MapMyWALK

Description of this Bike Ride

Leaving Mexico City is kind of a pain in the ass, because you have to get onto the toll highway, and they don't want to let you through on a bike, so you have to go to the other side of the highway and travel a few hundred meters, past the toll booths and the offices, and then jump back over to the right side. If they catch you they might bring you back to the toll area, or they might ask for a bribe. Texcoco is a nice town, with a nice central plaza. Leaving Texcoco for Calpulalpan is when the climb starts. It's not a particularly difficult climb, but it is long and narrow, with lots of big trucks and traffic in general. And it doesn't really end until you get past Calpulalpan, if my memory serves me. There is lot's of fog in the morning. Spectacular view of Ixtaccihuatl and Popocatepetl in the near distance at a certain point. Take pictures--it's a view most people never see. Huamantla is a nice little town too. Very poor, humble. Good food. Try the sweets. Nice plaza. View of La Malinche volcano. It creates its own weather. Leaving Huamantla reminds me of Kentucky. Beautiful valley between mountains. You will know when you've officially entered the state of Puebla because it immediately turns from plush green of Tlaxcala state to dry and flat nothingness. There is a 20 km stretch of extremely narrow and straight highway, and lots of big trucks. Heads up, ears open! If you get lucky you may see Pico de Orizaba. There are many other mountains in the distance. Aside from the distant mountains, it pretty much sucks until you get past Perote, where you will see the Cofre de Perote on the right. The uphill starts there, and isn't very bad at all. But, as you get further into the mountains that separate Puebla state and Veracruz state you will notice the weather change drastically. It gets cold and cloudy. It rains often once you pass the halfway point over the mountains. And it's COLD rain. I wasn't prepared, and had to go on the fast 30 km downhill into Xalapa with no gloves, hands freezing and numb, soaking wet, very little control. Fortunately, the highway on the downhill is wide and well-paved. Once you get into Xalapa it warms up nicely and the sun will probably be out. From the Ã

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