life is a singletrail

2018-03-10T12:38:00.002+01:00

Please find our website directly at

www.mountainbike-traveller.com

Under Construction

2017-05-30T20:22:00.003+02:00

Hey people,

this website is currently under construction.

I hope we can launch the updated website in a few days!

Simon, the Mountainbike Traveller

Products & Projects 2017

2017-03-27T00:04:00.002+02:00

Products &Projects 2017

Biking is passion
MTB-Traveller is not a tour operator, a bike shop,
an information platform or an equipment manufacturer. Mountainbike Traveller is
living a passion.

Bikes are what we love!
Mountainbikes, touring bikes, laying bikes, folding bikes or road bikes; we love them
all. We love to optimize and repair them, to create and individualize them. We love to
find new trails and, of course, we love to ride them! Bikes are what we love.

To travel means to discover
Sightseeing and good life are an important part of every journey. To travel is much
more than that. Discover hidden treasures, make your own experiences discover your
destination on your own path to form your proper own view.

Make it personal
Everyone has different needs and wishes. Therefore, we create everything as personal
as possible. If you have a bike out of our manufacture you are as involved in the
construction process as much as you want. If you book a tour with us, we can
individualize it 100% to make it your dream tour!

Keep it simple
Better is the enemy of good. Sometimes the simple things are the best. Therefore we
don´t need the most dangerous trail, the latest high-end bike or the fanciest restaurant.
We need a good ride, a good bike and good food. Keep it simple.

Respect your destination
To respect the world we are living in should come natural. We enter in sensitive ecoand
social systems. We want to enjoy and protect them at the same time. Ecological,
local and self-made is our credo.

Where to find us?
Pensao da Bina in Santa Apolonia is our home. It's not a public store, but the
base for all our activities.
Our tool box, bike shower and the mechanic stand are on your disposal. Feel
free to clean, care or fix your bike in our garage. If you need any help, we are
always happy to assist and maybe we got the right second hand replacement
part for your problem.

We are always here every Thursday 18:00 – 22:00. But we are here much more
often. If you are around, knock the door at Rua Caminhos de Ferro 54. If we
are here, you're always welcome to join.

Bike Tours
Feel life in the big parks and the small alleys. Riding through normal
neighborhoods and to extraordinary city views. Cruising along the river and
through the city on the smove way or on trails as rough as the Atlantic through
Serra de Sintra. With breathtaking views to Lisbon, Cabo da Roca and the Tejo-
Delta. Up and down the hills or all along the coast through the most beautiful
landscape between traditional agriculture and rough cliffs to Ericeira
Lisbon is out home. Lisbon is where we ride everyday. We do mountainbike
tours for beginners and experts, citytours, multiday tours along the coast. We
got hardtail and fullsuspension mountainbikes, as well as E-Bikes and always
fun for a ride.

Bike-Packing Equipment
Bike touring and bike-packing equipment in Portugal is still hard to get, too
expensive or of poor quality.
We want to have the most important parts and equipment such as racks, seats,
panniers or handlebars in stock. First or second hand. Branded products, noname
or handmade products, but always value for money.
Do not consider us as a bike shop. For the usual Shimano replacement parts,
you will find a better place to go. Come to us if you search for a solution for
your travel bike.
Find our current products in the shop or send us your request and we will get
what you need!

Travel Bikes
When travelling by bike, you have a unique relationship with your vehicle.
Sometimes brave warrior, sometimes pretentious diva, always your most
faithful partner. If you and your bike fit together and take care of each other,
this relationships brings you safely, healthy and on your own path where ever
you want!
I travelled about 20.000 km in three continents on two different bikes and
learned the difference between the diva and the warrior the hard way. In the last years, I built up several travel bikes to cross Europe, South America and South-
Eastern Asia on different budgets.
Which packing system and tires are the best for you? Which geometry and what
equipment to carry? Weight equilibration and riding position, locker and
replacement parts. So many factors play a role while finding the best bike for
your needs! It’s not necessarily about high-end components, but about finding a
faithful partner for big adventures.

Panniers / Alforjas / Satteltaschen
Besides your body and your bike, bike bags might be the most essential
item/accessory for a successful bike trip. They beware or cause damages on our
stuff, help or challenge you in organizing yourself during the day.
A point where I search for some independence and individuality through
handmade solutions. Handmade rolling bag panniers has been the first bike
bags I produced. This year, hopefully, a few others will be added.

Sintra Trails & Mountainbike Portugal
Mountainbike Portugal shows some tour advises all over the country and
provides a little overview over the most important bike resorts of Portugal. With
tour discriptions, some GPS-trails, Pictures and useful advises to travel by bike
in Portugal.
Sintra Trails is the mountain bike guide for Serra de Sintra. Lisbons hometrails
are a great bike ranch for beginners and for experts: Easy to reach and full of
single- & doubletrails, combined with stunning views all over the coast. Sintra
Trails, shows the best trails, the most stunning views, water sources, pictures,
GPS-trails and everything to discover Serra de Sintra on your own!

Work Shops & Bike In
Biking is a team sport. Together we push each other to our best, together we
enjoy the best. Together we have the best ideas and the highest security.
Therefore, we organize workshops and catch ups to come together and live our
passion! Together with friends who are experts in their area we plan workshops
for bike & yoga, tasty biker food and a bike mechanics.
Additionally, we do a bike-event every month, tip based or a very fair fee.

Individual & long term rentals
You are in Lisbon only for the summer?
Need a bike for your next trip to the Algarve? You don't have space for your own bike? You don't want to maintain a
bike? You don't know yet if you want to buy a bike?
Whatever might be the reason, you still don't have a bike: Temporal residents,
tourists, Erasmus-students or weekend rider, we have individual rental models
for city-, mountain- and travel-bikes for every need.
But we got much more than bikes. You need some outdoor-equipment? We got
everything from the camping-kitchen and GPS-systems to tents and sleeping
bags.

Portugals four corners III: The northeast

2016-11-29T12:16:00.001+01:00

Only a few days after leaving the sweltering Alentejo and a little stop over in Lisbon later, we find ourself in Guarda, in the northeast of the country. Nothing reminds of the hot times just a few days ago. The difference in culture and landscape is undeniable. Clear sky but a freezy wind give some winter impressions already. Well aware of the uncertain weather in the north this is still a little shock! Nevertheless after a hot coffee in a sheltered corner we are ready and happy to hit the road again.

North of Guarda we have the first up and downs which give a good introduction to the hilly north. From the first moment beautiful green scenery alternate with huge depressing burned valleys. In 2016 occurred more then 200 bush fires and burned down more forest than the last years accumulated. This is visible every moment, or better to say in every second moment.

The next day brings some further changes. The air is not as cold as the day before. Therefore overnight the blue sky changed for a drizzle once in a while. The long up and down to the beautiful and famous Rio Douro give the start signal to the upcoming mountains. Until Mogadouro we keep our self near the spanish border. But the weather remains changeable, the reason why we decide to skip Miranda do Douro, where Rio Douro enters Portugal in a deep ravine to find his way to the Atlantic in Porto. Instead we go the most direct way up to Branganca. Not a bad decision: After an endless downhill to Rio Sabor we leave the main road and find a small road without any traffic, but with great views to the hills and rivers around us. Just in time we reach Bragança and avoid the first heavy rain on this tour. Instead we change out tent for a cozy hotel room with the long-desired hot shower.

The city of Bragança is embedded in the green and lonesome Natural Park Montesinho with hills up to 1.200 m. The pretty historic city center of Bragança is over-topped by the castle of the Duke of Bragança, one of Portugals most important dynasties, indeed is worthy to visit and gives a good impression of the wealth and importance this city had in it's time. Today the city center is surrounded by several industrial zones and is still the regional center of northeastern, but just a poor leftover from it's history.

Independent where you leave Bragança the all-dominating color is green: Oaks, Chestnuts, walnut, pines cover the entire region. The best to experience this calm zone might be the Natural Park Montesinho north of Bragança. Endless forests with hidden, lost in time villages dominate the mountains along the border. This time of the year it is a natural paradise: chestnuts, walnuts, blackberries, figs and grapes cover all needs of fresh vegetables.

To spare some uphills, as well as some kilometer, we decide not to enter the Natural Park right in Bragança, but to leave the city in the west. Right behind the city we got lost in time. Small villages full of stone built houses and individual and hand-worked fields accompany the up- and downhills before we reach the National Road from Bragança to Braga in Vinhais, another regional center, best known for it's dark and tasty chestnuts. After a few kilometer we leave this main road and finally enter the almost deserted National Park Montesinho. Deep river valleys and steep uphills take turns and offer marvelous views over the hills until Spain. Sparsely populated, also the options of possible roads is limited, but each one is an amazing. Villages are rare, hospitality is more intensive therefore. After a few tough hills we leave Montesinho behind in it's east by a long downhill. Along the way we pass by beautiful villages like Sao Vicente and Paradela. The historic villages, good coffee, local honey and the rare circumstance of sunshine force us to slow down and spend the rest of the day on the way down before present got us back in Chaves.

