Biking and Hiking in Peru

[Traveler]

Just back from Peru last night and saw that Police bikes are bigger in Lima,  loads of female traffic cops on 350 dual purpose bikes. Rarely over 250 ccs outside of Lima, though.
3 wheel bikes boasting 125 ccs haul whole families in flatter valleys like Pisca/ Ollaytaytambo, Puno and Arequipa. Helmets are rare, so is tire tread in the poorer places.
Did the 4 day Machu Pichu trek in 3 1/2 Days and felt a little smug, until I learned that the race time is 3 1/2 hours.
Coca tea works in high altitudes 11.000 to 14,000 but only has the buzz of a cup of coffee. The local mint leaf worked just as well, which makes me wonder. Why hasn't anybody tried snorting mint?  :mrgreen:

[nl_carey]

Jealous! My time to do this will be in about 2 years...

[Cal Price]

Garden full of mint, green nose, no buzz!

[bignuts45]

I lived in Peru and just recently revisited.  I think it's a wonderful country.  I'm pretty sure that we did try snorting the mint. :lol:   I didn't really notice the bikes when I was there, but I did notice the off the hook rivers.  Did you go to the Amazon too?
I would be skerd to take a bike trip through south america, they drive like crazy fukers.

[Traveler]

NL it's worth the wait....hell, I waited 59 years.
Cal, sea level mint just doesn't do it, or perhaps it's all that chalk, or maybe that's the price of living in Vera Lynne country. heh heh.
Big Nuts, you are right, but they actually know how wide their cars are in Peru and can fit 'em through gaps 3" wider. Only saw one accident, but did see lots of crosses by the roadside. I would tend to think local bikes are cheap too, but can't recommend them, since buses are so cheap it would make no sense to ride those bad roads.
PS Friendly people, cheap prices if you do it close to "local", but I still have a soft spot for Buenas Aires.