A family of four recently arrived in Mexico from Senegal in west Africa, hoping to make Oaxaca their home for a couple of years. All of them – parents and two pre-teens – enjoy bicycling and were eager to start exploring the region on two wheels. We arranged to meet at their home in Tlalixtac, where we loaded their bikes in the van for the short drive to Tule. From there we pedaled east through the level terrain of the Tlacolula valley, passing through Guendalain, Lachigoló and Tlacochahuaya before turning around at the archeological ruins of Dainzu. We followed the same route on our return, stopping in Tule for lunch. The kids – a girl of 11 and a boy of 8 – were excited and rode like champs, easily keeping up with the adult riders. Today’s outing was an easy one, intended as a gentle introduction to the multitude of trails available in the Valley of Oaxaca. The group covered 15.3 miles, with a minimal elevation gain and loss.
Countryside, GPS, MTBing
San Jose el Mogote
by Larry • • 0 Comments
The word went out on Friday that our Sunday bike ride would take us to the archeological ruins in San Jose el Mogote, some eleven miles north of Oaxaca, on a route that would follow the abandoned railroad line from Mexico City. A total of ten people showed up to join in the outing, four of them newcomers to our band. There were a number of other cyclists milling about in the plaza in front of Santo Domingo, too, as ours was not the only group meeting at the same time and place. The excursion itself was an easy ramble through the countryside, as the terrain was practically flat the whole way. On the return leg, though, most of the riders took the more challenging option of pedaling up and over the Libramiento Norte from Viguera to San Felipe del Aqua. It was a sparkling clear day and a good time was had by all.
Countryside, GPS
Many Bike Riders On The Trail Today
by Larry • • 0 Comments
Could it be that a lot of bike riders made a new year’s resolution to spend more time in the saddle in 2022? On this second Sunday of the new year there were literally dozens of bikers on the trail, mostly in groups of between two and six people. Since several members of our Sunday gringo biker group were out of town, only two of our regular riders showed up for today’s outing. We were debating where to ride when six tourists on rented bicycles came looking for the weekly Mundo Ceiba ride to Tule. Strangely, no one from Mundo Ceiba showed up to guide the group, so we stepped in to provide that service. After pedaling to Tule, we left the tourists to be amazed by the giant tree in the church yard and continued on to the archeological ruins at Dainzu. Shortly after starting the ride back to Oaxaca, Annie had a large nail puncture her front tire, entering in the tread and exiting through the sidewall just below the wheel rim. Ouch! She had to push her bike back to Tlacochahuaya, where we found a taller able to supply both a new inner tube and a used replacement tire, all for just 180 pesos. From that point on the ride back to town was uneventful. All told, the outing covered 52 kilometers (32.5 miles) with an elevation gain and loss of 168 meters (550 feet) along the way.
Countryside, GPS, Photos
First Ride in the New Year
by Larry • • 0 Comments
We wanted to kick off the new year (2022) with a significant ride, and so chose the Tejalápam / Mazaltepec loop to do it. Today’s riders were all gringos – none of our Mexican amigos joined in. There were eight guys and one gal in the group. After meeting in the plaza in front of Santo Domingo at 9 am, the band pedaled through Atzompa to San Lorenzo Cacaotepec, then swung west on paved roads to San Felipe Tejalápam. From there we followed a freshly-graded gravel road up and over a ridge of hills and then down to Santo Tomas Mazaltepec. This was the most challenging part of the outing, where the major portion of the climbing was concentrated. The grade in places was over 15%, which prompted some riders to dismount and push their bikes uphill. The descent into Mazaltepec was fast and fun. It took the group 90 minutes to ride from Oaxaca to Tejalápam, then 60 minutes more to get to the crest of the hill. From there the group reached Mazaltepec in just 20 minutes. Then it was a bit over 90 minutes more to get back home to Oaxaca. Overall the gang covered 60.2 kilometers (37.4 miles), with an elevation gain and loss of 413 meters (1356 feet) on the loop.
Bikers rendezvous at 9 am for the day’s ride. 
The hill climbing was strenuous, but the view well worth the effort. 
Nearing the top – elevation 1834 meters (6018 feet). 
Our lone female rider keeps up the pace. 
Downhill at last!!! 
Taking a break. 
Cold drinks and snacks at a miscellanea in Mazaltepec.
At the doll ranch in Atzompa. 
The municipal building in Santo Tomas Mazaltepec.
Uncategorized
Pre-Christmas Ride to Huayapam
by Larry • • 0 Comments
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.