Category: Uncategorized

Countryside, MTBing, Photos, Uncategorized

Dodging Raindrops

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The summer rainy season has begun in earnest in Oaxaca, and so the weatherman plays a deciding role in planning and executing rides. On this Sunday ride (19 June 2022) the goal was to pedal to Teotitlan and back. Three riders set out from Santo Domingo at 9 am, with the goal of passing through Tule, Tlacochahuaya, Dainzu and Macuilxochitl before reaching the turn-around point in Teotitlan. However, clouds building above the Sierra Norte suggested it would be wise to stop the ride at the ruins of Dainzu and head for home before things got wet. That turned out to be a good decision, as raindrops began to fall as our group wrapped up the ride. Of special note was the number and variety of bike riders on the trail today. We encountered nearly two hundred cyclists on our 4.5 hour outing, including a large group of sixty or so riders of all ages clustered in the zocalo in Tule. Upon inquiry, we learned the riders where from seven different clubs in Oaxaca. It was gratifying to see so many riders again after the hiatus in group rides caused by the pandemic.

  • Cyclists from seven different clubs in Oaxaca join forces for a large group ride.
  • Riders gather in the zocalo in Tule.

Countryside, Foothills, GPS, MTBing, Photos, Uncategorized

Ride on the Lower Mil Rios Trail

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The lower part of the Mil Rios trail runs from Tlalixtac some two or more miles up into a mountain valley. Its close proximity to the city makes it a fine place for a Sunday excursion, whether aboard a mountain bike, on horseback or simply hiking. The stream coming down the mountain feeds a series of small reservoirs behind four dams that divert water into an aqueduct providing irrigation to farm fields in the valley. The trail crosses the stream in several places, but there was not a drop of water in the creek at this late date in the dry season. Our group of riders racked up 37 kilometers (23 miles) on this out & back ride, climbing and descending a total of 335 meters (1099 feet) along the way. Ride time was 3.5 hours.

  • Ours was a small group of cyclists for today’s ride.
  • Dhruba chose to ride the pedestrian bridge over the Panamerican highway.
  • An agent from the community was collecting a toll of 20 pesos to ride the trail.
  • It was easy pedaling on the well maintained service road,
  • Today was Rafa’s first time riding the Mil Rios trail.

Countryside, GPS, MTBing, Photos, Uncategorized

Sun Ceremony At Mogote

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At noon on May 8 the sun is directly overhead in Oaxaca so objects cast no shadow to the side. In ancient times this was considered a propitious day to begin construction of a home or temple. Our Sunday bike group just happened to be at the old temple ruins in San Jose el Mogote on this very day and witnessed a ceremony marking the occasion. A small assembly of young people re-enacted a ritual of purification celebrating the event. Prayers and invocations were recited and the group – including our bikers – danced around the sacred circle. This was a wonderful and totally unexpected addition to an otherwise pleasant but ordinary ride.

  • A sacred circle was laid out atop the temple pyramid in Mogote on 8 May.
  • The circle was adorned with flowers, fruit, grain and sea shells.
  • Participants in the ritual were purified using incense, chants and the blowing of a conch.
  • Elaborate rattles were worn on the legs.
  • A giant conch sounded repeatedly.
  • Bikers in our group joined in the dancing around the sacred circle . . .
  • . . . to the beat of a drum . . .
  • . . . and the sound of rattles.
  • Meanwhile riders in two other Oaxaca clubs passed by the Mogote site.
    which is a popular destination for Sunday outings.
  • Eventually it was time to get back in the saddle and pedal home.

Countryside, Foothills, GPS, MTBing, Photos, Uncategorized

Easter Ride to Jalapa del Valle

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Easter Sunday dawned bright and clear in Oaxaca on 17 April 2022, with a forecast high temperature of 33ºC / 92ºF. Four cyclists elected to skip church services and Easter egg hunts in favor of a somewhat challenging ride through the countryside – some of the hill climbs had grades of 12% or more. The destination chosen for the day was Jalapa del Valle, a very small village on the Rio Jalapilla at the western edge of the Etla Valley. Pedaling along at a moderate pace and stopping several times for cold drinks and snacks, the group finished the ride in 5.5 hours. When all was said and done, the gang covered 50.7 kilometers / 31.5 miles from start to finish, with an elevation gain and loss of 688 meters / 2259 feet along the way. A good time was had by all.

  • Two of the four riders on today’s outing.
  • Cranking up another long hill climb.
  • At times the uphill sections seemed endless.
  • Finally! Some serious downhill.
  • Warm weather and lots of climbing required several stops for water or cold drinks.
  • Still able to smile, despite fatigue.
  • Moving right along.
  • Miles and miles of wide open space.

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Saving Daylight

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This first Sunday of April marked the beginning of daylight savings time in Mexico – several weeks after the U.S. and Canada moved their timepieces forward one hour. All three countries are presently debating the wisdom of resetting clocks each spring and fall. But there is no consensus as to whether a year-around time should coincide with standard time or daylight time. In any case, those of us who switched to daylight time overnight woke in darkness and started our weekly Sunday ride with the sun much lower on the horizon. This may work to our advantage, as April and May are the hottest months of the year in Oaxaca, and so our rides will take place in cooler hours. In any case, today’s excursion took the group through the Rosario neighborhood and then up and over a ridge of hills on a rough jeep road before descending into Santa Maria el Tule – a route we call the Back Way to Tule. After resting a bit in the lovely zocalo there, it was easy pedaling back to Oaxaca on mostly level terrain. The distance covered amounted to 31.2 kilometer (19.4 miles), with an elevation gain and loss of 285 meters (930 feet) on the circuit.