It's now day four of the first ever Pedal Portugal guided tour...and it seems to be going more or less to plan so far. The weather's been kind, my group of riders is great and we haven't had too many hiccups. Just a few flat tyres on the first day, a snapped gear hanger, and a… Continue reading Algarve Tour – Photo Gallery
I'm starting to get excited. And a little bit nervous. In just seven days time I'll be meeting the riders taking part in the very first Pedal Portugal guided tour. I've got five Brits, one Irishman, two Germans and two Canadians due to arrive in Lagos next Sunday, expecting me to lead them round the… Continue reading Guinea Pigs On Tour
There are many reasons to love being in the Algarve in the winter - the lack of tourists, cheap wine, Portuguese cakes, almond blossom, being able to buy two large tuna steaks from the supermarket for less than €4. And that's before I even get on to the cycling. One of the biggest draws has to be… Continue reading Saturday Ride
It's all turning into such a tough job. Getting ready for my first cycle tours means I've got to check out all the stops along the way - visit the hotels, the restaurants etc. Oh, I really feel I should ride the routes again (what a shame). Just in case any of the roads have been dug up or… Continue reading Research Is A Tough Job
Long, dark winter nights can be a time to dream. Maybe of rides to come. Like cycling across a sun-drenched landscape, taking winding back roads to visit hilltop villages, pausing to explore ancient castles... and enjoying a well-earned glass or two of wine at the end of the day. Sound good? Then instead of just… Continue reading Time To Dream…Or Make It Real
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?
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
Exciting news! (For me at least.) The first Pedal Portugal guided cycle tour takes place in 2016 - a 10-day circuit beginning from Lagos on January 31st. I've been thinking of setting up guided tours for a while as it seems the logical next step. I've been giving out advice on cycling in Portugal for… Continue reading Algarve Winter Tour
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
Pedal Portugal 