Bicycle Day. That’s how “DÃa de la bici” translates.
Once a year, for the last 26 years, a mass bicycle ride takes place in Arcos. The route is almost all downhill (relief!) and must be about 5 kilometres in length.
On Sunday about 8% of the town’s population dusted off their bicycles (there’s not much call for them around here with all the steep slopes) and made their way to a school called La Salle, from where the bike ride began. There were people of all ages and all abilities, including one old chap whose bike belonged to the 1940s, and serious riders with all the gear.
Along with our travelling friends Leslie, Jim and their son Dan, I took part with Joe. Jim loaned me his bike and the attachment that goes with it for Joe. Here’s a pic:
You can see Joe and I. We were quite a novelty for the spectators, many of whom exclaimed: ¡Qué gracioso! (How lovely!) at the sight of our unusual tandem arrangement.
The boy on the green bike is Dan. He and sister Maddie have been travelling around Europe with their parents since November. It’s their second motorhome odyssey. Last year at around this time, they came to Arcos and chose Casa Campana for a night (of luxury?). We hit it off immediately as friends and saw each other again later in the year. We are all very happy to be reunited once more.
The weather was just right for bike riding: mild, calm and mostly sunny. (That made a nice change from all the rain and strong winds we’re been having in this winter that seems to be going on forever). And the atmosphere between the riders was typical Arcos: full of bonhomie.
It was all about the taking part.
Jim