I been reading this forum's post for a while, but I just sign in.

I live in Mexico City, beautiful place surrounded by mountains. The altittude could be a bit high for some cyclists as it is about 7200 ft (2400 m) above sea level nearby the city downtown and could be up to 9600 ft (3200 m) towards to the highlands surrounding the city. I have made rides over 12300 ft (4100 m) and you can feel the short of breathness.

I do both road and mtb, with excellent places to ride. I still feel more secure doing mtb as road cycling depends much on the non-educated drivers we have here.

My rides are:

2007 Specialized Tarmac Pro
2006 Specialized Stumpjumper FSR Pro (used for epic or long and more tech rides)
2006 Specialized S-Works Stumpjumper HT (used for competition (mtb marathons))

I form part of a riding group here in Mexico (www,biciymontana.com), where we do weekly rides and sometimes I help guiding the new and intermediate riders.

Please feel free to contact me in case you are in town or interested to set up a cycling vacation in Mexico City or surrounding areas. Do not be afraid of the so commented these days swine flu!!

Saludos,

Angelo

Welcome Angelo,

I'd love to bicycle in a city as large as Mexico City.

12,000ft wow!

My wife and I enjoy vacationing in Puerto Valarta and Acapulco.

Welcome, Ángelo! I hope you can manage to avoid the swine flu.

I have a few question for you: Do many chilangos commute by bike? Are there bike paths in D.F.? Is it possible to travel on the metro with a bike?

Regards,

Ekdog

Wow, that altitude sounds exhilirating! I hear the air quality is usually pretty lousy in the city, that must combine with the altitude to be quite a one-two punch.
Great to have you on the forums.

Thanks for your replies.

Riding in Mexico City needs to get a little bit used to the altitude.

I almost ride all the time by the surrounding highlands from the city. Here, the air is not so polluted as in the city, but it is a bit thinner.

You would be surprised about the amount of nice forests around Mexico City with nice developed specific mtb trails. Some are parks where you pay a simbolic fee (about $2) which is used to mantain the trails.

Weather is very good to ride as it always is fresh in the mornings all year long. Rain season goes from May to October.

Even as there are some bike paths in the city, these ones are not as good as it might be needed to commute. Riding in the city is not highly recommended, basically because the poor air quality and the lack of driving skills and education, mostly from the public transportation.

There is a nice monthly ride around the city (the first sunday of the month) where the city closed the car access of some of the main streets and avenues. This is nice way to get and know to the bussy city downtown. This ride is better known as "Cicloton". There are a bunch of spots where you can hire a bike. I have never done it, but I think it cost nothing or something really cheap. Hihly recommended if you are in town and like to know the city is a different way.

You can use the subway or some bus systems carrying your bike only before 6:30am and after 9:00pm during the week. For the weekends you can carry a bike before 7:00am and after 6:00pm on saturdays and whole day on sundays.

There are also gorgous places to ride in a range for about 1 to 2 hours driving from Mexico City.

I will be glad to invite you to ride with us in Mexico City anytime you want. We have guys comming form the US and Europe which ended with much better rides than expected.

Saludos,
Angelo