Adventure on an Electric Bicycle!

meet the ADVENTURERS

Rui Violante, riding the Nevo, regularly commutes to work using bicycle paths.

Hugo Dinis, who met Rui 15 years ago during their studies in Lisbon, is responsible for riding the Transporter, the E-Cargo Bike.
He has a passion for mountain biking and leads an active life with his wife, Mafalda.

Mafalda Matos, loves to exercise, having chosen to also ride a Nevo on this journey!
She gives the feminine touch to the project, such as maximising the group's efficiency and communication.

THE DECISION

Motivated by the gentle touch of the light breeze on their faces toward their destination, three friends from Tondela, Viseu, embraced the opportunity to journey to Santiago de Compostela.

Their determination to hit the road serves as an example for those seeking to break the routine of daily life with a challenge.

The journey covers 400 kilometers on the asphalt, all to be conquered on electric bicycles!

the plan

First, their destinations will be under the wheels of Riese & Müller Electric Bikes.

Part of the gear they will carry includes inner tubes, chargers, electric extensions, and mechanical repair kits. They will rest in hostels, also recharging the bicycle’s batteries.

As the trio will travel alone, there is no backup!

---

interviewing the adventurers

CIClO: Why heading to Santiago de Compostela?

RV: Our original idea was: "We have to go somewhere on a trip”. It was particularly relevant to take advantage of the Cargo bike, so perfect for a three adventure. Why not Santiago de Compostela? It is a known route, whether for religious purposes, sports or, like in our case, for an adventure.

Ciclo: SO THE OBJECTIVE FOR EACH ONE IS SIMPLY THE ADVENTURE THEN?

MM: For me, the objective is to arrive well at our destination and then share the experience!

HD: As a matter of fact, we had already quite some experiences before. I, and Mafalda, live near an eco path. And when we live in Bruxelles, Belgium, we got used to seeing the bicycle as the main mean of transportation for many people, including us. The bicycle has been part of all our lives since ever.
Now the idea is to motivate and encourage to let go of the car and enjoy a bit more what the bicycle has to offer, as better sustainable transportation.
In Portugal, there are a few bike-friendly cities. But we can still adopt them. There are already good bicycle models on the market for that context.

RV: The idea resides in awareness for the bicycle, to show how much use it can be as a privileged mean of transportation. There have to be more people using it for better conditions to appear, especially to convince the people in power to create improved infrastructures. It is everyone's responsibility to show what is, indeed, riding a bike. It is not just a leisure thing.

HG: As we are all great friends, all from Tondela, we want the project to mean something for us. In the countryside of Portugal, there are not many people using bicycles - maybe only for sports - which is a shame. So, on this road trip, we will see how people interact with us, how they will face three people riding three fully-loaded electric bicycles. That should give some food for thought.

Ciclo: Do you consider doing something more after your return to Portugal?

RV: We are thinking about starting something. If this adventure turns out to be alright, we can do a sort of an annual event for instance. Maybe to cover the Costa Vicentina (Vicentina Coastline, that covers Alentejo and Algarve). There is so much to cover, and only speaking about Portugal!

HD: About this event, we created a logo for all the collaborations, such as with CICLO. The other idea - and this is entire with no commitment - is shooting a documentary about soft mobility. We are not just three riders trying to sell something. “De Tondela a Compostela” can become a movement to inspire something more.

MM: After our stay in Brussels, we say that a large majority of the inhabitants could use - efficiently - the bicycle as the main mean of transportation. Going back to Portugal and seeing that it could be more important, especially in rural areas, left us a bit sad. Bicycles are here to help us. It is possible to pick your kids at school with them, for example. This Santiago trip will reveal how feasible it is to perform long distances with eBikes, and how versatile and comfortable they are. It will allow that public who is not aware of the situation to be informed, particularly about the solutions that it presents.

C: What will be your route?

HD: The first step is going to be easy. We will go all the way uphill through the Serra do Caramulo (Caramulo Mountains), some 20 km we know very well. Then, we will go down towards Águeda, saving battery. After a good break, we will head to Albergaria, where we have to decide if we will take the road to Porto or Ponte de Lima. But, of course, we will pass by CICLO to see how things are going on! When we get on the road again, we must face the Serra da Labruja (Labruja Mountains), a very hardcore route that is full with steep uphills. Vila Nova da Cerveira is the next destination.
From here on, we want to finish in Finisterre, Spain, that is closer to Santiago de Compostela.