Legs prepare and adrenaline melts with emotion when barely their name is heard, boosted and awake on the railroad ties between the Mexico capital and Morelos state; it stands as the great Mexican cyclist challenge, the Cuernavaca Railroad bike way.
Its about a journey for everyone, where everyone can enjoy, but just some of them are able to achieve it and have the satisfaction to say” I did it”. This place provides beautiful landscapes to a lineal portal that take from urban to rural, connecting between present and past.
Cuernavaca Railroad bike way is an experience of more than 37 miles made for an adventurer, but apt for the strongest cyclist spirits from its inauguration in 2006.
The beginning of the road
With the beginning and end (depends if it goes or returns) in Polanco and to Tlalpan, to cover it completely is a challenge. But, don’t worry, if you’re a spontaneous cyclist, or by contrast, this is an extension of your body; you will enjoy this route as a sport or hobby.
This is thanks to the constant transformations along the road. These can start from the Tacubaya-San Antonio track; the journey usually begins in Polanco, where one can be an observer of the modern structures as Soumaya museum.
Another option is start in Revolucion or Insurgentes avenue. Both points will guide you to opulent and popular neighborhoods to reach to the real beginning of the challenge in Altavista avenue, where the climbing starts.
This will last 1.2 miles approximately to get to elevated bridges to cross. The first one is between Toluca and Romulo O Farril avenue, and second one at the intersection of Romulo O Farril with Don Manuelito
From city to country side
Relax, these ascents are the most difficult, even though aren’t the only ones, these exhaust you. If you get here, you will find a different landscape.
The bike way continues in front of the Luis Dolando Colosio Murrieta school, where if you go in midweek you will have to avoid pedestrians and students. Now, on the other side, if you go on weekends, you will have to cross market stalls, and if there are many people, you will have to get off the bike to walk between market stalls and pedestrians until you find the end.
This track have zones from Pedregal, San Nicolás Totoloapan, Lomas Altas of Padierna and Chimilli.
Journey to underworld
Passing those destinations, you will get to the first leap into the past with the recreational bike way station in CDMX, a meeting point for cyclists. This site is an original stop of the Cuernavaca’s train, the one that decided to stop wheels and rest motors since June 16th of 1997.
From here, starts the contact with our ancestors, even though you don’t believe it, the Cuernavaca bike way will steal your life for a moment to transport you into a world of Aztec spirits. In some further miles, you will have the privilege to cross the Paso a Mictlán, a little rock formation with prehispanic vibes that are the most beautiful allure of this route.
The final sigh
Once you crossed the prehispanic track and going in a slight slope during another moment, you will get to the cycle station of Magdalena Petlacalco. A bit further you will find an antique train carriage, which windows seem as iron eyes that have seen the passage of thousands of cyclists. Don’t disappoint quitting in front of it, you almost reach it.
If you get there, perfect, get off your bike, breath slowly and celebrate, congratulations, you succeed. You arrived to the end of the great Cuernavaca Railroad bike way, the great Mexican cyclist challenge.
Now, can you return?
Maybe you’re used to longer distances, or not. Maybe this journey has been a piece of cake for you or maybe is the challenge of your life. Congratulate yourself, it doesn’t matter if you went fast or slow, you’ve ride between 3 and 6 hours by bike. Are you ready for the next 3 returning hours?
No worries, if you aren’t prepared to return in your bike, you can go to a bus station and take the Pullman de Morelos. Now you and your bike can rest, suitable to keep your bike in the lower compartment until you get to CDMX again.
Have a good ride. Ride safe.
