Lanzarote Road Cycling

surfercyclist

North end of island have the Tabayesco climb up around Haria, I didn't do it but apparently a good climb, it's listed as a Cat 2. I went from La Santa down to Costa Teguise and back and also from La Santa down to El Golfo and back(different out and back routes though). The rides I did were hilly but not excessive, around 50 mile rides and 3000ft climbing but there is more there.

lostboysaint

sherer wrote:

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

As SC has said, all the proper climbing (with the exception of one) is in the north around Haria. From PDC that's a reasonable jaunt. The one that is easily doable from PDC is to go up to Femes, but you will spend a few K on LZ2 to get there unless you go inland first and then come back through La Geria and Uga to join the LZ702 climb. If you really want to test yourself go up from the Playa Blanca side - so go to Yaiza, La Hoya and then join the Las Brenas road. That's all really straightforward, but the last section up to Femes is a test.

lostboysaint

SurferCyclist wrote:

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.

Excellent. The pic I got was like something out of Mavericks.

sherer

lostboysaint wrote:

sherer wrote:

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

As SC has said, all the proper climbing (with the exception of one) is in the north around Haria. From PDC that's a reasonable jaunt. The one that is easily doable from PDC is to go up to Femes, but you will spend a few K on LZ2 to get there unless you go inland first and then come back through La Geria and Uga to join the LZ702 climb. If you really want to test yourself go up from the Playa Blanca side - so go to Yaiza, La Hoya and then join the Las Brenas road. That's all really straightforward, but the last section up to Femes is a test.

Ive done Femes from PDC, plan to do it from both sides this trip. Am training for the Etape so would prefer a climb of 10k or more but don't think you really get them on Lanzarote.

crescent

A loop from Playa Blanca out to Yaiza and then up to Femes would be a decent route, either uphill or into the wind all the way. I planned to do this in January but was short of time on the day so just went up the long drag up to Femes instead. The last section is ‘kin steep :shock: 8)

sherer

Femes both sides is on my list for this trip.. stayed in Playa Blanca before and the headwind going out killed me... coming back it was great though

garethm872

sherer wrote:

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

Here's a few route ideas with some climbs. We stayed in PDC. There's some longer climbs in the north of the island but they can still be done from PDC. Make sure you find the back road up to Tias - 2 mile steady climb that keeps you off the main road.

https://www.strava.com/activities/1391886741
https://www.strava.com/activities/1392885644
https://www.strava.com/activities/1397765588
https://www.strava.com/activities/1399315284
https://www.strava.com/activities/863715517
https://www.strava.com/activities/863715667

sherer

Thanks for those links.. looks like you taking one of the routes out of PDC that I used before..
great island to cycle on, locals are so polite to cars.. biggest issue will be getting my fitness levels up before I go

lostboysaint

Crescent wrote:

A loop from Playa Blanca out to Yaiza and then up to Femes would be a decent route, either uphill or into the wind all the way. I planned to do this in January but was short of time on the day so just went up the long drag up to Femes instead. The last section is ‘kin steep :shock: 8)

It's not as far as you think. We were on the southern slopes of Montana Roja and to do that loop was only 22 miles. If you want to do a few more miles then it's worth hanging a left at La Hoya and going round the salt flats (Janubio) and up the coast road towards El Golfo - then staying on the road back into the southern end of Yaiza. It's still a bit into the wind but no pain no gain.

surfercyclist

sherer - did you go to Lanzarote and if so how was it?

sherer

SurferCyclist wrote:

sherer - did you go to Lanzarote and if so how was it?

End of next month.. will post an update when I'm back

sherer

was there two weeks ago.. enjoyed it. but fitness levels weren't what they should be for this time of year so didn't do too many long rides. Wind was a nightmare 20mph plus most days so that stopped me enjoying it a lot. The drag out of PDC down to Puerto Calero and then up to the LZ-2 was a total nightmare every day. Fun coming back but into the headwind it wasn't much fun. Just mainly did a run from PDC up to Femes and back.. Did Asamoda two days which was pretty good but didn't have the legs or the time to go much further than that. Hopefully one year I will be there with no wind.

surfercyclist

Hmmm not so good then! It was definitely windy most days except one for me but sounds like you had worse. I may well be back next year as family really enjoyed the Club La Santa set up although from what I've read/heard Gran Canaria a better bet for a purely cycling trip as much less wind.

sherer

SurferCyclist wrote:

Hmmm not so good then! It was definitely windy most days except one for me but sounds like you had worse. I may well be back next year as family really enjoyed the Club La Santa set up although from what I've read/heard Gran Canaria a better bet for a purely cycling trip as much less wind.

I was PDC as rest of family wanted to stay there. GC was on my list of places to go but was out voted. Ive riden GC once and riding was great.. was less wind but I went in Sept and only rode a few days so not really fair to compare

sloppyschleckonds

GC is just as windy, more noticeable on some of the HC & Cat1 climbs because of the lack of trees/ vegetation. Great if its a tailwind.

surfercyclist

SloppySchleckonds wrote:

GC is just as windy, more noticeable on some of the HC & Cat1 climbs because of the lack of trees/ vegetation. Great if its a tailwind.

Not according to GCN and others who have cycled there but I'm sure there are windy days on all the Canary Islands. As it happens I've been to all others except GC so cannot confirm either way.

sloppyschleckonds

SurferCyclist wrote:

SloppySchleckonds wrote:

GC is just as windy, more noticeable on some of the HC & Cat1 climbs because of the lack of trees/ vegetation. Great if its a tailwind.

Not according to GCN and others who have cycled there but I'm sure there are windy days on all the Canary Islands. As it happens I've been to all others except GC so cannot confirm either way.

I use to live out there, and still go back twice a year, but yeah gcn and others

surfercyclist

SloppySchleckonds wrote:

SurferCyclist wrote:

SloppySchleckonds wrote:

GC is just as windy, more noticeable on some of the HC & Cat1 climbs because of the lack of trees/ vegetation. Great if its a tailwind.

Not according to GCN and others who have cycled there but I'm sure there are windy days on all the Canary Islands. As it happens I've been to all others except GC so cannot confirm either way.

I use to live out there, and still go back twice a year, but yeah gcn and others

No fair enough, I've not been there. Just repeating what I'd heard which was it is less windy than the other islands. As I previously stated, I'm sure it is windy there as well. Whether it actually is as bad/worse/better at any given time would need hard data rather than anecdotal evidence.