Category: Photos

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GPS, Mountains, MTBing, Photos, Trail Info

Ixtlan de Juárez Ride

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On a bright Saturday morning a group of friends, five in number, set out from Oaxaca city into the Sierra Norte, eager for a pleasant ride in the mountains. Looking for some place new, Ixtlan de Juárez seemed a good candidate for the day’s exploration.

A look at Google Earth shows a tantalizing network of dirt roads north of the town center. But as so often happens, the weather in the Sierra Norte did not match that in Oaxaca city. Where the Valles Centrales basked in sunshine, Ixtlan had a heavy cloud cover and intermittent light rain. We got in one satisfying loop, with a visit to the Mirador on the hilltop near town, before the clouds grew more threatening. We decided to break for lunch and zipped downhill on Highway 175 to the nearby town of Guelatao – famous as the birthplace of Benito Juarez. Just as we finished chowing down, the heavens opened up and we abandoned any hope of more biking in the afternoon.

While the ride shown on the map below is satisfying, it is rather short. However, you can zoom in and will see some of the dirt roads that excited our interest. If you have better luck with the weather, you will doubtless enjoy many additional miles of riding in the area.

Countryside, GPS, MTBing, Photos, Racing

Mountain Bike Race at Cuilapam

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There was a mountain bike race held on Sunday, 20 October 2013 in Cuilapam de Guerrero, a village just 11 kilometers southwest of Oaxaca city. Unlike the other races listed here, this one was not league sponsored but was organized by the people of Cuilapam as part of a weekend fiesta. The race course ran alongside (and frequently crossed) the river and then ventured into nearby countryside. The route was unusually flat and had no technical aspects to speak of; however, the frequent water crossings certainly added some challenge to the enterprise. The race circuit covered 4.5 miles (7.2 km) and had an elevation gain & loss of just 243 feet (74 meters).

GPS, Mountains, MTBing, Photos, Racing

San Pedro Ixtlahuaca Marathon Race

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Read about and enjoy pictures of the marathon race that ran a loop course over nearly twenty miles of dirt roads on Sunday, 13 October 2013. The account is one of the entries in the file describing the multiple race venues around Oaxaca city. Click this link to skip to the list of race venues: San Pedro Ixtlahuaca Marathon Race.

Countryside, MTBing, Photos, Ride Routes

San Felipe del Agua to Ocotlan

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If you want to stretch your legs, put in a good number of miles and enjoy some fine arts and crafts along the way, this ride from Oaxaca to Ocotlan may suit your fancy. You will rack up nearly 64 miles in the saddle if you follow this route, which takes the long (i.e. scenic) way to Octolan via back roads in the Tlacolula Valley to avoid traffic on the main highway going south out of town. Though the mileage is significant, most of the route is relatively flat — honest! However you get to Ocotlan, you will have to cross the ridge that separates the Tlocolula Valley from the Zimatlan Valley (on some maps called the Grande Valley) to the south.

In Ocotlan you will want to stop at the Rodolpho Morales museum and visit the workshop of the famous Aquilar sisters. Either going to or coming from Ocotlan, you will pass right by the village of San Tomas Jalieza, where women use back-strap looms to weave apparel items, and San Martín Tilcajete, world-famous for the fanciful wood carvings called “alebrijes.” With stops to look at art and to have lunch, this will be an all-day excursion. Take your time and enjoy it! Your legs and rear end will appreciate getting some time off the bike.

Countryside, GPS, MTBing, Photos

Mitla

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The ride east from Oaxaca city to Mitla through the Tlacolula valley is an archeologist’s dream. The Zapotec palace ruins in Mitla are second in importance only to Monte Alban, and include some of the finest and most complete palaces found anywhere in Mesoamerica. And on the way to Mitla the rider may well want to stop to investigate the ruins at Dainzu, Lambityeco and Yagul — all well worth a visit, and just minutes off the route. Since this ride is lengthy, be sure to allot plenty of time – like the whole day! – to enjoy both the countryside and the archeological sites.

The route shown on the map below begins and ends in the Zocalo in central Oaxaca. It requires pedaling 60.7 miles (97.7 km) along a dedicated bike path, secondary dirt roads, some bushwhacking on singletrack, and a limited amount of riding on the shoulder of the principal highway. The route is remarkably flat, entailing an elevation gain/loss of just 1780 feet (542.5 meters) along the way.  The Zocalo sits at an elevation of 5124 feet (1562 meters), while the main palace complex in Mitla is the high point, registering 5594 feet (1705 meters) above sea level.

Be sure to use sunscreen and carry plenty of water. There are numerous places enroute to stop for snacks, lunch, a cold drink, some ice cream or a snowcone.  Invite some friends to ride along, make a day of it and have an enjoyable time!