Portugals four corners II: The southeast

2016-11-19T21:09:00.000+01:00

From Lagos to the east we find several villages which stand for mass tourism in Portugal as no other: Albufeira, Portimao or Faro are the beach tourism destinations on the portuguese main land. Since the highway charges a toll, all the traffic returned to the city centers and turned the national road into a traffic jam. Not the best conditions for bike touring, what is why we decide to skip the south cost. Early in the morning we catch the train in Lagos. After a few hours, with a change in Faro, we reach Castro Marim on the spanish border.

In Castro Marim, only 70 km from Faro starts an extraordinary route for easy bike touring. Along Rio Guardiana a diverse cultural landscapes with charming little villages and fertile fields charactarise the landscape. Several indicated, but unpaved roads lead us deep through the lonesome landscape along the river and also the roads, beside of the main road, are low frequented. Now, at the very end of the summer all the roads are ours and even in the high season it's not to compare with the roads along coast. Alcutim, with the it's twin town on the spanish side of the river and Mertola, enclosed by a city wall are the cultural highlights and invite for some smooth days far away from the tourism boom along the coast.

When the bush-covered hills of the Algarve ends, the Alentejo waits with wine yards and the heat of the interior. Long straight roads bring us quickly through the flat landscape to Beja, the regional center for the vaste lonesome of the southeastern Alentejo. With a pretty castle, a car free historic center and it's small and curvy alleys it's worthy to see. But for us the most important is the train station. Beside of the route to Faro, this is the second train which goes down to the south of Portugal.

Train connections from Beja to Lisbon are quite quick and cheap (approx 10,-). Depend on the time different connection trains are to take. The trains in Beja are regional trains, no restrictions for bike transportation exist. Depend on the connection trains this maybe different after changing the train.

Portugals four corners I: The southwest

2016-11-17T15:13:00.000+01:00

Southwest Corner: Saboia - Odemira - Odeceixe - Aljezur - Sagres - Lagos

We start our tour far away from Lisbon and it´s city rush this time: next to Odemira, at the southern Alentejo. From the beginning on the ways are roads are quiet and within a few hours we reach some of the most spectacular beaches and cliffs of Portugal at Cabo Sardao. Well known as one of Europes surfing hot spots, Costa Vicentina is also for cyclists a real pearl.

Even if there are no longer ups and downs along the coast also mountainbikers can find some fun & action on this tour. This time we are prepaired for touring and remain mainly on the road. Just from Cabo Sardao to the south we hit the unpaved road along the cliffs. It´s simply to spectacular to miss! High, rocky and gray cliffs are always nearby. Storks and seagulls cross the huge bays. After only one smoove cycling day we reach Odeceixe, a beautiful village and a breathtaking cliff beach, which marks the regional boarder to the Algarve, Portugals most southern region. Here, where the cliffs start to turn into smoover sandstone, we leave the dirt road and return to the main road. This road during the peak season can be quite crowded, now in October it´s a calm local connection road.

We continue the road down to the south, cross the historic village of Aljezur, where beaches as Arifana and Amoreira invite for a swim. But we want to go forward and decide to go ahead. Half a day later we stop at the cliffs of another incredible cost: Carrapateira. A little off the direct way to Vila do Bispo and Sagres, but it´s worth all the way. The road is less transited, the landscape is vibrant and changing all year long and especially round-way on dirt roads from the village to the cliffs is unique!

A last uphill and an extended downhill later it´s time: We reach Vila do Bispo. In normal conditions the tough part of the way down to Portugals south-end is done now, but you always have to count with the wind around here. Today the wind is on our side so that the last 10 km to Sagres become a self-fire success and we are in Sagres for dinner in time.

Specially the view over the cost in the north of Sagres are awesome, but the wind is freezy and the Atlantic cold as ice. After a good dinner with friends and a recovery breakfast there is nothing else to do for us and we head off, now eastwards to Lagos.

Now, obviously, we have to pay for our fortune with the wind the day before. The flat 10 km from Sagres to Vila do Bispo can become one of the toughest on the entire way to the south. And even from Vila do Bispo to Lagos is still quite windy. After 40 km against the wind we are happy to climb down to a little hidden beach around Lagos and enjoy the late summer sun for a calm afternoon on the beach.

The way from Lisbon to Sagres I probably made about 10 or 15 times already. But I don't get tired. Beautiful scenery and Portugals warmest beaches and best weather. Combined with uncountable number of trails and roads; always a pleasure to ride here. Specially in the offseason many beaches are empty and roads are more calm.

How to go there: train (IC): Lisbon Oriente – Faro; best station isAmoreiras – Odemira or Santa Clara – Saboia (approx. 15,-)

How to go back: train (R) Lagos – Faro & train (IC) Faro – Lisbon (approx. 22,-)

be aware of the baggage restrictions in the trains!

Manteigas - Serra da Estrela Mountainbike Center

2016-09-24T15:11:00.002+02:00

It's always raining when I visit Portugals highest mountains at Serra da Estrela. So I'm little surprised this morning, when I hear the first raindrops after the hot portuguese summer. OK, nevertheless time to ride mountains! 8:30 am, I catch the train from Lisbon to Covilha at the foot of Serra da Estrela. Weather cleared up a bit, but anyway the next days will be dominated by a mix out of sun and rain. It's only beginning of September, but in higher locations autumn already arrived with freeze winds. So I decided to keep it literally low this time and discover the self-called “mountainbike center” of Manteigas, east of the peak.

Manteigas is a bit hidden between some lower crests in the east and can easily be reached on a calm asphalt road or by the indicated long distance trail of “Grand Rota do Rio Zezere” coming from Tomar and ending and the source of Rio Zezere in the Serra da Estrela. Manteigas – in compare to Seia in the north and Covilha in the south – is a small and calm village without bigger industry. Anyway it provides us with all we probably need: some bars, coffees and restaurants and a little supermarket and bakery. But not only therefore it is my favourite start point for tours to higher located Penhas de Saude, Nave de Santo Antonio and Torre. Manteigas opt for mountainbiking for touristic development and the surroundings of Manteigas provide several indicated mountainbike trails and a plenty of hiking trails which are great to bike (at least down the mountain!) Even if bottled water from the region is famous, is rare to find some on the way! Fill up your resources down here!

Covilha – Manteigas by road

There are several different ways to go to Teixoso. The one with less traffic is the one next to the mountain, indicated to Vila do Carvalho. In Teixosos we find a cross road with indication to Vale do Amoreira and the first climb. After the first up and down we find the small village Verdelhos. Following down the valley we reach vale de Amoreira. Left of the river on asphalt, right of the river on an initially good and then more difficult trail. Now follow the road to Manteigas and 10 km later we arrived. For sure this is the easiest way to reach or leave Manteigas, several other ways already provide a good warm up for the mountains.

Covilha – Verdelhos – Manteigas by trail
The other option of course is to leave the asphalt already next to Covilha. In this case we leave Covilha in the same way but after a while, on the end of a steep uphill, when a sign shows us the beginning of the natural resort of Serra da Estrela, we turn left and leave the asphalt behind after a few meters. Initially we continuer climbing but after approx 3 km we urgently have to turn right in a sharp corner into the smaller trail. Otherwise we will keep up climbing and end up somewhere in the bushes later on. Meanwhile following this trail always down we have a nice warm up for the upcoming mountaineering days and end up in The other option of course is to leave the asphalt already next to Covilha. In this case we leave Covilha in the same way but after a while, on the end of a steep uphill, when a sign shows us the beginning of the natural resort of Serra da Estrela, we turn left and leave the asphalt behind after a few meters. Initially we continuer climbing but after approx 3 km we urgently have to turn right in a sharp corner into the smaller trail. Otherwise we will keep up climbing and end up somewhere in the bushes later on. Meanwhile following this trail always down we have a nice warm up for the upcoming mountaineering days and end up in Verdelhos.

