Sunday, 8 October 2023, dawned bright and crisp, holding the promise of being a great day for a mountain bike ride. Six of the usual suspects showed up at the plaza in front of Santo Domingo church at 8 am to begin a 70.8 kilometer (44 mile) round trip excursion to Jalapa del Valle. There are four different routes to choose from to accomplish this ride, ranging from easy to very difficult. Today’s riders chose the easy way, which is a few miles longer but avoids any serious hill climbs. Pedaling at a leisurely pace, the gang reached their destination at the three-hour mark and settled in for a nice brunch at the Rio Jalapilla restaurant a few miles upvalley from Jalapa. There were no surprises – either good or bad – to mark the day’s outing. All in all, a very pleasant trip!
Manuel was the instigator and leader for today’s ride in the country.Very little vehicular traffic on Oaxaca streets on a Sunday morning. Out in the countryside for most of today’s excursion. A woman selling flowers and fruit at a rural intersection.Pedaling merrily along. We encountered dozens of other mountain bikers riding in the hills on this bright Sunday morning. Our very own cookie monsters.The valley of the Jalapilla River is lined with farm fields. On the bridge over the stream leading to a country restaurant. Cranking up one of many moderate inclines.
Our Sunday ride group tries to go in a different direction each week. Even so, there are only so many directions and a limited number of routes and trails. Consequently it is inevitable that often rides duplicate some that have gone before. So it was this bright Sunday in late September. Five cyclists showed up at the appointed time and place, eager to get out into the countryside and away from the city. Our destination: the statue of the Danzante near Zimatlan. Normally September is the wettest month of the rainy season, which historically begins in June and runs through October. This year, however, regular and heavy rains commenced in early April and thus far September has been dry. That anomaly may be a result of climate change. In any case it is a concern for local farmers, whose fields of corn are drying out too early for harvest. As for our bikers, the sunshine was welcome and it was nice to ride country roads not mired in mud and to cross creeks which carried little water. Weather aside, the gang enjoyed the outing, which covered 58.4 kilometers (36.3 miles) with a modest 191 meters (627 feet) of elevation gain and loss. Time on the road was an even five hours, counting time spent at the mercado gastronomico in Zaachila on the final leg of the day’s ride.
The bronze colored statue of the Danzante is imposing for size, but . . . . . . it fails to capture the color and action of the actual Danza de la Pluma.Are you sure this is the way?The danza costumes are wondrously colorful, but I would not want to ride a bike with a headdress and leggings like these . . . . . . when bushwhacking through a cane field, as happened on today’s outing.
Centuries ago, in the early days of transatlantic travel, mariners and merchants went in search of a fabled northwest passage in the Arctic that would connect the Atlantic to the Pacific oceans. No such route was ever found (though with global warming and the melting of the polar ice cap one may someday be revealed).
In a similar fashion, one of our cyclists thought there must surely be a way to ride from the northern reaches of Oaxaca across the flank of Cero San Felipe to the town of Viguera and into the Etla valley. This would bypass the main highway, with its tremendous vehicular traffic, and the never-completed Libramiento Norte bypass road, with its formidable uphill climb to a pass at the top. After studying road maps, he thought he had found such a route, albeit rather roundabout, that followed the contour of the mountain. So on this Monday morning two intrepid riders set out to find the way. Sadly, the map program showed any number of routes which turned out to be drainage channels, long flights of stairs on steep hillsides or were dead ends. Failing to find a through passage, the riders descended to the valley floor and rode into Viguera. Undeterred by their misadventure, they succeeded in reaching San Pablo Etla and riding to the La Mesita park and preserve well up the mountainside. The ride home was less adventurous and much easier, following known roads. From start to finish, the ride covered 52 kilometers (32.3 miles), with an elevation gain and loss of 810 meters (2657 feet). This was a good workout for legs and lungs, as some of the hill climbs had a gradient of 17% in places. The outing was deemed a success, despite not having found that elusive northwest passage.
Neither sailing ships of old or an ebike could find the northwest passage.Pedaling up the mountainside to La Mesita.
Skies were gloomy and the weatherman said there was a chance of rain this Sunday morning; and in fact there was a brief light shower about 7:15 am. This may have persuaded some folks to stay home, as only three fellows showed up for the ride at eight o’clock. The gods of rain looked favorably upon us, though, as the cloud cover lifted and there were patches of blue sky as the ride progressed. The ride itself was a pleasant but rather short one of just 38.8 kilometers (24.1 miles) from Oaxaca’s center to the zocalo in San Andres Ixtlahuaca, where the group stopped to sample the flavorful dishes prepared by women at comals – memelitas, empanadas, tlayudas, quesadillas – all a tasty treat for those who had skipped breakfast. The return to Oaxaca was uneventful, though the ride ended too soon.
We passed through Arrazola, which is the birthplace of the fantastical wooden figures Oaxaca is famous for.While most alebrijes will fit on a bookshelf, this one is eight feet tall.Gloomy clouds gave way to sunshine as the ride progressed.Pedaling up one of many moderate hills on today’s outing.Curtis started the ride with a rain jacket which he soon stuffed into his backpack. Today’s route took riders through San Pedro Ixtlahuaca.A wall mural on the main street in San Pedro. A self portrait in light and shadow.Arrived at the destination of our ride. Some scrumptious treats to fill empty stomachs. Heading for home.
This Sunday ride took cyclists to the Casa de las Artes in San Agustin Etla, roughly 24 kms (15 miles) north-northwest of Oaxaca’s city center. Bright blue skies provided lots of sunshine in place of the low-hanging clouds which are the norm in the rainy season. Riders consisted of two women and two men, all of roughly equal ability. There were no surprises – flat tires or mechanical problems – so the ride went smoothly and the day was most enjoyable. Cyclists covered 47.8 kms (29.7 miles) on today’s outing and accumulated an elevation gain and loss of 376 meters (1236 feet) on the journey.
“Barbie pink” is the color de rigueur for the women on today’s outing. Pedaling along a country lane. One of several small stream crossings. Blue skies accentuate the mountain backdrop. Group photo at a church in San Agustin Etla. In the garden at the Casa de las Artes. Our lunch stop was at a rustic Sunday market in San Agustin.There is a lovely waterfall adjacent to the market.Heading home to Oaxaca.
