Touring Portugal July 2009

Freeda B.

New Member
Hello, My name id Freeda B. and I am new to this site. My couchsurfing friends helped me to find it.
:)
I would like some help with a few things for my upcoming trip. If anyone has any suggestion or experience with any of these topics, I would be soooo grateful.

1. Is there a place where I can find a decent used bike that I can use to bike all over Portugal? I will be using the bike as my main source of travel to get to all the different cities and towns. Is there much worry for rain? Should I get fenders? Also, I will need racks for panniers. I was hoping to get this bike cheaper than bringing one with me from Canada.

2. I will be starting out in Lisbon, so it would be best to get my bike there. I was then planning to bike to Sintra, see everything for a week or so and then head out to the coast. I will tell you of the places that I want to see and then perhaps someone can suggest the best route I should take.
Cabo Especial
Setubals Fortress
Alentejes Coast (to see the cork trees)
Obidos - will I be there for the chocolate festival???
Monsanto - I have got to see this!
Tomar - I know this is inland and I am willing to move off the coast to see this part of Portugal as I am going north (does that sound like I am on the right track?)
Monsaraz - thinking about tripping off to Spain up this way to go see friends in Rioja, does anyone know this area or a good route to get there???
Marvao (maybe, not sure, I could miss this)
Piodao in the Serra de Acor
Mafra - maybe go there right after Sintra, unless anyone would suggest otherwise.

The Idea would be to make a big loop, bringing me back to Lisbon. I may start out earlier, mid June and I will be leaving mid August. There is a conference in Lisbon that I want to attend in August. The conference is from August 3-9 2009 at the University of Lisbon.

3. Timelines. If anyone knows about how long it will take to get from one place to another, in a general sense, I know things depend on the individual.

4. Is there somewhere in Lisbon, near the universities that I can stay really, really cheap? August seems to be vacation time in Portugal and there may not be many couchsurfers around.

If anyone has any other suggestions or tips about what is really good to see or visit or a place to eat that I should not miss, please feel free to let me know.
This is a lot. But I put in so much so that you can fully understand what I need to know. Of course, some will only know some of the answers, that will also be great.
Thank you all.
Peace,
Freeda B.
 

350plus

New Member
Hi Freeda.

Welcome to this forum.  :wink:

I live in the North of the country, so I won't be able to help you in specific detail, but I will try to help you with the more general questions.

1: You can probably find some decent used bikes in bikeshops. However, most bike shops have a limited selection of used bikes, so you might have to lose some time trying to find one that satisfies you. Bear in mind that with the CAD vs EUR current exchange rate, bringing a bike from Canada might be cheaper. The touring accessories might also be expensive and hard to find here. Rain is a possibility, but expect mainly dry and hot weather.

2:  Setubal, Cabo Espichel (not Especial  :D) and Alentejo are South of the Tagus river, so you could probably start the trip by going a bit south to visit these places, and then head North. A few km north of Lisbon you will find Monsanto (which is actually in the middle of the city), Mafra (25 km north of Lisbon) Obidos (73 km north) and  Tomar (100 km north).

If you want to go to Piodão (80 km from Tomar), you can head northwest and cross a few interesting montainous zones.

The return trip could be done near the Spanish border, passing through Castelo Branco, Abrantes, Santarém.

This would be a 600+ km ride through the center of Portugal.

Rioja is very far from Lisbon, it is in the Spanish Mediterranean Coast. You would have to make a great detour to get there.

3: Including time to visit the cities, you can easily do 60, 80 km per day in our roads. Expect the roads to become more mountainous as you go North.

4: Here I can't really help you. Maybe someone from Lisbon can provide you with some information.
 

Bravellir

New Member
hi,

Don't worry with rain. You should make plans for dealing with a hot summer. You can check on these charts how it was last year.

gtxme04200807.jpg

gtxme04200808.jpg


grrto04200807.jpg

grrto04200808.jpg



Ridding under the hot sun can be dangerous. Be sure you keep well hydrated and use proper sunscreens.

Have fun visiting us.
 

marky27

New Member
My dear Freeda,

you´re in for a treat!
You will love Portugal i´m sure.
There is a very big sports store, you will find 2 or 3 maybe in Lisbon, where you can find everything you need for this trip including the bicycle, check it out, and compare the prices.
Bicycles
http://www.decathlon.pt/PT/bicicleta-6896133/
Acessories
http://www.decathlon.pt/PT/acessorios-de-ciclismo-6896334/

Also you can travel by train with your bycicle!

Rain in Portugal???!!! :rotfl:
I think i saw it once... It was 20 years ago :mrgreen:
Not really, but almost.
 

Freeda B.

