[Interview] Peter Love: Love and Passion for Adventure Cycling.

Pedro Vilchez, better known as Peter Love, is the host and founder of the cycling program 'Encuentros sobre Ruedas'. He was also a Mountain Biking guide for over 10 years, and today we talk to him to learn more about this sport and his experiences on two wheels in Peru. If you are a fan of Mountain Biking, don't miss this interview De Aventura, it's awesome. YES SIR.

'Encuentros sobre Ruedas' is a program centered around the bicycle, as it allows access to many places, encounters, journeys, and sports events. Basically, the passion for getting to know Peru, for pedaling through it, is the main reason behind the creation of the program that Peter Love now carries out.

Let's now delve into Peter Love and his love for the bicycle.

Photo: Encuentros Sobre Ruedas by Peter Love

Tell us, Peter Love, how did you start in this sport?

Wow, many years ago, I remember starting to pedal at the age of 9, when I had my first journey with my group of friends from the neighborhood who already had bicycles. That first journey was to Chorrillos, to see the sea. When we arrived and I saw the horizon, I asked myself, 'What lies beyond the horizon?' That's where it all began, and along the way, things started happening, I went from being a self-taught cyclist to something more professional, and that's how the project 'Por el polvo de los caminos' came about, aiming to unite 7 South American countries by bicycle, carrying a message of integration and cultural exchange.

What have been your best sports experiences?

Several, actually most of the achievements I have are personal, life achievements. Along the way, you meet many people, different places, where you can wake up one day in front of a snowy peak and the next day in front of the sea. All of that helps you understand that the world is not as wide and foreign as they say, but quite the opposite. That's when you become more sensitive and humane, leading you to appreciate day-to-day life more, respect in general, both for people and the places you pass through.

Photo: Encuentros Sobre Ruedas by Peter Love

What types of mountain biking are there and how do they differ?

Well, there are many mountain biking modalities and nowadays they are more identified. 15 years ago, what is now the ENDURO modality was called FREERIDE. This modality is characterized by big jumps on ramps with many aerial acrobatics. We also have CROSS COUNTRY, which is a cross-country route with 8 to 10 km of ascents and descents, not as vertical or vertiginous as DOWNHILL, where you have to descend at high speed with great technique, ramps, obstacles, drops, Wall rides, etc. The modality that has had the most worldwide boom has been ENDURO, which is a synergy between Downhill and Cross Country; and Chile is leading the way.

How is the development of this sport in Peru?

Well, mountain biking is emerging rapidly. I remember that in Pachacamac, which was the mecca of Mountain Biking in the 90s, only 4 to 5 people used to go, it was a very small group, but now you go and see hundreds of people practicing cycling, and even events are more popular. For example, in Cusco in the mid-2000s, there wasn't as much cycling, but organized races by international cyclists like the Inca Avalanche began, and from there it grew year by year until Cusco has become the current mecca of mountain biking, both for its circuits, landscapes, and culture. It also has suitable routes for holding qualifying competitions for the cycling world championship; in these competitions, UCI points (International Cycling Union) are awarded.

  Photo: Encuentros Sobre Ruedas by Peter Love

What do you need to start in this sport?

Desire, enjoyment, PASSION as in everything. Just as 'Encuentros sobre ruedas' focuses on cycling, I am also passionate about Adventure Sports, for example, recently in Lunahuaná, we were doing Rafting with all the adrenaline of riding the rapids, it's a spectacular experience. Everything with technique, enjoyment, and passion helps you develop whether it's cycling, canoeing, paragliding, trekking, etc.

What routes would you recommend for those who want to start mountain biking?

Wow, we have many cycling routes from Pachacamac or El Morro Solar where you can do all levels of mountain biking. There are circuits everywhere, even urban cycling helps improve the maneuvering technique of mountain bikers, crossing shortcuts, parks, stairs, speed bumps, speed humps, etc. All of that develops the cyclist.

What places have you visited thanks to cycling?

Wow, cycling through South America has led me to meet incredible people and not just places. For example, in Brazil, I was invited to Club Palmeiras to give a presentation about my journey. For them, traveling cyclists have something good to share, and you see that the bicycle leads you to those kinds of encounters. Like the Iguazu Falls, the Atacama Desert, and many more. I think the bicycle is the catalyst of my life to make it more amazing because it has made me discover the world in a different way.

Photo: Encuentros Sobre Ruedas by Peter Love

You are the founder of Encuentros sobre Ruedas. How did the idea come about and what does it offer to adventurers?

Encuentros sobre ruedas was born with the purpose of showing the public a different perspective of Peru. Because ultimately, traveling by bicycle gives you a completely different sensation, you capture colors, smells, aromas, circumstances that you don't perceive when traveling by car, motorcycle, or plane. On the other hand, on a bicycle, you absorb all of that, and from there, Encuentros sobre ruedas emerged, combined with the fact that I had been researching cycling and adventure for years. Now, in addition to journeys, we show other ways to discover Peru, like in Salcantay where we did part Off Road, part cycling, and part Trekking.

What advice would you give to those who want to practice this sport?

Get on a bicycle and see if you like it because it all starts with passion. If you don't feel passionate, if you don't fall in love with what you're doing, nothing works. You have to identify that because people will be happier when they identify their potentials and what they like. Like in Encuentros sobre ruedas, we have seen that it is important to show people the possibilities of adventure tourism. We know that Adventure Sports and Tourism are emerging, and now our goal is for the program to be broadcast on national television very soon.

Peter Love, thank you very much for the interview :)

Photo: Encuentros Sobre Ruedas by Peter Love

HERE WE LEAVE YOU THE VIDEO WITH THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH PETER LOVE, YOU CAN'T MISS IT,

YES SIR. 

 If your passion is mountain biking, we invite you to join the community of Peruvian cyclists