Words: Ryan Cross
Images: Dane Cronin Photography & Ryan Cross
When Sports Garage ambassador Ryan Cross arrived in Duitama, Colombia for a seven-day cycling journey, he was prepared for a seven-day, 350-mile ride through the stunning Colombian countryside with a whopping 35,000-feet of climbing. However, he was unaware that he was about to stumble upon a larger story about how the beautiful South American nation is attempting to put a period of violence behind it and take a trip that would change the lens through which he would view the country. It was a cycling tour, sure, but it ended up being so much more than that.
Our group rolled out of Duitama to begin the first ride of our epic journey together, led by our new friend and local cafe owner, Mayra. As we soft-pedaled through the chaotic streets of Duitama, we were greeted with cheers and whistles, children turned their heads, and cars honked in excitement. “Vamos Gringos!” they said, over and over. The people in Duitama were absolutely thrilled to see a group of Americans taking to the streets on two wheels exploring their country. Our group of seven riders moved along with a palpable energy. None of us had ever experienced a welcome quite like this, and we were only two miles in.
Mayra (center) directs us through Duitama. Rolling through town was an adventure in itself.
The stunning countryside had us all in awe, each and every day.
We pushed our bikes and bodies to the limit.
After descending over 20 miles, we appreciated the smoother roads at lower altitudes.
The gravel roads in Colombia are some of the best any of us had ever ridden.
Over the course of our seven-day tour, we traversed through jungles, crossed high-deserts, rainforests, and palermo (alpine) climates. Each day presented its own variety of fun and excitement, and our crew had the trip of a lifetime.