing, Photos
Magdalena / Catalina Mixtepec Loop
by Larry • • 0 Comments
If you are looking for a high-country ride to enjoy mountain scenery and escape the heat of the Oaxaca valley, this loop through Magdalena Mixtepec and Santa Catalina Mixtepec may be just the ticket. These two small villages are tucked into steep mountain valleys about midway between Zaachila and San Miguel Peras. A shuttle takes bikes and riders to the intersection where the unpaved road to Magdalena branches off from the paved road between Santa Inez del Monte and San Miguel. The shuttle drive takes 90 minutes each way from Oaxaca. The ride itself utilizes a combination of paved and dirt roads and covers a distance of 35.4 km (22.0 miles), with an elevation gain and loss of 1094 meters (3590 feet). The various roads generally have a gradient of between 8% and 12% – not too strenuous until you reckon the uphill segments run for miles at a time. The highest point on the route is 2822 meters (9258 feet) and the lowest spot registers 1841 meters (6041 feet). Expect to spend about 4.5 hours completing the loop.
Countryside, GPS, MTBing
San Antonio Buena Vista
by Larry • • 0 Comments
This small village nestled in a quiet corner of the Tlocolula valley is completely unpretentious and seldom seen – except by mountain bikers looking for some out-of-the-way place to visit on a pleasant ride from Oaxaca city. The route to and from may vary slightly from time to time, and in any case is quite similar to other ventures into this part of the Central Valley of Oaxaca. The figures for today’s excursion are: 63.9 km (39.7 miles) traveled, with 319 meters (1048 feet) of elevation gain and loss.
Countryside, GPS, MTBing
Jalapa Lollipop
by Larry • • 0 Comments
A pleasant, moderate ride through the rolling hills of the western Etla valley to Jalapa del Valle and back, passing through San Andres Ixtlahuaca both going and coming. Distance traveled amounted to 48.4 km (30.7 miles), with an elevation gain and loss of 724 meters (2376 feet) along the way. Elapsed time was almost exactly three hours.
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