Cycling in Colombia: Ultra Racing, Adventure & Ice Cream with Rafael Ospino

Yeah, COVID hit, impact everyone, and in ways that, you know, we...

I keep on hearing different ways that people have been impacted or locked somewhere because couldn't go back home.

But Colombia has always been a big cycling place.

Colombia has big powerhouse names in pro cycling.

But I think now, for the last two years maybe, it's starting to explode more in the international scene for adventure cycling.

People think of Colombia cycling, you know, uh, the huge climbs, of course, like I said, the pro riders.

But there is this completely different world of gravel and adventure riding developing there.

Uh, do you think Colombia is actually one of the world's- Great untapped gravel destinations

Uh, for sure.

Uh, at that moment, there was like the cycling year or Colombia was on the spot for cycling.

And right after COVID, there was a boom of cycling, and people were, of course, locally and internationally trying to find places to go and riding more.

There was this huge, uh, boom of, of races and, and gravel b- was becoming a thing.

That's one of the things Tres Puertos Wheels was directed or is, it's been always directed to gravel and adventure, like bikepacking mostly.

Um, not long, long distance per se, but, but mostly gravel.

And I started doing, uh, 100 milers, which is pretty decent distance for, for a race.

Yeah.

Uh, and, uh, that also changed the perspective a little bit and, and, and we gather a community around, a- around that.

And after COVID, we went out and, and we were supporting a couple races that were growing and, and there's always people who wants to get on adventures here for sure.

Yeah.

Uh, I mean, i- if I told you I have never ridden in Colombia and wanted to come for an adventure, not a racing holiday, uh, where would you send me?

There are many places.

There are many spots-

[laughs]

... nearby.

It depends on what you want.

Yeah, COVID hit, impact everyone, and in ways that, you know, we...

I keep on hearing different ways that people have been impacted or locked somewhere because couldn't go back home.

But Colombia has always been a big cycling place.

Colombia has big powerhouse names in pro cycling.

But I think now, for the last two years maybe, it's starting to explode more in the international scene for adventure cycling.

People think of Colombia cycling, you know, uh, the huge climbs, of course, like I said, the pro riders.

But there is this completely different world of gravel and adventure riding developing there.

Uh, do you think Colombia is actually one of the world's- Great untapped gravel destinations

Uh, for sure.

Uh, at that moment, there was like the cycling year or Colombia was on the spot for cycling.

And right after COVID, there was a boom of cycling, and people were, of course, locally and internationally trying to find places to go and riding more.

There was this huge, uh, boom of, of races and, and gravel b- was becoming a thing.

That's one of the things Tres Puertos Wheels was directed or is, it's been always directed to gravel and adventure, like bikepacking mostly.

Um, not long, long distance per se, but, but mostly gravel.

And I started doing, uh, 100 milers, which is pretty decent distance for, for a race.

Yeah.

Uh, and, uh, that also changed the perspective a little bit and, and, and we gather a community around, a- around that.

And after COVID, we went out and, and we were supporting a couple races that were growing and, and there's always people who wants to get on adventures here for sure.

Yeah.

Uh, I mean, i- if I told you I have never ridden in Colombia and wanted to come for an adventure, not a racing holiday, uh, where would you send me?

There are many places.

There are many spots-

[laughs]

... nearby.

It depends on what you want.