1. Who We Are

Velopod ("we", "us", "our") is a smart cycling hub and community platform based in the Algarve, Portugal. We connect cyclists with curated businesses, routes, events, rides, and fellow riders across the region and beyond. Our Services include our website at velopod.cc, our community platform, and any associated applications (collectively, the "Services").

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2. Accepting These Terms

By accessing or using any part of our Services, you confirm that you have read, understood and agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree, please stop using our Services immediately. We may update these Terms from time to time to reflect changes in how we operate or in applicable law. We will notify you of material changes via email or in-app notice. Continued use of the Services after any update constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms.

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3. Eligibility

You must be at least 16 years old to use our Services. By registering an account, you confirm that:

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• You are at least 16 years of age (or the minimum age required in your country, if higher)

• You have the legal capacity to enter into a binding agreement

• All information you provide to us is accurate, current and complete

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4. Your Account

When you create a Velopod account, you are responsible for:

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• Keeping your login credentials confidential and secure

• All activity that occurs under your account

• Notifying us immediately via our CONTACT FORM if you suspect any unauthorized access

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You may only hold one account. You may not impersonate another person, register on behalf of someone else without their consent, or create an account if we have previously suspended or banned you.

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5. Using Our Services

We grant you a personal, non-transferable, non-exclusive licence to use the Services in accordance with these Terms. This licence is for personal, non-commercial use only unless you have entered a separate commercial agreement with us.​ You agree not to:

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• Break any applicable law or encourage unlawful activity

• Post content that is false, misleading, defamatory, offensive, obscene or discriminatory

• Harass, threaten, or abuse other users or Velopod staff

• Infringe the intellectual property rights of Velopod or any third party

• Use the Services to send spam, unsolicited messages, or phishing attempts

• Attempt to reverse-engineer, hack, scrape, or otherwise disrupt the platform

• Organize or promote rides or activities that present a safety risk to others

• Transfer your account or licence to any other person

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You are solely responsible for all content you submit, post or upload to our Services and warrant that it is accurate, lawful and does not infringe any third-party rights.

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6. The PODs System

Velopod organizes businesses, services and professionals into curated groups called PODs (e.g. bike shops, rental services, coffee stops, guides). These are:

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• Curated and enriched by our cycling community over time

• Subject to change as businesses evolve, close, or become community favourites

• Not personal endorsements by Velopod of any individual business listed

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If you are a business listed in a POD, you are responsible for ensuring your information is accurate and up to date. Contact us via our CONTACT FORM to update or remove a listing.

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7. Cycling Rides & Events

Velopod facilitates the discovery and organization of cycling rides, tours and events. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, Velopod is not the organizer of any ride or event listed on the platform. As a participant, you acknowledge that:

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• Cycling carries inherent risks of injury, accident and property damage

• Participation in any ride or event found through Velopod is entirely at your own risk

• You are responsible for your own physical fitness, equipment safety, and compliance with local traffic laws and regulations

• You should wear appropriate safety equipment at all times, including a helmet

• Velopod is not a medical or fitness advisory service — consult a physician before undertaking strenuous activity

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As an event organizer, by listing a ride or event on Velopod, you agree that:

• All information provided about the event is accurate and complete

• You are responsible for the safe management and conduct of the event

• You will comply with all applicable laws and regulations, including any permits required

• You will clearly communicate any risks, requirements or restrictions to participants

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Velopod accepts no liability for injury, accident, property damage, event cancellations, or any loss arising from participation in or organization of any ride or event listed through the platform, to the fullest extent permitted by law.

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8. User-Generated Content & Routes

When you share rides, routes, photos, reviews, posts or comments ("User Content") on Velopod:

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• You retain full ownership of your User Content

• You grant Velopod a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide licence to display, share and promote that content within the Services and in our marketing (with appropriate credit)

• You confirm the content is accurate and does not infringe any third-party rights

• You can delete your User Content at any time, though copies may persist briefly in backups

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Users acknowledge that cycling infrastructure, road surfaces, and trail conditions are dynamic and subject to rapid change due to weather, construction, or local government action. GPS data and route descriptions are provided for 'informational purposes' only. You agree that you are responsible for real-time situational awareness and must obey all 'No Entry' or 'Private Property' signs, even if a digital route suggests otherwise.

