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It is important to learn the local situation before going for the Central America’s mountain bike race, because this will be helpful. This particular required us to collect many a adrenalin-rushing accounts from El Reto.

One of the most popular forms of mountain bike racing these days is something called El Reto. El Reto was established in the year 2007 and derives it’s name from Guatemala’s national bird, the quetzal. This is a fitting comparison. Riders glide across sharp 30 degree slopes, climbing to an elevation of 10,000′. Perceptive maneuvering is required when downhilling on narrow, winding mountain roads, in order to avoid a wreck with oncoming traffic.

The 3-day El Reto event is rich in history, with a course used by Mayans for hundreds of years. This race has more single-track mileage than other epics. This 145-mile race begins in Antigua and terminates at Retalhuleu. Either the two-person teams check in at three points each day within five minutes of each rider, or they end up with a 60-minute penalty. After the conclusion of the race, accumulated times are added for a determination of final results.

Greg Bruce and Scott Seaton, from Oregon, the 2008 El Reto second-place winners share their adventure ‘ If you are from North America or Europe this is a “must read” to prepare you for the Central American MTB races.’ Scott remarked that the miles are long yet they aren’t too rough. It is the difference between racing and survival.

“El Reto is easier than La Ruta because La Ruta has more hills and faster competition.” tells us Susan Haywood, a pro world champ and rides for Trek/Volkswagen and is also featured in one of our previous articles. El Reto, which didn’t have much in the way of single track, was a little easier than some American races like the Breck Epic and Pisgah MTB Stage Race.

Sharing his vivid El Reto stories and images, Jason Hilimire another pro biker, writes : On Day 1 ‘ After the long lunch, it was back to the room for an hour of naptime and then right back to the restaurant to eat a second lunch.’We were so hungry we scarcely noticed the first. Thanks to our second lunch, we had even more incentive to rest up so that at the dinner buffet, we could feast on anything and everything that would fill us to the gills.

Stage racing, ride, eat, sleep, eat again, sleep again, etc. What could be any better? Let it not dupe you! Jason entered “The prior day’s efforts were exhausting and had worn me down even though I was expecting the second day to be an epic day also” into his journal. Although diminutive in height, it had lots of lift, elevating us to over 9500ft.

For more cool stories and vistas

For those looking for different options for their first-time Central American MTB action, the more manageable 18K, 28K and 42K off-road series of the San Juan Howler are a good choice.

Ligia Madrigal wears two hats – that of an adventurous racer and a graphics designer. The Costa Rican champion in the female division. Stay away from drugs while you keep smiling, find pleasure in life, keep riding, train hard, make sacrifices, and do what is required to be the best. For additional travel opportunities in Central America.

Author: Discover the mountain bike vacations that whereintheworldareyou.com and Sunamita Lim uncovered in Central America! Indiana Jones could only wish for such an extra-ordinary region for mountain biking. Click on mountain bike action now to discover this unique region.