A French Ultra Cycling Race across Spain and Portugal

[@autumnautist]

I totally agreed. As a Portuguese cyclist I would say that's because we have a very petrolhead/car centric culture. Some people here are always late, always the best driver in the world, and them they speak of cyclists they always say the mantra of blaming the victim. Also drunk driving is also an issue here. So yeah, great place to ride with too much carcalhoolics. I went from from road cyclist to mainly a mtber.

[@JoseBastidass]

I am Portuguese but live in the UK. Last year I did London to Lisbon and I felt exactly the same as you Josh. Some people have already highlighted very valid points: - Highways are mostly paid which brings people travelling further onto secondary roads. - There is not enough public information on the laws and how to behave with cyclists on the road. - People in Portugal generally operate on the basis of what can i do without getting caught. (speed limit is 120km/h. Speed gun has a 10% accuracy failure. Drive at 135km/h. This is not just with driving)

[@buuh7592]

"- People in Portugal generally operate on the basis of what can i do without getting caught" yup, it's absolutely this , there's even a saying of "caça à multa" (translate: fine hunting) whenever the government announces new speed limits or anything to do with regulation... it's just sad, i hate it here

[@cyclingnews]

Difference between Spain and Portugal re close overtakes: laws. "Here in Spain, driving licences start off with 12 points when 'clean', and points are deducted for motoring offences, with an automatic ban once all 12 have been used up - reinstating these normally requires paying for specified courses at official driving schools, as points-related offences are never 'spent' after a set time period. "Until now, drivers have been required to leave a margin of at least 1.5 metres (approximately five feet) when overtaking cyclists on roads, and are permitted to cross the central line, even if it is an unbroken white strip, to do so. "With the new rules the distance between car and bicycle when passing has increased to two metres (6'6”) and drivers must slow to at least 20 kilometres per hour below the speed limit. For example, on a road with a 50-kilometre limit, the driver must not overtake a bike-rider any faster than at 30 kilometres per hour, or on a main national highway where the limit is typically - but never higher than - 90 kilometres per hour, motorists should not go above 70 kilometres per hour when passing cyclist."

[@aerosir]

We also have the point system in Portugal, but there is much, much less action by the police to enforce it.

[@autumnautist]

We have the same system. Is a cultural problem. In Spain every town center is 30km/h, here its almost impossible to implement that without a riot!

[@ncc1107]

I'm nowhere near ready to do an ultra, but that route looks surprisingly chill for like a bikepacking trip

[@Clement.Random]

Nice recap, love this video ! The lasts kilometers together were crazy 😝

[@Josh-Reid]

Was a pleasure to share them with you.

[@Pipheart1989]

I crossed the Sp/Pl at Valença, on a tour and immediately had to deal with the cobbles and close passes from the buses. Hatted roads in Portugal because of the drivers but amazingly they had the best 14 mile stretch of bike path i have encountered. It wasn't all plain sailing on the bike path, a bridge over a dry river bed had been swept away in a previous storm. I'm not planning on cycling in Portugal any time soon but it is worth a look along the Atlantic coast.

[@Josh-Reid]

It’s definitely a beautiful place to cycle. It’s not exactly any different to the UK in terms of road safety it was just stark contrast to how I felt in Spain.

[@tomhullbridge]

I've lived in Portugal since 1999 and started cycling here soon after, both commuting and touring. Lisbon used to be quite bad but things have gradually got better. My daily commute is about 22kms mostly on cycle paths. When I go bike touring, I try to stick to roads with light traffic and/or a decent hard shoulder. I usually plan my routes using a combination of Komoot and Google maps just to ensure I avoid dangerous roads. I sometimes cross the border into Spain and I too have noticed a difference between Spanish and Portuguese drivers.

[@Restrapltd]

Great video Josh, and fair play for cracking this one out a couple of days after our silly ride.

[@Dark_Wings88]

Nice nice nice ! I have spent a lot of time cycling in north Italy. Tuscany is the next thing I want to do. I didn’t had Sicily on the radar until now - Knew that the food is great - but looks like it is great to ride in the offseason 👍 thanks for the content!

[@PumpkinVillage]

Another well done video and ride. The music was so good. Thanks for sharing the experience. Take care, Al

[@thedoginside]

ANOTHER amazing video Josh. Thanks for sharing and all of the effort it takes to do these things 👏🏼

[@markjthomson]

Well earned beer! Hot and cold like that is really tricky to deal with.

[@louison7962]

editing was perfect ! Congrats

[@richardrr4220]

Great video, great ride and stunning effort as usual Josh ... I get ultra racing and why some would wish to do that however for me I like my sleep too much and ultra racing feels like a brilliant ride spoiled by a lack of sleep... Ride safe

[@kimwalton2873]

Well done, you are a warrior!

[@cowymtber]

You're a very positive soul, Josh.

[@MrStuartRimmer]

Well done and nicely film..

[@cb6866]

Thanks Josh...ah , yeah , amazing stuff ! Also , your French at the end was flawless .

