Cycle Hire in Madeira

chopchopchop

Hi all, just booked for Madeira next month and agreed with the boss to have a day on the bike whilst there. Anyone know of a decent place to hire a road bike, it all seems to be mountain bike group rides that I have seen.

I am staying on the south of the island not far from the Airport.

marcusjb

In my experiences on the island, there's not ever so much road cycling goes on. Probably because of the tunnels (I am not sure of the legality of riding through the tunnels, but I would not fancy it legal or not!). There are some of the old, pre-tunnel, coast roads remaining, but they are barrierred off - some look passable, though in very poor condition.

We really saw very few road cyclists and I guess that you will be fairly limited in where you can ride (though the riding should be amazing, if not a little steep!).

I have not ridden at all on the island, we had a walking holiday there, but if I went again, I would go with the flow and hire a mountain bike for the day (there's plenty going on in that respect).

Enjoy the island, it is a truly incredible place and wonderful people.

markhewitt1978

I don't recall seeing a single cyclist when I was there tbh! Some pretty crazy roads and as you say, lots of tunnels. Even the 'old road' parts still have lots of tunnels. And all the roads seem to be at 15%-20% grade, everywhere!

tourdriving

On my site https://tourdriving.wordpress.com/portugal/ go to photo of bike then find Madeira

Secteur

Been there twice in the last 4 years, near Funchal, and I'd not be too keen to cycle on the roads there! Not because they're too hilly (and they are hilly!),,but because the main roads are fast, busy and lots of tunnels. It just didn't seem like it'd be any fun at all. And as above, I didn't see a single road cyclist either time I was there. Perhaps there's some secret back roads, but honestly for a day I think it just wouldn't be worth it.

chaymck

Same as above. I went a few years back with the plan of riding but the roads, tunnels etc put me off. There are some crazy steep straight up the mountain roads!

chaymck

I did see one guy pushing a TT bike....

Tjm208

There is one ring road around at about 700m above sea level, which is in pretty dire condition in terms of tarmac but is ok in terms of gradient. If yuo use the less popular roads you can also get up to the top of Pico Ruivo but its very very steep in places (>15%), iffy tarmac, and lots of cars that aren't expecting to see cyclists. I went up to the top on a day where the visibility was about 30 meters so there weren't many cars, but overall, probably not worth the effort. A substitute for Tenerife it is not, though it is a really lovely island for non cycling related things. I did see quite a few MTBs about, but they were mostly being driven up to then do downhill type things....

Tjm208

Oh and as the above all say, the main roads through the tunnels are not a good idea on a bike, they are very narrow, very long, very dark and noone will be expecting to see you there.

chopchopchop

Thanks all. guided MTB sessions it is then