This is a death wish. On my list of “Extreme Activities to Never Attempt,” urban mountain biking is at the top. This is footage from the 2010 Valparaíso Cerro Abajo urban downhill bike race in Chile. It’s in its eighth year, drawing more than 10,000 spectators and shutting down Valparaíso, the largest port city in South America.
You start out at the top of Cerro Carcel, one of Valparaíso’s many hills. Then, basically, it’s a maddening free-for-all down through the city streets-cum-mountains, over rocks, off of walls, and up ramps. The course is taped off, forcing you down narrow sidewalks and tight staircases. If that wasn’t enough, the occasional stray dog might get in your way, too. There’s no word on what the deal with the pinstripe suit is, but we’re not asking any questions.
Check out some insane pictures from this year’s race here, and make sure you watch the video in full-screen mode.
I saw this video before. I think it’s absolutely awesome and I’d love to participate in something like this. My adrenaline started to flow just watching it.
The best part of this video is that the person riding the bike appears to be wearing a snappy pinstriped suit.
This is by no means the most extreme version of downhill biking you’ll find. Red Bull recently sponsored a race (and seemingly everything else on the planet) down a disused quarry, complete with slippery rock shards and spiky landings.
Wouldn’t mind giving it a try. Should have made that clip in 3D