Lanzarote Road Cycling

FatTed

Is the road cycling in Lanzarote any good? I'm looking for some quite roads with some mountain training?
I have some relatives there I would like to visit. Thanks for any help.

CumbrianMan

Ted
have a look at my answer on this thread:-
viewtopic.php?f=40007&t=12679558&p=15942276&hilit=cumbrianman+lanzarote#p15942276

Cheers
Alan

FatTed

Thanks
is the wind that bad?
I searched for Lanzarote but nothing came up

ShavenLegs

The wind can be pretty strong. I was there about 4 years ago and I remember getting sandblasted going over an open plain and having to ride at a 45 degree angle to stay upright. Roads are pretty good and the weather is consistently warm without being unbearably hot. It's not a huge Island so I'd reckon you'd get about 3-4 days of riding before you start recovering a lot of the routes again.

maringirl

Winds are usually much lighter in November/December!

sherer

did it about 6-7 years ago and got blown up a hill the wind was that bad. Good riding if there is no wind though. Prefer Gran Canaria for riding as the terrain and roads were in better condition

TomBruce

Have a look at the Ironman Lanzarote route. Looks great.

kevinr24

Well if you're still wondering (or if anyone else is), take a look at this link to my blog from a week's cycling there in the last week of November.

http://richardsonkevin.wordpress.com

I go fairly regularly in autumn/winter/early spring so that should give you a good idea about how good it is!

claudb

The previous posts really say it all. Lanzarote is just about perfect for cycling - except for the wind !!
I am now resident in PDC so can just go out running if the wind is too bad but cycling at all on the worst windy days is not for the faint hearted !!! I would emphasise though that the wind really is the ONLY downside to cycling here. The routes available within the relatively small dimensions of the island are surprisingly varied and interesting. The roads are pretty quiet away from the area aound the airport and behind PDC. It is not like Tenerife where you will climb for 3 hours then descend for 1 - Lanzarote has no very high mountains, it just goes up and down constantly. Road surfaces are variable and have, for me, detioriated over the 20 years since I first came here. There are many good surfaces, but many are getting quite poor. What has changed more than anything in recent years is the number of good bike shops on the island. The "Concept Store" idea has emerged with a modern "BH" shop in PDC (Los Pocillos) and Specialised in the capital Arrecife. Also in Arrecife are TriBike (Cannondale) and VadeBici (Trek). There is one, also, in Costa Teguise which, I think is Scott (not certain). There are also a variety of smaller bike/hire shops e.g. Evolution in Costa Teguise and Revolution in PDC. You will not be alone here on the bike in Lanza, People riding bikes are a common sight, whether Triathletes or Cyclists, and other road users are well used to, and very accommodating, of either. Although I live in PDC I'd still say that CT is the best base for cycling but the main reason for cycling here is the simple fact that temperatures rarely fall below 20 C during the day. I do not own a long sleeve jersey or tights, I am in shorts and short sleeves all year round !!!

sherer

having done both Gran Canaria and Lanzarote I have to say I prefer GC for cycling. It's just as quiet but there is no wind. You can climb up to 2000 metres or just go over rolling countryside like you can in Lanzarote.

I am a very lightweight cyclist so think that may be affecting my judgement, when I was in Lanzarote I still had arm warmers to stop the wind cooling me down.

Not tried Tenerife yet so that is next on the list

banditvic

GC every time for me, great climate superb climbs and great Bike hire fom Freemotion. Lanzarote was ok and Tenerife was just too much climbing and I like hills.

jibberjim

claudb wrote:

Although I live in PDC I'd still say that CT is the best base for cycling but the main reason for cycling here is the simple fact that temperatures rarely fall below 20 C during the day. I do not own a long sleeve jersey or tights, I am in shorts and short sleeves all year round !!!

Why is CT better than PdC - CT has always turned me off because there's only 2 routes out of town (3 with Arrecife, but that's a pain) whereas out of PdC there's 6 or 7 at least.

claudb

jibberjim wrote:

claudb wrote:

Although I live in PDC I'd still say that CT is the best base for cycling but the main reason for cycling here is the simple fact that temperatures rarely fall below 20 C during the day. I do not own a long sleeve jersey or tights, I am in shorts and short sleeves all year round !!!

