It was a matter of time that young Gabriel Gonzalez Ringdahl (aka El Pancito*) would head off on a micro-adventure** by bicycle. Having completed a 7km hike in the Darkensberg at 3mths, a 70km cycle trip at 6mths seemed like a moderate start to his cycling adventures. We tested the Thule Chariot so generously given to us by our friends Carla and William when he was around 3mths, however despite the fabulous suspension system it was still a little on the bumpy side for such a small tot to head out on a proper adventure. Now a sturdy 6mth old weighing over 8kg, el Pancito has been well accustomed to excursions in the chariot as a walker, so this next step was to test and see how he faired on a little trip into the Karkloof to meet some friends for the New Year at the beautiful Mbona reserve. Our trusty team included our dear friend Cath Traynor, a surrogate auntie and bike and adventure enthusiast from the Cape. We were so grateful to have her chaperone us on this maiden voyage and document el Pancito’s first baby bike ‘steps’!
*el Pancito: means little bread/roll in Spanish, what we nick-named Gabriel when he was baking in the oven
** micro-adventure: Simple expeditions and challenges which are close to home, affordable and easy to organize. Ideas designed to encourage ordinary people to get Out There and Do Stuff for themselves, even in these tightened financial times. (The term was coined by round the world cyclist and adventurer Alistair Humphries)
![The Adventures of El Pancito: First Chariot Micro-Adventure The first few kilometres of the 70km round trip journey involved some of the Howick and Karkloof well worn trails.](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/110/1103490/the-adventures-of-el-pancito-first-chariot-mi-L-C0YxD1.jpeg)
The first few kilometres of the 70km round trip journey involved some of the Howick and Karkloof well worn trails.
![The Adventures of El Pancito: First Chariot Micro-Adventure Setting off from Howick, we followed the steep Curry's post road to access some of the quiter forestry roads that abound with some of the finest single-track in the country.](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/110/1103490/the-adventures-of-el-pancito-first-chariot-mi-L-us1Nwl.jpeg)
Setting off from Howick, we followed the steep Curry’s post road to access some of the quiter forestry roads that abound with some of the finest single-track in the country.
![The Adventures of El Pancito: First Chariot Micro-Adventure Other team member included Gabriel's Bunny](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/110/1103490/the-adventures-of-el-pancito-first-chariot-mi-L-NjYPKm.jpeg)
Other team member included el Pancito’s Bunny.
![The Adventures of El Pancito: First Chariot Micro-Adventure We were tempted to try some of the techincal single-track, but knew that would be a bad move - never wake a sleeping baby!](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/110/1103490/the-adventures-of-el-pancito-first-chariot-mi-L-heCCsm.jpeg)
We were tempted to try some of the techincal single-track, but knew that would be a bad move – never wake a sleeping baby especially on Puff Adder Pass!
![The Adventures of El Pancito: First Chariot Micro-Adventure We couldn't done it without our great friend Cath!](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/110/1103490/the-adventures-of-el-pancito-first-chariot-mi-L-70FDMP.jpeg)
We couldn’t done it without our great friend Cath!
![The Adventures of El Pancito: First Chariot Micro-Adventure Cycling through the eucalyptus and pine plantations](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/110/1103490/the-adventures-of-el-pancito-first-chariot-mi-L-1MFWl_.jpeg)
Cycling through the eucalyptus and pine plantations.
![The Adventures of El Pancito: First Chariot Micro-Adventure Terrain included well graded road, jeep track and regular road.](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/110/1103490/the-adventures-of-el-pancito-first-chariot-mi-L-5zxhwt.jpeg)
Terrain included well graded road, jeep track and paved road.
![The Adventures of El Pancito: First Chariot Micro-Adventure Heading for the Karlkloof road, now 13km into the trip](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/110/1103490/the-adventures-of-el-pancito-first-chariot-mi-L-ydX6CA.jpeg)
Heading for the Karlkloof road, now 13km into the trip.
![The Adventures of El Pancito: First Chariot Micro-Adventure Let sleeping babies lie.](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/110/1103490/the-adventures-of-el-pancito-first-chariot-mi-L-7emOI6.jpeg)
Let sleeping babes lie.
![The Adventures of El Pancito: First Chariot Micro-Adventure We were so lucky with the weather, scorching heat and storms are common at this time of the year.](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/110/1103490/the-adventures-of-el-pancito-first-chariot-mi-L-zpuk4k.jpeg)
We were so lucky with the weather, scorching heat and storms are common at this time of the year.
![The Adventures of El Pancito: First Chariot Micro-Adventure Roads were generally quite, surprisingly it was the SUVs with mountain bikes on carriers that failed to slow down as they raced past us kicking up dust!](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/110/1103490/the-adventures-of-el-pancito-first-chariot-mi-L-QiDspC.jpeg)
Roads were generally quite, surprisingly it was the SUVs with mountain bikes on carriers that failed to slow down as they raced past us kicking up dust!
