A family of four recently arrived in Mexico from Senegal in west Africa, hoping to make Oaxaca their home for a couple of years. All of them – parents and two pre-teens – enjoy bicycling and were eager to start exploring the region on two wheels. We arranged to meet at their home in Tlalixtac, where we loaded their bikes in the van for the short drive to Tule. From there we pedaled east through the level terrain of the Tlacolula valley, passing through Guendalain, Lachigoló and Tlacochahuaya before turning around at the archeological ruins of Dainzu. We followed the same route on our return, stopping in Tule for lunch. The kids – a girl of 11 and a boy of 8 – were excited and rode like champs, easily keeping up with the adult riders. Today’s outing was an easy one, intended as a gentle introduction to the multitude of trails available in the Valley of Oaxaca. The group covered 15.3 miles, with a minimal elevation gain and loss.
Category: GPS
Countryside, GPS, MTBing
San Jose el Mogote
by Larry • • 0 Comments
The word went out on Friday that our Sunday bike ride would take us to the archeological ruins in San Jose el Mogote, some eleven miles north of Oaxaca, on a route that would follow the abandoned railroad line from Mexico City. A total of ten people showed up to join in the outing, four of them newcomers to our band. There were a number of other cyclists milling about in the plaza in front of Santo Domingo, too, as ours was not the only group meeting at the same time and place. The excursion itself was an easy ramble through the countryside, as the terrain was practically flat the whole way. On the return leg, though, most of the riders took the more challenging option of pedaling up and over the Libramiento Norte from Viguera to San Felipe del Aqua. It was a sparkling clear day and a good time was had by all.
Countryside, GPS
Many Bike Riders On The Trail Today
by Larry • • 0 Comments
Could it be that a lot of bike riders made a new year’s resolution to spend more time in the saddle in 2022? On this second Sunday of the new year there were literally dozens of bikers on the trail, mostly in groups of between two and six people. Since several members of our Sunday gringo biker group were out of town, only two of our regular riders showed up for today’s outing. We were debating where to ride when six tourists on rented bicycles came looking for the weekly Mundo Ceiba ride to Tule. Strangely, no one from Mundo Ceiba showed up to guide the group, so we stepped in to provide that service. After pedaling to Tule, we left the tourists to be amazed by the giant tree in the church yard and continued on to the archeological ruins at Dainzu. Shortly after starting the ride back to Oaxaca, Annie had a large nail puncture her front tire, entering in the tread and exiting through the sidewall just below the wheel rim. Ouch! She had to push her bike back to Tlacochahuaya, where we found a taller able to supply both a new inner tube and a used replacement tire, all for just 180 pesos. From that point on the ride back to town was uneventful. All told, the outing covered 52 kilometers (32.5 miles) with an elevation gain and loss of 168 meters (550 feet) along the way.
Countryside, GPS, Photos
First Ride in the New Year
by Larry • • 0 Comments
We wanted to kick off the new year (2022) with a significant ride, and so chose the Tejalápam / Mazaltepec loop to do it. Today’s riders were all gringos – none of our Mexican amigos joined in. There were eight guys and one gal in the group. After meeting in the plaza in front of Santo Domingo at 9 am, the band pedaled through Atzompa to San Lorenzo Cacaotepec, then swung west on paved roads to San Felipe Tejalápam. From there we followed a freshly-graded gravel road up and over a ridge of hills and then down to Santo Tomas Mazaltepec. This was the most challenging part of the outing, where the major portion of the climbing was concentrated. The grade in places was over 15%, which prompted some riders to dismount and push their bikes uphill. The descent into Mazaltepec was fast and fun. It took the group 90 minutes to ride from Oaxaca to Tejalápam, then 60 minutes more to get to the crest of the hill. From there the group reached Mazaltepec in just 20 minutes. Then it was a bit over 90 minutes more to get back home to Oaxaca. Overall the gang covered 60.2 kilometers (37.4 miles), with an elevation gain and loss of 413 meters (1356 feet) on the loop.
Bikers rendezvous at 9 am for the day’s ride. 
The hill climbing was strenuous, but the view well worth the effort. 
Nearing the top – elevation 1834 meters (6018 feet). 
Our lone female rider keeps up the pace. 
Downhill at last!!! 
Taking a break. 
Cold drinks and snacks at a miscellanea in Mazaltepec.
At the doll ranch in Atzompa. 
The municipal building in Santo Tomas Mazaltepec.
Countryside, Foothills, GPS, MTBing, Photos, Uncategorized
Once More Around The Loop
by Larry • • 0 Comments
The Sundays of December 2021 are turning out to be warmer than usual, with daytime highs consistently near 85º Fahrenheit / 29º Celsius. Most of our cyclists are fine with that, as the morning chill burns off quickly and the temperature is ideal when we start pedaling at 9 am. Today’s excursion was a repeat of a favorite – though challenging – loop that took the group through Tule and San Sebastian Teitipac before crossing a ridge of hills and descending into San Bartolo Coyotepec and then back to Oaxaca. There were several new riders among the nine participants who showed up, and they were apprehensive about the length of the ride and the challenge of riding the rough and steep trail over the ridgeline. To their credit, all stuck to the task and succeeded in finishing the ride, which covered 50 kilometers (31 miles), with an elevation gain and loss of about 396 meters (1300 feet).
In the Tlacolula valley. 
At the high point of the ride. 
Starting the long descent.