This Place Has It All! | Exploring An eBike Paradise With Chris Akrigg

For many people, mountain biking is about finding that perfect trail, just like surfers chase the perfect wave. Where better to search for MTB paradise than Portugal?! Steve Jones heads to Sintra with trials legend Chris Akrigg, a rider known for pushing the limits of what’s possible on an EMTB. This was no scenic ride; with Chris taking on some of the hardest climbs we’ve ever seen! Steve would need to choose his battles carefully to stay on Chris’ wheel…

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What do you think of the riding in Sintra, Portugal? Will you put it on your list of future adventures?

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for many people mountain biking will always be about finding that perfect Trail in the same way as Surfers getting barreled touching the chandelier and so in a land that is home to some crazy sea creatures and some of the biggest nastiest waves in the world we were given a date to rendevu at a location said to have it all [Music] but we were here to have it out except that my riding partner was known to be a bit of a handful full-bodied temperamental just like a good Duro red wine a nazer Tumblr or whatever you call it I was ready then to face the Yorkshire tsunami yes you might have guessed then our destination Portugal and my riding colleague Chris akri I got the guns out and headed to the Impact Zone it felt I’d woken up in a fantasy world sightseeing with one of the world’s top MTB Riders visiting colorful places eating cakes drinking coffee and riding at the end of the world Castello dos muros I’ve heard there’s some great riding on CRA yeah Steven you’re going to have to pick your battles huh you’re going to have to pick your battles we set off for the words ringing in my mind was I dreaming was this reality but those battle world oh here we go hey can I just stop you there Chris What’s happen what what did you mean by battles I was sort of um checking you had the minerals Steve what I don’t get you well um you can get a little bit hardcore around there you know right so I just didn’t want your uh your little dream you have turn into a nightmare it’s already a nightmare come on we probably all have ideas of Dream Rides but I’ll be honest with you the previous OCC Ian I’d ridden with akri was actually a nightmare reality dawned and I woke up on the precipitous Cliffs of Castello dos muros the palace toena in Centra Portugal I’m not being funny right but I thought this place was all about the best trails and do a little bit of sight in I mean I get it that is a bit of a Dreamland but comes to dreams I do have a bit of a vision about how the day might pan out choosing to pick my battle I decided to go along and let Chris have his own way soon we were indeed riding Prime terrain all right enough sight see in for a minute should we get this uh nightmare underway go down a bit of downhill action okay so it’s uh reasonably Rocky in here so here I’m looking and it is very reasonably Rocky so uh in terms of battles this is the one I’m feeling most confident about about [Music] [Applause] [Music] he yeah [Music] wow all right pretty cool trailut I do think though that you pretty much shut that down with that last move down off that rock whoo I think that was actually harder than maybe Val theol downhill and you’re like on 150 mil travel bike yeah all right I see this is going to go [Music] I can see you riding R in that car Palace is cool right awesome yeah uh actually talking about palaces it hasn’t gone a notice that you’re on the 7 and 1/2k Koo and I’m on the 4 and 1/2k Koo yeah um s of almost like a reflection of the ride is it ability [Music] yeah crazy right [Music] [Music] what’s he doing now what right so we’re talking about battles what about vertical battles I think uh I think you’re deluded if you reckon I going to get up that one there give it a go hey if you reckon you could go off there as well um what’s over there Steve it’s kind of quite steep definitely front wheeel high do you want to have a look at it n what’s it no but it’s like it’s like 4 foot high long as your bike’s out the way Steve is he serious I’ll clear not not in a million that is like did you just see that did you see what we just did wow that is like that’s like an seen up to the top or let’s pop it in the air and down Fair news Fair news I kind of think that I’m a little bit out of my depth here when it comes to battles I think this is a starter but I I feel we can probably push a limits a little bit can change the word there okay sorry not we I all right okay so so what you got in mind then I think if you look over your right shoulder Steve the answer will lie look at it it doesn’t lie it definitely doesn’t lie it stands vertically like this that’s literally six foot high there’s kids been rolling down it but you what you’re going to suggest going up it I think if we get plenty of speed no yes I feel neck that uh I feel like we need a bit of a reality check here that is like w all right I’m going to give it a go wa that is like proper T about battles that is properly going into a [Music] battle no pressure different