From Stockholm to Sintra!

"I started this Spring with “Trail/Enduro” MTB at my local trails in Stockholm, Sweden. It was my partner Michael who introduced me to mountain biking. Back home WE try to ride at least three days a week.

This summer WE went to Lisbon to visit Michael’s family who just moved to Parede outside of Lisbon and WE knew that WE wanted to go mountain biking in and around the city. WE heard from friends who read the ENDURO MAG that WERIDE were the best guides you could find, so WE emailed them right away.

WE wanted to experience as much as possible and with multiple landscapes and terrains, so the team from WERIDE made a customized schedule for us, which WE appreciated immensely.

I just want to tell you all that I was the only female during these four days of biking. So I was extremely nervous and at the same time very excited!

WE had amazing and unforgettable days around Sintra with João and Hugo. These guys were extremely nice, simple, engaging, helpful and funny. As a beginner, I was afraid I wouldn’t dare to ride some of the trails. But João and Hugo pushed me through it and helped me with many great pep-talks. WERIDE inspired and gave me a lot of confidence. 

WE had a blast during these four days with intense riding in the mountains, by the beaches, in the city by night… pretty much everywhere , and WE have already booked rides with WERIDE this Christmas. Thank you for everything and see you again at Christmas."

Hugs from Kristina and Michael, Stockholm

Enduro beginner, mountain bike lover

"I started this year with “enduro” mountain biking at my local trails in south Germany.  Every year I visit my family in Lisbon and spend there some weeks. Unfortunately I did not bring my bike, so in my tediousness I started looking for trails that I could ride next year then. I spotted out Sintra, which according to most sites on the internet, it is the best place to ride MTB. The promise of breathtaking pictures about the mountains, the beaches, the sea and the great climate made me do some more research..."

"Luckily I checked a review (ENDURO MAG) from a German biker about some local guides called WERIDE. The next step was to get in contact with these guys, hehehe… :)
My Portuguese is quite good, so I could talk and write with them in Portuguese. They were very friendly and gave me all the information I needed."

"Since I left all my equipment in Germany, I kindly asked them to borrow me an helmet and maybe some kneepads. They even gave me FiveTen shoes and gloves, so I was really ready for some action! The only equipment I had to rent was the bike itself, a Transition Patrol fully equipped! So the WERIDE team gave me the contact of João, a very nice Portuguese guy with lots of experience and he arranged me a bike trip. Great! I just needed to choose the day WE were going to ride. João gave me the GPS coordinates and WE met at 10am in Sintra. Had a nice small talk about biking in Germany and the crazy people that use traps for bikers in south Germany. He gladly told me that the Portuguese people were very pacific and that such things would not happen there."

"After that WE rode on a normal street and stopped by a nice view over a beach called Guincho.
Rode a bit uphill and then stopped at a trail called “Viúva”, which means widow in Portuguese, a very flowy and easy trail to ride.
João rode in front of me and guided me throughout this trail. The next thing WE did was riding the trail again but now I was going first so that João could watch my skills and also tell me the good side of my riding and what I could improve.
After that WE got to a place called “Cume da Peninha” and also had some time to recover.
The next trail was on the other side of the mountain which meant no problem since the mountain of Sintra is about 500m high making it quite easy to access all the trails, even for riders who are not in perfect fitness conditions."

"Lunch time. At 1:30pm Duarte, a friend of João and also a very experienced WERIDE guide, joined us and it was time for learning some bike skills with both of them!
I was taught how to maintain the balance on the bike, hiting some sharper berms and later on how to make the famous bunny hop.
So WE rode some more difficult trails. Duarte went ahead and João rode behind me. Therefore I could see what was coming and João guided me on how to achieve more balance on the bike and that was quite effective and good. Sometimes WE got off the bike to discuss the lines WE could ride and how to excel on it. Here are some impressions of our track walks…"

"After the ride WE got to the parking station and I gave back all the borrowed stuff. All in all it was an amazing experience with very kind people and lots of fun. I can simply recommend to everyone to take a trip with WERIDE. In my case… I will definitely be back ;)

Ride on!!!"

Christian Dores

Back to the fun of MTB riding

"In the past 5 years I only used a road bike while my MTB Bike stood unused in the garage at home. This summer my family and I spent our holidays in Portugal.
Fortunately, with MTB guides Miguel and João I enjoyed some beautiful days at Sintra's trails. In the beginning I was missing the confidence needed and my abilities to ride the trails, but with your professional assistance I was able to achieve the first small successes. Because of this, a big thanks to you guys!!"

