Alex finally gave in to the urge to get a new set of wheels and bought a 27.5″ full-suspension Transition bike. He and Larry took the new rig out for a spin in late February, which is early spring in this part of southern Mexico. After meeting up near the Oaxaca baseball stadium at 9:30 am, the two pedaled through el centro, then out toward Atzompa on the Atoyac River trail. From there they rode 3.9 miles on pavement to San Pedro Ixtlahuaca, where they turned off onto unpaved country roads which took them 7.9 miles through scenic hill country to the town of Cuilapam de Guerrero. Rather than retracing their route back to Oaxaca, the pair opted to ride to Zaachila, where they stopped for lunch, and then proceeded along the highway back to the capital city. These last segments added another 15.6 miles to the overall total of 31.0 miles ridden that day. Along the way they intercepted a group of 36 hikers enjoying one of the outings sponsored by the Oaxaca Lending Library. The “Hoofing It In Oaxaca” program organizes dozens of day hikes and monthly weekend overnight outings during the months of November through March. Today’s hike, like many in the program, follows a route first explored by mountain bikers. It was a beautiful day to be out in the countryside, whether on foot or aboard a bici.
