Urban downhill mountain biking in Chile
March 10, 2025 8:03 AM Subscribe
Please enjoy this POV video of the winner of this year's Cerro Abajo Valparaiso race. 2km descent through the streets, sidewalks, stairs, rooftops, and houses of the hills of Valparaiso.
I like the part where they go through the front door and living room of someone’s house.
posted by procrastination at 8:15 AM on March 10 [10 favorites]
posted by procrastination at 8:15 AM on March 10 [10 favorites]
how is this real
posted by gwint at 8:15 AM on March 10 [5 favorites]
posted by gwint at 8:15 AM on March 10 [5 favorites]
I always go back and forth on these versus events like the Megavalanche or the Mountain of Hell for just how crazy the downhill guys are. Like the city drops are fast and tight and insane, but the mountain drops are a lot of that _and_ 30+ minutes long. But you don't get quite so many staircases on the side of a mountain.
posted by Kyol at 8:22 AM on March 10
posted by Kyol at 8:22 AM on March 10
Wow, the Tour De France needs to up their game! /s
posted by pthomas745 at 8:27 AM on March 10 [1 favorite]
posted by pthomas745 at 8:27 AM on March 10 [1 favorite]
I would have died several times.
posted by Kabanos at 8:27 AM on March 10 [10 favorites]
posted by Kabanos at 8:27 AM on March 10 [10 favorites]
I don't have the tolerance for those tight tolerances.
posted by mollweide at 8:28 AM on March 10 [3 favorites]
posted by mollweide at 8:28 AM on March 10 [3 favorites]
I wonder what these people do for fun?
posted by waving at 8:33 AM on March 10 [3 favorites]
posted by waving at 8:33 AM on March 10 [3 favorites]
I'm assuming that people die doing this, because wat the absolute f. One missed ramp or curb or step or anything and you're gone.
posted by mcstayinskool at 8:42 AM on March 10
posted by mcstayinskool at 8:42 AM on March 10
Looks exhilarating and also likely to kill us mere mortals. I am content to just watch in awe but feel a little sad about it.
posted by Inspector.Gadget at 8:42 AM on March 10
posted by Inspector.Gadget at 8:42 AM on March 10
I guess that false start in the video is the rider wiping out and getting another life?
posted by chavenet at 9:30 AM on March 10 [5 favorites]
posted by chavenet at 9:30 AM on March 10 [5 favorites]
My constant question about feats like this is, "How does anyone get good enough to do this without killing themselves first?"
Yes, I'm aware that people die all the time doing extreme sports. But I'm talking about... how does anyone survive to this point? How does anyone ever get this good to a survive a run like this? Same goes for those wingsuiters who zip between trees at 150mph or parkour off building ledges 100 feet above the ground or do 7 flips on a BMX bike or whatever.
When I'm learning a new thing, like a song on piano, I mess up. A lot. But I just restart and try again. And I'm sure these bikers mess up in the early stages and safer environments, too. But there quickly comes a level of difficulty where the tricks require a level of full commitment and throttle—half-assing it would actually be more dangerous. In these points, you can no longer mess up without simply killing yourself. And there are about 50 of those moments in this single video.
Those are the thresholds I can't fathom crossing.
Amazing stuff, though.
posted by robot_jesus at 9:33 AM on March 10 [3 favorites]
Yes, I'm aware that people die all the time doing extreme sports. But I'm talking about... how does anyone survive to this point? How does anyone ever get this good to a survive a run like this? Same goes for those wingsuiters who zip between trees at 150mph or parkour off building ledges 100 feet above the ground or do 7 flips on a BMX bike or whatever.
When I'm learning a new thing, like a song on piano, I mess up. A lot. But I just restart and try again. And I'm sure these bikers mess up in the early stages and safer environments, too. But there quickly comes a level of difficulty where the tricks require a level of full commitment and throttle—half-assing it would actually be more dangerous. In these points, you can no longer mess up without simply killing yourself. And there are about 50 of those moments in this single video.
Those are the thresholds I can't fathom crossing.
Amazing stuff, though.
posted by robot_jesus at 9:33 AM on March 10 [3 favorites]
Mcstayinskool, yes. Several people a year die doing this. It’s one of the more dangerous sports. More dangerous than riding a motorcycle, less dangerous than cliff jumping.
