Three doods do the Copper Canyon...

[efuentes]

Ahhh, summer. The days get hotter and the afternoon clouds on the east only means rain season has started on the Copper Canyon :victory:

Being run down and with my Jeep nowhere close to a rolling state, I declared this season a two wheeled year and so far it has been great. Traveling on a bicycle means that preparing for the trip actually consists on more that ordering stuff on the internet .

The plan is simple, take the train at Los Mochis, and ride over the violence infested lower sierra to Bahuchivo, hop on the bikes and eventually arrive to Creel, taking a detour to enjoy the Recowata hot springs and ride the infamous Batopilas road, participate in a MTB festival held in Creel and taking the train back to our hometown.

So the tale starts a couple of weeks before the trip as we build some kind of endurance for the ride ahead.

 

[efuentes]

DT minus 3 weeks.

After deciding on a small crew, (My son Mundo, Hector Brito my business partner and myself) we quickly realized that a week climbing hills at 7,500 feet was a bit too much for us flat landers, so a training plan was in order.

We will be riding 4 times a week for a month, doing a longish ride every Sunday.

3 weeks before departure, dreaming on Google Earth, we decided to ride across the valley find a place to crisscross the El Fuerte River and be back before noon :sombrero:

The crew riding early on the service dirt roads near El Porvenir, Sinaloa

After looking for locals to find out where to cross the river, we made our decision and sent a brave soul to check the water.

Posing ...

The young one feeling cocky after a couple of hours.

 

[efuentes]

After our successful crossing, we faced a stiff head wind that was bearable only by the dreams of a good breakfast at El Tigre's in Ahome.

Glorious Scrambled eggs with onion, tomatoes an a whole lot of Shrimps :drool:

El Tigre showing off a good reason to skip the rest of the ride and take a bus home.

 

[efuentes]

After escaping the hands of an even bigger meal, we set to cross the river again to head back to Los Mochis.

The young one feeling the realities of a 6 hour ride.

Posing close to home.

 

[efuentes]

DT minus 2 weeks.

After the scorcher of last Sunday, we decided to tame things a bit and explore the shore and badlands of Bahia de Ohuira.

Rising early to escape the mighty sun.

Top of the line (and so effective) infrastructure.

Well on our way to Paredones fishing camp.

The Drain than divides crop lands from badlands.

 

[efuentes]

Miles and miles of Badlands and esteros

Rollin'

The remains of our proposed route to Paredones

A couple of years back a storm took a lot of the infraestructure down.

The plan "B" bridge, time to reroute.

 

[efuentes]

Since we are no longer racy, powerbar munchers, a proper breakfast was in order.

Waiting for the feast.

We haven't discovered bad cholesterol in Mexico, so we happily had Borrego a la Maya with fresh tortillas. :drool:

Riding back to town.

 

[awalter]

Very happy to see you are able to get out & enjoy your countryside again. Good luck with your CC adventure.

Al

 

[Dave Bennett]

Great pics!

LOOKS BEAUTIFUL!!!

 

[efuentes]

Thanks guys, violence is still bad, but cant stay locked forever.

Saludos from somewhat dangerous Mexico

 

[JSQ]

The Mexican approach to eating while cycling has esteemed roots:

 

[efuentes]

The Mexican approach to eating while cycling has esteemed roots: .

[/CENTER]

All work(Ride) and no play(Food) makes Ed a dull boy. :sombrero:

 

[teotwaki]

I'm looking forward to your ride on Batopilas Road! :lurk:

 

[efuentes]

After a fairly uneventful week, with politics at its peak for the coming elections, we had a fiery weekend. First, Mundo's suspension fork pop an o-ring and was rendered unusable on Saturday afternoon, then all hell breaks loose as the damn Narcos decide to do battle in the middle of town for the n-th time

This was our last weekend training, so we decided to let it all out and try to do a 4 hour ride with a cool 1,400 feet steep hill in the middle

That means getting out of bed at 4:30 and head out north in the car.

Things were not looking good when we where told as we pump gas at 5:00 that a a gas station a couple of blocks down was raided an hour before as the Narcos headed out of town (Going the same way as us, of course).

Eventually we where rolling at sunrise.

Mundo on my Uber cool (At least to me) 650b rigid monstercross

Lots of traffic going our way !

12 miles out, the monster hill, waiting calmly for us.

 

[efuentes]

Once on the climb, things weren't looking good, the cloud cover promised by the weatherman
was nowhere to be found, plus it was 90 degrees at 8 o'clock.

And then we climbed ....

And climbed ....

And reflected on current events while we rested.