The ride from Oaxaca to the archeological ruins of San Jose el Mogote is always a popular one. Traversing a dozen miles (19 kilometers) over flat terrain, the preferred route is along the old railroad line that once linked Oaxaca with Mexico City and the coast. This route avoids major traffic and runs through farmland a good part of the way. A group of eleven riders – four women and seven men – turned out for today’s Sunday excursion. The weather was predictably perfect, with fluffy clouds dotting the sky, an afternoon high temperature of 24º C (76º F) and a pleasant breeze. After reaching the ancient temple mound at Mogote, some of the group headed off to San Agustin Etla for pizza and beer. The remainder of the band headed back to Oaxaca, with most retracing the outbound route but two fellows opting to ride the Libramiento Norte up and over the ridge from Viguera to San Felipe del Agua instead.
Countryside, GPS, MTBing, Photos
Dia de los Muertos Ride
by Larry • • 0 Comments
31 October 2021 — last day of the month; last Sunday of October; first day of return to Central Standard time; Halloween & first day of Dia de los Muertos all wrapped into one! Adding yet another dimension to this Sunday ride was the presence of five snowbirds newly arrived from the U.S. for the winter, eager to get back in the saddle. A dozen riders assembled in front of Santo Domingo to take part in this excursion to San Juan Teitipac and back, a distance of 56.3 kilometers (35.1 miles) through the open countryside of the Tlacolula valley. Despite the significant distance the ride was rated “easy” because of flat terrain all the way. A special treat was a visit to the cemetery in San Juan where locals were busy decorating graves with flowers in anticipation of spending the night in vigil, welcoming the spirits of departed loved ones returning for the Day of the Dead.
Waiting for the ride to begin. 
On the bike path to Tule. 
In the open country. 
Taking a bladder break. 
A great day to ride! 
The steepest climb
of the day.
A profusion of yellow flowers
along the way.
In San Juan Teitipac. 
A grave adorned with flowers. 
Another ancestor remembered. 
Two locals in Day of the Dead make-up.
Countryside, GPS, MTBing, Photos, Uncategorized
Knocking About Ixtlahuaca
by Larry • • 0 Comments
Ron was the ride leader for today’s outing and suggested we begin by riding the paved road up to the archeological ruins at Atzompa. As expected, the ruins themselves were closed because of the pandemic, but we had not planned to explore them, anyway. From the top of the mountain we followed some single track trails down into the valley which is home to several towns that share the Ixtlahuaca name. Somewhere around the ex-hacienda San Jose Alee took over as our guide and led the group on a merry excursion over and around many of the rolling hills in the area. We variously pedaled along gravel roads, single track trails and along or through several creekbeds. It was a great day to be out on a bike, as we enjoyed clear blue skies and a gentle breeze. Our group of six cyclists covered a distance of 40.7 kilometers (25.3 miles), with an elevation gain and loss of 577 meters (1893 feet) in the course of the day. As has become our custom, there was a stop at a roadside eatery near the end of the ride where riders feasted on memelas, tlayudas and other treats, washed down with beer and soft drinks. Total time on the trip amounted to about 5.5 hours, including the lunch break.
Looking out over the Ixtlahuaca valley from near the Atzompa ruins. 
Reducing tire pressure for the steep downhill single track. 
Chad takes the plunge. 
Flowers ready to be harvested for the Day of the Dead. 
Hungry bikers chow down near the end of the ride.
Countryside, GPS, MTBing, Photos
Jalapa del Valle Loop
by Larry • • 0 Comments
Six months had elapsed since we last did a Sunday ride to Jalapa del Valle, so that seemed a good destination for this excursion in mid-October. Heavy cloud cover kept temperatures cool the whole day – the forecast high was only 23.3º Celsius (74º Fahrenheit). No rain was called for, but a very light drizzle accompanied our riders on the last several miles back into the city. Seven bikers showed up for the outing, but two of those peeled off to ride up to Monte Alban rather than pedal the distance to Jalapa and back. Those who stayed the course rode a total of 59.7 kilometers (37.1 miles), including 7.7 kilometers (4.8 miles) on an exploratory ride up a dirt road running west from Jalapa to a small dam and reservoir in the hills west of the town. The group gained and lost a total of 696 meters (2284 feet) in elevation on the circuit. Time in the saddle amounted to about five hours, with some additional time spent chowing down on carnitas at a roadside eatery in Atzompa on the final leg of the ride.
Jalapa del Valle is nestled in the valley of the Rio Jalapilla. 
Four of our intrepid riders on today’s 59.7 km ride. 
Relaxing among the wildflowers. 
At the church in Jalapa del Valle. 
A refueling stop along the way.
Countryside, MTBing, Photos
Another Lobera Loop Ride
by Larry • • 0 Comments
An affable group of nine riders gathered at 9 am in front of the church of Santo Domingo this bright Sunday morning intent on doing a long loop ride through the countryside. Pedaling from Oaxaca to Cuilapam, the band stopped to see the ruins of the never-completed Dominican monastery there, then proceeded south and west on country lanes, eventually reaching La Lobera, our destination for the day. On the return journey we made a lengthy stop at the Sabor A Ti restaurant for a round of drinks and tasty lunch treats. After that, the gang continued on to Zaachila and thence back to Oaxaca. Ours was an especially loquacious bunch, as our GPS unit recorded 3.5 hours of pedaling and an equal amount of time chewing the fat! In any event, we covered 56.3 kilometers (35.0 miles) on the ride, gaining and losing 417 meters (1368 feet) in elevation on the circuit. A good time was had by all.
Bikers gather before the ride. 
The monastery ruins in Cuilapam are closed because of the pandemic,
but Uriel, an enterprising pre-teen, offered a good description of them.
It was another glorious day to be out on a bike ride.
Lots of foot traffic on the road near La Lobera.
Some of the tasty and inexpensive dishes offered at Sabor A Ti. 
Riding through open country.