MADEIRA TRAINING CAMP

Be the first to experience this exclusive retreat. Combining mental, physical and holistic training to help you achieve your full potential and make huge gains in performance.

Train on the beautiful Madeiran roads coached by an ex-pro rider.

Benefit from tailored and personalised mindset coaching to helping you to break through old patterns and limiting beliefs that are holding you back from performing to your full potential.

Our tailor-made cycle training camp that is so much more than just riding. Drawing on the combined skills of our facilitators and coaches, you’ll experience a more holistic approach to improving your overall performance both on and off the bike.

Ride: Ride with an ex-professional team rider; learn about cycling efficiently, maximizing output, marginal gains, rest, tactics, bike management, riding in a peloton – all with the stunning backdrop of Madeira’s epic landscapes. Routes can be tailored to the group’s abilities, strengths, points of focus and goals, and will be fully supported by our team mechanic and first aider / tour manager.

Example routes:
The Wild West Coast: 110km  |  2360m Elevation
The Big Plateau Loop: 105km  |  3184m Elevation
Natural Swimming Pools: 96km  |  1850m Elevation
Traverse the Island: 80km  |  3200m Elevation
To the Lighthouse: 99km  |  2400m Elevation
Inland Adventure: 102km  |  4300m Elevation

Fuel: Nourish your body with abundant healthy cuisine featuring fresh fruits, vegetables and clean protein all sourced on the island.

Learn: Benefit from tailored and expert mindset coaching, exploring mental and emotional blocks that hold you back from peak power and performance. These priceless lessons not only help you with athletic performance but in your work and social life too.

Rest + Recovery: Yoga and stretching exercises as well as cold water plunges help your muscles recover, flush out lactic acid, reduce inflammation and help speed up recovery. Allow your body to rest in the beautiful surroundings with time scheduled in for sleep and winding down. Option to include guided meditation and restorative breathwork sessions.

Discover: Experience all that Madeira has to offer with optional excursions for: surfing, dolphin watching, hiking tours, winery visits, visit to secret waterfall, downhill mountain biking, and much much more that can be arranged with local tour guides.

Included:
– Full logistical ride support; first aid and mechanical support
– Accommodation in 3-4* hotels (twin sharing, single supplement is available)
– Cycle coaching from ex-pro ride leader, Steve Edwards
– Mindset coaching sessions
– Bonus yoga and stretching classes
– Optional meditation and breathwork for a regulated nervous system
– Guided cold water therapy
– All food from dinner on 28th October to breakfast on 3rd November
– Nutritious meals including meals in local restaurants

Optional Extras:
– Guided hiking trip
– Dolphin watching/swimming boat trip
– Surfing lesson or surfboard hire
– Wine tasting and vineyard visit
– Secret waterfall excursion
– Downhill mountain biking tour

Not Included:
– Bike and Helmet
– Travel to/from the start/finish hotels.
– Personal travel insurance, extra drinks and tips

FAQS

What’s the cycling like? We’d give the cycling a 4/5 difficulty rating. Madeira is pretty hilly so expect to get some good climbing and endurance training in. There’s rolling hills, some steeper climbs and longer uphills with a gentler gradient; there’s some lovely respite in the form of plateaus and flat coastal roads. And of course, what goes up must come down so expect speedy exhilarating descents and some seriously epic backdrops of mountains and the wild Atlantic Ocean.

What’s the weather like? Madeira has a warm climate all year round. At the end of October, expect temperatures in mid twenties, prolonging a late European summer feel . As it’s an island climate you can expect a range of weather within a day, sun, wind and rain. Temperature drops a little at night so bring a light jacket or jumper. Sunrises and sunsets are beautiful at this time of year taking on pink and orangey tones.

What’s the food like? Madeira produces an abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables all year round, ranging from mediterranean fare to more tropical crops like passion fruit, pineapple, mango and dragon fruit. Food is all grown and sourced locally from small farms so everything is seasonal, fresh and widely organic. Try local seafood dishes and the traditional island bread ‘bolo de caco’ which is made with yellow sweet potatoes, a super food!

What’s the accommodation like? Our time will be split between two 3-4* hotels. One in west and one in the east. Accommodation is on a twin-sharing basis. If you would like your own room, this can be requested as a single supplement at +£500pp.

What travel and transfers are included? Flights are not included, you must organise your own flight to the island. Transfer to the start hotel and from the finish hotel are not included, but we can help organise a transfer for you.

Do I need to bring my own bike? Yes, you will need to travel with your own bike. If you would prefer to hire a bike on the island, we can help arrange this for you. Please email us at mel@bikewhereyoulike.com

What airport do I need to fly to? Funchal.

I have dietary needs, can they be catered for? Yes, please let us know in advance and on your sign up form.

Can I drink alcohol? Alcohol is not provided as part of the package, however you can purchase drinks separately. The invitation with this training camp is to embrace sobriety, to nourish your body with healthy food, look after your body and be topped up with restorative practices so that you really get the most out of the training.

What level of fitness do I need for the activities? The nature of the roads and the training plans we have tailored make this a training camp for those with an above average level of fitness and cycling ability. There is no benchmark or set times or speeds required and the routes and the group cycling conditions will be formed based on the collective ability and ambition. It would be recommended that you are accustomed or capable of rides around 100km or more with hills. Although the training is designed to improve your overall fitness and endurance, we also invite you to listen and look after your body. there will always be a support car on hand and all rides and sections can be made optional based on how you are feeling.

Do I need any yoga or breathwork experience? No, these practices are complimentary and restorative; they are facilitated by experienced practitioners who can meet you wherever you are at. The practices are aimed to aid rest and recovery. It is a myth that you need to be flexible to stretch or do yoga, anyone can breath and move with the aim to sooth and relax sore muscles and calm your nervous system to initiate a rest and digest state so that your body recovers better from your daily activities.

What do I need to pack? We will send a pack list nearer the time.

I like to eat meat, is that available? Yes, all diets can be catered for. Madeira is great for sourcing clean, organic protein, particularly seafood.

Are there bugs and mosquitos? Mosquitos are minimal, however, due to the climate there can be some bitey bugs around. If you are prone to insect bites, please bring repellent.

Do I need travel/bike insurance? Yes. We recommend you have travel insurnace that covers cycling. Yellow jersey is often a good provider. It is sensible to also have bike insurance. and make sure you have an up to date EHIC/GHIC card to bring with you.

Is the sea warm enough to swim? The Atlantic Ocean around Madeira is temperate all year round; the sea temperature in October is usually around 20-23 degrees, making it similar to the air temperature. The water is pleasant to swim and bathe in. In the north and West the sea can be rough and wavey (great for surfing), so we will always advise where the safest places to swim are.

What if I need to cancel? Deposits are 100% non-refundable unless the camp is cancelled by Bike Where You Like or our local suppliers. If not already paid, the full cost of the trip will be invoiced 3 months in advance and is non-refundable 60 days before commencement. Please let us know asap at mel@bikewhereyoulike.com if you cannot make it.