Category: Uncategorized

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Pre-Christmas Ride to Huayapam

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Christmas is less than a week away as a small group of four riders assemble in the plaza in front of the church of Santo Domingo in Oaxaca for the regular Sunday morning ride. Though the calendar says it is 19 December and nearly the shortest day of the year, it is bright and sunny, with a forecast high temperature of 81º F / 27º C — in other words, just another perfect day in paradise. The plan is to pedal through San Felipe del Aqua, San Luis Beltran and Donaji on the way to Huayapam, then ride the Los Molinos trail which parallels Hwy 175 as it winds into the mountains toward La Cumbre. Our destination is the ruin of the old water-powered grain mill that last functioned over a hundred years ago. Two of the cyclists are recent converts to mountain biking, so today’s outing will be a challenge for them, but they are eager for the experience. When all is said and done, the foursome cover a distance of 39.3 kms / 24.4 miles, with an elevation gain and loss of 552 meters / 1813 feet along the way, finishing the ride in 4.5 hours, counting a stop outbound in Huayapam for fresh juice drinks and another on the way home for lemonade.

  • The ruins of the water-powered grain mill at the end of the trail.
  • Annie poses with a local farmer harvesting his crop of squash.
  • Dhruba, Annie and Patrick chat with the friendly farmer, who says this was the last
    in a series of seven grain mills that once lined the mountain stream.

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Danza de la Pluma

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Sunday, 12 December 2021 Today is the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patroness of Mexico. Well before first light Oaxaca was shaken by the explosion of innumerable cohotes – skyrockets shot into the pre-dawn darkness – as church bells pealed throughout the city. In Teotitlan del Valle preparations were under way for the annual performance of the Danza de la Pluma – the elaborate dance pageant reenacting the Spanish conquest of Mexico in the 1500’s. In a far less elaborate ritual, ten mountain bikers set out to pedal 29 kilometers (18 miles) from central Oaxaca to the imposing statue of a feather dancer that stands atop a hill near the town of Zimatlan in the valley of the same name. Though involving a significant round-trip distance, the ride was rated easy because the terrain covered is remarkably flat – save for the short but steep climb up the hill to the base of the statue. Pedaling at a leisurely pace, the ride took a bit over five hours to complete. The six men and four women riders declared the outing a worthwhile endeavor.

  • How would you like to ride a bike with a helmet like this big fella’s?

Countryside, Foothills, GPS, MTBing, Photos, Uncategorized

Once More Around The Loop

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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.

MTBing, Photos, Uncategorized

Commemorative Ride

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Today – Sunday, 21 November 2021 – our ride was in memory of Gabi Soto and other bicyclists killed in traffic accidents in the past year. A total of 52 bikers took part in the commemorative ride, including 11 of our gringo riders. After gathering at the Oaxaca Convention Center on Calle Lazaro Cardenas, the group pedaled north through the Reforma neighborhood, using the new bike path slong Amapolas street which was opened just a few days ago. Once at the Seven Regions fountain the group dropped down Calzado Porfirio Diaz into el centro and continued out to Xoxocotlan, where they stopped at the small memorial erected at the spot where Gabi was struck and killed by a Zaachila city bus in December of last year. From there the band pedaled back into Oaxaca and ended the ride at the park on Abasolo street between Cinco de Mayo and the Macedonia Alcala pedestrian mall. The distance covered amounted to 18 kilometers (11 miles). It was an easy but somewhat somber ride

  • Banner carried on the ride
    in honor of Gabi Soto.
  • Pedaling through Jalatlaco.
  • Riding the new bike path on
    Amapolas street in Reforma.
  • Coasting down Porfirio Diaz into town.
  • Two lovebirds: Rafa & Eli.
    This was Eli’s first group ride.
  • Pennants on Garcia Vigil catch the sun.
  • On the highway to Xoxocotlan.
  • The roadside memorial
    marking where Gabi was killed.
  • The ride concluded back in Oaxaca.
  • Seven members of the police
    bike patrol were our escorts.

Countryside, GPS, MTBing, Uncategorized

Another Ride to San Jose el Mogote

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The ride from Oaxaca to the archeological ruins of San Jose el Mogote is always a popular one. Traversing a dozen miles (19 kilometers) over flat terrain, the preferred route is along the old railroad line that once linked Oaxaca with Mexico City and the coast. This route avoids major traffic and runs through farmland a good part of the way. A group of eleven riders – four women and seven men – turned out for today’s Sunday excursion. The weather was predictably perfect, with fluffy clouds dotting the sky, an afternoon high temperature of 24º C (76º F) and a pleasant breeze. After reaching the ancient temple mound at Mogote, some of the group headed off to San Agustin Etla for pizza and beer. The remainder of the band headed back to Oaxaca, with most retracing the outbound route but two fellows opting to ride the Libramiento Norte up and over the ridge from Viguera to San Felipe del Agua instead.