Jeff's first visit to Mexico was almost 20 years ago. But until this summer, his visits were limited to the rural Baja peninsula. In August 2017, Jeff, who works for tire manufacturer WTB, visited WTB distributor Kinetic Sport SA de CV in San Lius Potosi. He was completely surprised by the economic transformation that has overtaken Mexico. Although the Mexican economy has remained true to its roots, it has developed greatly over the last two decades and the country has become a real destination for any mountain biker.

During the visit in August, Haitman Rivas, the local photographer and bike guide, had made Jeff an offer to show him around his home town of Ixtapan de la Sal. This included a descent from the summit of the nearby Nevado de Toluca, a dormant volcano 4680 meters above sea level.