During the campaign yesterday I saw
a couple locals riding downhill bikes in the plaza. After talking to one of
them, he invited me to ride with his crew today. They set me up on a full
suspension Kona Stinky and treated me with so much kindness.
I met Brugna around 3 at the plaza
and we headed to catch a bus to the top of the mountain. The bus was actually a
flat bed truck that packed bout 20 people in the back. We strapped our bikes to
the side of the truck, along with a few more of his friends then rode on the
top of the cab all the way, holding on for dear life. Making it to the top was a win in and of
itself but next I had to make it down the mountain alive. Before we started
everyone strapped on their full-faced helmets, knee and elblow pads. I put on
my road bike gloves and helmet and prayed they would protect me.
We started down and I tried to
navigate the toughest downhill I’ve ever seen on a bike. Luckily the suspension
soaked up most of the drops but within minutes I had crashed pretty hard. I
brushed myself off and managed to walk the stuff that seemed too hard and
carefully ride everything else. I had probably four or five pretty big crashes
but nothing that broke the skin. Brugna was incredibly nice and didn’t complain
about having to wait on me while his six other friends were ripping it
downhill. He was obviously the best one of them all because when we got to the
biggest jump of the day (8 meters) he cleared it no problem and managed to do a
trick for the camera.
After making it down the 30 minute
run somewhat intact, we stopped at the tienda and shared and couple large
Pilsens and in traditional Peruvian fashion, shared one small cup that was
passed around after each person drank. It felt great to be hanging out with the
local cycling scene and I wish I had met them all earlier as they told me with
a little more practice I would be rippin’ it just as hard as them. After drinks
we headed to Brugna’s house to drop off the bikes and his small garage was
covered in old bike parts and tires and I felt right at home. He
whole-heartedly invited me to ride with his crew again, but to my
disappointment I probably wont be able to as I am leaving tomorrow and when I
return will have work campaigns until the day I leave….
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