Just back from a week in Madeira, took the Orange Five over with me as most of the guided rides over there seemed like all day affairs and it didn't seem fair to bugger off and leave Mrs Jimo all day , plus with bike hire cost, it just made sense to take a bike to ride as and when I got the time, and it was surprisingly easy to get a bike there and back.
I soon found out how hilly Madeira is on a quick ride to the local shop, and in the heat it near killed me
I can see why most of the guided tours include uplifts.
The first ride from our villa was a 2 hour slog uphill all the way to the start of a trail, some of the roads were ridiculously steep, even with the 42T out back I was pushing up some stretches and stopping to rest every 100meters in the morning heat.
The trail itself was very dusty and twisted and turned through the forests, it was marked as a Blue trail on Trailforks but I've seen tamer Red routes over here!
The ride back was altogether more refreshing though, a pure downhill speed fest
.
2nd ride I started earlier in the morning and went the same route up but did a Red route, unfortunately I forgot to take the charger for my Garmin watch, so as its not on Strava it never happened!
I would take a bike abroad on holiday again, but on a family holiday riding time is limited.
Next time I'd do something with a guide and uplift to make best use of the time I had.