Top Europe Bike Rentals - page 3

The host was excellent, providing us with all of the things we needed for a successful journey, including battery packs for our phones. He even fitted our helmets and made sure the bikes were adjusted perfectly. He loaded us up with gps routes and provided us with paper maps and a detailed list of the sights along the route, including a lunch spot. I think he even had a backpack that we could use, but I had one with me. The hills of Sintra were a bit much for us, though, as typical middle-aged casual bicyclists and exercisers (I walk 3 miles daily and do yoga, my husband golfs a few times a week). You will start in town, which at 10:00 am in July is filled with buses, taxis, and tourists not paying attention to bikes. Once you pull away from the city, the ride is beautiful, but you still have to watch for buses and cars that may come whizzing around the narrow bend. Our host told us to ride in the middle of the road and move over when we have room, as the autos have to give one and a half meters of clearance to bicyclists. He said the autos would pass if we’re riding on the side of the road. He was not wrong, but it was mentally difficult to stay in the middle of the road and feel safe. Also, most of the hills were very steep and required quite a bit of work to top. That was ok, after all, we weren’t on mopeds. But coming back down was a little testy, as the steepness makes for a very fast ride, the roads are curvy with the occasional surprise bus or car, and we started to worry that we may wear out the brakes. After visiting Regaleira and Monserrate, we returned to Sintra for lunch and debated about whether or not to attempt the 20 minute ride to Peña. We ended up leaving the bikes locked up and took an Uber to the top. The road was narrow and crowded with buses, cars, and tuk-tuks. There were spots you could look right down the side of the mountain. It was very, very steep. If you want to do this, check that the bicyclists have a different route to go up and down, or be very confident in your ability. For reference, we’ve rented e-bikes in Alaska and New Zealand in hilly but low traffic areas and loved it. If you are comfortable on a bike in traffic and on very steep hills, this is an awesome adventure! If you are the least bit concerned, consider a different mode for visiting Sintra (or go during a low traffic season).