When I was much younger I used to do this, and even raced in college. It was amazing, but after three concussions I chose to give it up. I think I’ve lost a few IQ points. Way back then it was a much less intense scene. Since then it’s steadily become more extreme, both because the bikes have gotten better and faster, and because it became more and more of a spectacle.
This run is just extraordinary.
I remember that some of the most scary sections of the races to me were actually the fast road sections. In this video he’s easily getting up to 60mph / 100kph. What’s frightening is that the tires on these bikes have big knobs on them for traction on the rough sections, and they’re made from really soft rubber. After a race usually a quarter or a half of the knobs have been torn off. When you’re going fast on pavement, this means you’re always just that less certain of where the limit is before your tires will slide out from under you. Scary.
Still, if he did crash on the road sections he’d probably be just fine. He’s essentially wearing an armored suit. The really narrow sections in stairs are the most dangerous. If he caught his handlebars on a railing then he’d go flying, and there’s no way to control how you land.
posted by AstroCatCommander at 9:37 AM on March 10 [7 favorites]
When I was much younger I used to do this, and even raced in college. It was amazing, but after three concussions I chose to give it up. I think I’ve lost a few IQ points. Way back then it was a much less intense scene. Since then it’s steadily become more extreme, both because the bikes have gotten better and faster, and because it became more and more of a spectacle.
This run is just extraordinary.
I remember that some of the most scary sections of the races to me were actually the fast road sections. In this video he’s easily getting up to 60mph / 100kph. What’s frightening is that the tires on these bikes have big knobs on them for traction on the rough sections, and they’re made from really soft rubber. After a race usually a quarter or a half of the knobs have been torn off. When you’re going fast on pavement, this means you’re always just that less certain of where the limit is before your tires will slide out from under you. Scary.
Still, if he did crash on the road sections he’d probably be just fine. He’s essentially wearing an armored suit. The really narrow sections in stairs are the most dangerous. If he caught his handlebars on a railing then he’d go flying, and there’s no way to control how you land.
posted by AstroCatCommander at 9:37 AM on March 10 [7 favorites]
My constant question about feats like this is, "How does anyone get good enough to do this without killing themselves first?"
"There's only two classifications in cliff diving. There's, 'Grand Champion Cliff Diver' and then, uh, 'Stuff On a Rock.' Very hard to make a comeback in that sport." - Norm MacDonald
posted by The Bellman at 9:41 AM on March 10 [5 favorites]
"There's only two classifications in cliff diving. There's, 'Grand Champion Cliff Diver' and then, uh, 'Stuff On a Rock.' Very hard to make a comeback in that sport." - Norm MacDonald
posted by The Bellman at 9:41 AM on March 10 [5 favorites]
Robot_jesus, yeah, right? I know what you mean. It’s amazing to think about.
But in fact the way people reach this point is by learning in much safer environments. Often people come to this sport from BMX or mountain biking in general, then you build up your skills on big mountains. Crashing in soft dirt is much safer and more comfortable. Also, they’re essentially wearing body armor, including a back brace, so most accidents should be survivable… but not all.
posted by AstroCatCommander at 9:45 AM on March 10
But in fact the way people reach this point is by learning in much safer environments. Often people come to this sport from BMX or mountain biking in general, then you build up your skills on big mountains. Crashing in soft dirt is much safer and more comfortable. Also, they’re essentially wearing body armor, including a back brace, so most accidents should be survivable… but not all.
posted by AstroCatCommander at 9:45 AM on March 10
Kyol, I think the mountain races are much easier than the city races actually. Dirt and even rocks are a lot softer than corners of buildings and stairs.
But also remember the selection effect. 99.9% of runs on these courses include at least one major mistake. Only the flawless ones make it to you.
posted by AstroCatCommander at 9:49 AM on March 10
But also remember the selection effect. 99.9% of runs on these courses include at least one major mistake. Only the flawless ones make it to you.
posted by AstroCatCommander at 9:49 AM on March 10
I can do that, I just donwanna.
posted by Capt. Renault at 10:11 AM on March 10 [1 favorite]
posted by Capt. Renault at 10:11 AM on March 10 [1 favorite]
It's the absolutely minimal clearance on either side of the handlebars that's the most anxiety-inducing part to me. Going downhill fast is inherently dangerous but to do so with very little ability to adjust or correct angles feels like it increases the danger exponentially.
