Video: Marcelo Gutiérrez Helps Locals in Colombia Build New Trails by giantbicycles

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Shred-BC FL (Oct 20, 2020 at 21:55)

It's incredible to see mountain biking making it to people and places around the world where it can act as an escape from the harsh realities of their lives. Keep up the rad work!

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cparrett89 (Oct 21, 2020 at 1:34)

I know you're trying to spread positivity but just keep in mind most of these people probably don't want or need any pity, they're fully stoked on life even if they don't have a carbon full suspension enduro rig. Mountain biking is a great escape from daily life for all of us, and it's great to make the sport as accessible as possible.

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ski-bike-repeat (Oct 21, 2020 at 4:23)

I may not speak Spanish, but I totally understood exactly what you said Marcelo. We see the EWS in LATAM, come on DH WC, there is a huge opportunity there waiting for you that aids your sponsors and promotes the local sense. Its a win win

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slyfink (Oct 21, 2020 at 8:17)

Did you catch the part where this is an ad for his new bike? or just the good vibes part? ;D

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rngd30 (Oct 21, 2020 at 21:20)

@slyfink: i though this was only publicity for Marcelos image. Now I double don’t want to watch the video

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murfio (Oct 21, 2020 at 3:15)

Marcelo is a thoroughly decent chap.

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bishopsmike (Oct 21, 2020 at 6:32)

Yeah, hopefully this brings up the next crop of awesome Colombian shredders!

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withdignityifnotalacrity (Oct 21, 2020 at 6:36)

Love seeing stuff from South America. So much potential for stoke there. Columbia specifically seems to be on the come up. Finally stable and peaceful. Would love to visit once all this covid stuff finally blows over.

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slyfink (Oct 21, 2020 at 8:22)

Man, this video makes me want to go there. My last bike trip was to Ecuador and it was awesome. After watching the EWS races in Colombia, I thought it would be the perfect place for our next trip.

I dug around a bit to see if there were any guiding outfits that offered "enduro" tours, and couldn't find anything. I emailed the EWS organizer to see if he knew guides or offered tours himself, but no response (granted my written spanish is kinda ugly). And then Covid hit, so I imagine priorities are elsewhere at the moment.

Colombia seems to have so much potential to attract North American mountain bike tourism: it's relatively close (I think from Toronto, Bogota is a 5 hour flight?), it looks like it has awesome tourism infrastructure (if air bnb listings are to be trusted), and awesome terrain. All it needs is some guides...

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juanescobar82 (Oct 21, 2020 at 8:38)

This guy can help you out with the tours in case you visit Colombia, probably hook you up with people all over the country in case you want to ride in different regions.

instagram.com/sueltelemountainadventures?igshid=pekrsrlyozgr

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slyfink (Oct 21, 2020 at 11:12)

@juanescobar82: Thanks! I will definitely look him up when it's that time again!

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Lagr1980 (Oct 21, 2020 at 23:21)

@slyfink having lived in COL/ECU/PER/VEN I can tell you that colombia has lots of fantastic places but for guided tours, without security/safety concerns, easier access, nothing beats landing in Quito and exploring the country by car without the need for super long trips or taking flights (regardless of the season although rains more from oct-apr)... or going to Peru, straight to Cuzco, may be with a stop in Lima..

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cparrett89 (Oct 22, 2020 at 0:01)

You'll find tons of local guides. Best of all it'll be like riding with homies, not professionals. Hit my DMs if you ever need help.

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slyfink (Oct 22, 2020 at 11:28)

@cparrett89: duuude! I've bookmarked this article. When travel resumes, you'll be hearing from me!

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Andresjb (Oct 22, 2020 at 19:32)

Sure we have Enduro Tours! Hit us at biketravelscol@gmail.com and we'll organize it!

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bemery (Oct 21, 2020 at 16:33)

So cool to see. I spent a summer living in San Gil, and there were kids who absolutely ripped (despite being on some worryingly jankie bikes). It was rad as hell. I just wished the area had fewer barbed-wire fences, so people could explore the beautiful landscape a bit more. That all comes with more advocacy though, which makes work like this even sweeter.

Can't wait to visit Colombia again and check out this trail and hopefully many others!

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anyexcusetoride (Oct 22, 2020 at 6:46)

Did no one else, especially Giant, see the massive irony and complete lack of tact in this advert? Let's go to a place where a bunch of riders don't have a lot to spend on bike (but still shred and don't care about the fanciest bikes) and use that as a platform to showcase our most expensive modern amazing high tech bike? They even set it up themselves in the video by explaining how these guys shred with old, worn bikes?!

Serious lack of taste here Giant.

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OzarkBike (Oct 21, 2020 at 7:00)

Nice video. Beautiful scenery.

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madmon (Oct 21, 2020 at 13:52)

Mad respect from Jamaica and Canada. Building trails in the jungle is tough work.

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panchocampbell (Oct 21, 2020 at 8:10)

Excelente video Marcelo!!! el Antony Bourdain del mountain bike!!

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suspended-flesh FL (Oct 21, 2020 at 12:20)

Pero sin la adicción a la heroína, espero

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foggnm (Oct 21, 2020 at 8:41)

Giant, send that man a hex wrench set. He's assembling a bike with a multitool!

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DavidSA (Oct 21, 2020 at 9:38)

There wasn't all that much to assemble, honestly.

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mrkamot (Oct 21, 2020 at 19:04)

Having an ex WC racer as your adviser on trail building the best thing. Try not to stumble onto drug plantation fields please

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lalientoxc (Oct 21, 2020 at 8:57)

La persona más humilde que cualquiers se pueda topar en la vida.

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novajustin (Oct 21, 2020 at 8:52)

wow, sick trails!

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PeruvianMountainRides (Oct 21, 2020 at 15:35)

Queremos puro ir!