Mountain Bikers Can Ride with Legendary Gary Fisher through Portugal's Historic Villages

Mountain bike enthusiasts will have a chance to ride with Gary Fisher, "The Founding Father of Mountain Bikes," in a 363-mile ride September 3 to 10 throughout historic villages in and around Portugal's mountains. Fisher is credited with inventing the mountain bike in 1975. Fisher's ride is sponsored by the A2Z Adventures tour company and Bicimax, a bicycling shop.

Idanha-a-Velha, Portugal (PRWEB) July 10, 2007 -- Gary Fisher, "The Founding Father of Mountain Bikes," will guide mountain bike enthusiasts on a 363-mile ride September 3 to 10 throughout historic villages in and around Portugal's mountains. Fisher is credited with inventing the mountain bike in 1975. Fisher's ride is sponsored by the A2Z Adventures tour company and Bicimax, a bicycling shop.

This advanced-level ride takes bicyclists 363 miles over eight days, with two guides along the way. The shortest day will include 32 miles of riding, while the longest day will be 66 miles. All meals, including 7 dinners, are provided. Riders stay in two- or three-star inns. Transfers and a "chase" vehicle are provided, all for 1,150 Euros per person. Without lodging or food, the price is 650 Euros.

Riders get picked up at the Lisbon airport and are transferred by van to the starting point at Castelo Novo in the Beiras/Centro de Portugal region, where there will a short warm-up ride and a tour of the 12th century castle that gives the town its name. Riders will also visit the Museum of Archaeological Discoveries on this first day.

From Castelo Novo, riders head towards the picturesque village of Idanha-a-Velha, known for its archaeological remains of a 1st century Roman city. This Day 2 ride is 39 miles. Day 3 is the longest, covering three villages and 66 miles. Riders will see the towns of Monsanto, which has excellent views of the entire countryside, and Sortelha, which also has a castle. Highlights of the remaining four days of the ride include the village of Almeida, featuring a 17th century fort; The Douro River International Natural Park; Castelo Rodrigo, near the Spanish border; the Coa River; the walled, medieval village of Marialva; Linhares da Beira, known as the para-gliding capital of Portugal; rocky and tough terrain near the three mountains of Acor, Lousa and Estrela; and, finally, the beautiful village of Piodao. On the eighth day, riders return to Castelo Novo with a 60-mile ride.

Fisher founded the MountainBikes company in 1983 to manufacture the style of bicycle he had invented. MountainBikes was purchased by the Trek company in 1993, while Fisher went on to compete and train others. Fisher was inducted into the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame in 1988. Outside Magazine named him one of the "50 who left their mark" in the sport in 2000, and Smithsonian Magazine honored him in 1994 as the "Founding Father of Mountain Bikes."

The trip is organized by the tour company A2Z Adventures and Gary Fisher´s Portuguese distributor Bicimax. This advanced-level ride takes bicyclists 363 miles over 8 days, with all accommodations and meals, including 7 dinners, provided. Riders stay in local two or three-star inns. Transfers and a support vehicle are provided, all for 1150 Euros per person. Riders are picked up in Lisbon and transferred to begin the ride in Castelo Novo in the Beiras/Centro de Portugal region. The price also includes two experienced bi-lingual guides.

For more information about the tour, visit A2Z Adventures, www.A2Z-adventures.com. For more on Portugal, go to www.visitportugal.com and http://www.visitcentro.com/index/8.

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