Why is CT better than PdC - CT has always turned me off because there's only 2 routes out of town (3 with Arrecife, but that's a pain) whereas out of PdC there's 6 or 7 at least.

Much less traffic !!
I really only see the following routes out of PDC -
Down to Puerto Calero and up to the LZ2
Up to Macher and over the LZ2
Up to Tias (main road and also the camino which the Ironman comes down)

Yes, you could use the "Cycle Path" along the front and past the airport to Playa Honda and on to Arrecife (and I sometimes do) dodging people on skateboards, kids on scooters, pedestrians etc, and once onto the new cycle path in Arrecife stops it's not too desirable either - not impossible, but easy to get lost and sometimes very busy.
I try to avoid the LZ2 as much as possible.

I have to say, also, that I have rarely found anyone who has disagreed that CT is a better base, but it's down to personal choice at the end of the day. Even amongst tourists in general there has always been strength of feeling as to which of the 3 big resorts are the best for holidays, never mind cycling.

jibberjim

claudb wrote:

I really only see the following routes out of PDC -
Down to Puerto Calero and up to the LZ2
Up to Macher and over the LZ2
Up to Tias (main road and also the camino which the Ironman comes down)

Yes, there are only 4 routes to the LZ2, but you're there within 5km, but then once you get to the LZ2 you have 5+ routes up the hill, aswell as along the LZ2 itself of course, and within 10km you have more options again of different roads. So 30minutes of riding for PdC you only would've that first bit more than once.

From CT, 30 minute options are just the dump road or the same way out and then up through tahiche, or the LZ1 / towards Tesequite/tabayesco aren't they? Are there any loops less than 60km other than teseguite / tahice that don't have you going out and back the same road?

claudb

Jim. I don't mind using the same road.
I can also go round and round on a track.

jibberjim

claudb wrote:

Jim. I don't mind using the same road.
I can also go round and round on a track.

I was just trying to see if it was an option, I'm not wedded to PdC at all.

boydster76

I am out there at least once a year as my father in law lives in Maguez (just north of Haria and on the Ironman route). I usually go in Oct/Nov.

99% of the roads are great for cycling, the 1% that have not been relayed in the last x years are terrible but are easily avoided. The wind can be strong and pretty relentless at times but I would never say that it is bad enough to put me/anyone off going out there.

I'm fortunate to have free accommodation away from the touristy areas but I would definitely recommend trying to look outside of the usual CT, PdC areas if you can. There are several smaller towns with a nice local feel that are well connected and mean you can avoid being surrounded by Brits!

kevinr24

I'm a regular in Lanzarote - generally going once or twice each winter for a week of riding in the sun.

There's nowhere warmer in Europe (it still counts!) or within four hours flying. Once you get used to the wind and accept that if you're very unlucky you'll get days with gusts of up to 80kmh (and that gets seriously scary) it's fantastic.

I went over New Year and if you want to get an idea of the varying terrain, views and virtually traffic-free roads feel free to take a look at the pictures and short videos on my blog - https://richardsonkevin.wordpress.com. There are more in earlier posts.

FatTed

I spent a few days in CT it was great, I really liked the ride up to the switchbacks via Tabayesco. But the winds can be seriously scary. I really was visiting relatives, I would not chose to go there for cycling, the winds are too much. I hired my bike from Mandy & Dominic at Revolution Bikes, top service.

southdownswolf

Four of us are looking at going to the Canaries next January for a few days cycling, two of the guys really want to Lanzarote, whilst I would prefer to go to GC. Are the winds really bad around end Jan/ beginning Feb? I've not been to any of the islands, so no bias, whereas the two that want to go to Lanzarote have been there before, albeit not for cycling. As we will only be there for 5 days, I can see that it will be easy enough to find different routes each day, but GC does have some bigger climbs..... :-)

sherer

I've done both GC in Sept and Lanzarote in March. I much preferred GC for the riding as the wind was less, but that may just have been a seasonal thing.

I'm off to Lanzarote this March and will be hiring a bike to do some riding. Last time I did find it colder with such a strong head wind. Will try and live with it.

