Category: MTBing

Items related to actual riding of mountain bikes.

MTBing, Racing

2015 Oaxaca Race Calendar

by  •  • 1 Comment

Here are the proposed dates and venues for mountain bike races in and around Oaxaca in 2015.

Be advised that race dates and locations are sometimes changed in the course of the season, so be sure to check the accuracy of this calendar before heading off to the race venue. The list below was updated on 11 March 2015. 

Participants should pre-register for all races. There is generally no last-minute signing up permitted on the day of the race. Races begin on time at 9:00 am (yes! they really do!) unless otherwise stated.

CROSS COUNTRY RACES               

January 25 – San Pablo Huixtepec    Race begins at 10:30 am

February 15 – San Pablo Etla, Oaxaca

March 15 – Titan Zapoteca cross country marathon race at San Pablo Guila    Race begins at 10:30 am

March 22 – San Jose de Gracia

April 12 – Huayapam

May 3 – Cruz Blanca, Xoxocotlan

May 31 – Yanhuitlan

June 28 – Tule

July 19 – Rancho Blanco, Matatlan

August 9 – Lachigolo

September 6 – Rancho Oasis

October 25 – Cerro Fortin, Oaxaca

 

DOWNHILL RACES

Dates for downhill races in 2015 have not yet been announced, as of late January.   Proposed locations for downhill races are:  Cerro Fortin, Monte Alban, Ixtepeji and San Pablo Etla.

 

MARATHON RACES

Dates for marathon mountain bike races in 2015 have not yet been announced, as of late January.  Marathon races are usually held in October and November. Proposed marathon races will take place at San Cristobal, Ixtepeji and Ixtlan de Juarez.

 

 

Foothills, GPS, MTBing, Photos, Racing

Mountain Bike Race at San Pablo Etla

by  •  • 2 Comments

St. Patrick’s Day – Sunday, 17 March 2013 –  found many of Oaxaca’s best mountain bikers competing for recognition and prizes on the race course set up near the new mountain park in San Pablo Etla. The luck ‘o’ the Irish was with eighteen riders who made it to the podium, but not with the many others whose tires got snakebit on the trail and had to push their bikes to the finish line. The race route covered a fair distance on dirt roads, but the exciting part was the singletrack that snaked up, down and around the hillsides, demanding skill and stamina to make it around the circuit. Congratulations to those who won their events! And thanks to all who took part and made it a grand day.

Countryside, GPS, Mountains, MTBing, Photos

Cuatro Venados Loop

by  •  • 1 Comment

This loop ride is a cousin, of sorts, to the “San Pablo Cuatro Venados” ride which appears later on this page. Both versions of the ride begin and end in San Felipe del Agua, and both feature the very formidable climb up the mountainside to the tiny village of San Pablo Cuatro Venados. What sets this ride apart, though, is that it continues past 4 Venados, crossing through the high country at over 9000 feet elevation, then descends steeply through Santa Ines del Monte to Zaachila before returning to Oaxaca city (on mercifully level ground!). This is one of the epic rides around Oaxaca, and should not be taken lightly. The loop can be ridden in either direction, and is equally difficult either way. Pick your poison! If you can arrange a shuttle, you can eliminate the pain of the huge climb to Cuatro Venados and concentrate on the much more thrilling screamer of a downhill run back to Oaxaca.

The loop ride, start to finish, will take you 56.3 miles (90.6 km). The high point of the adventure is 9281 feet (2829 meters) in elevation. The uphill climb clocks in at 6219 feet (1895 meters). The ride is rated “Difficult” because of the length, steep gradients and altitude. There are no technical sections of trail (the entire route is on paved or dirt roads), but the unpaved sections can be quite rough in places and you will be moving at high speeds coming downhill.

Options for a shorter ride include starting and ending at the Zócalo in the center of Oaxaca rather than in San Felipe. This alone will take 7.0 miles (11.3 km) off the total distance. Using a shuttle to get to Cuatro Venados and riding just one way will cut the route in half. The segment from Cuatro Venados through Santa Ines to Zaachila amounts to just 11.3 miles (18.2 km), is mostly downhill and should take just 3 hours.

Foothills, MTBing, Photos, Racing

Mountain Bike Race at San Felipe del Agua

by  •  • 2 Comments

Sunday, 17 February 2013, dawned bright and crisp — a perfect day for a mountain bike race on the trail network in the hills above San Felipe del Agua. A large field of contestants – over 140 racers –  turned out for the event, along with quite a few spectators to line the route and cheer on their favorite riders. The race circuit was the same as for last year’s race, with a few slight changes to keep things interesting — see map below. Congratulations to the winners in the various race categories, and a big “Thank you!” to the crew that prepared the race course!

 

 

Foothills, GPS, MTBing, Racing

Pre-ride of the route for the 2013-02-17 MTB Race

by  •  • 1 Comment

Larry and I went out today and checked out the expected route for the upcoming MTB race that will be here in our neck of the woods this Sunday, Feb. 17th, 2013 (i.e. the Las Carnivoras area near San Felipe del Agua).  The course is different from last year, and they’ve even cut a small section of new trail for the route.

Here is the map of today’s loop of the track.