UPHILL
Manteigas – Covao d'Ametade – Penhas de Saude
The most logic way seems to follow the river to the source up the river. Where shortly after the village already appears the big grey walls around the peak. The indicated hiking path along the river, initially is a wide dirt road, quickly turns into a narrow and blocked singletrail, which for the average rider means to push the bike a lot and returning to the road quite soon. To go this most direct way I would advise to go back to the (also not very busy) main road and following the panorama zigzag up the mountain. The latest moment to return easily to the road is when the trail leaves the last buildings behind and a little bridge crosses the river. Manteigas – Boca do Inferno – Nave de Santo Antonio For more trail riding we follow the indicated bike trail to the south side of the river in direction of Boca do Inferno. Which by the way is the perfect spot to fill up your bottles. Shortly after we start the real uphill. Climbs with more than 18-20% are very normal in this area and almost not to avoid. Get ready for it. The indication makes it easy to find your way. Once we did the main part of the uphill we find a little crossroad with an indication sign. If we follow left we go down south-east to Leandes where we find “Grande Rota do Zezere” (see below)
If we turn right on that crossroad instead we continuer climbing a bit. After a long slight uphill we reach the road from Manteigas to Torres near Penhas da Saude. In the summer month, when the ground is dry, after only a few meters up, we can leave the road behind again by turning right. On a tough but beautiful trail we cross Nave Santo Antonio and end up on the plateau.

DOWNHILLS
Be careful on the downhills! All trails are quite steep and even some of the doubletrails are difficult mountain terrain. Be careful with not indicated trails. Even big dirtroads suddently can end up in the middle of nowhere. Thanks to the tough ups and downs that can quickly cause some hard extra work!

Penhas da Saude – Manteigas (direct)
Above the village of Penhas de Saude is located the small water reservoir Lago do Virato. On both ends of the lake dirt roads leave the road to the east. After a while this trails come back together and start to go downwards on a technical singletrail. A little later, we find the way we climb on the uphill via Boca do Inferno. On the first crossroad we continuer left to Manteigas. Instead of the bike trail we follow the yellow-red indication for hiking trails now. Initially this way cross the beautiful plateau with the characteristic rock formations. Later it snakes down, sometimes as a narrow singletrail, sometimes wider as a bumpy and historic rock trail or a classical forest trail. Challenging steep, but with a lot of flow and fun to ride! Every couple of minute we cross the bigger dirt road. In case that the hiking trail is too rough, just follow this unpaved road and you also reach Manteigas. Otherwise just keep your eyes open and the indication will show you the most direct way down to Manteigas.

Penhas da Saude – Boca do Inferno – Manteigas
An easier way to Manteigas is already described as the uphill passing by the waterfall Boca de Inferno. On the above mentioned crossroad this time we follow right now, in direction south. After a long slight uphill we find a second crossroad where we turn left now and start the real downhill. From now on we can follow the bike-trail indication again and after a while where we always decide for the most downhill option, we find an asphalted road which on the right brings us to Boca do Inferno and Manteigas and on the left to Vale do Amoreira.

www.mountainbiketraveller.blogspot.com/2015/09/serra-da-estrela-portugal-high-end.html

www.goo.le/photos

www.aldeiasdoxisto.pt

www.centrodebtt.cm-manteigas.pt

Sintra Ericeira: Gran Lisboa a full!

2016-09-03T21:19:00.001+02:00

I love this tour. It combines the amazing coastline with
steep cliffs and lonesome beaches with the forrests, rivers and
untouched nature of the interior.

Distance: 65 km

Fall: 1.300 m

Downhill: 1.300 m

Duration: 8 - 12 h

Caracter: difficult & entiring

Sintra - Lizandro da Foz

We start on Sintras trainstation. This time we hidding of to the citycenter and follow the direction to Quinta da Regaleira. We could already leave the paved road after a few kilometer by turning left where we find a little lake on our right and a mansion on our left. But we start it easy and follow the street down to Colares. where the street divides indicated to Praha das Macas and Cascais, we go in direction Cascais but leave the mainroad ater a hundred meters to the right. We follow that way aproximatly for a kilometer, before we turn left, otherwise we find ourselfs on the end o the track. We turn left twice and we are on the way down to Praha Grande. We follow the beach to the right and jump over to the next beach. After a few meters on the mainroad we find a parking place where we continuer on small singletrails very close to the coast. 2 km later we return to that street and cross the next village. On the end of this village we find "Caminho da Aquda", a way that beginns as a unpaved road in good conditions, but later turns into a mix out of road and trail. Five kilometer later we reach it´s end on another beach with a bar open the whole year. We have to climb a few meters on a wooden way and reach a major street. As always we turn left in direction to the sea. The road ends on a parking space after 500 m. Here we have to turn landwards for a bit and return to the cliffs afterwards, otherwise we get lost in the cliffs. We select one of the trails in this great natural bikepark and reach Praha do Lisandro after a while. We can go down by the cliffs or turn a long circle on the trail to the interior. An attractive singletrail in the green northside of the cliffs offers views to the beach and brings us back to civilization and to the brigde discribed below.

Lizandor da Foz- Sintra

Probably after a stop on the beach we have to climb up the same street as the cars and roll down to the valley as soon we reach the main road. A few meters before the brigde we turn into a dirtroad on our right. We follow this road for a few kilometers, passing a little power plant until a cementary. Here we cross the little river and follow it on a singletrail on the other side. Beginning here we find ourself in a uncountable net out o singletrails through the forrest. Mainly we follow the river, crossing it twice. On it´s end we arrive in Carvalhal. On the gps-trail we still follow the river in this village and reach a steep uphill to the windmills on top. On that uphill probable bikes have to be pushed mainly. Alternativly we can follow the road and turn right after the village and follow right again after a kilometer.

On top of the mountain we pass by a village called Cabrela where we go down to the river again. We cross the bridge and turn right again. After one or two kilometers we find a gravel pit. We climb up until we reach the entrance.

Here, on km 55 we find the main road. Unfortunatly beginning here the track is quite borring. For the last 10 km we mainly follow the mainroad allways in direction to Sintra. Maybe somebody got a better idea to go back to Sintra? I would be thankful for!

Obrigado, bombeiros!

2016-08-11T19:29:00.000+02:00

More then 3.000 mainly volunteering fire fighters are fighting against 200 bush fires all over Portugal. Time to say thank you to those who spend time and risk life to fight against this disaster every year!

All funds we raise from today, 11th August, to the 21st August will be directly dedicated to the voluntary fire fighters.

Need to fix, clean, adjust your bike? Want to borrow a bike or ride a tour with us? Get in touch, come around and donate!

Bike Traveller Reunion

2016-07-30T01:30:00.002+02:00

Come together and live your passion together!

ever 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month
18:00 – 21:00 @Armazem d'Apolonia

Rua Ciminhos de Ferro 54
Santa Apolonia

Bike travelling is so much more than just being on the road and paddle. It´s about preparation, mechanics, equipment, skills, fun and adventure, but more than all it's about passion!

In a very few places I met that many bike travellers as I did in Lisbon. Moreover I met so different bike travellers. People made 3 weeks holidays or travelled the whole world. They carried dogs, kids, surfboards or entire businesses in their panniers or trailers. So many people with so many stories to tell! Some of them just came as a flashlight simply to make my day a bit more interesting, others remained in my life as friends and inspirations.

This is the spot where you always find Schwalbe Marathon tires and some improvisations in stock ...

What a hugh brain pool for bike travellers if we bring that people together! So much specific knowledge, so much experience, so much passion! New travel routes, bike fixing, baggage systems or just dreaming about the wide wide world: There is always something to work on, let´s get started!

Come and join us!

Armazém d'Apolónia

2016-07-11T15:20:00.002+02:00

É Muita Fruta, Mountainbike Traveller e Lisbon Sustainable Tourism são os três projectos que se encontraram para partilhar o Armazém d'Apolónia. Em comum têm os mesmos valores, a paixão por Lisboa e mais importante que tudo - contribuir positivamente para que Lisboa seja uma cidade melhor.
PORTAS ABERTAS dia 14 Julho (5ªf) às 18h
Aparece!

facebook.com/emuitafruta
www.mountainbike-traveller.com
facebook.com/mountainbiketraveller
www.lisbonsustainabletourism.com
facebook.com/lisbonsustainabletourism
______________________________
É Muita Fruta, Mountainbike Traveller and Lisbon Sustainable Tourism are the three projects that got together to share Armazém d'Apolónia. In common they have the same values, the passion for Lisboa and more important than all - the will to contribute for a better city.
OPEN DOORS 14 July (Thur) at 6pm
Come visit us!
facebook.com/emuitafruta
www.mountainbike-traveller.com
facebook.com/mountainbiketraveller
www.lisbonsustainabletourism.com
facebook.com/lisbonsustainabletourism

Summer Season 2016

2016-02-14T05:38:00.000+01:00

My 5th season in Portugal and the 4th in Lisbon is raising. Four years in the same city and on the same trails. I would never have expected that when I arrived. But the smoove city and even more the mountainbike paradise outside of the city made me stay. Within this time I paddled most parts of the country, hundreds of trails through Sintra and Lisbon, improved my bike skills and understood the bike mechanics. I built up travel bikes, hosted dozens of bike travellers and sealed my own panniers. Time to look forward and see what this fourth year will bring...

