I've always loved maps. When I was a kid I would spend hours drawing them - treasure maps, lost islands, occasionally whole countries. Sometimes they were doodles in the back of school notebooks when the lessons got boring, sometimes they turned into much more elaborate affairs. I've also always liked studying maps. As I got older, I would… Continue reading Converted Technophobe?
Since announcing the first Pedal Portugal guided cycle tour in early October, I've been working hard to develop a range of tours for 2016* taking in a selection of the country's different regions. *NOTE: This blog post was about plans for our first year of guided tours (2016) - to see what's coming up in… Continue reading Guided Tours of Portugal
Back in August I wrote a post about the dilemma of what to pack/take on a cycling trip and listed several of the items that make it to my 'must have' list. As promised, this is a continuation of that list with reviews of three more of my personal essentials: 4. MIRRYCLE BIKE MIRROR Bought:… Continue reading Some Of My Favourite Things – Part 2
Warning: this post has nothing to do with Portugal but it is about cycle touring (and why I haven't been posting any updates for the last month) so hopefully still of interest! To celebrate my 50th birthday - and in the interests of trying out the roads in a few countries I've never visited before… Continue reading The Spice Of Life
Some of the hardest decisions when planning a cycle tour are not about where to go but what to take - particularly if you've got to carry everything on your bike. Making up your route as you go is easy. Some roads turn out to be nothing like as nice as they looked when you were… Continue reading Some Of My Favourite Things – Part 1
Fancy riding your bike to some of the most gorgeous and unspoilt beaches in Portugal? Want to escape the crowds on tiny back roads that aren't marked on any regular tourist map? Like the idea of tackling some some rugged hills and exploring orchards full of oranges and olives? Well, help is at hand! My second guidebook… Continue reading Cycling The Algarve – Published!
I realise not everyone can choose when to take holidays but I'm always surprised by the number of emails I get from people seeking advice on cycling in Portugal during July and August. It gives me a real dilemma. On the one hand I want to help, but on the other hand I don't want people going… Continue reading You Really Want To Go Now?
The next Pedal Portugal guidebook - 'Cycling The Algarve' - is on its way and I'm looking for test riders interested in trying out some of the routes. The new book will basically be in three parts. The first will be a touring route based on the existing Algarve Adventure, which is a six-stage route… Continue reading Test Riders Needed
Over the past few years I've spent many, many hours carefully putting together route maps for cyclists coming to Portugal and putting them on the Pedal Portugal website - but now Google seems to have messed up the lot! What is it with these companies that feel they have to keep changing things? I used the old version… Continue reading Oh Google Maps… Why, Why, Why?
I used to think Michelin maps were good but I'm beginning to have my doubts. It's not so much faults with what they do show, more all the stuff they leave out. I've spent the past nine days exploring the north-east corner of Portugal, trying to work out new day rides and touring routes to… Continue reading Mapping Frustration
Pedal Portugal 