It has been a great first few days so far with lots of good times at the beach and eating roadside and out of the vehicle eats. Lots of eating options that will get talked about in a later post possibly. Jake and I both brought our bikes down. Big thanks to uncle TJ for getting the bikes to travel for free. We came down on Sun Country whom he is their top dog engineer. So far the two things that have stuck out have been a bike ride up Monkey Mountain and a bus trip to PV for the evening that I have already posted below. Like last year when the Wenzel fam joined us, most of the riding Jake and I have been doing has been to the south and back on the paved road to Punta Mita. When looking on the internet about Sayulita, I clicked on the mountain bike options of course and saw there was a Sayulita mountain biking team. I tried to get in contact with the folks but never heard back. Four years ago we stayed north of here for a week at Lo De Marcos and I talked to Todd Wells about riding but he never brings his bike when he comes here so he didn't know much about the mountain biking. Anyways, when we were coming back from the beach the first day, we saw a old banner that said "Sayulita Mountain Bike team" so I stopped in of course. I met Lorenzo and his son Adrian. We did some talking and set up a ride with Adrian to ride up into Monkey mountain. The next day when we met, there was another rider from PA who was to join us. Lorenzo said he could borrow a bike. Lorenzo is doing some great things to get local people into riding and has about 15 bikes at his house, getting kids into riding and letting any tourists that like to bike the opportunity to ride. Adrian is one of the top Jr riders in the country. He is 18 and this year was top 7 in Mexican Nationals. He has been regional champion for 6 years now. Tons of photos below. I have taken my bike down to Mexico 10 times but have never been on a ride like the Monkey Mountain ride so I went overboard. Sorry.
Adrian leading us through Sayulita.
Adrian and Jake on the quad like singletrack just outside of Sayulita.
One of the short steep climbs in between Sayulita and Patzcuaro. Adrian dropped us on the first climb. He is coming off the race season so his form is right on but still. He dropped us on the downhills as well. Crazy fast, head on with some cars early, sweeping left or right last second. He knows these trails like no one else. Incredible skills.
Adrian set himself up nicely to ride across this. Jake and I tried but failed.
Over the years riding in Mex I feel I have been pretty adventurous checking out trails and what not but I would of never gone through this ranch with pigs, horses, cows etc. like we did. I do not like horses. At this point I would of turned around but Adrian thread the needle and soon the horses were pack in the valley.
We came to a gate and again, I would of turned around. We came to a bunch of cows with huge horns and I would of turned around. Adrian had a way with these things. He was yelling something to them in Mexican and they went to the side.
Out of the valley and into the jungle. This section reminded me a little bit of Mt Snow but it was super technical riding. With the cattle traffic and what not and lack of moisture, the singletrack is loose and rocky. Super fun riding.
Jake takes the rocky line. He cleaned it.
Adrian off the bike as we work our way out of the jungle and up to higher elevations.
Adrian was wearing shoes, no shoelaces and climbing like Sam Oftedahl on a double machiatto.
Out in the open and some hard climbing. This is why I run a granny gear. The whole climb up, that was rideable, was pretty much all granny. I was pinning 180's on the hr.
Jake pushing up a super steep section. This section was like the Maplelag lakeside drops. The descent back down was insanely wicked. Behind the saddle
Jake riding the last open saddle. Pacific ocean in the background, Marieta islands and Punta Mita.
Adrian hiking with the bike.
When we got near the top, we left the bikes and had to climb the last km by foot. A little bit of scrambling. Kinda hairy with cleats.
Taking the view in at the top towards the north. Mountains to the west.
Jake checking out Marieta Islands.
Dripping sweat, the ocean looked inviting for a swim but long ways down.
The ride down was sweet until we all flatted. We fixed two tubes and Jake and Adrian rode back to Sayulita and PA and I hiked.
Ankle busters. I need to shave my legs.
Repairing flats after Adrian came back. So far I have flatted 5 times. Never bringing small block 8s again. Not a good tire for the raw riding in Mexico. Half have been thorns pushing through the tires. But a super fun ride. Raw, rough, no signs, no maps.....just how I like it. Tomorrow we are hooking up with Adrian again and riding north to San Pancho. Lorenzo said more climbing. I don't know how we could climb more than Monkey but I guess it is more up and down climbing. Should be interesting.
Last fall I read on Todd Wells blog that he ate at Sayulita Fish Taco's so I told Jake we had to check it out. Jake said he would since Todd Wells did. Drove by there last fall but looked like every other place. After hooking up with Jonell and the other boys, went up there with Jens and Jon as well.
Jake and I had the real deal. Deep fried fish with pico de gallo and cabbage. Jake asked what cabbage is like. I said its not what it is like, its what it does to your insids. Later he said the cabbage was doing its thing. I said no its not, thats something else you ate, the cabbage you will feel in the morning. Good stuff.
Four bros having fun in the ocean. Its been good for them to be together so much.
I wonder if Todd Wells has ridden the Monkey.
No comments:
Post a Comment