Tours
Of course we will keep up with the weekly rides in good company. Tours through Lisbon, Cascais and Sintra, up the hills of Sintra, to the seafood restaurants of Sessimbra, the castle of Palmela and the pictueresc village of Ericeira. Smoove relaxing tours and thrilling mountainbiking on halfday-, fullday- and multiday trips in small groups. I try to realize a halfday- and a day-trip once a week and a weekend-trip once a month. If no one of the tours fits with your wishes or abilities, just let me know. I'm flexible. Feel free to join us!

Guidebook
After 3 years and thousands of kilometer I feel quite home on the trails of Serra de Sintra. This year I want to go a new way to let you join the trails. During the winter I figured out my favourite trails between Lisbon, Cascais, Sintra, Ericeira and Mafra. Over the summer I want to provide them step by step with some explications, classification
and GPS-trails. Keep your eyes open!

Bike Surfing

The system of couchsurfing meanwhile is wellknown: You come to an unknown city and need a place to sleep, maybe some background info. And private people provide that. Not for money, but based on trust and respect. Easy to guess what bike surfing is, right? Meanwhile a couple of different communities popped up on this sector. I participate on couchsurf.org and bikesharing.org. But anyway you know how to reach me...

Bike Garage

Since the day I moved in my flat is a garage with kitchen and bed. What during the winter was pushed back to one corner, in the some covers main parts of the flat. Meanwhile for most of the situations I'm good prepared to maintain all works on my own. I got all tools needed in practise and got a lot of used stuff to help out in many situations. When ever you need a helping hand, just come around!

Travel Bikes
I'm not really a mechanic, but there is one thing I meanwhile got experience: building travel bikes, my big passion. Meanwhile I sent a couple of bikes from Lisbon on they way eastwards and while my first commission work reached Cambodia, I have already two new missions for this spring and still lust for more.

Bike bags and panniers

Another step to become independent in travel bike building are the panniers and bags. What started as a simple idea, using trash material and cutting boards in the beginning, turned into a serious project during the last winter. The panniers are still amendable but convincing on a great value for money level. It´s time for some diversification now.

Trips and adventures

Last but not least I want to have some action and adventures on the trails. During the last years I rode Portugal from east to west and from north to south, from Braganca to Sagres from Viana de Castelo to Castro Marim. Even when this regions are the once I know the best, 2016 Geres and Costa Vicentina are waiting for me and for sure also this year a few unexpected destinations will pop up on my to-do-list.

What ever comes. As long as it is related with a bike: I´m your man.
Interested? Questions? Recommendations? Requests? Doubts? mountainbiketraveller@gmail.com
Want to stay updated? facebook.com/mountainbiketraveller

Bike Bags

2016-01-24T18:23:00.000+01:00

My most current project is still moving forward. Now I need some feedback from other travel bikers to go ahead. If you are used to bike travel with baggage I would kindly ask you for 5 minutes to answer a few questions following this link:

https://de.surveymonkey.com/r/2WKRYPQ

Thank you very much.

Costa Vicentina Trails

2015-10-11T16:50:00.002+02:00

I already went several times from Lisbon to the Algarve. Summer is over. The north is already cold and humid. The south is not so hot and crowded as before. Perfect time to visit the south of the country

Normally I´m excited and prepared days before a departure to a bike trip. Not so this time. I have some mixed feelings while preparing for this tour. The way along the south coast makes me think about lonely cliffs and beaches, rough sea and a plenty of different villages and landscapes, but also about flat and boring rides. A street too busy to enjoy and trails too sandy to ride.
The interior of province of Alentejo is beautiful, but boring. Trails are not built to bike and hike but for goats or trucks. Wide cork fields, sheep, goats, birds as far as you can see, as long as you can ride, not more not less. Only some lost in time villages as Beja or Cuba brought some variety in the day.

Nevertheless, both parts got amazing sceneries. Therefore, a mix seems the best solution.

I leave Lisbon by train and ferry to reach peninsula Troia. But instead of the road down south, I go eastwards to Grandola and turn southwards only a 30 km away from the coast. Grandola, Sao Bartolomeu da Serra and Santiago do Cacem are not that picturesque as the villages more in the east, but give a good impression of the quiet and calmness of the Alentejo. An indicated hiking path leads through hills with funny ups & downs through Cork forests. Abandoned or inhabited farms edge our way.

Bildunterschrift hinzufügen

Only at the artificial lake Arneiro Branco, next to Porto Covo, we come back at the coast. Here we finally find usable and interesting trails near the cliffs. From here on two different ways lead us down to Sagres: A red-white indicated way is always easy to drive, meanwhile a green-blue indicated trail leads us always nearby the cliffs and beaches, but many times it´s too sandy to ride. I go for a mix out of both ways. What sometimes made me push the bike through deep sand, sometimes racing through boring fields. I pass by island Pessegueiro and Milfontes.

It takes me two full days to reach Cabo de Sardao. From here on the cliffs are higher and the trails more rocky and solid. Between the lighthouse at Cabo Sardao and the beach of Odeceixe we always find a trail or an unpaved road next to the coast and grab uncountable many views down to the lonesome sea. It´s already afternoon of the third day when I reach Praia Odeceixe and Portugals most southern province, the Algarve. Trailroads bring me to the touristic overcrowded but still charming village of Aljezur and back to the beaches. I reached the surf hot spots around Cabo Sao Vicente and suddenly perfect mountainbike trails are everywhere along the coast. Tough uphills, steep thrilling downhills and the sunset show me my limits. Adrenaline at technical singltrails at Praia Amado and breathtaking sceneries on the way around Carrapateira: This part is a blast! Never before I enjoyed this zone that much and some when in the dark I'm ready to enjoy a cold beer and a hot shower in Sagres.
Lisbon – Sagres: Done once again! Thanks to the mix of interior and coast, landscape was never boring and always changing. Instead of a climb of 1000m between Lisbon and Sagrs I summed up to more than 2500m, I was able to avoid main roads and left all my mixed feelings. Finally a joyful way to the south.

Serra da Estrela - Portugal High End

2015-09-13T20:35:00.000+02:00

Mountain biking in Portugal is about Serra de Sintra next to Lisbon or Monquique at the Algarve. But how to talk about mountain biking and not mention Serra da Estrela, what houses the highest peak of the country. Overdue to discover! I already tried twice to conquer the summit of Portugal. Both times stopped by heavy rain and freezing temperatures. Not this time: Cloudy and sunny, 25°. Best bike weather is calling!

Curious and with high expectations I get on to the train to adventure. From Lisbon it´s a 4-hours direct ride to Covilha. (Bike transportation is for free, but limited to only one bike. So, if you go between two or more, be prepared to disassemble your bike and some discussions!) Covilha train station is located in the fertile valley of Rio Zezere, but already the old town of Covilha leading up into Serra da Estrela. The dusty old town obviously provides several coffees and shops, but also a quite recommendable bike shop (oxygen bikes, next to the university).

New tires on the wheels, I switch on the GPS and be out on the road. As in almost all villages around Serra da Estrela, also Covilhas main road leads up Serra da Estrela in a steep zig-zag course. After a while riding trough pine forests we arrive Penhas da Saude (1550m), a great starting point for further excursions in all directions. The touristic village is already located in the vegetation of the higher mountain. Big gray rocks surrounded by lower bushes and dry grass. Along the road we find several hotels and a youth hostel. West side of the road we find a authentic but modern restaurant called Verandaestrala. A little behind the village we find roads down to Unhais da Serra in the west and Manteigas in the east of the mountain. Meanwhile the road continues to Torre, the 1993m high peak of Portugal, before it splits up to Seia in the north.

I decide to spend the first night up in the mountains and defined my rhythm for the next days. Downhills in the morning and back up again in the afternoon. That made me carry all my food up the mountain every day, but it enables me to spend the nights under the stars between mountain lakes and peaks. A favorable side effect is that I could do the downhill with full strength and attention and the uphills until exhaustion. For the first riding day I had more than enough. I look up for a sheltered place between the rocks and fall in sleep even before sunset behind the peaks.

The second day I decide to go down to Manteigas. The road sneaks down along the upper reaches of Rio Zezere, but soon I find a forest road along the left mountain crest. The road become a worse estate step by step. I follow the indicated way what slightly transforms into a hiking trail to Manteigas. Slightly I got a feeling for the area: steep ups and downs, big rocks with good grip and deep sand form wide parts of the trails. It feels just awesome to ride down a 1000m downhill after so long! Arrived in Manteigas I sit down for a coffee in one of the public gardens almost every village along my way got. Manteigas is a bit hidden between the mountains and forests. So that we don´t find the usual but ugly industrial zones here. Life is way less busy then in the other cities around. Beside of a few hiking tourists agriculture and craft domain public life. The region around Manteigas is probably the best indicated and best accessible zones for biking in the national park. Beside of the village we only find a few mountain refuges, but a plenty of indicated hike- and bike trails and several freshwater sources. In medium altitude we find the indication for „Grand Rota do Zezere“. A nice mix between forest roads and single trails without too many uphills leads us to Vale de Amoreira and further on to Covilha. Up to the mountain we find several trails on the south side of the river. Meanwhile the trails I found north of the river has been to blocked for uphills and quite technical on the downhill.

