Arriving In Cozumel, Shopping & Bicycling South

by Larry Lagarde

Upon our arrival in Cozumel, we waited for the mad rush ashore to subside. As a recreational diver, I've visited Cozumel several times but not my wife. She wanted to shop so we walked the gauntlet of shops and shop keepers along the waterfront. From the Punta Langosta mall to the Ron Jon Surf Shop, we were enticed with offers of discount diamonds, silver jewelry, tanzanite, Rolex watches, car rentals, jeep tours, Cuban cigars and "typico" Mexican clothing, etc.

As nice as all those sales people were, we needed a break and the Museo de la Isla de Cozumel was just the place. Long ago, I discovered that an open air restaurant offered breakfast and lunch on the second floor balcony of the museum and wanted to share this gem with her.

We had a leisurely brunch with pan sucre, huevos rancheros including beans and fried bananas, fresh squeezed orange juice and strong coffee. As we ate, jet boats and catamarans ferried passengers to & from Playa del Carmen and Cancun. Dive boats made for the reefs, para sailers hung in the air and large white cruise ships floated slowly across the horizon.

After our meal, we shopped a bit more then headed back to the boat. My wife opted to take a nap but I was destined for a bike ride. I pushed the Strida out the cabin and through the ships passageways.

Designed with mono forks as well as handlebars and pedals that fold, the Strida folding bike is extremely narrow when folded. All 3 frame tubes are designed to snap together to fold; a magnet helps to keep the axles of each wheel together in parallel so the bike rolls easily when folded too.

Immediately upon exiting the ship, I unfolded the Strida. The tube that makes up the lower part of the frame triangle snaps into the front tube in about 3 seconds. Unfolding and the pedals and handlebars takes just a few seconds more.

I pedaled down the pier between the Carnival Fantasy and Carnival Ecstasy cruise ships, shooting a brief video in the process. I passed one of the courtesy trikes used by porters to deliver passengers to the end of the pier. When I stopped for a moment, I was surrounded by curious bike porters and other locals hawking tours. They had never seen such a bike.

I pedaled south along the waterfront. My destination was Paradise Beach, a beautiful, groomed, palm lined beach on Cozumel's protected, western side. I had two and a half hours to cover 18 miles round trip including shooting photos, video and stopping to enjoy the view.

Next: Strida Folding Bike Ride & Review