Our Sunday group ride this week took the gang to the obscure town of San Juan del Estado, located in the northeastern portion of the Etla valley. The out & back distance amounted to 66.8 km (41.5 miles), with an elevation gain and loss of 389.5 meters (1278 feet) along the way. A total of eight cyclists – seven men and one woman – took part in the outing.
San Andres Zautla is a small community situated 24 kilometers (14.9 miles) northwest of Oaxaca city. It was the destination for a Sunday group ride on 25 February 2024.
The first – and most welcome – rain of 2024 fell gently in Oaxaca for several hours in the afternoon and evening of Saturday, 17 February. It was still overcast the following morning but there were few puddles to impede the group of nine cyclists who set out from el centro at 8:20 am for a pleasant loop ride to the village of La Raya, located in the rolling hill country of the Zimatlan valley southwest of Oaxaca. The cloud cover burned off as the morning progressed, revealing blue sky and pushing the thermometer into the lower 20’s C. (mid 70’s F.) by afternoon. Bikers covered 57.9 kilometers (36.0 miles) on the ride, gaining and losing 462.7 meters (1518 feet) in elevation along the route. While the ride overall was rated moderate, there was one long, steep hill climb that was a big challenge to some in the group. As per our custom, the gang stopped for brunch at the mercado gastronomico in Zaachila on the journey home.
Eleven intrepid cyclists showed up for today’s Sunday ride, which went from the center of Oaxaca out through Tlalixtac, up the Los Molinos trail to the waterfall and then along Hwy 175 to El Estudiante – a round trip distance of 37.6 kilometers (23.4 miles). Elevation gain and loss on the route totaled 513 meters (1683 feet). Though the temperature was a brisk 11° C (52° F) at 8 am, intense sunshine was forecast to push the thermometer to 31° C (88° F) by mid-afternoon, making for a marvelous day to be aboard a bicycle. Most of our Sunday rides are pretty mellow, with a rating of easy to moderate. Today’s excursion, though, pushed to the edge of the “difficult” category, given the challenges of the single track trail leading to the cascada and then up to the highway. Nevertheless, everyone in the group – including three newcomers – managed quite well. That said, all seemed quite happy to return to the city via the highway rather than endure again the hike-a-bike sections traversed on the outbound leg of the ride.
The citizens of Guelavia hosted a boisterous festival this fourth Sunday in January celebrating the community’s use of carrizo (a bamboo-like plant) in the making of baskets, hats and other merchandise. Several blocks in the town center were roped off and filled with displays and vendors selling food, while there was music and dancing in the zocalo in front of the municipal building. A dozen cyclists from Oaxaca happily joined in the celebration as part of their weekly ride. It was a picture-perfect day for an outing through the countryside of the Tlacolula valley, with mild temperatures in the upper 70’s Fahrenheit (about 24º C) and a refreshing breeze blowing gently through the trees. Riders covered 58.2 kilometers (36.2 miles) on the round-trip excursion, with a modest elevation gain and loss of 163 meters (535 feet) in elevation along the way.
