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Discovering Madeira with MountainbikeMadeira Meeting

Oct 13, 2019 at 9:52
by Yaroslav Alpizar  


Madeira is not longer an unknown destination for outdoors enthusiasts around the world. Long before EWS choose the island as one of their race locations, it was a gem already know for some lucky ones. Nowdays it's definitely a destination that every mountain biker must have on his ToDo list. But if you visit a place during a race you really don't get to discover all it has to offer. And the Mountainbike Madeira Meeting is an event that precisely looks to show to its participants all the different faces of this island.

Organized already for four years in a row with participants coming from Spain, France, Canada, Andorra, Italy and of course, Portugal, with several of them repeating on different occasions, it's a true confirmation of things well done by the organizers. With local guides, shuttles and plenty of local knowledge, visitors don't need to worry about anything other than riding and enjoying a full week of the best trails in the world. Is the best opportunity to experience both the iconic trails in the region and the hidden gems. Machico, Calheta, Fanal, Parque Ecológico, Pico Arieiro, Porto da Cruz, you will get to know most of the riding areas and try out the main trails. Boca do Risco, Porto da Cruz, Black Line, Vacas, Formiga, RatBoy, Patrica, Pargos, Avalanche Raposeira, the list is endless. The recently opened first trail center in Madeira, with Velosolutions Portugal, in the UNESCO world heritage Fanal area has lot more to offer and for next year there will be for sure even more to discover.

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Each day at dinner there is a planning for next day, 8:30 breakfast and 9am everyone is ready to hit the road. A full day of riding ahead with a short stop for lunch on any of the many local restaurants with tasty food. Don't miss the espetada, picanha, bola do caco and the main local drink, poncha. The selected location to spend the night is the village of Seixal with astonishing views over the ocean. Located on the North side of the island, just 40min from Funchal and 1h from the airport is an easy drive to get there and daily hit the trails on the shuttles. A half a day is usually reserved to try other activities and sightseeing. Madeira is known for canyoning fans all over the world as the "little Reunion Island" so the organizers strongly recommend to also try on of its more than 200 canyons, they provide all the necessary equipment and organize everything. Next year will be the fifth one and for sure there will be surprises.

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On these dusty section you either leave a gap or just follow the one in front of you #huckandpray

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Some higher sections on the southern side can be dusty, but that adds up to the fun

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Northern side is usually packed with clouds loaded with humidity so the sea of clouds are always there to enjoy

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Dropping into Machico, Boca do Risco trail

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there is some pedaling involved, usually following the known levadas

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Find the riders

Shuttles are ready for you all day long
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Views from Pico Areiro are astonishing
Views from Pico Areiro are astonishing

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to get to Boca do Risco trail there are 8km of this, can you imagine?

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Boca do Risco, a must in Machico area

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A visit to Funchal, main city of the island, is mandatory

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Canyoning is a must in Madeira

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No better way to finish the day

Local Knowledge
Rely on the organization for all your questions, doubts and anything else, they will be more than happy to help you to tailor a trip that fits all your needs.
Getting here: flights from Lisbon or Oporto, there is a ferry from Portimao, but takes more than 1 day and doesn't operate all year long. Be sure to book in advance to get the best prices as usual.
Weather: Madeira enjoys a full year with mild temperatures, there is some differences between North and South. The average annual temperature in Funchal is 19°C (67.3 °F) and several regions at sea level exceed 20°C. There is no clear division in between season, been more 2 main ones, rainy in winter and dry in summer. Some snowfalls can happen on the highest points, but expect to ride all the trails no questions asked.
Bike shop and repairs: organizers will provide and solve basic mechanical issues, if more is necessary, there are several bike shops in Funchal that offer professional services
Food and drink: Madeira and Portugal in general, has a rich gastronomy with tons of local flavours and different dishes to try out. Prices are low compared to other locations in Europe so expect to pay around 15-25€ for a really good tasty meal including a dessert and coffee.
Where to stay: organizers provide full accommodation in Seixal village at Sol & Mar familiar hotel. In case you look to extend your stay, there are small apartments to rent all over the island and several hotels and hostels in Funchal and some of the bigger villages.

Madeira mountain biking trails

Author Info:
elyari avatar

Member since Apr 5, 2011
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