The end of this day finally brings me up to the summit. I observed the south side of the peak during the last days but I can´t find a trail up. So my only option is the road again. After the obligatory excursion to Torre, the roof of the country, I use the ski slope for the first downhill. Unfortunately the ski area is so small that I found the lower end only a few hundred meters later. Fortunately I right there are located some breathtaking lakes, what I just reach for sunset. The lonesome lakes between the rocks captivate me immediately, so that I choose them as my sleeping place not only for this, but also for the following nights.

For the next day I got the trail of Seia Epic XCM race on my GPS. But even this can´t provide the yearned off road downhill from the top to the bottom. After a while on the summit plateau I decide to leave the road and define my own line. The terrain - and with Lagoa Comprida also the target – is well visible, vegetation is low. Due to the late summer season it´s all dry. Long outstanding rocks between the bushes invite to ride them. Seems to be perfect to ride on my own! Honestly that went along with exhausting hikes with the bike on my shoulders, for the first, but indeed not for the last time! The 1,5 distance took me a long while and a lot of energy, but riding the grippe rocks with partly more than 35% of decline are compensation enough. Back on the road I found the GPSS-track which meanwhile also left the road. The north zone of the mountains is more urban but the indicated trail brings me down on a nice but easy trail.

Seia, is the behind Covilha the second biggest town in the area. Needless to say that there are more then enough facilities to recover everything you need, including a bike shop (ProCiclar, Av. Bombeiros Voluntarios). The way up starts technical easy but steep but turns into an adventure quite fast. I still wonder how is realized a race on this course! Singletrails bordered by abysses on both sides and rock climbing sections makes a competition quite dangerous. Alone and without pressure it´s just amazing nice to ride. Suffered hard uphills to 1500m and then back to the road again. If even the guys of Seia BTT Club doesn´t find a trail up, how should I? So back on asphalt and back to the lake right for sunset.

The next day brings me down to Covilha again. The amazing view and the nice serpentines from the peak to Penha de Saude almost compensate the missing trails on mountains top level.

Once arrived the village, I leave the road on the left and the right but I´m always back on the road quickly. Only below 1200m suddenly a plenty of white powdered single- and doubletrails appear. I don´t know where to go, but in case of doubt I go down and reach Covilha after a while. This finally are trails as I´m used them from Portugal: Where is a way in, is a way out. Covilha is sleepy in the heat of the midday, so I have a coffee, do some shopping and leave the city before I got infected. I even haven´t went down to the lower part of the city, but leave the road through the outskirts in the east along the mountain. I start to climb again and leave the asphalt behind after a few kilometer. Grapes, figs, chestnuts and blackberries and millions of flies escort my way. A solid forest road climbs up in the wished and already known direction to Penha de Saude. But suddenly I face a burned down mountain crest. The road ends - as so many times this days - not in a hiking path, but in the nowhere. Meanwhile I should know better, but I decide to go on my own again. Somewhere behind the rocks I should find the bike and hiking pathes I already know. Unless to say: I don´t. So I carry the bike meter by meter, try to ride a view meters to carry and push the back again. Deadly tired, sooty and black all over I finally reach the 1650m high south end of the middle high plateau. The rough way back to the street needs my last energy. Exhausted to the limit I decide to have a beer night and I´m more than happy arriving at the VerandaEstrela once again.

Back to my principle question: Five days obviously only can give me a small impression of all the bike possibilities in Serra da Estrela. Serra da Estrela, worthy to go? Or better to say: Worthy to return?

On the one hand I missed climbing up to a real mountain so hard that I enjoyed perfectly. Nature indeed is great! Rough peaks and high plateaus give a feeling of mountaineering as nowhere else within the country. Sunsets over the mountain lakes are more than memorable. Sky and silence are a class of it´s own!

On the other hand I like other regions better for biking. Trails are quite rarely indicated and hard to find. Most of the not indicated ways end up in the middle of nowhere, what makes it hard to discover on your own. The lack of trails in the high zone limit the downhills effectively to only a 1000m. Not to forget that the season up in the north is short and weather is unsure. Geres for example is better indicated and cultural more of interest. Monquique or Serra de Sintra are favorable in therms of weather conditions and „trail-density“ much faster to reach. So my point of view: If you visit Portugal by bike there are better places to go. If you are here and feel a miss of mountains just catch a train and go for it!

Discovery of Ribatejo

2015-07-13T16:01:00.000+02:00

It´s the second time that I go for central Portugals interior. After Alentejo (Lisbon - Evora - Beja - Algave) last year, now I want to to go a bit more north to Ribatejo and Serra de Aire. My feeling is the same: Not a lot to see, but a lot to miss!

The exit of Lisbon could be so easy. Up the Tejo valley you reach the province in a couple of hours without any bigger uphills. But there´s no way to go from Lisbon to the north without doing the great cliffs of Ericeira. So I leave Lisbun just to Cabo da Roca the first evening. Instead of a lonesome night in the rocks, I find myself drinking beer and chatting with a dutch cycling Portugal on a folding bike. He´s wondering about the foggy and chilly weather.For me it´s not surprisingly. It´s north side of Serra de Sintra, if the weather is not bad here, nowhere in Portugal it is.

Not at least because of this late night conversation I get up late the next morning. It´s still cloudy and I can't wait to head off north. As the trails up north this time are only the beginning, I decide for a straight line. I skippe some exhausting and borrowing parts and only went for the most fun ones: Praia do Magoito and Praia do Porto Chao. That way I reach Ericeira in the early afternoon. Meanwhile, sun came out and I´m happy to have a cool drink and fill up my reserves here. After a last ride along the cliffs north of Ericeira I slightly turnd inland.

A small dusty trail behind Ribamar and Sao Lorenco brings my away from the coast and close to Torres Vedras, a charming province town, as most of the portuguese villages towered of a castle, what unfortunately is already closed on my arrival. I can´t exactly say what causes this coast mentality but Torres Vedras, 30 km away from the cost still got it. As I wanted to go to the interior I decide to speed up from now on. I follow the road north-east to leave the coast behind. Instead of lemon and eucalyptus trees olive trees and wine yards take place in the landscape now.

It´s already midday of the second day when I reach Serra de Montejunto. From it´s bottom I see a road all along the mountain on half of it´s height. A car is passing the road what cause a huge dust cloud and I knew that I have to go up there! Just in time, a farmer pass by on a donkey, the perfect source for a dirt trail up the mountain. About 30 minutes later I arrive, sweating and gasping for air, on the top of the pass. Serra de Montejunto is a single rock in the flat landscape. The steep slope offers great views to the surrounding valleys full of grapes. Strong wind is blowing. With my wet shirt in the strong wind even 30° I feel bitterly cold this moment. After a small break it´s time to go on. On the road I saw from far I surround the mountain from it´s west to it´s east before I turn downhill on a rocky singletrail that suddenly appeared on my right.

The same afternoon I reach Santarem and with that the Tejo Valley. Coming from south-east Santarem is not very invitingly. High apartment buildings, industry and commercial domain the view already from far. Only after the steep uphill to the historic city visitors can see the beaty of the Santarem: the historic market hall, open green squares small lanes and the view from the high walls down to river Tejo. It´s Saturday afternoon and the whole town is sleepy. After an iced coke, a short coffee and a chat with a 65-years old recumbent biker, I´m ready to go on. The flat valley permits now to go ahead dozens of km in the evening sun. In the beginning I use unpaved roads through the grapes but fastly I decide to use the quiet but asphalted roads to spare time and energy. After other 30 km I reach Golegas. The self called "Capital of horses" evidently lives from tourists passing through on their way to Santago de Compostela, and it lives good with that. After a few tiny but iced beers I fall in sleep with the view to my final destination: Serra de Aires.

Similarly to Serra de Montejunto also this national park is a single rock in the landscape, just much bigger. On it´s arrival comes with 3 little hills like waives in the landscape. Unpaved short cuts from one village to the next one are a welcome change after so much asphalt and brings me quickly to the foot of the mountain. From the last of the three hills I see a dirt road going straight up the mountain on it´s east side. So I decide to go there. Quickly the first bikers appear from the forrest and race down the valley. 20% uphills and the high noon heat turns every meter into a challenge. After half an hour the road stops to climb and turns left and slightly downhill. I´m still not ready to go down, so I decide to go for one of the smaller paths uphill. After a little while I find mtb-race indication painted on the way and fixed on the trees. But unfortunately in the opposite direction. This turned into a problem when the path switched to a narrow singletrail. While pushing the bike up the mountain I feel an old pain in my knee, so I knew that the end of the weekend is near. But such a trail! Found by causality? That´s destiny! The way is getting steeper, more and more drops block the way. I can't ride the trail uphill anymore, but I can examine the trail and stick in mind the best line to ride it down later. I ride the last part up to the peak from there I have a 360° view around the mountain.

