"I got the pleasure to ride in both Sintra (Lisbon) and the Algarve (Lagos) over two different days! The trails are completely different in the two areas so if you get a chance to ride in both places do! However, you will need to get in touch with WERIDE as it will be very hard to find the trails on your own. They set me up with a bike in each place so i didn't have to worry about shipping a bike there either. I forgot my helmet on the trip so, Hugo just took me to a bike shop to get one which was super cool. They took the time to adjust the bike to my liking... even on the trail...
The Moorish Castle in Sintra
...the two guides, Hugo and Nuno, were both awesome to ride with. This is not an average mountain bike guide, these guys welcome you into their lives, community and trails.... it is definitely nothing you have experienced before. They took me to local, off the beaten path, place for lunch each time, which had great food by the way, and we talk about everything from economies to poisonous mushrooms during the riding. At one point my guide and two of the people at the lunch spot were all arguing about letting one of them buy a new bike (apparently his wife(?) said he had to sell the 12 others first) so i just sat back and laughed. That's how personal it was... I didn't feel like a client or customer, I felt like a friend with friends out riding for the day.
If you want to ride hard, they will do that... if you want to take it easy... they will do that too. You would be hard pressed not to find something that fit you. I pushed myself while i was tired on some unfamiliar terrain and got hurt (pretty banged up with a swollen eye and lots of bruises), doing something stupid, did Nuno stop and force me to call it a day? Nope! He asked what i wanted to do... i said let's ride! So we did! After a beer of course. Sooooooo.... worth it.
I cant really express how much fun it all was in the end. Bluntly, I am definitely going back again! Do it!"
Mo Jalaly
Mo dancing with lots of Cork Trees!
