Pedal Portugal

What do you think are the most important things to have in a general guide book on cycling in Portugal?
I started the project a few years ago and then shelved it when other things took over. This time, however, I'm determined to keep going.
There's already a lot of material on the Pedal Portugal website https://pedalportugal.com/
But I'd love to know if there's anything missing? What's essential? What's desirable? What might be interesting but isn't that important?

25 YEARS!
This is why we're not doing any bike tours of Portugal at the moment. Too busy celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary and having fun exploring the Balkans (with not a bike in sight).

Quite a few people have asked me whether riding Portugal's N2 as an end-to-end challenge would be a good idea.
It wouldn't be my choice.
I thought I'd try and put some of the reasons why into a blog post.

To N2 Or Not To N2? Over recent years, Portugal’s N2 has started to draw growing numbers of cyclists, attracted by the prospect of an end-to-end ride that follows a single road. Many companies bill it as a fabul…

Hurrah! That's tour number 30 completed... and the end of our 2023 season.😁😢
A big thank you to all our Southern Explorer riders for coming with us.
You kept smiling in the wind and the rain as well as in the sunshine!
Having such a lovely bunch of people to ride with is what makes it such fun. 🥰

It's Halloween today and autumn has definitely now arrived in Portugal.
We left Moura on Friday and had one night in Serpa before continuing to Mertola. We got pretty drenched on the way to Mertola but the sun came out yesterday for our rest day.
Today we're in Almodovar, staying at the lovely Casa da Cerca guest house.

Just arrived at our hotel in Mertola and met Ken and Carol Clowes in the courtyard.
Back in 2010, They were our hosts in Lubbock, Texas, when we cycled through on a fundraising trip for ShelterBox, staying with lots of Rotarians.
The funny thing is, Ken isn't from the US. He grew up in the same street on the Wirral that Carolyn lived in for the first two years of her life!
Ken and Carol are also here on a bike tour... just not our one! 😁

The rain gear came out briefly today but we've been extremely lucky with the weather so far.
Yesterday had a definite Roman theme - Roman bridge, Roman villa and Roman winemaking techniques.
Today we had the wind mostly at our backs and made it safely to Moura before the late afternoon downpour.
It's a rest day tomorrow... and should be mostly sunny.

Despite the forecast, we stayed dry on day one of Southern Explorer.
Quite a headwind but the torrential rain waited until we were safely in our hotel at Odivelas.
Fingers crossed for day two!

First it was the edge of Storm Babet, then Aline... now it's Bernard's turn! 😟
Really hoping that the weather starts to improve in the next 36 hours. (And that our Southern Explorer riders have brought decent rain gear!) 🌦

Orange Weather Warnings Issued In Eight Regions As Portugal Braces Itself For Storm Bernard An orange alert has been issued for eight regions of Portugal on Sunday, October 22, as Storm Bernard approaches the country.

A huge thank you to all our Eastern Frontier riders.
We made it to Elvas on Tuesday... despite the best efforts of Storm Babet!
Our tour started off with 30C heat and brilliant sunshine all day.
Getting ready to leave Marvão on the last day it felt like the storm had already arrived.
It's always a sad moment when we have to say goodbye. We've had fun... hope you did too!

We've made it to the border...off into Spain tomorrow.
The weather is starting to change and finally turn a bit more autumnal but the roads and scenery are still awesome.
I think our riders are still enjoying themselves, even if their legs are getting a little weary at times

Some pictures from day two of the tour - Trancoso to Longroiva.
Not sure it was much cooler today but it was a bit shorter and the day ended with about 8km downhill.
For some reason, there were a few more smiles at the finish! 😁

Eastern Frontier 2023 is underway...and it's 🥵!
About 31C at lunchtime... followed by about 9km of climbing at the end of the day.
Temperature is a bit mad for October.

