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Countryside, GPS, MTBing, Photos, Uncategorized

San Felipe Tejalápam

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There is not a lot to see or do in the small village of San Felipe Tejalápam, but its strategic location in the Etla valley a few miles northwest of Monte Alban means we often pass through on any of several different mountain bike rides in that region. Today’s excursion was a happy accident of circumstance. Heavy rains in the Valles Centrales in recent days severely limited where the group could ride while avoiding lots of mud and multiple crossings of surging streams. Our group of eight riders opted for a route that would use mostly paved roads, and Tejalápam fit the bill. Most of the group assembled in front of Santo Domingo while two additional riders joined in at the Plaza Bella shopping mall in Atzompa. We had a picture-perfect day for the outing, with clear skies, a light breeze and a forecast high of 24ºC (76ºF). All told, the gang pedaled 50 kilometers (31.1 miles), with an elevation gain and loss of 379 meters (1243 feet) along the way. Actual time in the saddle amounted to about 3.5 hours, but a stop for lunch at a rural comedor featuring roasted lamb added almost an hour to the time tally.

  • Eight riders met at the Plaza Bella shopping center.
  • A good part of the day’s ride was on paved roads to avoid mud.
  • Nearing the highest point on the ride.
  • Cranking hard to get up the hill!
  • Happy riders.
  • Road washed out by recent rains.
  • Taking the roasted lamb from the BBQ pit.
  • Sorting out pieces of meat.
  • Celebrating the end of the ride.

    Countryside, MTBing, Photos, Uncategorized

    La Lobera

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    Whether as a destination in itself or as a waypoint on the climb to Santa Ines de Monte, Lobera is a popular point for Sunday riders on either mountain or road bikes. Heavy clouds and drizzle hovered over the Central Valley at sunrise on 22 August, but the sun broke through the overcast by the time the ride began at 9 am. Three fellows set off for this small village nestled on the lower slopes of the mountain ridge that forms the western rim of the Zimatlan valley to the south of Oaxaca city. Pedaling resolutely on a combination of paved streets and unpaved country lanes, the group reached Zaachila by 10 am and got to Lobera before 11 o’clock, passing a goodly number of fellow cyclists going either to or from the same destination. Our three musketeers stopped for breakfast at Sabor A Ti, a small comedor set in an avocado grove, on the way back to Oaxaca. A brief rain squall caused a second stop near Zaacchila, at which beer and tequila were used as thirst quenchers. Riders covered 55 kilometers (34.3 miles) on the day’s outing, managing to climb and descend about 341 meters (1120 feet) along the way.

    • Andy & Dhruba enjoy tasty memelas at Sabor A Ti.
    Pedaling along.

    Countryside, GPS, MTBing, Photos, Uncategorized

    Lower Mil Rios Ride

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    The downhill ride on the entire Mil Rios trail is an epic outing, but is a relative rarity because of the logistics of arranging a shuttle to transport bikes and riders to La Neveria high in the Sierra Norte. Much more accessible and popular is the out-and-back ride on the lower Mil Rios trail which runs several miles into a mountain valley outside of the town of Tlalixtac. This portion of the trail can easily be reached from Oaxaca. On this particular Sunday in August there were dozens of hikers and mountain bikers taking advantage of this route. The four riders in our little group were happy to be among them. From start to finish the ride covered 44.6 kilometers (27.7 miles) with an elevation gain and loss of about 488 meters (1600 feet).

    • Taking a break at the turnaround point on the trail.
    • Doing some rock-hopping to cross the stream.
    • There were multiple creek crossings along the way.

    GPS, MTBing, Photos, Uncategorized

    Tomaltepec Presas

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    Eight people showed up for the ride today which took the group on a moderate 43 kilometer (26.2 mile) traverse through the countryside linking Oaxaca with Tlalixtac, Santo Domingo Tomaltepec and Tule. The weather could not have been nicer, with a pleasant temperature and blue skies overhead. We encountered quite a few other cyclists similarly enjoying a Sunday morning outing.

    • The two presas above Tomaltepec were brim full after recent heavy rains.
    • This is the first time in several years water flowed over the spillway.
    • A family fishing from the dam.
    • Zowee! The water is deeper than it looks!

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    Ride to Rancheria San Cristobal

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    The first Sunday of July fell on the 4th of the month – Independence Day in the U.S. Someone was firing cohotes (skyrockets) into the air in front of Santo Domingo as our cycling group gathered at 9 am, but they were likely not in celebration of that holiday. Nevertheless ours was a free-spirited bunch heading out for a ride to Rancheria San Cristobal and back. Since San Cristobal is perched at 2149 meters (7050 feet) near the top of a steep mountainside overlooking the Valley of Oaxaca, we knew our legs and lungs were in for a good workout. There was a lot of huffing and puffing to get to our destination, which entailed climbing over 1900 vertical feet from the valley floor. All told, the band pedaled 49.1 kilometers (30.5 miles) going out and back – a respectable distance for a Sunday outing. Counting a stop for lunch at the D’Villa Torta sandwich shop in Atzompa on the way home, the group spent about six hours in the saddle. Despite the hard work pumping up the mountainside, there were smiles all around at the end of the ride.

    • Ron savors the view from near the top of the climb to San Cristobal.
      Kristina & Ben are still pedaling up the switchbacks.
      The light line squiggling off to the right side of the photo is the road we came up on.