Andy B. planned this outing for our weekly Sunday bike ride. He laid out a long loop to take riders deep into the Tlacolula valley and back. Cyclists would take the bike path to Tule, then ride backcountry roads through Rojas de Cuauhtémoc, Santa Rosa Buena Vista and San Sebastian Teitipac before arriving at San Juan Teitipac, our destination and turnaround point. The group rested and purchased food and beverages at the Sunday market behind the old Dominican monastery in the center of town. Following a slightly different route home, the group pedaled through Santa Cruz Papalutla, San Sebastian Abasolo and Santa Maria Guelacé before once again passing through Santa Maria el Tule on the last leg of the journey. There were eleven riders in the group, which consisted of seven men and four women. Three of the cyclists were newcomers to the band and handled the ride quite well. Moving at a leisurely pace, the riders covered a total of 61.5 kilometers (38.2 miles), with a modest 286.5 meters (940 feet) of elevation gain and loss on the circuit. With several stops along the way for refreshments, it took 6.5 hours to complete the ride. The weather was perfect for such an excursion through the countryside, with overcast skies that kept the temperature below the 26º C (80º F) mark.
The group gathers for the Sunday morning ride.
A beautiful day to be out on a bike.
Obligatory group photo in Tule.
Andy leads the pack.
A tangle of bikes at a rest stop.
Lots of good food on display in San Juan Teitipac.
Tacos made to order.
A happy bunch of bikers chow down.
Cheers!
A local musician on his way to . . . what? . . . probably a wedding or funeral.
Heading for home.
Passing through another village in the valley.
Every time Dave washes his bike it shrinks a bit more.
Lots of smiles on today’s road trip.
Back in Tule, it is time for an ice cold nieve. Pick your flavor . . . .
Biking buddies.