Ruta de Cardon: 38km of Questionable Decisions
At the weekend, I found myself questioning my life choices.
Not in a dramatic, midlife-crisis way. Just the quiet, steady kind that happens when your lungs are on fire, and your legs are negotiating with your brain.
Last Friday, I heard about the 3rd annual Ruta de Cardon, a 38km mountain bike ride happening the very next day in Todos Santos. Naturally, instead of training, hydrating, or preparing like a sensible adult, I opted for a triple espresso and a chocolate brownie less than 10 minutes before the start.
Performance enhancement. Baja style.
I planned to ride solo but immediately ran into my old biking buddy, Jaime, equally underprepared and equally enthusiastic. Perfect. Misery loves company.
About 40 of us rolled out at 10am with a cheerful police escort through town and into the Sierra Madre trails. A motley crew: teenagers, men in their 60s, lean gazelles, and solid workhorses. The kind of group that makes you feel both confident and deeply unsure of yourself.
We hit the jump run, then climbed a steep section we call “Labyrinth.” No idea why. At some point you stop asking these questions and just pedal.
Thankfully, it was slightly overcast and cool. Hearts thumping, lungs expanding, body temperatures adjusting. We crested the first major climb around 10:30am and, unlike our usual social rides, didn’t stop. Straight into a fast, joyful descent. Same at the tunnel under the highway. No pause. It began to dawn on me that this was not a casual spin.
The pack thinned. I was riding solo again, settling into rhythm.
And the desert deserves a paragraph of its own.
From a distance, it looks like scrub, cactus, and dust. Get closer, and you notice personality everywhere. Tiny ecosystems are shaped by slope, aspect, shade, neighbors, wind, and water. It’s strange and beautiful and quietly enchanting.
I took a corner too hot, dropped the bike, dusted myself off, and carried on. Pride slightly bruised. Nothing else, thankfully.
Then the heat came.
By the time I emerged from the desert section, I was cooked. Properly hot. Fatigued. Wondering if I’d overcommitted.
Then, like a mirage, the first rest station appeared. Riders ahead of me lounging, laughing, sipping cold drinks. I’ve never felt such pure joy at the sight of a Pellegrino soda. I refueled with sugar, declined the beer (for now), and after about 15 minutes, we rolled out toward Punta Lobos for the “easier” half.
I’ll be honest, it didn’t feel easier.
I don’t remember the last time I felt that level of fatigue. But something shifted. I looked around and saw riders 10–15 years older than me, not exactly carved from marble, quietly getting it done. No drama. No excuses.
Coming in hot at Sierra Madre. Photo credit: Mike Brinkman
Inspiration doesn’t always shout. Sometimes it just pedals steadily beside you.
There was camaraderie everywhere. Strangers encouraging each other. Laughter. Shared suffering. People genuinely embracing the suck. I’ve often said you find the best people on the hill, and once again, the hill delivered.
After the second rest stop (more soda), we faced a long sandy but mercifully flat stretch back toward Todos Santos. Traffic was stopped as I rolled in solo. Riders cheered. An imaginary finish line never felt so real.
Damn, that was tough.
Two beers and tacos later, my nervous system began to forgive me. A cold shower and a siesta sealed the deal.
Before heading home, I made a point to connect with as many of these new Ruta de Cardon veterans as I could. Then back to family life, a little more humbled, a little more grateful.
The takeaway?
Say yes to the thing that scares you slightly and try not to think about it too hard. Test yourself. Recalibrate what you think you’re capable of. Most limits are negotiated, not fixed.
And if nothing else, you’ll earn the tacos and have new war stories to share.
What a day.
Want an accountability partner to try the next scary thing in your life?
Send me a message, and we can discuss what wellness coaching can do for you. At the very least I am happy to connect and share some insights.