I have an extended break enjoy the view from the last peak of the weekend. Then it´s finally time to go downhill! Beginning on the top with loos boulders continued by some middle deep drops, reaching the forrest with technical snaky line to come down with some smaller jumps over ingrown walls to be back on the main road I came from. An amazing trail and a highlight of the weekend. Big up, BTT-crew Spinheiros!

Tailormade bike bags by moutainbike-traveller

2015-07-05T01:23:00.000+02:00

Sometimes it´s just destiny. In spring I thought about building bike backs. So I started to search for a tarpaulin. But as I haven't found a place to buy in Lisbon, I quickly forgot about it. And then, only a few days later, someone left 15 m² for me in the trash box next to my place. Suddenly the bike bags has been back on my agenda. Some 6 weeks, 4 attempts, many sweating and swearing later I can proudly present my prototype #1: with a size of about 15 liter a simple but functional click-in-system at the rack and mainly made out of recycled material I´m quite happy with it!

My first try was a square box with two holders became what didn't want to fit together. Only on the third try I found a way how to fix the tarpaulin together that it considered to be reliable. On that point I finally was able to go shopping and to work with it. Soon I figured out which parts has to be revised. I added some protections adjusted the form and worked out some details. And here I am; proud on my first bike back and disappointed with the result in the same way.

The back is waterproofed, fits well on the rack, doesn't handicap the ride and seems to be reliable. To sum it up, it´s functional. If all that attributes proves true now, this backs already got some big advantages in compare to cheap bike bags you find online. Probably the main one: it´s handmade.

Every piece is a unique. There can be a tailermade solution in every back. Some bikes are smaller, some foots are bigger, some riders want a quick open system and some need maximum protection. Not a problem if every back is a unique. All elements are from hardware shops and warehouses: screws, iron stripes and rivets, glue bike tubes and a tension belt. So, no matter what happened you can fix it, no matter where you are.

As glad as I´m with the result, as unsatisfied I´m with the prototype. On so many points I´m still searching for better solutions and some parts are simply not to realize with the same smartness as an industrial solution provides. I changed so many things on the way from the first draft to prototype #1. Hence, I´m sure that #2 will already be reformed and improved. Indeed, this bag is not to compare with a premium product like VauDe or Ortlieb. With years of experience and access to every kind of technology they brought bike bags to a higher level. I hope there is not a difference in quality, but only a long way to go.

Geres - Portugals bike pearl in the high north

2015-05-20T00:03:00.001+02:00

The true mountainbike pearl we find up in the north of Portugal: the rocky peaks of the spanish-portuguese National Park Geres.

For me this five day bike trip starts with a 5 hours train ride. Prepared with a few GPS-trails a sleeping bag and my bike. The adventure already starts in Lisbon Santa Apolonia trainstation. Bike transportation is only allowed in the slow trains and the space for bikes is already reserved for the next train. Well done that I´m at the station already an hour earlier. An hour time to discuss in Portugal is almost the same as a reservation and so I reach Porto 3 h later and Braga another hour later.

I can´t go to Braga without visit good friends I made there years ago. Nobody knew about my arrival, but I received the only answer I expected: "Come in, I´m just cooking" A good dinner, a few glasses of wine and a good nap later finally start in the bike weekend. I learned from my fault the day before and already bought my ticket for the way back, iniciated the GPS and searched for the closest trail I saved. "Braga - Montalege". I originally took this trail with me for the way back but seems to be good for the outbound way as well. Braga is in the southwest of Geres, Montalegre in the east. seems like a good trail to get into it. I just left Braga 20 minutes behind when I start the first uphill to two of the most famous monuments the pilgrimage churches of Bom Jesus and Falperra. Falperra is located on top of Braga and it seems that this trail from there on never goes down again. Always on top of the mountain crest I slowly gain altitude.

Easy to reveal that the creater of the track is a Braga local. The trail initially is very technical so I reach my limits already after the first hours. In the afternoon I pass by Vieira do Minho. Just in time, as my legs after 2000 m uplill slowly start to tremble, singletrails and blocked, stony donkey pathes make place for smoover forrest roads in Serra da Cabreira. My way brings me much more southern as I planned, but the great selection of trails make me decide to stay on this track.

The second day waits with great views from the beautifull Serra do Barroso and uncountless views up to the rough mountains of Geres and down to the reservoir of Alta Rabagao. I cross the reservoir on the dam wall and back up to the mountains arround noon. The rocky mountains of Geres come closer with every uphill. In the early afternoon I reach the regional center Montalegre. The heat of the afternoon makes me calm down my speed. I stop for an extended ice cold Coke in Montalegre and decide calm down the rest of the day. I follow the paved but calm road indicated to Geres National park.

When the evening comes closer I finally step into Geres on the northside of of Rio Cávado. All along it´s steep canyon I find a road with calm villages every 15 km. When I finally find a bar in one of the villages, I used the moment to have some beers, charge the GPS and finish the day with a great view over the canyon.

The next day I´m ready to trail on. I see the next GPS-trail in about 15 km distance, so I venture away for the first doubletrail and leave the road. Sometimes the I find indicated hiking ways, sometimes I just trust in my orientation. Steep zig zag bends finally leads me up to the first peaks of Geres and I regret that I haven´t spended all the days arround here. Up and down I pass over to the village Geres where I got indicated by locals for the way over to Campo de Geres. "You want to go to Braga. On the best way?", "No, the worst way, please" So I got the worst way and I loved it! In a heavy enduro trail I finally left my very last power on my biggest challange of the weekend.

When I finally reached civilization again my legs are done, battery it´s empty and I´m ready for the last but not least delights of the region: Portuguese food, coffee and a couple of beers for only for 7 Euro. After a good last sleep in the mountains I ride the road through Terras de Bouro back to the charming city of Braga and only 4 hours later I´m back home and have a hot shower.

Ready for the next ride!

Summer Season 2015

2015-02-03T01:36:00.001+01:00

New year already started a while ago and so far weather gives high expectations for 2015. As probably everybody, I want to make more out of this year, than out of the last one. I got more time and space, better equipment and knowledge than last year. So then: It´s time to start the bike season 2015!

Lisboa Tours

Lisbon's past and presents: Nowhere Lisbon's heartbeat is so easy to feel as from one of over 20 viewing points in the city. This "miradouros" are maybe one of Lisbon's biggest treasures. To reach them sometimes we have to climb, but the views we receive in return recover the effort absolutely certain! Perfect views above the roofs of Lisbon: Bairro Alto, Alfama, Baixa Chiado, Sao Joao and Sao Sebastiao. The river shore provides a wide cycling lane and amazing sunsets and the suburbs offer more as you aspect! So get on the bike and see Lisbon. What you can see on a day by foot, you can do in 3 hours by bike!

MTB Tours

About 25 km outside of Lisbon, we find Serra the Sintra and the Atlantic. Easy to reach by urban train it´s a perfect scenery to bike!
Serra the Sintra offers uncountable trails for all kinds of mountain biking. The singletrails from the 350 high peaks down to the sea are one of the highlights in this bike region. The village of Sintra and it´s surroundings are rich in history and culture and the lonesome cliffs are simply fantastic!
In the south of the hills, where Rio Tejo reaches the Atlantic, Cascais is located. A urban, but provincial part of Lisbon. The region around the upper class beach city Cascais offers rural villages, small rivers with miles between fields and forrest. Landscape is mainly flat and unpaved roads make it easy accessible. Guincho Beach in the southwest of Serra de Sintra is a famous surf spot and perfect connected with a long cycling lane back to Cascais.On unpaved roads Between rural villages and the rough cliffs is a perfect scenery to bike. Calm, unpaved roads through the fields of Cascais or trailing around on : Between Sintra, Praia Grande and Cascais is a trail for every biker!

Multi-day tours
But a bike is not only a city vihicle and a funtool: It´s the best way to dicover a country, no doubts in this!
2 up to 5 days of bike travelling, oneway or roundtrips, through the region of Lisbon and up and down the coast.
Going for hidden beaches, breathing salty sea air and aromatic pines. Lissening to the bees and birds and feel the atlantic wind. Enjoy authentic portuguese life and untouched natur far away from busy Lisbon or Algarve. That is what bike touring is about.