"I will surely come back to this beautiful landscape and can only recommend WERIDE to any mountain bike rider of any riding skill level!
Take care!"

Martin Kleinekühlmann

"Flo" Riding from Cologne

"...Remembering the good times WE had on Sintra's amazing trails!
I enjoyed a lot your professional way of guiding which really helped me going down the trails (I have had much less professional guides in the past) as well as your helpfull tips about bike riding skills.
The trails you have chosen for me where just right: challenging, technical but also with a lot of flow, nice little jumps and  some north-shore free riding.
Apart from being really professional, you were also super friendly, approachable and easy-going.
I also noticed how much work it must be to maintain those trails. I felt like being in a big and beautiful bike-park, enjoying the great scenery and riding with (very experienced) friends!
I will come back and can only recommend WERIDE to any mountain bike rider of any riding skill level!!!"

Flo Baecker

Nuestro hermano from Spain

"Cuando decidí pasar una semana en Lisboa tenía claro que visitar Sintra para montar por sus senderos. 
Como no tenía tiempo para explorar por mi cuenta opté por buscar un guía que me pudiera mostrar la zona, de entre todas las ofertas para hacer MTB en el area de Sintra elegí a la gente de WERIDE debido a su cuidada web y las reviews favorables de anteriores clientes.
No me decepcionaron para nada! João, Hugo y Duarte fueron tres compañeros estupendos con los que descubrir una red de senderos cuidada y llena de sorpresas como los senderos del Kamikaze o Pontes por nombrar algunos.
Uno de los puntos fuertes de los guías es la capacidad para adaptar el recorrido al nivel de cada uno siendo su principal objetivo que pases un día divertido dentro de tus límites."

"When I decided to spend a week in Lisbon it was clear to me that I had to see Sintra to ride along its trails.
Having no time to explore on my own I decided to find a guide who could show me the area. Out of all the deals for MTB in the area of Sintra, I chose WERIDE due to its apealing website and favorable reviews from previous customers.
They did not disappoint me at all! João, Duarte and Hugo were wonderful friend full guides with whom I discovered a network of maintained trails full of surprises as the Kamikaze or Pontes trails just to name a few.
One of the strengths of the guides is the ability to adapt the course to the level of each customer always aiming for a fun day within your limits. "

José  Manuel Garcia

The Flying Dutch

"At the end of april I had the pleasure to hang out with these guys for a FULL day!
They picked me at Ericeira and provided a brand new Transition Patrol bike, with Mavic rims and a Pike shock to hit the trails that day. Those guys know how to rock!

From there WE went to the beautiful nature area round Sintra where they knew every trail from cross-country to downhill. 

Coming from the Netherlands where everything is pretty flat, the technical steep terrain of Sintra was a great challenge. João and Hugo scaled back all the way, guiding me with directions and where to look, always pushing my limits every corner as desired!"

Taco Zuidema

From the Mountain to the Beach

"Trail riding in Portugal – really?
Yes, you better believe it! Forget about the Alps, the new paradise of trail riding is in Serra da Sintra. Spectacular terrain, flowy trails, challenging, downhill sections – all of it really thought through and well shaped. You did an awesome job guys! I’m coming back, no questions asked. Thanks to João and Hugo for guiding. My recommendation for an overnight stay – Ralph and Fabian’s The Lodge - just as superb as the trails."

Sven Röber

Enduro Mag in Serra de Sintra

WERIDE Enduro Mag

Fabian Arzberger of Ridingstyle is traveling a lot! This time, he went to Portugal. This is his report!

While searching for a new riding destination in the southern climes, I stumbled across Portugals Serra de Sintra. Just a few kilometres east of the capital Lisbon, this mountainous forest area is a protected natural park that promises incredible trails spread across a breathtaking landscape, with sea views to top it all off. The host of other sporting options and its broad cultural offerings rendered the region even more appealing to me. So, flight and accommodation duly booked, the fun could begin.

On the edge of the national park and directly by the coast stands The Lodge, where I’d call home for the next six days. I’d decided that the ultimate way to explore the region would be a B&B with a beautiful garden, chill-out room and self-catering option. Here, I’d be provided with plenty of information on the local bike trails and could book both a local guide and a shuttle service.

