I signed up to go with Pro Downhill Cycling who looked like they had pretty good gear. The road starts a few hours from La Paz in a stuning backdrop of snow covered mountains. I was doing the trip in the rainy season but we were very lucky with the weather as it was a mixture of sunshine and cloud all day. Padded up, suited and booted, we were ready to go. I had not ridden a bike for three years but it didn´t seem too bad getting back on. The first 15km or so is a nice steady downhill ride on tarmac. Then comes the real road...
The road up
Gravel tracked with sharp turns leading to 100m plus shear drops and sometimes only 3m wide this is the WMDR. It is so named as between 200-300 people died each year on it before they closed it to traffic and opened a safer route through the mountains. It is a ridiculous road, at some points when the traffic met the vehicle going down (this includes huge lorries) would need to revers up the road to a point where the vehicle below could get by. There are two or three turns which are the dealy ones and there is no such thing as barriers here.
The WMDR
On the gravel track the full suspension on the bikes did their magic. Free of traffic you are able to go as fast as you dare. One of the reasons to do this adrenaline filled ride is the scenery, and it really takes your breath away. The road traverses the side of a moutain which looks out over more moutains covered in lush green cloud forrest. On parts of the road water cascades down the side of the cliff above and across the road. You cannot help but be in awe as you fly down its winding trail.
Cruising down
Sweet pic
Although 99% of the road is downhill it was still tiring and we were happy when we reached our end destination, a lodge with pool situated in one of the coca regions of Bolivia. Overalls were thrown off as we dived into the pool and enjoyed a couple of hours of relaxation in the sun before returning to La Paz. It was a very fun day.
All over
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