Teotitlan del Valle was the focus of our attention this last Sunday in May of 2021. One member of our Sunday cycling circle proposed shuttling our bikes to Teotitlan, then riding from there up to Benito Juarez – a round trip of 37.6 kilometers with a climb of a whopping 1280 meters on the dirt road that snakes up the mountainside. Others in the group countered with the suggestion that we simply ride from Oaxaca to Teotitlan and back, thus bypassing the need for shuttle vehicles and saving the strain of pedaling steadily uphill for almost twelve miles. The flatlanders won out. So we met at 9 am at Santo Domingo and pedaled to Teotitlan, going by way of Tlalixtac, Santo Domingo Tomaltepec, Tule and Tlacochahuaya. The total distance covered amounted to 62 kms (38.5 miles). The map below shows the route followed on a previous ride which was similar but a bit shorter. Today’s ride was completed at 2:30 pm, which allowed for time to grab a light lunch at the mercado in Teotitlan before starting the trip back to Oaxaca.
Category: Countryside
Countryside, GPS, MTBing, Uncategorized
Huitzo Hills Hike-a-Bike
by Larry • • 0 Comments
In September of 2014 the Nitos Ciclistas en Movimiento club sponsored a Sunday ride in the hills northwest of Huitzo (see: http://www.oaxacamtb.org/wp/2014/09/nitos-ride-near-huitzo/). Now, almost seven years later, this same route was the chosen venue for another Sunday outing. This time, though, there were only three riders in the group and they rode less than half the distance logged by the earlier band. Even so, it was a worthy ride, as the country road was just as steep – with some of the gradient registering 13.5% – and even more eroded than in 2014. Adding to the challenge was the fact the lead rider was seven years older and several pounds heavier than when he last pedaled this way. So, yes, there was more than the usual amount of hike-a-biking up the hills. As before, the small comedor just off the cuota to Mexico City offered cold drinks and a light lunch at the end of the ride.
Countryside, GPS, MTBing, Photos, Uncategorized
Dainzu
by Larry • • 0 Comments
Today’s ride through the countryside was a thirty-mile excursion through the Tlacolula Valley to the archeological ruins at Dainzu and back. Six riders met at the rendezvous point in the plaza in front of Santo Domingo at 9 am. They were met by a crowd of about fifty cyclists preparing for a rally / ride through central Oaxaca on behalf of the Alianza party, which has candidates vying for positions in the elections scheduled for early June. Gringos are forbidden from participating in Mexican politics, so we declined the offer of free Alianza T-shirts. Opting for an easy ride, the group chose to get to Santa Maria del Tule on the paved bike path, which was unusually crowded today with an equal mix of bikers and people out for a Sunday stroll. From Tule we continued east on dirt roads through Tlacochahuaya and on to the archeological ruins of Dainzu, which was our turn-around point. Passing through Tule again on the way home, we stopped for a light lunch at one of the many curbside comedores on the main street. All told, riders pedaled 30.6 miles (49.2 km) on the outing, with a negligible elevation gain and loss of about 650 feet (198 meters).
A lively group of about 50 cyclists prepare for a ride / rally through central Oaxaca
on behalf of the Alianza political party.
Conferring about the ride. 
Another spectacular day to be riding a bike. 
Taking a break. 
Pedaling along. 
Best wishes to all!
Countryside, GPS, MTBing, Photos, Uncategorized
Ocotlan de Morelos
by Larry • • 0 Comments
Steve and Erin planned to set out on a multi-day ride from Oaxaca to San Jose del Pacifico and beyond on a Sunday morning and invited our clutch of mountain bikers to accompany them as far as Ocotlan. We happily agreed. So we set out at 9 am on 2 May 2021, pedaling past the airport and south into the Zimatlan valley to Santa Ana Zegache and Santiago Apostol before reaching Ocotlan. After a light lunch of tacos dorados at the city market, we went our separate ways — Steve & Erin to continue on to Ejutla, where they would spend the night; and the remainder of the group returning to Oaxaca by way of Highway 175. The round trip distance on the loop ride amounted to 47.6 miles (76.6 kms), with an elevation gain and loss of approximately 1150 feet (350 meters). The lowest point on the route was 4845 feet (1477 meters) in the Zimatlan valley, while the highest point was 5462 feet (1665 meters) crossing the ridge of hills on Hwy 175 between Guegorexe and Santa Maria Coyotepec on the south side of Oaxaca. Ride time amounted to 6.5 hours, including time for lunch at the market in Ocotlan.
Steve & Erin ready to begin a multi-day ride to San Jose del Pacifico. 
A small village along the way was sponsoring a kids’ bike race for Dia de los Niños. 
Posing in front of the church in Santa Ana Zegache painted by Rodolfo Morales.
Countryside, Foothills, GPS, MTBing, Photos
Ride to San Pablo Etla
by Larry • • 0 Comments
It is late April in Oaxaca and another perfect day in paradise. Our Sunday ride this week took us from el centro up the hill to San Felipe del Agua, then over the Libramiento Norte to Viguera and on into San Pablo Etla. After a light lunch at a local comedor we rode on to Santa Cruz Etla and then back into Oaxaca along the old railroad right-of-way. This was a moderate ride overall, with just a bit of technical challenge on the rough and tumble singletrack trail we used to get from the top of the Libramiento down into Viguera. The outing covered 25.1 miles (40.1 kms) and entailed climbing about 1920 vertical feet (588 meters). The high point on the ride was an elevation of 6210 feet (1893 meters). Counting time for lunch, the day’s excursion took just a hair more than five hours.
Tonio shows how to shred some single track on the descent into Viguera.
Enjoying the downhill run. 
Breaking for lunch at a local comedor.