Another Sunday, another perfect day in paradise! Blue skies and a forecast high temperature of 78º F / 25.5ºC just a few days before Christmas — what more could a cyclist wish for from Santa? Eight members of our riding club assembled at 9 am for today’s moderate excursion into the rolling hill country west of Monte Alban — certainly one of our favorite areas. Using a combination of paved and dirt roads, the gang pedaled a total distance of 30.8 miles (49.6 kms), gaining and losing 1317 feet (401 meters) in elevation in the course of the day. One of our number was a recent arrival in Oaxaca and going for his first bike ride in many years. He acquitted himself well in this introduction to mountain biking in the Valles Centrales of Oaxaca.