I'm tagging onto a family holiday, if I was just going for cycling I would do GC though

southdownswolf

Not too worried about the heat/cold aspect, more the being blown all over the road. Even with not much traffic, it does not sound like fun.
We are having a curry night a week on Monday to discuss where and when we are going, so I might have to print off a few things to lean it towards GC :-)

Looked at a few villas in Lanzarote, surprisingly cheap for even a decent villa. Will have a look around GC to see what prices are like there.

sherer

I did get blown up a hill once !!

Both islands are good i'd wait for advice from others I had a very good week in GC with little to no wind but that may just have been luck. Would do GC again and will find out in a month how good Lanzarote is now.

Both have very quiet roads, found the road surface to be better on GC though

giantarmy

Does anyone know if both ranges of the ability spectrum would be catered for out in Lanza and whether there are organized rides at all? Whilst i'm happy with doing my own thing in tough terrain, i'm hoping to take the GF out there who would be looking at shorter routes, ideally with a few. going sometime in March hopefully.
thanks in advance

sherer

giantarmy wrote:

Does anyone know if both ranges of the ability spectrum would be catered for out in Lanza and whether there are organized rides at all? Whilst i'm happy with doing my own thing in tough terrain, i'm hoping to take the GF out there who would be looking at shorter routes, ideally with a few. going sometime in March hopefully.
thanks in advance

I think La Santa do some organised rides but not sure if they are open to people who aren't staying on their complex.

sherer

got back a few weeks ago as have to say they are going through their worst winter in 20 years. Very cold at times and 20 mph plus winds, always seemed to be a cross wind or into your face so never much help. Rained so hard one day I couldn't see where I was going.

Ride up to Femes from PDC is a very good work out though

plymouthsteve

Papagayo bike in playa blanca to rental and tours too.
Rented a couple of days in April from them.
best rides of my life.
good bikes and friendly service. Unlike the rental shop on costa blanca spain who insist on you travelling with your own helmet and pedals.

surfercyclist

Right, this is a 3 year old thread but I've just come back from Lanzarote so will add my thoughts if it's any help to others thinking of going. I stayed at Club La Santa which is NW on the island. A full on Olympic standard sports place, top athletes, teams stay there for winter training plus us other plebs. Anyway, hired a bike from there - Cannondale SUPERSIX carbon. Cost was 98euros for a week so good price I reckon. I was on a family holiday rather than a full on cycling holiday so only rode 4 days.
I would say 99% of roads are great, smooth tarmac with virtually no potholes. Other road users very good with cyclists, locals especially patient inc lorries, buses etc. Very unlike the UK! As it happens the one and only time some clown beeped at me for no reason he had tattoos and was in a hire car so draw your own conclusions. Weather was fantastic, warm sunshine all day. However, as has been mentioned previously the wind can be a killer. It wasn't mental when I was there but certainly blew at 20-25mph at times. As I was staying in the N and the wind tends to be predominantly from the N it was a challenge to do rides with a tailwind home. Had a couple of rides where I had a 15 mile slog into headwind which wasn't fun BUT doing so wearing just bib shorts and short sleeve jersey certainly helped! If I was on purely a cycling holiday I'd probably stay somewhere in south of island so could do a decent route with nice tailwind home(usually, as it happens this week the wind is S). As it was staying at La Santa was brilliant(done it loads of times before), tons of stuff for wife and kids to do plus as I surf I was ideally placed. As a bonus also away from chavs in tourist areas...

So, to recap I really recommend it. Only downside is potential for strong relentless winds but otherwise a great place.

lostboysaint

Great post and a very good summary my own views on cycling on Lanzarote. I'm back there in Sept. I tend to stay at the south of the island (Playa Blanca) which means downhill/downwind all the way home and a proper slog out but other than that you're bang on! Traffic is very, very respectful.

Did they show you the pics from the swell two weeks ago? Some of the guys I know out there reckon it was one of the biggest they've seen. A few excellent pics kicking around.

surfercyclist

A big swell hit on Friday 16th Feb, I rode in morning then surfed in afternoon. Surf noticeably busier there these days from previous years but still able to get waves if you time it right.

sherer

going again in April \ May time. Does anyone know if there are any long climbs on the island ? I'm staying in PDC and know around there it's more lumpy rather than long climbs