Cotopaxi is probably one of the places that you cant just go once. Although I spent a good 4 days in and around the park I still hadnt been to the main entrance. Steven, a student from Quito had written to me before about meeting and riding so it was set. We will go biking in the park.
Chewbaca and Teddy really wanted to go but unfortunately they will have to stay home this time.
Steven already started the fun without me and got a flat before I even got there. Both of us went without patches but luckily the bike rental place had some.
We could sneak some views amongst the clouds of Iliniza but Cotopazi was solid white.
Eventually we peer-pressured into taking a lift to the top as seemingly everybody else was bringing bikes up. A $3 ride each took us to 4500m where we promptly took photos with the military. Kind of regred not asking about the guns... fat bike with a gun slung around your chest would be rad!
and so, we spent the next 1 hour to 1.5 going up the sandy trail barely catching our breaths. Pushing and carrying seemed to be about equal so we alternated between the two.
When we reached the refugio, a ranger ran up to us with this altitude telling us that we cant bring bikes up. There was no sign, whatsoever down and you would figure it would be better to tell us before one and a half hour push. He pulled out his radio and told us that if we dont walk the bikes down he will fine us.
so.... we definitely did not ride our bikes down when out of sight of the refugio.
What followed was a bumpy descend on the road, passing bike tourists like traffic cones and cars, like pedestrians.
A nice and flat road led to Machachi. Steve often saught escape from the bumpy road on the grassy roadside.
Me, I did just fine.
and the locals also had the right idea! tire-size-wise
The cobbles got the best of Steve´s bike and we ended up hitching a ride to town to fix the pinch flat
and then possibly the most awesome descent for a while. For 30-40 minutes cruising down into the Latacunga valley, no brakes, no problem!