Cicloficina Parede
Cycling, biking and touring means being on the road and so much more!
It´s about fixing and caressing bikes, about improvement and improvisation, about technical disputes, route planning and wasting time together.
Therefore we now have a place in Parede to share all this!
My new place is a place to live, but maybe more a bike station. A place for touring bikers, bike tourists or locals. My castle is your castle!
I have a place to sleep and take a lukewarm shower for all touring bikers, a garage for everybody to fix his bike and always a bottle of portuguese wine.

Touring bike building

I do everything by bike. But my real love is touring and travelling. A touring bike is much more than a vehicle, it´s a company in the good as in the bad times.
Building a touring bike is breathing spirit into a bike and I love to do this. During the last years I build up touring bikes when ever I could. Always somewhere between quality and price efficient improvisation. But always though enough for the big adventure it was called for.
And I´m ready for a new project...

Bikesufing
Meanwhile all the world knows what couchsurfing is. So it´s not so hard to gues what bikesufing is: A cheap, easy, environmental friendly and socal way to know Lisbon.
How bikesu rf.org works you can see on the video below. Feel free to join!.

Upcomming dates you find on facebook.com/mountainbiketraveller
or on request on mountainbiketraveller@gmail.com

Westcoast Trails

2014-10-27T14:13:00.002+01:00

For surfers this coast is well known, but bikers should not miss it either! Between 0 and 95 meters of altitute the coast offers perfect conditions to get lost natural natural bikepark where every corner invites to stay and stun. Crosscountry, up to the cliffs and down to the beaches, you can get lost for days if you want and if you are tough enough.

Comming from Sintra as already described in "Sintra Ericeira: Gran Lisboa a full!" only one uphill from Praha Lisandro we find Ericeira. A charming seaside town, traditional painted in white and blue. A dayride away from Lisbons metropole area, the narrow lanes, the great seaviews and a lovely treecovered square revive good old portugues times. Built by fishermen and conquered by surfers, the city never lost it´s cosy atmoshere. Nowadays the crowed citycenter offers a plenty of hostels, surf and souvenir surfshops and obvously an uncountable amount of coffees with spectacular sun terrasses. A great spot to finish a first bike day. Lay in the sand observing the surfers or try it on your own if your legs aren´t trembling yet. Ericeira also is the best place to do some shopping, as the rest of this coastline provides a lot of coffees and bars but only a very few shopping opportunities.

The next morning our ride continues northwards. Through the urban zone of Ericeira we have to follow the mainroad along the coast, but this one is bordered by a expended sidewalk first and a abandond street later on. Some 4 km after Ericeira, we meanwhile past world surfresorts in the north of the city and the villages Ribamar and Sao Lorenco, finally we leave the road at the streetcross to Vilonga and ride to the outstanding cape. As often a bigger maintrail goes along with wonderfull singletrails closer to the cliffs. Be very carefull in this part! As beauty as this trails are, as dangerous they are! More than once only a one or two tires fits between the trail and the 60 m high cliffs. Sandstone forms a perfect surface, give emormously grip and

provides perfect bike fun. From one of the highest viewing point we ride down to the beach of Assenta, where we have to go back on the road for about 1 km, before turning left to the coast again. Beginning in the small village Cambelas we can follow the coastline most directly again. After another comparatively long downhill of 70 m, we reach the long beach of Praha Azul. After a recommended bath in the sea, we have two options to go on. The indicated way goes a few kilometer through the interior and found the coast again more northern.
The other (and recomended) way forces us to push the bike to the other end of the beach. On the other side of the beach we can follow the coast lonesome for several kilometers along the beach and on top of the cliffs until Santa Cruz an finally Porto Novo.
The surroundings of a masshotel and a golfresorts are not very invitingly. But anyway the narrow bay with a virgin in the sea spray got something in particular, that make me stop everytime I pass by. Probably only for a breath of the salty air or a beer and a Bifana at the first "Tasco" at the pier.
This time my tour ends up here, 75 km away from Sintra and 35 km from Ericeira. All along the coast and including about 15 stops for a swim, this took me one and a half day. On the road I´m back in Sintra after 3,5 h. Alternatively nearby, in Torres Vedras, the regional train picks up tired bikers back to Lisbon.

GPS-Trail available on request
More pictures

Serra de Sintra - Lissabons MTB Schatzkiste

2014-08-10T23:58:00.002+02:00

Straight way from Santuário da Peninha to Guincho

Nationalpark Sintra Cascais. Wer nach Lissabon kommt, der kommt meist auch nach Sintra. Das Märchenschloss, die Maurenfestung, die Wunschgärten sind versunkene Zeitzeugen der Weltgeschichte. Bei Kulturliebhabern ist Sintra weit über Portugals Grenzen hinaus bekannt, bei Bikern eher weniger. Zu unrecht wie ich finde. Denn auf ein paar Quadratkilometern findet das Biker-Herz (fast) alles was es begehrt.

Lissabon, Bahnhof Rossio 9:36. Mein Rad ist im Radabteil des Zugs eingestellt. Die Regionalbahn setzt sich in Bewegung. 2 Euro kostet die einfache Fahrt, ca 35 Minuten dauert Sie. Kaum ein Portugiese tritt diese Fahrt am Samstag morgen an. Statt dessen Japanisch, Deutsch und Spanisch bestimmen das Sprachgewirr während der Fahrt. Ohne umzusteigen erreiche ich mein Ziel, ohne Umwege stehe ich an der grünen Startlinie: Ich bin wieder einmal in Sintra

Sintra liegt nordöstlich des gleichnamigen Gebirges auf circa 130 Hm. An einigen Stellen gibt es einen Blick aufs Meer frei. Mehr aber zieht die fast senkrecht über der Stadt liegende Burganlage den Blick auf sich. Der kleine Ort an der Endstation ist der ideale Ausgangspunkt für Touren durch die Serra de Sintra. Besonders bieten sich Touren ins südlich gelegene Cascais an, denn so bekommen wir 130 Hm Abfahrt geschenkt.

Serra de Sintra & Palacio da Pena

Die Serra de Sintra ist ein ca. 30 x 15 km große Hügelkette an der Mündung des Rio Tejo in den Atlantik. Während weite Teile der Küste von Feldern und flachem Bewuchs überzogen sind, ragt die Serra de Sintra als dicht bewaldetes Massiv heraus. Schon die maurischen und später die christlichen Könige wussten das angenehme Mikroklima der Serra zu schätzen. Sommergewitter aus Nordwesten bleiben gerne hier hängen und ergießen sich auf der Nordseite der Berge. Quellwasser sprudelt aus dem Boden und dichte grüne Baumkronen spenden Schatten. Es duftet nach Harz und Moos und der weiche Boden ist mit einer dicken Nadelschicht bedeckt.

Praia Grande

In Sintra bieten sich 3 Möglichkeiten die Serra zu erkunden. Die erste und einfachste Möglichkeit ist die lange Abfahrt hinunter nach Colares und zum Praia Grande. Gemütlich rollen wir in den tiefen Graben, der das Naturschutzgebiet nach Norden begrenzt. Zugegeben, gerade am Wochenende ist diese Straße nicht gerade verkehrsarm, bessere Routen gibt es weiter Richtung Norden, diese sind aber etwas versteckt und mit Gegenanstiegen verbunden. Nach etwas mehr als einer halben Stunde erreichen wir am Praia Grande das Meer. Da dieser Strand mit öffentlichen Verkehrsmitteln nur mäßig erreichbar ist, bietet er eine hervorragende Alternative zu den meist überfüllten Stadtstränden in Cascais, Carcavelos oder Caparica.

Quinta da Regaleira

Die zweite Möglichkeit ist der Weg durch die Altstadt. Auf dem Asphalt schlängelt sich die Straße durch den historischen Stadtkern und vorbei an einigen UNESCO-Weltkulturstätten. Noch in Sintra passieren wir den Palacio National, später tauchen entlang der Straße die Quinta da Regaleira und der Palacio Monserrate im dichten Wald auf. Nördlich fahren wir auf halber Höhe entlang der Bergkette. Der dichte Wald spendet Schatten wenn es teils steil bergauf geht. Je weiter wir Sintra Richtung Westen hinter uns lassen, umso geringer wird der Verkehr. Der Blick öffnet sich immer wieder Richtung Norden und zur Küste. In der Ferne tauchen Mafra, bei guter Sicht sogar Ericeira auf. Die Straße führt uns langsam wieder hinunter nach Colares. Biegen wir allerdings voher links ab und stellen uns dem langen Anstieg, so erreichen wir das Convnto dos Capuchos und nähern uns dem Santuário da Peninha und dem zweithöchsten Gipfel der Serra.