![The Adventures of El Pancito: First Chariot Micro-Adventure Team Selfie](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/110/1103490/the-adventures-of-el-pancito-first-chariot-mi-L-ym2ovp.jpeg)
Team Selfie.
![The Adventures of El Pancito: First Chariot Micro-Adventure After a good hour nap it was time for a boob and stretch stop.](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/110/1103490/the-adventures-of-el-pancito-first-chariot-mi-L-NQQETx.jpeg)
After a good hour nap it was time for a boob and stretch stop.
![The Adventures of El Pancito: First Chariot Micro-Adventure And a little jiggle on the handle bars.](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/110/1103490/the-adventures-of-el-pancito-first-chariot-mi-L-QyWAtK.jpeg)
And a little jiggle on the handle bars.
![The Adventures of El Pancito: First Chariot Micro-Adventure Hello to the nguni cows.](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/110/1103490/the-adventures-of-el-pancito-first-chariot-mi-L-1CgnNe.jpeg)
Hello to the nguni cows.
![The Adventures of El Pancito: First Chariot Micro-Adventure We met a very friendly Gogo.](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/110/1103490/the-adventures-of-el-pancito-first-chariot-mi-L-WRc6lV.jpeg)
We met a very friendly Gogo.
![The Adventures of El Pancito: First Chariot Micro-Adventure All fed up and ready for the road again...](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/110/1103490/the-adventures-of-el-pancito-first-chariot-mi-L-RGoCRv.jpeg)
All fed up and ready for the road again…
![The Adventures of El Pancito: First Chariot Micro-Adventure Then after another butternut and sweet potato stop we continued on the beautifully undulating road (with a little more protesting).](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/110/1103490/the-adventures-of-el-pancito-first-chariot-mi-L-kqNNBx.jpeg)
Then after another sustenance stop (butternut and sweet potato) we continued on the beautifully undulating road (with a little more protesting from the back).
![The Adventures of El Pancito: First Chariot Micro-Adventure Not long to go, although some steep climbing ensured a slow pace..](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/110/1103490/the-adventures-of-el-pancito-first-chariot-mi-L-tnc26w.jpeg)
Not long to go, although some steep climbing ensured a slow pace..
![The Adventures of El Pancito: First Chariot Micro-Adventure Bridge9 (Large)](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/110/1103490/the-adventures-of-el-pancito-first-chariot-mi-L-nS258P.jpeg)
![The Adventures of El Pancito: First Chariot Micro-Adventure Last k's el Pancito took another forty winks, thankfully as the mother really was busting a gut to get up those hills at a smails pace!](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/110/1103490/the-adventures-of-el-pancito-first-chariot-mi-L-YB6GhS.jpeg)
Home at last! During the final k’s el Pancito took another forty winks, thankfully, as the mother really was busting a gut to get up those hills at a snail’s pace!
![The Adventures of El Pancito: First Chariot Micro-Adventure Then is was time for more micro-adventuring with the Drews at Mbona.](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/110/1103490/the-adventures-of-el-pancito-first-chariot-mi-L-UyR95k.jpeg)
Then is was time for more micro-adventuring with the Drews at Mbona.
![The Adventures of El Pancito: First Chariot Micro-Adventure Heading across the grasslands](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/110/1103490/the-adventures-of-el-pancito-first-chariot-mi-L-giprfr.jpeg)
Heading across the grasslands.
![The Adventures of El Pancito: First Chariot Micro-Adventure Bridget, Gabriel, Sophie, Sarah, James and Matt.](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/110/1103490/the-adventures-of-el-pancito-first-chariot-mi-L-8MqWv7.jpeg)
Bridget, el Pancito, Sophie, Sarah, James and Matt, no-one is too old or too young for a micro-adventure!
Check out some seriously inspirational chariot-riding with el Pancito’s ‘chariot buddy’ el Huevito here in Patagonia: http://www.whileoutriding.com/south-america/chile/parque-national-conguillio-chile.
Some pics of our first Chariot test ride when Gabriel was just 3mths!
![The Adventures of El Pancito: First Chariot Micro-Adventure Dad towing the chariot effortlessly.](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/110/1103490/the-adventures-of-el-pancito-first-chariot-mi-L-aMxAfR.jpeg)
Dad towing the chariot effortlessly.
![The Adventures of El Pancito: First Chariot Micro-Adventure Obligatory refuel stop.](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/110/1103490/the-adventures-of-el-pancito-first-chariot-mi-L-yjTsDf.jpeg)
Obligatory refuel stop.
![The Adventures of El Pancito: First Chariot Micro-Adventure Have a chariot day!](http://m5.paperblog.com/i/110/1103490/the-adventures-of-el-pancito-first-chariot-mi-L-jzTRiB.jpeg)
Have a chariot day!