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9. Partner Businesses & Discounts

Velopod may feature offers, discounts or promotions from cycling businesses and partners ("Partner Offers"). These are provided as a community benefit and:

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• Velopod does not guarantee or endorse any Partner Offer

• All transactions are between you and the relevant business directly

• The partner's own terms and conditions apply to any purchase or booking

• Velopod is not liable for any issues arising from partner transactions

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While Velopod does not endorse Partner Businesses, we strive to maintain a high-quality ecosystem. If a Partner Business fails to honour a listed promotion or provides a service that falls significantly below community standards, users are encouraged to report this via our CONTACT FORM. Velopod reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to investigate reports and remove any business or Partner Offer from the platform to protect the community's integrity.

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10. Pod Leaders & Community Contributors

Pod Leaders and Community Contributors are independent volunteers and cycling enthusiasts; they are not employees, agents, or authorized representatives of Velopod. While we curate these contributors based on their passion for the region, any advice, route suggestions, or commentary provided by a Pod Leader is their own personal opinion. Velopod does not supervise their activities and assumes no liability for any actions taken or information shared by Pod Leaders, who agree to:

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• Represent the Velopod community with integrity and respect

• Provide accurate, unbiased information about businesses and routes

• Comply with any separate Pod Leader agreement provided by Velopod

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Velopod reserves the right to revoke Pod Leader status at any time.

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11. Third-Party Services & Integrations

Our platform may link to or integrate with third-party services (e.g. Strava, Komoot, Luma, Google Maps). These services:

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• Are governed by their own terms and privacy policies

• Are not controlled by or affiliated with Velopod

• May change or become unavailable without notice

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Velopod is not responsible for the content, accuracy, availability or practices of any third-party service.

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12. Intellectual Property

All content, branding, design, software and technology that forms part of the Velopod platform (excluding User Content) is owned by or licensed to Velopod and protected by EU and Portuguese intellectual property law. You may not copy, reproduce, distribute or create derivative works without our express written permission.

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13. Network & Technical Availability

Our Services depend on factors outside our control — including your internet connection, device hardware, and third-party infrastructure. While we will do everything reasonably possible to maintain the platform, we are not liable for any unavailability caused by factors beyond our reasonable control, including network outages, device failures, or third-party service disruptions.

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14. Payments & Subscriptions

Where Velopod offers paid features, premium listings, or subscriptions:

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• All prices are in Euros (€), inclusive of applicable Portuguese VAT

• Payments are processed securely — we do not store your card details

• Subscription fees are billed in advance

• You may cancel at any time; cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing period

• Refunds are subject to applicable EU consumer law

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15. Disclaimer of Warranties

Our Services are provided "as is" and "as available". To the maximum extent permitted by EU and Portuguese law, Velopod makes no warranties — express or implied — regarding the accuracy, reliability, completeness or fitness for purpose of the Services or any content within them.

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16. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by Portuguese and EU law, Velopod shall not be liable for indirect, incidental, or consequential damages, loss of data, loss of revenue, or any loss arising from cycling activities discovered through the platform.

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Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, fraud, or any liability that cannot lawfully be excluded under EU consumer law.

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17. Termination

You may delete your account at any time via account settings or contact us via our CONTACT FORM. We may suspend or terminate your access at any time if you breach these Terms. For serious breaches — such as causing harm to other users or interfering with platform operation — we may terminate immediately without notice. Upon termination, your licence to use the Services ends, and you are not entitled to a refund of any fees paid.

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In accordance with EU GDPR, you have the right to data portability. Prior to closing your account, you may request a copy of your User Content in a machine-readable format. Upon account deletion, we will remove your personal data from our active databases within 30 days, except where retention is required by law or for legitimate backup purposes as outlined in our Privacy Policy.

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18. Transferring This Agreement

We may transfer our rights and obligations under these Terms to another business, for example, in the case of a merger or acquisition. We will notify you if this happens. You may not transfer your rights under these Terms to anyone else without our prior written consent.

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19. Governing Law & Disputes

These Terms are governed by the laws of Portugal and applicable European Union regulations. Any disputes shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of Portugal, without prejudice to any mandatory consumer protections you are entitled to under the laws of your country of residence. EU users also have access to the EU Online Dispute Resolution platform: https://ec.europa.eu/consumers/odr

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20. Contact

For any questions about these Terms:

📧 CONTACT US