[@Josh-Reid]

Merci beaucoup

[@buzzman4860]

Beautiful ride

[@Miekzz]

Ultra cyclists are built different, my god :o really nice job again with the video, telling the story and the shots you do. Hats off Josh

[@Josh-Reid]

Thank you very much! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@johnthefarmer]

Inland Spain is so beautiful. A bit like Northumberland but without the shite weather... 😄

[@waltwood5394]

In contrast to Spain, as far as I know, Portugal does not have a strong roadbike culture. There is not a single UCI World Tour race. Maybe that's why drivers are so insensitive. Anyway, really strong performance and once again great content Josh! 🤠

[@Ryanlegarrec]

There are UCI races, this got nothing to do with it, to be fair, but there are less commuters by bike than other countries and Spain used to be the same but started a massive com campaign about ten years ago… it took a lot of work and effort to get to where they are now, which is probably the best country in Europe to cycle safely… then you have to consider the different route options, faster roads are very much more used than in Spain where everyone goes to the hiway which is way cheaper if not free… not all roads in Portugal are that unsafe but it is mostly not as nice for sure, but follow locals and they ll show you roads that are peaceful and way better. Overall Portugal is a harder country to “unlock”

[@autumnautist]

We do have a strong road bike culture. Algarve, Figueira classic are UCI WT races. Pleanty of grandfondos and amateur racing. We have also an historic race (Volta a Portugal) 2 weeks long. The problem is on the driver side. An the infrastructure is very poor for cycling (mainly made for automotive vehicles)

[@ricferr2]

The right question about hostility in portuguese roads is: why do portuguese drivers behave so badly... IN PORTUGAL? When in Spain, they're mostly respectful and law abiding because they know that the chances of getting caught are high and the punishment is merciless. Enforcement by portuguese authorities sucks!

As a Portuguese living in the NL, this is the THE answer.

[@endivas]

As a portuguese cyclist that was already ran over , this is the awnser!

[@jamiemlawrence]

What sunglasses are you wearing? I've been looking to get some bigger framed glasses for cycling

[@Josh-Reid]

They’re from Cafe du Cycliste

[@Hardchoices4aneasylife]

I live in spain been here 5 years hardly experience any bad drivers. Probably about as many in a year as you do in an hour in south East England. Actually been close past by the same British private plated motor home on the same road. What can I say maybe specs savers ain't that great. I get one car an hour pass me where I ride here in Castellon region. Everyone respects sports people in Spain. I think it's been used to reunite a divided nation after the Civil war. The amount of volunteers at local cross country, gravel events and gran fondos is amazing here. Castellon is the best place to ride any bike. If you want to train over winter this is the place

[@biking261]

Nice video, rocking the defy I bought one recently and have came to the front lighting solution as you Josh, how are you hanging your rear light?

[@Josh-Reid]

Due to having a small frame and a rear bag it’s often hard to get the light visible so I now run a Restrap light mount on the seat stay to mount a rear light so it’s very visible.

[@Ryanlegarrec]

Nice one Josh! See you around soon!

[@Josh-Reid]

For sure!

[@lynds8324]

@Josh-Reid do you take a mat for laying under your bivy bag?

[@Josh-Reid]

I do but I didn’t take it on this trip as the goal was to be as light as possible. If I make myself too comfortable I won’t be able to get up and go as easily. If you’re tired enough you can sleep anywhere.

[@collinhumphrey2wheelliving]

Amazing Josh

[@Josh-Reid]

Thanks!

[@maxgamboltv9940]

Amazing man, I started my cycling channel and so far so good 360 subscribers in 1 week

[@Josh-Reid]

That’s ace. Keep it up but try not to be too obsessed with the subscribers. Enjoy the creative process and that will follow.

[@maxgamboltv9940]

@@Josh-Reid Noted with thanks man

[@global_nomad.]

hope you got that rest week in.....guess the heat and intensity took you by surprise becasue it was 'only' Spain and not Namibia or Morocco

[@markanderson7412]

Such a huge effort here josh bloody ripper 🤙. But mate why not a night or 2 in accom, just to do a refresh reset If the goal is to finish and really enjoying every moment Type 2 fun is hard enough. No medals for cape wearing in a bush

[@Josh-Reid]

I do enjoy taking it easier and taking time in the places I visit. But I also enjoy racing and I have other goals this season so it was good training to push myself out of my comfort zone.

[@garysladek9110]

Cheers all, hell of a ride. Two fisting the beers, nice.

[@Josh-Reid]

Those beers went straight to my head

[@garysladek9110]

@@Josh-ReidFor sure.

[@louiss1625]

you dont eat much protein hey bro ?? that'll help your muscle pains + more sustained energy! this was an entertaining vlog though, what an insanely extensive ride, but yall pull it off like it's an easy lil spin. big up

[@noelodwyer]

Were you riding a Defy?

[@Josh-Reid]

Yeah it’s the Defy. Perfect bike for this type of event.

[@noelodwyer]

@@Josh-Reid Giant is such a good sponsor to have. 🙏 Please make some content talking about your bikes.

[@bernaysantoine4923]

Nice ✨👁️

[@swell_tuna]

Badahoth.

[@rafadome]

You should change the name to «Across Spain and Portugal», right? And yeah, people in Portugal are terrible in terms of road sharing

[@Josh-Reid]

Thanks. I’ve changed the title.

[@rafadome]

@@Josh-Reid Thanks and welcome to Portugal =)

[@MegaNaseem786]

I wish I could do that but not with bowel cancer operation 😪 😞

[@Loxias1989]

:/ hope you get better

[@MegaNaseem786]

@Loxias1989 thanks for your support

[@tomhullbridge]

I am in awe of your cycling skills. However, at the risk of sounding a little patronising, you might want to rethink your eating habits whilst riding these long distances. I noticed you were consuming a lot of ultra processed food, which may well cause you to feel a little unwell. Much better to eat the local food and bananas. Happy riding!

[@davidslater6672]

Portuguese drivers are notoriously bad! I hate driving my car there let alone cycling my bike! 😖

[@RonnyChopper-oz5jl]

Another video for the saturated market of increasingly self-indulgent video ads or sponsor requirements masquerading as genuine content. No, I will not "buy" your publicity.

[@MrBaptista]

About you comment on Portuguese drivers. I'll tell you why: @govpt, @ansegrodoviaria, @iestruturas_pt, @PSP_Portugal and @GNRepublicana couldn't care less about road safety. They only kind of enforce traffic laws on Christmas, Easter and a few other festivities. Shame on them.