from "Biking In Brazil"...

Departing the plant stores, we began the three and a half hour climb up the mountain, only to run into a couple young men on bicycles that Anderson knew. One was the brother of someone I knew, strange to meet someone who knew someone you knew here. Brutally handsome, dark, lithe, relaxed, friendly, genuine, Antonio would probably have been arrogant and pretentious had he been from my country, taken with his movie star features. Refreshing to be around real people.

As the three Brasileiro’s talked, oblivious to the heavy traffic, Antonio pulled out his smokes. I asked for one and he tried to give me a handful. “Só um” I say, “only one.” Funny how the most generous people I meet also tend to be some of the poorest.

Soon on our way with granny gears engaged we pumped up and up and up through Ibirité. Around here you need strong legs and good brakes, nothing is flat and the roads of this mountain side town are often precariously steep. I was sorta lost but knew we were headed in the right direction. It was fun and everywhere was lively. Stopped on top of a foothill for a couple of cool drinks, Anderson had orange fanta, I had beer.

--Shane Jackson

Well, here we have a cyclist who doesn't play by the rules. No safety gear, no spandex, no map or plan. Beer and ciggies at the stops. Fanta. Soon, he meets a "Brutally handsome, dark, lithe, relaxed, friendly, genuine" Brazilian who gives him a handful of cigarettes. Various insights follow:

strange to meet someone who knew someone you knew here...

I was sorta lost but knew we were heading in the right direction. It was fun and everywhere was lively.

What more can you ask for in life? This is social biking at its finest.

Keep it up, Shane, whatever it is...