Oaxaca's Trans-Sierra Norte 2017 - Photo Epic

Welcome to the Trans Sierra Norte Enduro experience!

It’s been long since this idea first originated, many epic trips, lots of exploring and many more beers and mezcal that made this experience possible. Oaxaca has long been one of Mexico’s main mountain biking destinations, and it was only a matter of time that this adventure matured into this first edition of a multi-day adventure race.



















Many towns in Mexico preserve their traditional ways in one way or another, but Oaxaca among a few others has managed to adapt and preserve one of the most original festivities known around, this is the Day of the Dead. It may be seen with eyes of disbelief and some reserve by the outsider the way this celebration defies death and mocks it making the stereotype of a scary and unknown departure a original and satiric festivity.

The streets are filled with colour, dancing, festivities, and offerings in hopes to honour the spirits of the departed and for them to accomplish spiritual peace. It is a sight to be seen, and a world to be discovered, no image or writing can be enough to describe what this event really looks and feels like, so that is why this event, The Transierranorte, was born with hopes of reuniting fellow riders with one goal: ride some of the best trails in Mexico, have a great time and show our friends from distant places this magic party that goes on in Mexico.






Arriving to Benito Juarez
After a long ride on these old but trustworthy buses used to transport locals throughout this sierra, our arrival into what will be our campsite for a day in “Benito Juarez” is the first encounter with the famous Oaxacan “Sierra Norte”. Located about an hour and a half from Oaxaca city, this area has several interesting towns and villages that promote ecotourism offering nice little cabins and all infrastructure necesary. This is no touristy Cancun, this is the real Mexico, most riders can be proud to say that this is a place, believe it or not, few Mexican riders have been, and a place where culture and tradition has prevailed over globalization. We are right in the middle of trail paradise.









Race Day 1, Benito Juarez
Day one must have been one of the longest days for many of us. This day was comprised of 5 stages. The first 3 stages were sort of a short warm up and fun way to start this party, with riders adapting to the terrain and finding their flow along the way. It will be needless to say again throughout this article that the stages here were LONG. Day one had one of the shortest stages of the race measuring 1.3km, but also one of the longest with a no less 6.1km long and physical stage, and to make this even more entertaining after this long stage we had the last 5.7km trail called "204" to finish the day up with a tired smile on all the rider's faces. The vertical gain of the stages was no more than 8 meters for the first 4 stages and a considerable 25 meters for the last 5.7 km trail, so do the math, it was lots of the "going down stuff" for the entire race.

Stage descriptions for day 1:
Stage 1: Moustache Vibrations: 3.5km, Stage 2: Jurassic Park: 2.2km, Stage 3: Casa de Cipriano: 1.3km, Stage 4: Mil Rios: 6.1km, Stage 5: 204: 5.7km
















This first day of riding has given all of us the taste of the days to come, and the challenges that lay ahead. It's is just the first day and trails are already demanding and rough, finding the right balance between fitness, mechanicals, excitement and full on race mode is key to surviving the three days here in Trans Sierra Norte.


Race Day 2, Ixtepeji
This town holds some of my favourite trails in Oaxaca, they are long and steep and some are super flowy.

The day started out with a fresh cut trail made specially for this race, a super fun, short but physical track called "Cabeza de Dragon" that was perfect to start the day. Followed by a track that is one of my personal favourites, a long, steep and "switchback all the way down heavenly-like trail" called "Llano-Carreta". Stage 3 was high on the "funometer", a trail called "El Cerezo" which possibly is the closest to flying you'll ever be on a raw trail, you could tell by the look on the riders faces at the end of the stage this was a all round favourite. And to finish the day, none other than the famous "A Lot of Corners" trail, another classic Ixtepeji, "long, steep, loose tight switchback, arm pumping, finger tiring trail."

Have I said enough? Did I make you want to leave your screen and go ride some bike? Or do you want more? Well... Day three will have more of this, keep reading!

Stage descriptions for day 2:
Stage 1: Cabeza de Dragon: 1.9km, Stage 2: Llano Carreta: 5.9km, Stage 3: Cereso: 4.5km, Stage 4: A Lot of Corners: 5.8km
















After these long riding days, there's nothing like getting into camp and being greeted with some slow roasted piggies to enjoy with some cold beers. I really don't know if the riding is the high point of the day or the cold beers and good food after, but they definitely both go together so well and makes this a complete and truly satisfying day.



Race Day 3, Etla
As in all multi-day races, the last day has always mixed emotions, the stoke is high for riding new trails again, the body is tired from the previous days, injuries and pains make their way, and knowing the race is about to finish makes all of this a unique experience. Riders must deal with this and know how much more is left inside them to make that last push to make it safely and triumphantly to the end.

Etla has another kind of trails, long, raw and physically demanding ones. One might think that 3 trails to end the day would be a step-back to the long days we had days before, but this is ever so far from true, don't be fooled between the accumulated fatigue from previous days this would turn out to be the perfect ending to this event.

3 long stages and to finish it off, one of the longest stage of the whole three days. I imagine by now, just reading this your arms are tired and your legs are sore, so I'll stop blabbing and let you see for yourselves...

Stage descriptions for day 3:
Stage 1: Cruz de Estacas: 6.1km, Stage 2, Veredita: 6.6km, Stage 3: Cieneguilla: 5.2km












So we made it. Three long days, that seemed much more. Can't imagine anyone asking for more, it was a plentiful menu of trails and I think it's safe to say we had dessert too and are quite satisfied. We had a blast and are now dreaming of the next one.

Hope to see everybody soon again in one trail or another, but knowing people finished with high spirits and genuine stoke after getting to know our Mexican trails brings great honour to me, and I am quite happy to have been able to be a part of this Tran Sierra Norte and share our trails with everyone!

Till next time Twowheeledjunkies!






You can check all results by day and by stage here

Special thanks to all the sponsors, without them this party wouldn't have been possible: Bikextore, Rocky Mountain Bicycles, POC, Bikextore, Rua by Sellamilk, TRP Brakes, Sensus Grips, Feedback Sports, Bikes & More, Flat Tire Defender, Osprey Packs, EHEC, Hexcentrix, Loam Coffee.

So if you're still hungry for another great Mexican adventure and don't want to miss out or didn't get to be a part of this amazing race, #TransierraNorte's registrations for 2018 are up now here!!!

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MENTIONS: @nswitalski / @transierranorte /

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