Who They Are:

Clube de Cicloturismo do Brasil was created in 2001 by people from diverse backgrounds with a common passion for cyclotourism. The directors, vice directors and collaborators (to view, go to their home page and click on O Clube) have an impressive riding resumé spanning Brazil and many parts of the world. The club organizes trips, promotes cyclotourism and connects riders from all over.

Members participate of the most important bike events in Brazil.

Even though the club website is still available only in Portuguese, director Rodrigo Telles says foreign riders will find English speakers among the members.

Meetings:

Whether you understand Portuguese well enough to benefit from great presentations by guest speakers or would just like to meet the cycling crowd, if you're in São Paulo you should stop by the club's monthly meetings (reuniões mensais in Portuguese), which take place once a month at 3pm, at SESC Ipiranga, in São Paulo.

Meeting dates are listed at the top of the Eventos page on the club website.

Events:

In Eventos, you get a sample of the fun these guys have as they travel around Brazil. For example, in Feburary 2008, more precisely during the Carnival holiday, more than 40 cyclotourists from various Brazilian regions met in the beautiful European Valley of Santa Catarina, in South Brazil, for the 1st Velotour (see below) organized by the Club. The region is famous for its roots in Italian and German settlements.

Riders followed the Circuito Vale Europeu, a route for hikers and cyclists which features clear signals and inns located no farther than 30 miles apart.

View 1st Velotour Photo Gallery by Rodrigo Telles

What is a Velotour:

A Velotour is a kind of self-reliant group cycling trip promoted by Clube de Cicloturismo do Brasil in which riders leave from the same starting point, on the same date, but proceed at their own pace carrying their own belongings, tools, food and water. Participation is free and there is no support vehicle, only a rescue vehicle that runs the route twice a day, picking up who may be too exhausted or facing mechanical problems.

Passport to Adventure:

Velotour adopted a system similar to the one adopted by Circuito Vale Europeu and other routes in Brazil, such as Caminho da Fé. Riders receive a map and a card to be stamped at several check points (pontos de controle, or PCs). At the end of the tour - the first leg of the Santa Catarina trip lasted three days, and a second leg with a reduced group, four - participants receive a certificate of conpletion once they present the card with all the stamps, or a participation certificate if they couldn't make all the check points.

Team Spirit:

The advantages of joining an experienced group such as Clube de Cicloturismo do Brasil, especially for newcomers to the country or to cycling, are confirmed by tales of help and solidarity along the way, even on self-reliant outings such as Velotours. Support also comes from a network of contacts to which the club is a hub. On their website, riders find a free cyclotourism manual download, exchange directions and tips to great tours under Roteiros, post ads looking for riding companions and just stay in the loop about book releases or amazing bike travel experiences (in Viagens).