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Cycling
Sep
18th-24th 2010 - Advanced
One Place left
Autumn
is a
superb times for cycling in Northern Portugal - not too hot, and not
cold. The week is
spent riding around the breathtaking Minho region. Each day we will ride
to a beach, or into the mountains, or to an interesting town, mixing
mountain biking and mostly quiet road cycling, often with a tasty lunch stop.
The
Cycling Week running
from September 18th - 24th 2010 is intended
for the more serious cyclist who wants the week packed with more cycling,
and less alternative activities. Over the course of the week you
will climb in excess of the height of Everest from sea level (29,030
feet, or 8,850m) thought stunning mountainous scenery.
There will be more road
cycling, longer distances, less activities and little or no mountain
biking compared with previous years.
Rides are circular. We will return for a
swim, hearty meal and a few glasses of Vinho Verde each evening.
A support vehicle
is available for the group.
Who should come?
This
week at Yavanna is aimed at keen recreational cyclists (both road and
off-road lovers), who love their
cycling, but also the fun, social side of the sport too. So it's serious,
but not too serious! The maximum group size is 11.
October 2008 Week
Here is a record of
the rides from the "Cycling, Fun and Activities" week in 2008, to give you an idea:
|
Date |
Ride |
Duration |
Av Speed (mph) |
Max Speed (mph) |
Calories |
Elevation (ft) |
Distance (miles) |
|
04/10/08 |
Gondelim Grinder 1 |
02:17:33 |
8.5 |
40.5 |
1554 |
2858 |
19.52 |
|
05/10/08 |
Moncao Mangler |
05:55:33 |
11.2 |
33.4 |
4431 |
5554 |
66.09 |
|
06/10/08 |
Ancora Anaconda |
05:21:27 |
9.7 |
39.8 |
4608 |
5266 |
52.01 |
|
07/10/08 |
Minho Mincer |
01:36:00 |
12.1 |
35.7 |
1152 |
4824 |
19.45 |
|
08/10/08 |
Tui Twister |
02:51:00 |
9.6 |
37.2 |
2480 |
3097 |
27.54 |
|
09/10/08 |
Coastal Cruiser |
02:56:56 |
12.8 |
29.0 |
2278 |
1709 |
37.77 |
|
10/10/08 |
Gondelim Grinder 2 |
02:20:00 |
7.5 |
33.9 |
1436 |
2936 |
17.55 |
|
|
|
23:18:29 |
10.2 |
35.6 |
17939 |
26245 |
239.93 |
What to bring
We
feel the best type of bike for this terrain is a hybrid bike or
mountain bike with fairly slick tyres. We can hire locally at about
50 Euros for the week, or you can bring your own bike (cost circa
£37 return). Bringing a road bike is fine, but we will hire a
mountain bike just for any off-road days. Please call to discuss
gearing.
If you hire, please bring your own peddles and favourite "bits and pieces" so we will spend some time on the first
day adapting the hired bikes to your own needs.
What do others say?
See what
previous cyclists have had to say. Just click
here.
Movies
There are a selection of videos
of the October 2008 week on YouTube. Go to
http://www.youtube.com
and search for
Yavanna Cycling 08.
You should find 10 videos.
Costs
Availability and course costs are detailed
here.
Notes
-
The programme will be tweaked over the coming months as the date
approaches. It is weather dependent, so various items may switch
around as the week progresses. Some plans might have to be dropped
and other added, but we will try to maintain this approximate mix.
-
Nothing is compulsory. You are completely free to do what you want.
If you prefer to stay at Yavanna, have a swim, ride in the support
vehicle, read etc. rather than cycle on any particular day, then
that’s absolutely fine.
-
Airport transfers, all home cooked (mainly organic) food at
Yavanna, accommodation, wine and beer, port tasting evening, cycle
guiding, support vehicle and excursions are included.
-
Two suppers out and the occasional coffee/light lunch are not
included (which are all very reasonably priced). The Albarino hike,
the Spa trip, kayaking, water skiing and massages are optional
extras.
Club Trips
Yavanna is
available for clubs to book for training camps, club trips, etc.