from Yorkshire Chris did you get all the kids in in Shipley Glenn no I’ve never seen anybody in ship oh [Music] Are you seriously contemplating that I honestly don’t know Steve how’s it feel really doesn’t look great does it I’m not sure about that I’m not sure about your climbing abilties I’m not sure about that never am I what’s it feel like at top is it actually slippy are you act you can’t be seriously thinking of a going up I can’t even walk up here no that’s that’s not doable it’s pretty bad isn’t it I’m a bit concerned I have to say yeah I mean it’s like everything you got to find a limit aren’t you at some point and I think honestly that might be it but if you don’t try you don’t know IDE I’m not sure what’s the bets I’m like 10% certain it might work only 10 yeah but then there’s 10 it’s an interesting mindset yeah I think I’d probably like to think I’d probably get a bite length and a bit in it and then things might go weird no they’re going to go weird okay the problem is the the start you’re not going to be able to get enough speed to get going on it and then you’d want to gear down so it’s quite a lot going on I’d say there’s a lot going on yeah should we not do this let have a go what he’s also not factoring in is there’s no run up either let’s go oh oh you oh no I can’t actually believe where I mean where did the traction come from I couldn’t walk up there that is nuts we were close weren’t we so that so if that’s your 10% [Music] wow that disgusting [Music] wow that is insane fair play Chris I think uh insane skills aside there there’s a few interesting Pieces by this rock which I think are important to to talk about uh you know we’re in this era and everyone’s about it’s all about the power right well power and I just put my hands on this rock and it it feels it feels pretty good but then I put my I put my Dowing it and literally my The Compound on my shoes look at it it is literally like glass so I think that’s where Tire compound tire pattern Tire volume all comes into play right cuz yes I mean you seem to be getting traction where they look there simply is no traction I think there’s a lot of things there Steve I mean something like this is there’s a lot going on obviously the compound of the ti you got to have complete faith in your equipment you know you do need to know what’s going on you need to spent uh time on on your bike knowing how the little idiosyncrasies are going to happen you know like when you get to a point where if things do go wrong you are in a bit of a sticky situation but you seem to be like and that’s and that step there the just the step in itself yeah it’s funny that you pick up on that Steve cuz I am I’m I’m looky that I’m quite Amber dextrous actually you were quite ambidextrous in the pub last night thank you for that so I’m looking so when I get on the pedals doesn’t really matter where crank stroke is cuz you need to be on it instantaneously and then you’re aware so see there’s Contin pressure on on on both your left and right all the way up that up that wall I call it a wall yeah I mean I always say you know the bulk of the work is done before you get to an obstacle because you’ve got your power you got you have to set your speed you got to set your Target and your timing so then what you’re doing here you’re managing your speed and your grip yeah see you what it fits in with the with the battle Target and time in the only problem was you’ve literally got 20 ft start you’ve got a 20 foot you got a 20 approach and all of a sudden there’s a wall there’s a battle ahead of you we like a [Laughter] [Music] scrap uh okay so you’ve had your 10% moment I reckon this is my 10% moment 10% moment chance I can do this yeah you know what we were talking about earlier managing your expectations Steve yeah what what 1% are you ready I’m suddenly really nervous am I helping you’re totally not helping what about if I sit with my face do you want a Target do you know what you should do Steve what pedal really hard sakes that’s the attitude he meant to be my minder you better to catch [Laughter] me yep how many up for the camera had the all way along 100% no comment [Music] [Applause] [Music] cool place right castles palaces really nice Trails yeah super varied cool rock as well but like I’m not sure it bling the wet like you know you can’t believe some stuff is so grippy but then if it gets wet it could be so so slippy so many riders I mean there was like there was like sixy olds on the hill there was like 66 year olds on the hill yeah it’s brilliant it’s brilliant to see so many people out and like you say like very terrain very very variation that got to speak I don’t know I was looking I was looking for a word that I don’t think existed I tell I was looking for a line that I don’t think existed I think Here Comes The Rock lady let’s let’s see what the Rock lady’s got to say excuse me could you sit here a second this is your restaurant yeah yeah what’s it called Maria wine and tappers oh wine and tappers Chris we’re going to have to wait for the wine and tappers for a few days Maria where can we do some more sightseeing from here where should we go from here from here we are you sleeping in