Anyone done much riding over there? Not a lot of good info online, so any pointers much appreciated. ta
Bike Forum
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Madeira?
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Posted 2 years ago #
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I've been there 4 or five times and never seen a montain bike. Its a walking hot spot though, but most of the islands trails wont lend themselves to biking as they are narrow paths that run alongside, Levadas, a massive network of irrigation channels that have been cut into the rock.
There may be some suitable trails up on the plains, but none that i've seen.
Its a lovely place though, take a rucsac and boots!
Posted 2 years ago # -
No idea, but try to get in touch with these chaps
Posted 2 years ago # -
good cake, that's all I know.
Posted 2 years ago # -
There was a thread time back - I lobbed a few links in...
found it:
http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/mountain-biking-in-madeiraAs haddock wrote, central plains might be a possibility - kinda moor-like I guess..
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/wildworld/profiles/photos/pa/pa0425a.html
Re walking - take a decent torch too, some of the levadas cut directly through the hillside - there'll be a path next to it but even on a short cut-through with light at the far end it's very difficult to see where you're walking.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I've walked there a few times.
IMHO it probably has some great mountain biking BUT, you'd have to know which levada to head off down. Many suddenly have vertical drops beside them, could be 100 feet plus. You could have as little as a one foot wide path & then free fall one side & a water channel the other.
In my experience, most levadas don't have fences, handrails, etc.There are some good walking guides however, so you could check out a levada in advance. Sunflower books print the classic one.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Thanks everyone, lots to look into. Cheers
Posted 2 years ago # -
Been about 5 years ago. Zero night life, crap food. Countryside / landscapes pretty cool, but that's about it. Full of old folks too!
Posted 2 years ago # -
Sounds perfect...I'm nearly 40!!!
Posted 2 years ago # -
We went there a couple of years ago (freebie courtesy of in-laws' time share) and found a shop opposite our hotel (Pestana Grand) just outside of Funchal that did walking and biking trips. We booked an all dayer where they picked you up by jeep, took you and bikes off somewhere and then had a guided ride. When we turned up, the guy looked amazed that we had, rapidly flicked through his empty diary, made couple of calls on his mobile and said, sorry, no jeep, come back another day. We didn't bother. We hadn't paid anything up front, fortunately.
Whenever we went past the shop it was either closed or empty, so not sure it would have lasted long. Anyway, point is, there's obviously routes worth doing. THere's also a ike shop in a side street off Funchal that maybe able to help. Trying to rack brains as to what both places were called. If I remember I'll post them.Posted 2 years ago # -
Loved the place - beautiful, friendly people, nice and quiet.
Try the Levada going East from the top of the Cable-Car at Monte. Bit exposed in places but goes past the Hortensia Tea House - worth the trip just for the cream teas.
Think it's the Levada del Tournos? Haven't got the guidebook with me at the mo.Nice walk up to Monte from the Levada just East of Funchal too - think that one is the Levada Bombos? As stated above, the Sunflower Guide is well worth getting before you go.
We thought the food was okay - local specialities are battered fish and shish kebabs!
Posted 1 year ago # -
Rare Video evidence of mountain bikes in Madeira!
If anyone gets anymore info can they post on here, i'd love to ride there.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Or, alternatively, you´ve got Azores, a portuguese archipelago.
This vid is in Faial - good bike stuff
You will get cheap flights from Portugal. Azores is considered one of the best tourist destinations and very under rated compared to Madeira.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Posted 1 year ago #
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