Hmm... so why do I like spending time/cycling in Portugal at this time of year? 😎

If anyone fancies an early getaway in 2024, we'll be running our Southern Explorer tour, starting from Evora on Wednesday 28th February and ending in Lagos in the Algarve on Sunday 10th March
There's also one solo spot remaining on the same tour, departing Evora on Saturday 16th March and ending in Lagos on Wednesday 27th March.
Visit the website for more details or email [email protected] for more information.

Southern Explorer Portugal cycle tours: this guided bike trip explores the history and landscapes of the southern Alentejo before ending at the ancient port of Lagos on the Algarve coast.

Blimey! It's been very quiet on here for a long time. 😟
But we're going to be back on the road in three weeks!
Off to Guarda for our fifth Eastern Frontier tour, welcoming back some of our regulars as well as some new riders.
Hope we get as much sunshine as last year.

Doors (and fake doors!) of Guarda.

And we're back in Évora!
It's been a blast... from beautiful wildflowers to washed out bridges and from blazing April heat (!?) to just a single flat tire.
Plus of course fabulous scenery, too much food, the occasional glass of wine and a great bunch of folk to share the ride with.
Thanks one and all.

We've been joined by 11 members of the Edmonton Bike Club for our Border Castles tour.
Some are with us for the first time, some have done a few tours... and Sandy is with us for number five!
First two days of the trip done. Arrived in Vila Viçosa this afternoon.
Quite a bit hotter than expected but the scenery is as gorgeous as ever.

Still not tempted?
Our Eastern Frontier tour takes place in October. There are a few places left for anyone wanting to see some of the wildest and most beautiful scenery in Portugal. Plus a little bit of Spain.
https://pedalportugal.com/guided-cycle-tours-portugal/eastern-frontier-tour/

We've been out exploring - looking at options for a possible new Algarve route for March 2024.
Think we might call this one the "Algarve Rollercoaster"!

I've just updated the details for our Eastern Frontier tour. The basics are the same but the route has changed slightly.
One important change is Day 3, when we 'dip' into the Douro valley. This now involves a little over 1,100m of climbing instead of the 1,400m-plus that we did last year!
Still places left if anyone is tempted.
https://pedalportugal.com/guided-cycle-tours-portugal/eastern-frontier-tour/

We finished our first tour of 2023 - the Southern Explorer - last week.
Pretty sure our riders had a reasonable time... they were mostly smiling when I took pictures.
Thanks folks. It was fun for us too.

We're just over halfway into our Southern Explorer tour.
Been zigzagging our way across the Alentejo from Évora to Mértola with a lovely bunch of riders.
Roman ruins, wine tasting, huge quantities of food... and a bit of cycling.
A bit warmer than expected for the time of year...27C this afternoon!

Another tough day at the office! 😉

Back in Évora... getting ready!

What a coincidence! In Lagos with one of Pedal Portugal's very first riders.
Volker was one of the 10 'guinea pigs' on our trial tour in early 2016.
We flew into Faro yesterday and, completely out of the blue, got a WhatsApp from Volker, asking if we were in Portugal. He was on his way to Lagos with his wife, after driving down from Germany in their campervan.

Portugal here we come! 😁

My Alentejo Circuit has now made it to the Independent's online travel section!
Hope those roads don't get too clogged up with cyclists. 😃

Scenic cycling on Portugal’s Alentejo Circuit Alentejo Circuit: How to enjoy the ultimate cycling holiday in Portugal

Anyone want to see the wilder side of Portugal this October?
We're running our Eastern Frontier tour, leaving Guarda on Saturday 7th and heading up to the Douro valley before looping around and heading south along the border with Spain, ending at Elvas in the Alentejo.
It's a reasonably tough ride but takes in some of the most beautiful and unspoilt scenery in Portugal.
Think fabulous views, ruined castles, wild hillsides, soaring vultures (!), empty expanses, vines, pines and lots more. (Including plenty of food and wine to help with the recovery process after each day of riding.)
We've got five riders already booked but we need a few more to make this trip happen.
https://pedalportugal.com/guided-cycle-tours-portugal/eastern-frontier-tour/