🚲 The Tejo 16 → 80 km Challenge
About the event
Has your bike been gathering dust? Or perhaps you've been wanting to cycle more but haven't fancied heading out alone? This autumn we're getting back on our bikes together with a Saturday morning cycling series along the Tejo, starting small at just 16 km and gradually building our confidence and distance together.
You don't need to be a serious cyclist, own an expensive bike or already be capable of riding 80 km. The whole point is to start at an achievable distance and see how far we can get together.
These are social rides, not races — beautiful routes, chatting along the way, planned stops to regroup and, of course, the option of a well-earned beer and some food at the finish. 🍺🚲
🌿 THE AIM Each week we'll gradually build up the kilometres by taking the train a little further out along the Tejo and Camino route, then cycling back towards Lisbon.
Our October challenge: 🚲 3 October — \~16 km 🚲 10 October — \~32 km 🚲 17 October — \~48 km 🚲 31 October — \~64 km (24 October there is a hike) 🏁 7 November — \~80 km
We'll ride at a comfortable pace, regroup along the way and have planned stops for water, a rest and a chat. Wherever possible, routes will prioritise cycle paths, riverside trails, tracks and quieter roads, rather than busy traffic.
You don't have to attend every ride or complete the entire challenge. Come for one ride, a few rides, or join us each Saturday and see if you can make it all the way from 16 km to 80 km!
🚲 WEEK 1 — PÓVOA → LISBON 📅 Saturday 3 October 📏 Distance: approximately 16 km ☕ 09:00 — Meet at Baobá Specialty Coffee Roasters, Marvila We'll meet for a quick coffee, introductions and a short ride briefing before heading to the station together.
09:15 — Leave Baobá by bike 09:26 — Train departs Braço de Prata 09:46 — Arrive Póvoa \~09:55 — Start cycling back towards Lisbon
Although 16 km isn't a particularly long ride, we'll still have a short social/water stop around halfway.
The stops are part of these rides. They're a chance for everyone to regroup, refill water, have a chat and make sure everyone is doing okay — something that will become increasingly important as we build up the distances.
We should arrive back in Marvila at approximately 11:15, where those who want to can stay for a well-earned beer and some food. 🍺🍴
☕ GETTING TO THE MEETING POINT Don't be put off if Marvila isn't particularly close to where you live! Part of the idea behind these rides is to use Lisbon's train network to make adventures further along the Tejo accessible without needing a car.
If you're coming from elsewhere in Lisbon, one of the easiest options may be to bring your bike on the train to Braço de Prata.
From Braço de Prata station, it's only around a 3-minute cycle to our meeting point at Baobá.
So your morning can simply be: 🚆 Train to Braço de Prata ↓ 🚲 Cycle \~3 minutes to Baobá ↓ ☕ Meet the group at 09:00 ↓ 🚲 Cycle back to the station together ↓ 🚆 Take the 09:26 train to Póvoa ↓ 🌿 Cycle back to Lisbon together!
Bicycles can be carried free of charge on CP Lisboa Urban trains, although bike transport is subject to available space. At the end of the ride you'll be back in Lisbon, so there's no need to arrange transport home from our furthest point.
🚴♀️ MY CYCLING BIO Since getting my dog five years ago, I've done a lot more hiking than cycling, but I'd really like to get back into it — especially now I've discovered just how many beautiful, surprisingly flat and largely off-road routes there are to explore in Portugal.
At the peak of my cycling days, I was a member of the London Bike & Beer Group (LBBG), taking on rides of around 48–80 km across the UK, as well as joining the monthly iBikeLondon and Critical Mass rides around London.
My favourite kind of cycling has always been away from busy roads and, preferably, flat! I'm much more interested in exploring somewhere beautiful with good company than racing to the finish.
So if you've been meaning to get back on your bike too, this is a…
