This is actually the first part of what was (is?) going to be bikepacking.com‘s Chingaza route. I rode it for the first time with Lael Wilcox and Julian Manrique the night Lael started her FKT on the route; it was a beautiful, clear night with an almost full moon, and the vistas across the Páramo were breathtaking. The ride takes you out of Bogotá using the popular paved Verjón climb, before turning on to the dirt and going up and over Páramo El Verjón on a series of ancient trails with a few hike-a-bike sections. It then heads back down to join part of the GraVALS route in reverse, passes through Colombian cycling legend Egan Bernal’s home town, Zipaquirá, and heads on to Sesquilé on a dusty dirt road. The first half of the route is demanding, with some steep climbs and descents, but the second half is much easier on the legs and is basically flat. From about half way in, there are lots shops and restaurants to stop for refreshments, and there are places to stay all along the route.

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