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Tuesday 25 November 2014

Who we are and what you will see

Richard

Vicky

Alan




As you can see the Bike Cajamarca team is happily awaiting your visit. We will ensure that all your cycling, safety and personal needs are attended to in a friendly and professional way.
CYCLING IN CAJAMARCA
Cajamarca is relatively prosperous city being the site of the enormous Yanacocha gold mine but until recently cycling has been mainly for necessity rather leisure. However the Cumbe Mayo cycling club has tried to change that and there is a growing and enthusiastic group of young cyclists who organise rides and a few races. Richard, our Operations Manager and Senior Guide is one of that group and his family run a cycle repair workshop offering services to local cyclists and promising to fix anything you can ride.

The surrounding countryside is truly spectacular. As well as mining this is a farming community and there are many green fields where cows graze and farmers produce milk and cheese and other products. Further afield you will find pine forests, mountain passes, tranquil lakes where locals crop reeds to turn into the distinctive local hats and pre Incan ruins and interesting geology. Cajamarca is a sub-tropical highland some 2,700 meters above sea levels. Most of the cycle trails are not technical and are generally non-asfalt trails used by local micro-buses and farm transport much of which is horse or donkey powered.

HOW WE GOT STARTED
In 2010 Alan our UK partner visited Cajamarca and stayed in Casa Mirita as a homestay guest to Vicky our Business Coordinator and Financial Manager. Alan hired Richard as guide and rode with him on many occasions enjoying the pleasure of the trails and Richard's company. When Alan returned to England with the help of his cycling club, Addiscombe Cycling Club he organised a cyclo-sportive and raised sufficient funds to invest in 4 new bikes, safety equipment and publicity. Vicky is a Municipal Guide and well placed to market the services so that  little by little it became a viable business. 2012 is our first year of operation but with little competition in the area  we feel that we can become a successful and sustainable venture.