What's the fear of confined spaces at velocity? Claustrotachophobia?
posted by slimepuppy at 10:33 AM on March 10 [3 favorites]
What's the fear of confined spaces at velocity? Claustrotachophobia?
posted by slimepuppy at 10:33 AM on March 10 [3 favorites]
That was cool and also now I might need to go puke.
posted by jacquilynne at 10:36 AM on March 10 [1 favorite]
posted by jacquilynne at 10:36 AM on March 10 [1 favorite]
All I can think about is some poor innocent unknowingly stepping around a corner or exiting a doorway at just the wrong moment and being instantly killed before they even know what's happening.
posted by Greg_Ace at 10:44 AM on March 10
posted by Greg_Ace at 10:44 AM on March 10
Painful death aside, I feel like I'd just immediately go the wrong way.
posted by Chocolate Sandwich at 11:33 AM on March 10
posted by Chocolate Sandwich at 11:33 AM on March 10
Wow that's a trip!
Weird how one suburb seems deserted of people when he zips through?
Looks like he skipped around one small ramp near the beginning, maybe it didn't count.
"Maybe I'll park my delivery van in the middle of this race course. Don't worry, I'll just be a minute."
(in very loosely related, the novel Daughter of Fortune by Isabel Allende is set in 19th century Valparaiso and it's quite interesting)
posted by ovvl at 11:47 AM on March 10
Weird how one suburb seems deserted of people when he zips through?
Looks like he skipped around one small ramp near the beginning, maybe it didn't count.
"Maybe I'll park my delivery van in the middle of this race course. Don't worry, I'll just be a minute."
(in very loosely related, the novel Daughter of Fortune by Isabel Allende is set in 19th century Valparaiso and it's quite interesting)
posted by ovvl at 11:47 AM on March 10
Here's the same video from the rider's personal channel, which cuts out that disorienting clip from the head.
And here's the same run from a 3rd person perspective.
posted by dobbs at 1:28 PM on March 10 [2 favorites]
And here's the same run from a 3rd person perspective.
posted by dobbs at 1:28 PM on March 10 [2 favorites]
Mcstayinskool, yes. Several people a year die doing this. It’s one of the more dangerous sports. More dangerous than riding a motorcycle, less dangerous than cliff jumping.
When I was much younger I used to do this, and even raced in college. It was amazing, but after three concussions I chose to give it up.
I can't help thinking there's a Tourettean component to sports like this, where the forbidden becomes compulsive.
I was a kid before Tourette's was a thing, but I definitely had an urge to fling myself from brinks (as well as several tics), including the steep stream bank of a spring, in Manitou Springs when I was 3, where my parents and sister and I periodically went to fill up a collection of jugs with reputedly health giving waters. They pulled me out again a dozen or so yards downstream, thank goodness.
But that didn't quell the impulse and it lasted til the midteens at least, and mysteriously resurfaced in my late 30s to the point that I had to crawl on my hands and knees to feel safe enough to cross pedestrian bridges over water for a while.
I'd bet that a much higher proportion than average of the competitors in these events had Tourettes-like behaviors as kids
posted by jamjam at 2:43 PM on March 10
When I was much younger I used to do this, and even raced in college. It was amazing, but after three concussions I chose to give it up.
I can't help thinking there's a Tourettean component to sports like this, where the forbidden becomes compulsive.
I was a kid before Tourette's was a thing, but I definitely had an urge to fling myself from brinks (as well as several tics), including the steep stream bank of a spring, in Manitou Springs when I was 3, where my parents and sister and I periodically went to fill up a collection of jugs with reputedly health giving waters. They pulled me out again a dozen or so yards downstream, thank goodness.
But that didn't quell the impulse and it lasted til the midteens at least, and mysteriously resurfaced in my late 30s to the point that I had to crawl on my hands and knees to feel safe enough to cross pedestrian bridges over water for a while.
