Countryside, Foothills, GPS, MTBing, Photos, Uncategorized

Viguera Loop Ride

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Today’s Sunday ride was a moderate one for both time and distance but the route offered some challenges because of the steep and rocky terrain covered. Our group of six riders left from Santo Domingo, heading north up the hill through San Felipe del Agua. Rather than sticking to pavement, riders churned up some gnarly back roads to reach the Libramiento Norte, which they then followed to the top of the mountain ridge and then zoomed full speed down into Viguera. At that point the pack split in half, with three riders continuing on to San Pablo Etla while the other three dropped down to the old railroad line which they then followed back to Oaxaca. This shorter route is the one shown on the map, below. The bikers going this way put 31.5 kilometers (19.6 miles) on their odometers while accumulating 411 meters (1349 feet) of elevation gain and loss on the ride.

  • Cheerful bikers on a Sunday outing.
  • Riding back roads around San Felipe.
  • Starting a serious hill climb.
  • Meeting the challenge.
  • Almost to the top.
  • Lots of wildflowers in early October.

Countryside, GPS, MTBing, Photos

Destination Tule

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If you plan to ride anywhere in the Tlacolula valley it is hard to avoid going through Santa Maria el Tule – the charming village just east of Oaxaca famous for the very old, gargantuan tree in the church yard. Today’s Sunday ride set out from central Oaxaca to reach Tule by way of the rocky jeep road that runs from Rosario over a ridge of hills and into the Tlacolula valley. Just four riders turned out for this moderate excursion, but they had the enthusiasm to match a larger group. Once again the weather was perfect for such an outing, with bright skies and mild temperatures. The only negative was finding part of the route under water about halfway to Tule. While the jeep road over the hills is never affected by rain, the lower sections of trail which runs parallel to Hwy 190 can flood after heavy thunderstorms. When the water and mud got as high as the brake rotors, the group decided to turn back and find a different route to Tule. From there it was easy pedaling to Santo Domingo Tomaltepec and then back through Tlalixtac and Huayapam to Oaxaca. All told, riders traveled 44.0 kilometers (27.4 miles) and gained and lost a bit over 431 meters (1400 feet) in elevation on the excursion, which lasted a total of about four hours, counting a stop for lunch along the way.

  • Three of today’s four riders pose for a photo.
  • One of the gnarly sections of the jeep road near Rosario.
  • Stopping to admire the view.
  • Rolling downhill toward Tule.
  • Toñio’s first ride after suffering a broken hand in a bike accident last spring.

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.