bike ride down Cotapaxi

When I rode a 4x4 SUV up to the Parqueador del Refugio to hike up Cotopaxi, we were dodging out-of-control bicyclists going downhill on a narrow, winding, and rut filled road on a foggy day. The driver kept muttering "tranquilo." I wasn't sure if he was saying "tranquilo" to himself or to the bicyclists. What surprised me was that there wasn't a lead guide bicyclist guiding other bicyclists down, keeping them together, and acting as an early warning. Instead, bicyclists were spread out so you didn't know when you'd run into one. There was, however, a trailing van to pick up the carnage.

On the conditions that I saw on that day, I wouldn't recommend mountain biking down Cotopaxi unless you're experienced (remember, you're riding on an unfamiliar bicycle), have proper safety wear (helmet, elbow pads, etc.), a good first aid kit, and good health insurance. You'll also be at the mercy of unexperienced drivers who aren't expecting out-of-control bicyclists hurdling down the road.

What is an acceptable risk is a personal thing. For me, it's not something that I would do since there were too many risks that I couldn't control.

Edited by: SojoMojo

Hey.
I did a ride from Cotopaxi in July. Everything was fine and if your kids are little bit adventurous and like sports they will love it.
I saw a big difference between agencies.There were three 4X4 jeep from Biking Dutchman and they seemed quite unorganized-nobody showed them how to ride and so on.
But i think that was a problem because there were many of them.

I did it with Aries Bikes http://www.ariesbikecompany.com/ with a very good guide Lincoln. He speaks good english and has a big knowledge of everything regarding Ecuador.
If you go slowly there is no danger, but if you like little bit of adrenalin than you can have much fun :) . I never rode a bike back home, but it was fantastic up there. All together we were riding the bike for about 3 hours(but me and another guy were really speading), with a stop for a quick lunch.
regards, marin

We did the mountain biking down Cotapaxi back in July as well with the flying dutchman. The trip was great and probably the most fun we had in our three weeks in Ecuador.

Although you are free to go ahead if you like, there is no pressure and you can go as fast or as slow as you like. I have no mountain biking experience and hadn´t riden a bike in probably 12 years (I´m 27) and never felt in danger.

The first part of the ride there will be cars on the "road" but the guide gives you instructions which side of the road to keep to and you can always stop to let the cars past.

Also we had one person in our group who had had enough by about hafl way. Basically there was a part that wasn´t downhill so you needed to actually cycle. Without being too politically uncorrect this person was a tad large and couldn´t do it. So they just threw her bike on the 4x4 and she rode in that. Sure your 12 year old could do the same if wasn´t up to the cycling.