| If you want to take yourself to the | | | | altitude of 15,400 feet in La Cumbre |
| extreme, nothing will get you there | | | | where the temperature can reach sub-zero |
| faster than gravity assisted mountain | | | | digits through the mountains of La Paz |
| biking. Gravity assisted mountain bike | | | | to the road's end in the warm jungle |
| tours have become more popular in the | | | | village of Coroico, which is set at an |
| recent years, and the special on ABC's | | | | altitude of 3600 feet. |
| Nightline about Bolivia's Death Road has | | | | While "only" 8 mountain bike riders have |
| gotten even your grandma wondering what | | | | fallen to their death since 2003, an |
| gravity assisted mountain biking is all | | | | average of 26 vehicles per year take the |
| about. | | | | plunge; making the trip back up Death |
| Imagine the thrill of plunging 11,800 | | | | Road almost as heart-pounding as the |
| feet in a mere 40 miles as you navigate | | | | ride down. Unfortunately, motor vehicles |
| your mountain bike down some of the most | | | | do travel the one lane road during the |
| treacherous, winding hills in the world. | | | | bike tour, so mountain biking |
| Sounds like every extreme mountain | | | | enthusiasts need to take extra |
| biking enthusiasts dream? This dream can | | | | precautions as the follow their bike |
| become a reality by taking a bike tour | | | | tour guide through Death Road's 200-plus |
| down the aptly named Death Road in La | | | | turns. |
| Paz, Bolivia. While gravity assisted | | | | And speaking of motor vehicles, it is |
| mountain biking is offered in many other | | | | important to remember that the passing |
| places around the world, you will never | | | | laws that are common throughout the rest |
| beat the experience of Death Road. | | | | of Bolivia are thrown out the window on |
| Mountain Biking down Death Road is not | | | | Death Road. Vehicles with the driver |
| for the weak at heart, however, and | | | | closest to the 3000 foot drop edge will |
| should be attempted only by more | | | | pass on the edge - possibly to remind |
| experienced mountain biking adventurers. | | | | them of how close to death they actually |
| La Paz offers bike tours down Death Road | | | | are - so you will want to pay extra |
| which hurtle riders from the starting | | | | close attention as they pass. |