New Member
Thank you for welcoming me. I am glad to be here.
Wow, so far the info has been really helpful. Thank you. I just bought my ticket, I will be leaving on the 15th of June and returning to Canada on the 10th of August. I can bring 2 bags for free on the plane, so I may be able to get bike on the plane. I don't have a 'touring' bike, so I may have to get one. I volunteer at the Community Bicycle Network here in Toronto, so I can most likely get the best advice on my bike needs and travelling with it on the plane as well.
Please, keep any suggestions coming.
Thanks.
Peace,
Freeda B.
 
A

A-Mistral

Guest
Hi, Freeda!
I don't know how much is decent used bike at Portugal, but when I bring my bike in my past trips I paid: 1) to Montenegro - free! we were lucky in that moment :D ; 2) to Norway - 25EUR approx. for each flight (50 for all). I think that a decent bike will be more expensive. In this case the main problem is a possibility of a damage of your bike during a flight (during loading/unloading of bike by airport staff).
Attention!!! If you want to bring our bike You should learn very well the Rules of luggage transportation for your flight company!!! You should know how you can transport your bike.
 

tkul

Utilizador Banido
hi!

You can use train to where you want and use Bike as a commuter and make good kms around some of the coolest trails in Portugal.

Sintra has all the charme as you may be aware. Visiting old Sintra, the Castle and tasting all the good things there are!
Lisbon is something that you can lose - you can visit in 2 days (castle, old parts like Mouraria, Bairro Alto, and all those great places! Visit some tourism sites). Better do it in a week and get to know old Almada, Belem, Oeiras, Cascais.

If you go south it`s best to visit with time. Alentejo has great beachs and some summer music events! Some of the roads are not that safe and you should bring a traffic jacket (something reflective!).
Being a Portuguese, I think I would take the train to Palmela (starting in Lisbon), visit the castle and go to Setubal and Espichel.
I would return to Setubal and catch the Boat to Troia, heading to Comporta / Alcacer do Sal. In this road there are excelent restaurants - fish being the best! Don`t miss the rise museum.
In Alcacer I would catch the train to Sines - visit Sines.

travel by road, visiting:

Sines - Porto Covo - Vila Nova de Mil Fontes - Zambujeira do Mar - Carvalhal (offroad - very easy trails) - Odeceixes - Aljezur (Beachs: Vale da Telha/can`t remember the other one that`s closer to the 1st!) - Carrapateira - Sagres (visit the fortraise / beachs) - Lagos

There`s lots of camping parks. Get a camping guide you won`t regret! IMO, this area has the best beachs in Portugal (not counting islands like Ilha do Farol, etc...)

You can do this offroad (30/40%) and the rest on pavament! Bring a GPS!!!

If time is ending... in Lagos catch the Train to Lisbon!

If not you can do the Via Algarvia: http://www.viaalgarviana.org/



 

Freeda B.

New Member
Wow! You've now given me a lot to research, thank you. :))) And thank you for all of the wonderful suggestions. I actually already thought about bringing my reflective vest, I think for a bke trip, that should go without saying, safety first. Usually I don't ride with a helmet, do you think I will need one (not so safe there : P )
Peace,
Freeda B.
 

KoTaM

Member
Hi Freeda B,

About the helmet question, I strongly recommend you to use it, we all Know sad stories regarding the absence of the helmet; OK it's Hot in July and i'm sure you would prefer to ride with a simple :mrsock: ice bag on top of your head BUT !!!!!!! just get a light one with good air circulation.
The reflective Vest is also a good idea, if for some reason you have to finish your daily ride by night ( a puncture, some other technical problem, etc ) ; you can buy one of those for 5 Euro.

One Thing you CAN'T forget to bring is your Bikkini, :shock: cos in July and travelling South, you will enjoy the Lovely Beaches and Water reservoirs ( We Have Lots in Portugal ).

The last advice for now is, if you are in " trouble " or having some difficulties during your trip, don't hesitate to contact us here and we'll be Happy to give you a friendly hand. :exacto:

Até Breve ( means in portuguese «See you soon»)

KoTaM
 

KoTaM

Member
Hello Freeda B.

Are you still alive ???? We miss you here in the Forum, Are you still coming to Portugal and Algarve ? I was learning some Russian to understand you but it seems you have postponned your trip, please be informed, we don't have the swine flu in our tracks, hehe so no reasons to cancel, see you soon.
Spassiba
KoTaM
( Please bring some vodka with you, thanks !!!! )
 

KoTaM

Member
:roll: :cry: :cry:
Sorry Freeda B., I made a confusion here regarding the Nicknames, I was thinking in Branca from Russia
I hope you have had a enjoyable ride in our country
Bye now
KoTaM
 
Top