Cool Stuff to Do in Rio: Cycling

Rio is a wonderful place to pursue many athletic endeavors - from hang-gliding and diving to surfing and hiking the Tijuca National Forest.

One of my favorite things to do in Rio is to rent a bicycle and enjoy a leisurely tour of the Zona Sul on two wheels. Rio has about 75km of bike paths throughout the city.


Rio's weather, beaches and terrain make it a paradise for the sports-
minded (click any pic to enlarge)

You can rent a bike in many areas of the Zona Sul.

You may find a bike rental on the calçadão at post 2. You may find bikes on the median strip on Avenida Atlantica around post 5. There is also a bike shop that rents bikes on Avenida Prado Junior 330, at the north end of Copacabana.

Many of the bikes are just good enough to enjoy your journey and make it back to their rightful owner. They're typically a tribute to the Brazilian jeito-spirit and evidence of what can be done with a little ingenuity, bubble gum and duct tape.


A trip around Lagoa is an easy ride and provides lots of opportunities
to stop for refreshments at kiosks along the way

Favorite trips include a circuit of Lagoa, which is bordered by the neighborhoods of Leblon, Ipanema, Jardim Botanico and Gavea.

During the Christmas holidays, a gigantic Christmas Tree is lit up and perched over a floating platform that moves around the lagoon.

The Lagoa navigation is an easy one. My favorite trip takes quite awhile longer than circling Lagoa. And it includes the majority of the Zona Sul.


Looking north from Leblon, the bike path parallels the calçadão
(mosaic sidewalk) that runs between the ocean and the main avenue

I like to start at the southern tip of Leblon, where the calçadão begins and start pedaling north along the beach through Leblon and into Ipanema.


You can start in the distance at the foot of Two Brothers Mountain in Leblon and pedal past the Fasano Hotel in Ipanema (Fasano pool shown here)

I cut through Arpoador to Copacabana and ride along the beach the entire 2 1/2 miles of coastline to around Av Prado Junior.


If you need to rest, there are plenty of kiosks along the way to provide refreshments, like this one in Copacabana

Then it's away from the beach through the tunnel to Botafogo and past the Rio Sul Shopping Center.

Past the cutoff for Sugar Loaf and Urca and into the Botafogo Bay area provides spectacular views of Cristo and Sugar Loaf.


Sugar Loaf from the bike path around Botafogo Bay

Around the bay and toward Flamengo Parque, which stretches for a couple miles. Flamengo Park has beaches, a skateboard park, basketball courts, soccer fields, museums, kiosks, beach vendors and lots more.


There are tons of distractions while biking in Rio so watch
what you're doing or pull over!

I usually stop here for a relaxing break as it's already been about 6 miles from where I started in Leblon.

North of Flamengo Park is Gloria Marina and then you're getting close to Santos Dumont Airport, which is Rio's downtown airport for domestic flights.


Clearly-marked bike trails are laid out throughout
the Zona Sul from Leblon all the way up to Centro

Then, it's either time to turn around or head off into the streets of Gloria, Santa Teresa and Centro.


Remember, you're doing this to have fun - Lance Armstrong
doesn't have to know

There are clearly-marked bike lanes throughout the entire route and very little worry about traffic, other than a street crossing near Urca.

On Sundays, the main roads are closed to traffic from Leblon to Ipanema and from Copacabana to Leme. And Flamengo Park is also closed to traffic on Sundays. But watch out for pedestrians - they're everywhere.


Biking is a great way to explore the Zona Sul area of Rio de Janeiro

Have a good breakfast, bring lots of water and you'll have a lot of fun exploring Rio by bike.

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