Free Riding in Madeira
Last year, the first week of December I headed to Madeira to fulfil yet another dream, riding on the epic island of Madeira. I had had Madeira on my bucket list for the past two years ever since I saw the EWS take place there.
I hooked up with Free Ride Madeira, who not only organises the EWS race there, but more importantly, build and maintain most of the trails there. I didn’t bring my bike this time but rather opted in for one of their rentals, a Specialized Enduro Combo.
As usual, I traveled alone and didn’t know with whom and what group I would be riding for the week but as always it turns out just fine. It’s great to ride with good friends but there is something special about riding with people from all over the world that you have never met before.
Every morning I would join up with a new bunch of riders heading out for a full day riding somewhere on the Island. We alternated between the area above and around Funchal one day and the western part of the Island the second day. Two-three runs in the morning before lunch and two-three runs in the afternoon depending on the length.
Madeira is a magical place to ride on. Long endless, both technical and flowy trails with sub tropical micro climates that keep on changing as you descend. You start with a sunny morning in Funchal, then slowly shuttle up through clouds and moody weather until you finally reach the sunny top with blue skies.
We rode in rain, sunny clear blue skies, through fog and clouds and all over Madeira. We shredded anything from super techy, steep trails on the ridges down to Funchal, to flowy endless descents through Eucalyptus forests to the dreaded fast and super slippery red Madeira ice.
If you can ride in Madeira. You can ride anywhere.
Like they say, if you can ride in Madeira, you can ride anywhere. I didn’t believe it before I rode there. Now I know its is true…
If you want a once in a lifetime epic riding experience in Madeira head over to FreeRide Madeira. This is really the only company to ride with there. They build and maintain the trails, are top riders and the organisers of EWS. You’ll have a blast!