I'd bet that a much higher proportion than average of the competitors in these events had Tourettes-like behaviors as kids
posted by jamjam at 2:43 PM on March 10
Not saying I was keeping it cool before then, but I couldn't restrain myself from yelling "WHAT" at that almost horizontal bend at 1:33.
posted by mykescipark at 2:57 PM on March 10
posted by mykescipark at 2:57 PM on March 10
There's a real paradox in mountain biking of any sort, but especially the gravity pursuits like this. The bikes are incredibly capable - exquisitely refined suspension, powerful and well modulated brakes and so on. If you don't want to crash, the worst thing you can do is tense up and brake, because you'll load up the suspension, reduce your bike's ability to soak up the terrain and make a crash far more likely to happen. So counterintuitively, the SAFEST thing you can do is stay off the brakes and let the bike do its thing. Which obviously increases the speed and the danger even further. I noped out of mountain biking when I realised that my brain couldn't turn off the consequence engine anymore and I couldn't embrace the potential danger in a way that increased my actual safety.
The narrowness of the safety margins these people are working with is just beyond belief.
posted by tim_in_oz at 4:06 PM on March 10 [1 favorite]
The narrowness of the safety margins these people are working with is just beyond belief.
posted by tim_in_oz at 4:06 PM on March 10 [1 favorite]
I've been in this general area and just walking some of the stairs is at the edge of challenging.
posted by sammyo at 4:56 PM on March 10
posted by sammyo at 4:56 PM on March 10
That was truly awesome.
posted by Liquidwolf at 5:20 PM on March 10
posted by Liquidwolf at 5:20 PM on March 10
Here's how we do it in the BC interior (or at least the immensely talented late J P Auclair did).
posted by morspin at 7:42 PM on March 10
posted by morspin at 7:42 PM on March 10
Downhill racers have always been a species apart. The first downhills in Northern California were called "Repacks," because they were raced on Klunker bikes- essentially heavily modified American cruiser bikes from the 1940s and '50s with roller brakes. Following each descent, the brakes and drums would need to be repacked to replace the grease which had evaporated from the intense heat created during the run.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 7:46 PM on March 10
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 7:46 PM on March 10
Also, when you reach a certain level in many sports, your perception of time just becomes different. Like the footballer who can see where the space is going to be when they make a pass, or the batter who can read a pitch in baseball or cricket, things just slow down. Here is Fabian Cancellara in 2009 descending through the caravan to catch up with the main group following a puncture. I can assure you, he is seeing the road very differently from the way your or I might.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 8:17 PM on March 10
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 8:17 PM on March 10
"Fast is fine, but accuracy is everything. ... You need to take your time in a hurry." --- Wyatt Earp.
posted by SPrintF at 8:31 PM on March 10
posted by SPrintF at 8:31 PM on March 10
You all are focused on the bravery of the riders, but I was sweating on behalf of the spectators. 30 of them are packed together in each pen and if the bicyclist makes a mistake, half of them get injured.
posted by julianeon at 9:18 PM on March 10
posted by julianeon at 9:18 PM on March 10
When I was mid-20's and sickeningly fit I did mad stuff on my mtb, got very airborn a few times, 110kmh downhill (before suspension and body armor), but not in competition almost always alone. Downhill has kinda become a thing detached from cycling imo as it's almost always only downhill without the up bit.
posted by unearthed at 12:48 AM on March 11
posted by unearthed at 12:48 AM on March 11
I clicked on to one of the external-coverage videos and laughed at the announcer's pronunciation of Valparaiso "Val-puh-raise-er", because I guarantee you he pronounces "Ibiza" as "Eebeeeeethuh".
posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 2:53 AM on March 11 [1 favorite]
posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 2:53 AM on March 11 [1 favorite]
I also love from that second video that the house that laid track through the living room just locked their dog in one of the other rooms, and it barks every time someone rides through. Pure environmental storytelling.
posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 3:01 AM on March 11 [1 favorite]
posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 3:01 AM on March 11 [1 favorite]
I had a misspent youth of alley cat bike racing (a race that happens in live car traffic with basically no rules) and I can tell you these videos both make it look like you are going faster, and also hide a lot of the feeling of going fast...if that makes sense.
This kind of thing is absolutely horrifically dangerous, but when you are doing it you scrape away everything else and just really focus on being present so you feel like a drop of water flowing through things.
I stopped as I got older, because broken bones were less fun, and my mental health improved a lot.
posted by stilgar at 7:09 AM on March 11
This kind of thing is absolutely horrifically dangerous, but when you are doing it you scrape away everything else and just really focus on being present so you feel like a drop of water flowing through things.
I stopped as I got older, because broken bones were less fun, and my mental health improved a lot.
posted by stilgar at 7:09 AM on March 11
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posted by cmfletcher at 8:14 AM on March 10 [4 favorites]