Costa Rica is a country of many adventures that always challenge the body and mind.  A very popular method of challenging oneself in Costa Rica is by taking up mountain biking, one of the most popular sports in the country.  Building off of the popularity from the famed La Ruta de Los Conquistadores, bike races and bike rides have are occurring nearly every weekend.  These long distance and challenging rides force participants to push their bodies to limits most wouldn’t imagine, and require a rock solid mindset many Outward Bound alum know very well!

Not to be left out of this fantastic adventure, base staffers Britten and Ryan hopped on a bus to Monteverde for the 2011 edition of Eco Bike.  This organized ride and race gathers more than 1,000 of Costa Rica’s most passionate mountain bikers for a full day of climbing, descending, beautiful trails and unforgettable memories.  Britten and Ryan both participated in the race, and then finished up their day with the recreational route, which saw more than 1,000 participants riding through the Costa Rican country side.  Although both starting with great position in the race, both riders suffered from untimely flat tires.  Even with a speedy repair for both, many positions were lost and glory slipped away.  Steep climbs, harrowing descents and nothing resembling a flat section of trail pushed everyone to the limits on a beautiful sunny day in Monteverde.  Base staffer Britten said, “After a full day of riding the famous Monteverde hillside, it’s clear why so many people see this as a go to destination”!  Logging more than 45 Km of mountain biking was just what the doctor ordered for these two, and certainly helped them to fall asleep for the 6 hour bus ride back to base.  Next up for the two bikers, is a lovely trip to the Orosi Valley for another fantastic weekend!