Category: Photos

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La Concepción

It is both a delight and a rare treat to discover a place in the Oaxaca valley never visited before. There have been innumerable rides to Jalapa del Valle in the course of more than a dozen years, using any of four different routes to get there. A wrong turn today, though, led us happily astray – into the hills around the tiny village of La Concepción. This revealed some beautiful scenery and significant hill climbs which made the day’s outing a charming adventure. La Concepción is a farming community with a patchwork of small fields dotting the landscape, most of which are tended by families using oxen to plow the steep terrain where corn is planted by hand. After visiting this charming place we continued on to Jalapa del Valle and than circled back to Oaxaca, covering 59.9 kms (37.2 miles) on the outing, which saw an elevation gain and loss of 726 meters (2382 feet). Skies were heavily overcast all day, with a couple of light rainshowers encountered in the last miles.

Feria de Barro Rojo

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.

Southwest Mountain Loop

Looking for a new off-the-beaten-path route for a challenging mountain bike ride? If you can manage a shuttle, then this scenic loop ride may be just the ticket! Park your vehicle in La Lobera – the destination for many an out & back ride from Oaxaca city – then do the long, demanding 8.7 km (5.4 mile) climb to Santa Ines del Monte, which will take you uphill 580 meters (1904 feet). Stop there to catch your breath, admire the view and perhaps get a drink or a snack before skimming up and (mainly) down a patchwork of dirt roads through a series of small villages scattered in the valley below. Wonderful scenery on the downhill stretch! You can also make the loop ride longer by starting and ending the ride in Zaachila – see second map below – which means you will pedal 50 kilometers (31 miles), with an elevation gain and loss of 1169 meters (3836 feet) along the way. Quite a nice workout!

Recreation Park In Zautla

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.

West Etla Valley – South Loop

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.