CRA but we thinking of going to the to the beach maybe yeah well there is a beautiful beach here as you go to C The Rock what’s Caba Kaba is down here uh the most western part of Europe you must go to Caba it’s nice before the cab The Rock there is a a very famous Beach but it’s difficult to go down there because he’ll ride he’ll ride down it he’s wild he’ll ride down it you can’t ride you have to walk and even walking is dangerous little does Marie know that Chris eats rocks for breakfast [Music] [Music] [Music] w [Music] you just clean that that’s probably two stages above a World Cup power stage climb I’m probably the Western most tip of Europe and one of the hardest ebar climbs in the world fair D very much fair D that’s good fun up there my my chain came off oh yeah all right okay yeah yeah right right going to take five minutes to visit this famous p Aria Donna estan and here’s the goods I think it’s going to have to be a pastel Donata uh and double espresso Double Espresso yes perfect I mean I mean this is a big part of the reason why we come to CRA into this incredible pastelia very good man yeah voila Tom nice to meet you guys Tom thanks so much uh guys if you ever in CRA Donna esia yes Primo Primo I’m actually going to come back Tom and have some of these here these are pillows aren’t they yes and the inside is almond cream and eggs and what are these ones only here in the house because this is a mix you know around the same paste of pillow and inside the same cream K this is the CH from here also inside have fresh cheese sweet cheese cinnamon wow yeah and this like a mix you know like Tom says it’s like wow no now uh now Nick you’re going to have to pay cinnamon pastel Donata m m I’m sorry that’s Italian is it I mean the riding’s amazing some of the Sting’s amazing but you got to have an espresso on a cake right right makes it kind of makes it where’s Cris G anyway okay yeah way [Music] what [Music] you know I’m that good wow Dream Ride uh I think that was an illusion uh did you did you actually just ride up there I’m not sure everything seem to be coming at me really fast but I guess that’s just um it’s just another battle Steve you know and I think that was the uh Battle of the line Choice okay so uh I suppose this is about like line choice and also playing what’s in front of you you did that blind that is an insane skill to be able to read the terrain which is a big part of riding ebikes right yeah I think a lot of people like you know really sort of it’s you you you’re being forced forward in a sense you know and so you have to really like be on the ball thinking about line choice you know and I guess just doing it a long time everything just seems to slow down people say you know like in certain things it just it feels like it’s slowing down but I feel already I’m not even part of this battle I feel like I’m I’m just lying on the ground destroyed but I’m going to give a few sections a go no White Flag yet right my battle is a different battle to yours in this instance uh we got like a left hand line a right hand line yeah and also like I think my best bet is the center line obviously we’re actually taking time to ponder this whereas in normal situations you’d just be picking your way up freestyling would you yeah what you reckon I think left and right there’s more of an element of like bik control I guess Center Line is brute strength and ignorance that’s sort of you do you reckon you can do that uh yeah I reckon I could do it do you reckon I can do it as a friend uh Nick can you just come behind to to show what’s facing us here because we’ve got a beautiful eucalyptus Woodland but how would you describe that a wall of stone I’d say it it’s a wall of Stone and an extreme gradient as well nevertheless I’m going to give it a go I got to S quite nervous okay come on you can do this you can do this yeah you can do it I can do this you can do it Go sa power power who I’m pretty happy with that that’s good I reckon I got the corner as well though yeah I think so he goes in the wrong gear wasn’t I it looks fine let me just now show you how easy that can be made to look you literally are taking the Mickey a you you warmed it up for me yeah no White Flag just yet won’t be [Music] long hry [Music] what went a bit off piece then what I got to be honest that I was joking earlier on but that’s just like an illusion uh it just doesn’t look this is like a 24 25 Kilo bike and you just went up a cliff face basically I I I honestly don’t get it I honestly don’t get it h [Music] [Music] [Music] it’s quite a nice Prospect though a it Steve what’s that nice little ride down to the beach maybe a cheeky little beer tankers out at Sea can you see Asal race circuit nope neither can I to be fair I think they just use a local roads uh okay last descent BOS to the beach do you know what if you went in a stroke line down buros and across the sea have a guess who you’d come to Greenland nope you’d come to Cuba right final battle end Christopher the final show down to the beach and there is fighting me yet left battle’s [Music] W him I give life and I give him give him life him I give him life I give give him I give life [Music] I [Music] I