Praia do Abano

Die dritte Variante führt uns durch Sintras Wohnviertel steil hinauf zum Aussichtspunkt Santa Eufemia. Binnen weniger Kilometer klettern wir auf über 400 Hm. Rechts taucht der berühmte Palacio da Pena auf, links reicht der Blick manchmal bis Cascais und Lissabon. Kurz vor dem Aussichtspunkt verlassen wir den Asphalt und fahren gerade aus weiter auf dem Feldweg. Viele Varianten bieten sich hier nicht. Wo dieser Weg wieder auf Asphalt trifft, folgen wir nach links entlang des Kamms. Nach einiger Zeit haben wir die Möglichkeit die Straße südlich zu verlassen und auf einer Forststraße hinunter nach Cascais zu fahren. Die Südlage ist nur im Gegensatz zur Nordseite nur dünn bewachsen. Der lose Sand auf dieser Strecke ist nicht zu unterschätzen! Wir finden uns wieder in einem endlosen Netz aus Forstwegen und teils anspruchsvollen Singletrails. Nach zwei Dritteln der Abfahrt können wir links hinunter nach Cascais oder rechts, entlang der Bergkette, hinaus zur Küste fahren. Wir entscheiden uns im Zweifelsfall natürlich für eine weitere Runde und fahren rechts. Nach einiger Zeit treffen wir auf einen kleinen Stausee, an dessen nordwestlichen Ende der lange Wiederaufstieg in die Serra beginnt.

Welchen Weg auch immer wir wählen, seine wahre Schönheit offenbart uns die Gegend erst wenn wir den Atlantik erreichen.

Cabo da Roca

Wer die Gipfel erreicht hat, der sollte sich die westliche Abfahrt nicht entgehen lassen. Rund um das Santuário da Peninha lockt nicht nur ein sagenhafter Ausblick, sondern auch eine Abfahrt der Extraklasse. Der Blick reicht bis Lissabon, über Cascais und Cabo de Roca entlang der Atlantikküste bis nach Ericeira. Die Abfahrt vom Santuário da Peninha ist wohl das Herzstück einer Mounainbiketour durch die Serra de Sintra. Mit stetigen Blick aufs Meer geht es vom 480 m hoch gelegenen Gipfel hinunter zum Strand. Die Varianten reichen vom breiten Serpentinen Wegen über geschlängelte Singletrails bis zu verblockten Downhills mit teils sehr Anspruchsvollen Passagen. Der Weg hinunter zum Strand ist eine Freude für jeder Bikerherz.

Almocageme

Aber auch wer die Höhenlagen lieber meidet wird von der Küste begeistert sein. Um vom nördlich gelegenen Praia Grande zum südlich gelegenen Praia do Guincho zu gelangen gilt es lediglich ca. 200 Höhenmeter zu überwinden, wofür man mehr als entschädigt wird. Atemberaubende Ausblicke und malerische Dörfer verlaufen wie eine Perlenkette entlang der Küste. Besonders die Gegend um Cabo da Roca und der kleine Ort Almoçageme laden zum verweilen ein.

Mehr Infos gibt´s natürlich gern per E-Mail oder einfach Samstags beim Ortstermin.

Build it up

2014-05-25T09:54:00.000+02:00

A few weeks ago I received a message like this:
"Hey Simon. I´m Mariana. I want to do a bike tour along the mediteranean coast. I´m coming to Lisbon 9th of May. Do you have a place to stay and do you maybe know a place to get a bike?"

Challenge accepted.

It´s a sunny friday evening and I want to meet up Mariana at Praca de Comercio. After a few loops around the monument and a backpack with a girl appeard in front of my wheel. Fresh imported from brazil, that´s all I know. Tired but relaxed, that´s all I see. Just home, have a shower and some dinner and a bed.

Next day is saturday. For me two days off and time to arrange things. On your arrival day at another continent you got something else to do than concerning about your stuff. So we had some breakfast in the streets, some rides through the city We enjoy afternoon sun at the miradouros and Lisbons streetlife at Out Jazz. By the way, my first time I showed somebody the city and I haven´t failed once!

At the end of the day Mariana tried out some of my bikes and with the evening the time to take decicions comes. My yellow bike will go on tour. Since half a year I saw this bike for sale and finally a few weeks ago I bought it. I felt this bike could be a faithful and brave companion for a ride from Lisbon to the sunrise. Never thought that her time will come so fast. It´s time to bring her in conditions. While cleaning the frame I already see her driving along lonesome streets and hanging out on the beaches or standging next to a single tree. Life by night and day. I wonder if that will be a mister or a lady. Most of the bikes are girls, but normally they are ridden by guys. When I asked Mariana she she looked me up a little confused: "She´s called Sol, what else should she be than a girl?" I found a bike, a bike found a rider and the rider found a name. Time to turn a backpacker into a Mountainbike Traveller!

Next day is shopping day. Time to spend money. Checking out stores all over the city, bike shops, sport shops, chines shops, construction shops. A few hours and shops later most is done. Almost all basic staff is arranged. Only two most elementary things miss: a sleeping bag and the bags for the rack.

It´s monday again, what to me currently means it´s time to work again. Mariana now is in charge of the last things. We met up in the evening and Mariana already brough some used bags for the rack. Only one good deal later we swooped them for some usefull and travel-experienced once: mine. This night we started to build up the bike. From now on nights in my home-garage and days at work turned into twilight. We built up the rack, changed the saddle and tires, installed a low-budget front rack. We brought everything in conditions and discussed the best ways how to go down south. Everyday new and everyday better. Finally it´s friday evening again. One week is over and Mariana and Sol are ready to go. I was kind of curious to bring this vihicle to the street. Less sceptic about the bike, than about the girl. If a screw has to be turned right for shure she turned it left and if I said pull she pushed.

Finally on saturday midday twilight is over and Sun comes out. On already well known streets we start the Exudos from Lisbon. Down to the river - not without stopping for a beer - and further to the ferry. When we reach the other side of the river sun is already going down. The unique target of the day is to find a beach to sleep. Busy roads already indroduce Mirana to the bad face of bike travelling, but she can take it. When I found an unpaved way along the roads left, I kindly asked if it might be possible that she feels in conditions to be able to try out going there if it´s not to much effort for the very first kilometers? And she turned left. With the sunset we arrived. Riding a sandy and bumpy trail until the end of the beach and finally found a spot for the tent in the dunes. And she could take it all.

And than: take off the shoes, build up the tent and settle down. I feel a deep impression overcomes Mariana and I feel it by myself. Every breath of air seems to contain the whole dimension of the world. A raising feeling of resistance against all adversities. A tremble with freedom. Realizing that everything beginns now. There´s nothing better than travelling the world by bike. Warm welcome Mariana. Might the wind be with you or might you be stronger than the wind.

Summer 2014

2014-04-21T13:47:00.002+02:00

Seems that the winter is finally over and we can look forward to a new greatfull and sunny bike season in Lisbon.

My second year in town allows me to organize a few tours with different cacacters. There is something for everybody. Beginning with smoove and easy rides along Rio Tejo into the sunset until tricky tours up and down Serra de Sintra for mountainbike cracks and a bike travelling special in the end of the season.

What we do this year?

Afterwork rides every Wednesday
Meeting point is at Parque das Nacoes at 17:00 and we finish there arround 20:30
discover the city of Lisbon with different topics every week

Day tours every Saturday
Meeting point is at Metro Station Olivais at 9:00
and we finish arround 16:00
Sintra -Cascais or Lisbon - Vialonga

Grande Lisboa bike Weekend
every first weekend of the month
beginning Friday evening or Saturday morning and feel mother natur for the whole weekend
Sintra - Ericeira - Mafra - Sintra

Bike Week in September
13th - 20th September
One week of bike travelling and beach chill out
get in contact for more information
Lisbon - Sines - Aljezur - Sagres

Find more information and dates on facebook.com/mountainbiketraveller or couchsufring.org

For more information do not hesitate to ask!

BikeSurf

2014-03-22T13:10:00.001+01:00

Check what´s new on mountainbiketravller

Bike Surf Lisbon

PRIMAVERA

2014-03-16T11:17:00.001+01:00

The last months I calmed down my bike activity. Actually it was the first off-season-break after more than 20 months. Daily rain even me quiet the will to bike. Grey sky, cold hands, short day and than spending more time washing the bike than riding it. No thanks!
But since a week Lisbon changed his face. Sun came out and the daily temperature raised up to 25 degrees. Streets are suddently full of music and smells. People are back in the streets and Lisbon is alive again.

And than, finally yesterday, the new season got started! It tooked me until midday to leave home, but ones on the trails I´m back in the game. Green landscape offers a great contrast to the blue and endless sea behind. Water comes down from Serra de Sintra, the trails are narrow and overgrown. Not only I used the winter to recover, also nature did. 70 km T-Shirt-weather later I arrive Cabo da Roca right in time for sunset.

Mission colmplete: Season started