La Ruta’s day 2 was about as welcoming as a punch in the face: 3 minute warm up to a 30 percent grade that lasted an hour and averaged about 20 percent to the top. Oh, and did I mention unfriendly pace that was being set at the front by Manny and two previous La Ruta winners? This hill was no joke! If you stop giving 100 percent, you fall over and roll down the hill. Manny and I have a sprocket combination of 27 front-36 rear, and that is just enough to keep you on the bike. As we crested the top, legs burning and back aching from our “sit down-lean over the bars” technique, I was hoping to reap the benefit of a nice down hill. If rutted slippery clay is your bag, right on. Throw in the fact that the clay build up is locking the front tire and you have a party.

The next part of day 2’s course is essentially a road race due to the constant road-paving project going on here in Costa Rica. Don’t think that this lessened the pain. These guys hammered the next 8000ft of climbing at unfriendly speed. We had a few breaks here and there with a nice tailgate lunch (thanks to Daniel Muñiz at Economy Rent a Car for our loaner pickup truck) and some of the best coffee on the planet. We had a fun group with all levels of riders, but the star in my book was a 3 time La Ruta top 50 finisher and amputee Dax Jaikel. He lost his leg training for his first La Ruta when he was hit by a car, but has not let that deter him at all. Bravo Dax!

As usual, the course continued to take crazy twists and turns, and each time we stopped, a new story of getting lost popped up. I could see how this was definitely going to be an issue. The signs are a bit obscure and the rain and fog make it difficult to find route symbols. Between route-finding and “don’t get dropped here” being beat into me every 10 mins, I forgot about the pain in my legs and the ride was over just like that. Thinking back on the ride however, I can’t understand how they can say, “If you make it through day one, your 80 percent there”. Day 2 had the steepest roads I have ever seen. They obviously dump the concrete from the top and let gravity take it course to build these roads.

Thanks for reading, Manuel Prado, Ben Bostrom.