The first Pedal Portugal guided cycle tour ended on Tuesday when we arrived back in Lagos at the end of our nine-day circuit. It was a fantastic trip around the south-west corner of Europe and all the riders seemed to have enjoyed themselves despite the 'undulating' terrain! (There's a new Reviews page where a couple of… Continue reading Algarve Tour – Photo Gallery 2
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?
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
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
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!
Pedal Portugal 