What’s more The Lodge offers a yoga and fitness pavilion, swimming pool, sauna and whirlpool – decide between a complete workout or total relaxation. Your choice entirely. The surrounding area boasts over 50 surfing locations within a short drive, so you’ll always hit the perfect swell. For fans of bouldering, there are tons of opportunities in the immediate proximity. The Lodge’s reception is a mine of information with maps and details on local guides.

But first I head off on my mountain bike to get to know the area a little. At just 16 km wide, the Serra de Sintra isn’t particularly big, but its highest summit of 529 m can be seen from every direction. Reasoning that there had to be some adventure to be enjoyed, I pedaled off in search of it.

As I pedal up I find the odd trail or two. The open and friendly local riders that I encounter let me tag along and show me just what the Sintra Mountains have to offer.
You gradually pick up on the fact that the locals are pretty proud of their trails. Carefully laid, and furnished with berms, drops and jumps, there’s something to suit every taste. Flat, steep, flowing, techy, jumps, drops, berms – it’s all here. And despite the descents all being rather brief, they’re easy to link into each other and you’ll soon find yourself back up high.

The descents down to the coast have the same incredible views but are a little less trodden.

By the end of the day I’m shattered, having seen and ridden quite a few kilometres. In fact, too many kilometres probably, as my navigational skills kept failing me and I wasted time looking for trails. If you want to have a more worthwhile day of riding, turn to WERIDE. and get a local guide to accompany you. After appealing to the reception at The Lodge that evening, they arrange a guide for the next day.

Our guide Hugo guides us through the forests of Sintra the following day. WE’re riding trails that I’d never have found on my own. Super diverse, WE get down to business and repeatedly climb and descend. It’s the ideal terrain for enduro riders.

For those who aren’t so keen on climbing – or would just prefer to ride downhill as much as possible – you can book a shuttle guide. I decided to do this for a day as the conclusion to my trip and headed out again with the guys from WERIDE.

WE rode trail after trail virtually non-stop, some of them multiple times.

Unfortunately my riding came to a premature end after destroying my front wheel and one of my ribs on a hard landing. However, this allowed me to check out the hospital in nearby Colares – my verdict: not bad.

The schedule of the last two days took on a slightly more cultural theme, with a visit to the beach, a shopping trip to Lisbon and a good look at the fish in the Oceanarium.

Conclusion: Given the great value flights and accommodation, a week of riding in Serra de Sintra is definitely worth recommending. Diverse trails and Mediterranean flair are a winning combination. For those who want to stay longer, there are more than enough activities and attractions to keep you busy. In my opinion it’s the blend of surfing, bouldering and yoga that render the region and The Lodge so appealing too. They also offer airport transfers so rental car hassle can be avoided. The guys from WERIDE will guarantee that you find every single trail and there are more areas to be discovered on your bike too, such as closer to Lisbon or north of Sintra. 

Accommodation: The Lodge
Trail Guides: WERIDE
MTB technique and camps: Ridingstyle

Words: Fabian Arzberger | Pictures: Ridingstyle / WERIDE / TheLodge
URL: http://enduro-mtb.com/en/travel-portugal-enduro-style-in-the-serra-de-sintra

Finland meets Portugal

"I spent three sunny days with three amazing Portuguese guys guiding me through three very different sets of trails in Portugal. WERIDE offers professional guiding with the help of local riders all around Portugal."

"Pedaling or uplifts? Repetitive trails or an adventure? City or isolated accommodation? It's your choice! Areas such as Sintra, Lousã or Madeira are all very well known and there are lots of more high quality trails available. With the help of local riders you get to ride the best trails, including several ones not found on Strava. The high quality of service and dedication to details are apparent from the moment you get out of baggage claim: WERIDE will be waiting for you, making sure you settle in your accommodation and find the best spot for beers and food!"

"For WERIDE the riding is only part of the package though: you get to meet local riders, visit amazing sites such as Gondramaz and enjoy the Portuguese cuisine with fresh, local ingredients. You will leave Portugal with warm memories not only of riding but also of friendly people, tasty fresh food and unique landscapes."

Simo Kalatie

Flowy trails of Guarda

"This is not all about bikes, this is about life style...
Your friendship, the food, fast and beautiful trails, they tagged me deeply with lovely moments.
Thank you for that! I will never forget those simple days."

Ângelo Filho

"Just like a great wine, the sensations of this weekend will remain in my memory for a very long time. Great mood, great trails, great landscapes, great food and a huge feeling of happiness."

Luis Silva

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