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Steve and Erin planned to set out on a multi-day ride from Oaxaca to San Jose del Pacifico and beyond on a Sunday morning and invited our clutch of mountain bikers to accompany them as far as Ocotlan. We happily agreed. So we set out at 9 am on 2 May 2021, pedaling past the airport and south into the Zimatlan valley to Santa Ana Zegache and Santiago Apostol before reaching Ocotlan. After a light lunch of tacos dorados at the city market, we went our separate ways — Steve & Erin to continue on to Ejutla, where they would spend the night; and the remainder of the group returning to Oaxaca by way of Highway 175. The round trip distance on the loop ride amounted to 47.6 miles (76.6 kms), with an elevation gain and loss of approximately 1150 feet (350 meters). The lowest point on the route was 4845 feet (1477 meters) in the Zimatlan valley, while the highest point was 5462 feet (1665 meters) crossing the ridge of hills on Hwy 175 between Guegorexe and Santa Maria Coyotepec on the south side of Oaxaca. Ride time amounted to 6.5 hours, including time for lunch at the market in Ocotlan.

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It had been a while since our Sunday ride took bikers to Jelapa del Valle and back, so that was the destination chosen for this ride on 18 April 2021. Five fellows showed up at the appointed time and place. The group rode from Oaxaca to Atzompa and then followed the highway to San Pedro Ixtlahuaca, proceeding from there on dirt roads that led over the ridgeline and down into the valley of the Rio Jalapilla. Climbing up and over the hill proved the most challenging part of the day’s outing. Once in the river valley it was easy to pedal through Cieneguilla and on to Jelapa del Valle, where the community store proved a great place to stop for cold drinks and ice cream bars. At this juncture the group had to decide whether to climb back over the ridge to return to Oaxaca or follow the river through San Felipe Tejelápam and San Lorenzo Cacaotepec. The latter route was chosen, though it was notably longer. Being mostly downhill, it did not take any more time than the shorter over-the-hill route and required less effort. The ride took just a few minutes over four hours to complete.

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Seven cyclists set out from Oaxaca for a ride to Lobera and back on the second Sunday of April, 2021. The day dawned bright and clear, with a temperature of 54º F (12.2 º C) at sunrise and a forecast high temperature of 94º F (34.4º C) by 4 pm. Cloud cover was expected to develop through the afternoon, but no rain was predicted. There was no breeze to speak of to moderate the the heat, but it was still fine cycling weather. In fact, the band encountered eight other groups of bikers riding the paved road running from Zaachila to Lobera and beyond – half riding road bikes and the rest on mountain bikes. The map below shows the route followed, which covered 32 miles (51.5 kms) with an elevation gain and loss of 1268 feet (386 meters) along the way. An unexpected highlight of the outing was a stop at a small comedor tucked away in a grove of avocado trees called “Sabor A Ti” which offered excellent fare served by a very competent young staff. From start to finish, the ride lasted five hours, with riders getting back to town at 2 o’clock in the afternoon.

Easter fell on 4 April in 2021, which also happened to be the day Mexico switched to daylight savings time. So the ride began at 9 am, as usual, but in fact it was an hour earlier in terms of daylight and the sun having a chance to take the chill out of the air. We were expecting a large turnout, as eight young Mexican bikers said they would take part in today’s outing. However, only three riders showed up at the appointed time, one of whom was a young man from the U.S. just recently arrived in Oaxaca eager to explore the territory on a rented mountain bike. From el centro, the group rode through San Agustin Yatareni to Huayapam, then out and back on the Los Molinos trail in Tlalixtac – a perennial favorite among local bikers. The threesome covered 22.3 miles ( 35.9 km) on the outing, gaining and losing a total of 1450 feet (442 meters) in elevation on the loop. The highest point of the ride was at the end of the Los Molinos trail, which topped out at 5751 feet (1753 meters). From there it was a swoopy and fast downhill run all the way back to Oaxaca. All in all, a great Easter excursion!

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Spring has officially arrived in Oaxaca, though the weather is as perfect today as any other day of the year. Only the Jacaranda trees blooming in all their purple majesty are indicative of a change of seasons. Fourteen riders gathered this Sunday morning to avail themselves of another day of gorgeous sunshine to go for a ride through the countryside. As the group was an eclectic mix of experienced cyclists and newbie riders, the day’s outing was an easy one. Pedaling at a leisurely pace, the band traveled from el centro through Tlalixtac, Tomaltepec and Tule on the way to Tlacochahuaya, which was the turnaround point. Almost all of this distance was covered on dirt roads. After pausing for refreshments at the market, the group retraced their route to Tule where three of the group broke off to take a more adventurous route back to Oaxaca while the rest opted for the paved bike path into town. All told, riders covered 29 miles (46.6 kms) and gained and lost 666 feet (203 meters) in elevation on the outing, which lasted almost exactly four hours.

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