Pedal Portugal

28/06/2024

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?

08/05/2024

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).

06/11/2023

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.

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…

04/11/2023

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. 🥰

31/10/2023

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.

29/10/2023

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! 😁

26/10/2023

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.

25/10/2023

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!

22/10/2023

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!) 🌦

An orange alert has been issued for eight regions of Portugal on Sunday, October 22, as Storm Bernard approaches the country.

19/10/2023

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!

14/10/2023

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

09/10/2023

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! 😁

08/10/2023

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.

26/09/2023

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

20/09/2023

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.

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.

16/09/2023

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.

06/05/2023

Doors (and fake doors!) of Guarda.

26/04/2023

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.