I [Music] give him life I give him life I give him life I give him life [Music] amaz I [Music] nice in the flower Isn’t it nice in the flower [Music] [Music] like a we’ve been down here before that’s cool that lovely flowers the IG is on the RS bike I’m on the S yeah RS bike is oh lighter this is’s a far better Rider on the bike I guess lovely smells such nice Mountain who we’re riding this TR [Music] blind yeah’s got’s got a few down skills as well got Char [Music] rer here is nor fantic oh what the hell was that about there you go back in Trials waa wow oh my God I just look right wow I literally just look right wow that’s quite an end to the day is it absolutely beautiful is it that it’s a Min bit of Trail nice and fast off the brakes look at that look at the size of those whales waves whales Frank arre yeah High way it’s [Music] interesting well Chris I think these were possibly uh some of the nicest prawns I’ve ever had in my life they are absolutely amazing Steve as you can see man of a already North Atlantic prawns uh just want to point out that I’m actually drinking Coke Zero whereas the boys are on mini mini beers cheers cheers and that’s because we’ve got lot more work to do just look at that oh my God North Atlantic prawn [Music] unbelievable some Battle Ground no we definitely will miss [Music] [Music] one wow what a trail what a place what a day uh it is some place right CRA has delivered it has hasn’t it yeah uh it hasn’t gone unnoticed actually you’re on the RS bike and I’m on the S bike but then again different class of Rider I didn’t want to say it fair DS I think Hey listen so far I mean you are very much winning the battle right yeah are we not done oh we’re not done Christopher we’re not done [Music] wow Ricardo uh cintra has such amazing mountain bike trails and uh of of great diversity but question want to ask you is like what does it offer in terms of of food I mean I know pastor dinata and stuff but what what else has it got okay past denata is very traditional W one CRA we have our own pastries um the famous ones the cheesecake aada B of white cheese and cinnamon and the T we call it the pillow in English made I saw the pillow I saw made of almond the eggs most famous place is pita definitely where you a must people need to try uh about food we try to be very very authentic in in general way uh of course with the the evolution of Tourism the restaurants the concepts uh things are shifting uh in this place we try to be to be the most authentic this looks quite pretty authentic to me it is very authentic something that is not very common to people to do anymore they do it in the frying pan we still do it old school using Grappa and alcohol and uh we are very proud to use very authentic products at the moment 2025 we are less than inhabitants where 90 90 Yes W and 14 are my family so I was born and uh I was born in front of the Palace of the National Palace I still live behind it I love museums I love history but what is true culture it’s you it’s me well people it’s interesting is it because you got you’ve got the palace you’ve got the castle you’ve got the convent it’s so there’s so much kind of uh history in on on this hill just behind us everything is history I tell you what Ricardo hopefully we will return here later in the week and I will bring you something that we can put in this fantastic place I will you choose the spot where you want to put it my friend okay fantastic see you later in the week yeah thank you well Chris uh in True Battle fashion welcome to Tasco D in cintra Sinatra uh some jugs do you surrender is this the Last Stand never take me live so Steve dream was it a dream it so what have we out no can I stop you there can I stop you there well answer your question right uh it was often an illusion sometimes a delusion sometimes I felt like I was hallucinating sometimes it was nice to daydream with Maria down by the coast in that little bar was it a dream I think it was a dream I think like we all look for these I think it was very much like the Point Break is it called Point Break [Laughter] Reeves what do you think what’s what’s your thoughts I think there’s an absolute bang in there it’s had everything R uphill downhill rocks if I’m in the Rocks I’m having a good day and then we’ve got nice little stop like you say coffee treats food wine pot sausage with grapper flaming and you know what to recommend anybody to come to this place would you yes I would because it’s got like if on an e-man bike the secret is to have granite rocks which are like sandpaper which means you can ride it in the wet and in the dry right yeah and the thing as well you can be completely self-sufficient you don’t need any uplifts anything like that go out your door your hotel go out have yourself an amazing day finish up somewh good yeah so I I guess um I guess you guys want to know terms of the bikes 150 mil travel 29 in Wheels 800 wat hour batteries we did we did the whole route on One battery which was great insane amount better riding and uh Chris thanks so much thank you Steve for the continued effort in in this battle which is ongoing Cheers Cheers we let you the results White [Music] Flag that’s nice