Please contact Mark to discuss your needs, format, pricing, etc. Example Programme
from October 2009
Please note that this programme is weather dependent, so various items
may switch around as the week progresses. Some plans might have to be
dropped and other added, but we will try to maintain this approximate
mix.
|
Date |
Morning |
Afternoon |
Evening |
|
Sat Oct 3rd |
- |
Minibus pickup from the airport. At Yavanna for Welcome Supper. |
|
Sun Oct 4th |
Breakfast 8:00, leave at 9:30 cycling
from Yavanna mostly uphill on quiet roads to Casa da Fonte (see
www.casadafonte.co.uk). After a coffee, we will set off
about 11:00 trail riding led by Mike Wild towards the beautiful
“Corno de Bico” protected area. There is a slow gentle climb up
to 2800 feet giving panoramic views of the Minho. We will
descend through pine and eucalyptus forests and loop around and
back to Yavanna on quiet roads. OPTIONS: You can opt to be
dropped at Mike’s for coffee and miss the first road climbing
part, and/or be picked up later in the ride and miss the last
section. |
Supper at Yavanna |
|
Mon Oct 5th |
Chill-out morning: Swimming, local walks, etc. |
Leave about 12:30 for the Tui Twister: Cycle to Spain and
then a relentless one hour climb to 3000 feet with amazing views
at the top. Circular route home. 35 miles, 4 hrs. |
Supper at Tapas bar in Spain |
|
Tues Oct 6th |
Breakfast 7:30, Leave 9:00 for the Moncao Mincer. Hard
climb up to Gondelim and the Wind Turbines then through the
mountains onto Sistelo and huge descent to Moncao on the Minho
River, then relatively flat ride home along old railway track.
70 miles. Over 6000 ft ascent. Support Vehicle will meet us in
the mountains with picnic lunch. OPTIONS: You can opt to be
dropped off at the top of the Mincer and/or skip the ride back
from Moncao. |
Supper at Yavanna |
|
Weds Oct 7th |
Non-cycling morning: Either lay-in, swimming, local walks, etc.
Or for the more active, an organised hike through a beautiful
valley in Spain passing ruined watermills to Albarino wine
tasting. 3 hour trip approx. Small cost for the guide/wine. |
Leaving about 1:30, Mountain Biking with Mike again. We will be
dropped off at Casa da Fonte and ride the
Santiago de Compostela Camino trail south to the beautiful town
of Ponte de Lima. This takes about 3 hours and some of the route
is very rough. OPTIONS: The options then will be to be picked
up, or to cycle back via quiet roads - this is a 2 hour mostly
uphill ride. |
Supper at local Portuguese Restaurant
|
|
Thurs Oct 8th |
Breakfast 7:30, Leave 9:00 for the Ancora Anaconda: Cycle
25 miles following the Coura river valley, and then along the
edge of the ocean past 3 beaches to Ancora beach for
coffee/lunch. Then climb back through the
dramatic Serra D’Arga mountains to Covas for an afternoon break,
then home. 60 miles in total with three major climbs. Over 6000
ft ascent. OPTIONS: Spend longer at the beach and be picked up
at Ancora about 4pm. |
Supper at Yavanna |
|
Fri Oct 9th |
We will check the mood of the group on Thursday evening and
finalise who does what, and within option 1, which of these
activities we organise.
OPTION 1 – Mixed Activities: Based at Yavanna. Full-body massages
available all day. Further possibilities:
-
Trip to
hot salt water spa baths on Spanish Atlantic coast.
-
Shopping
trip to Valenca old town.
-
Santiago de Compostela Camino stage hike.
-
Kayaking or waterskiing on the River Minho.
-
Unguided local cycling loop
OPTION 2 – Road Ride:
Breakfast 7:30, Leave 9:00 to cycle to Santiago de Compostela.
80 miles. This ride is not as “off the beaten track” as the
other rides, and involves some main roads, but will give a feel
for the Camino de Santiago as we cross the pilgrim’s route in
many places. See
www.csj.org.uk/route-camino-portugues.htm. Passing through
the historic city of Pontevedra on the way and stopping for
lunch there. After some initial climbing, the route is
relatively flat compared with Tuesday and Thursday. Look
around Santiago for a couple of hours late afternoon, for 5:30
pickup, back at Yavanna about 7pm. |
Final Supper at Yavanna + Port Tasting Experience. 10 different
Ports to sample. |
|
Sat Oct 10th |
Free morning, walking, swimming, packing, optional last ride:
Gondelim Grinder
(2.5 hours). Optional shopping trip to Vila Nova de Cerveira
market. |
Leave Yavanna 12:30 for Minibus Drop-off at Vigo Airport at 1pm. |
- |
The precise programme will be finalised nearer the time.
Links
The Cycle People:
http://www.thecyclepeople.com
Are there any other courses,
activities or
workshops you would like to see?
Comments please!
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