Canary Island Bike Hire

Bluestoesonnose

I prob have the wrong section but...

Due to reasons too boring to go into I've not had a holiday this year. However, things are panning out and I'm starting to see the wood for the trees. I like the idea of hiring a road (or mountain bike) on the Canary Islands for a week or so and just get some care free miles in. Any recommends on where to stay (small villa with pool) and who where to hire a bike from. Or if it comes to it a package cycling holiday, where we can just rock up and it's all waiting for us?

Cheers
Blues

kayakerchris

I have hired in tenerife a few times. There is a company based in las americas and El medano who are excellent. I am going to Gran canaria in a couple of weeks and have arranged to rent from a company just down the road from the hotel.

best piece of advice is take arm warmers and a gilet. Going up is warm. coming down where you are descending for 30-60 mins without a break and whilst sweaty can lead to significant wind chill!

monkimark

I hired a road and a mountain bike from a place called easy riders in correlejo in fuerteventura. The road bike was a specialised allez with 105, I forget what the mountain bike was but they had a selection of 26", 29", hardtails & full suspension - I think they even had a tandem.
I went in april/may and had no problem walking in and picking a bike. Rented a villa pretty cheaply as well.

Don't know what the weather is like now but it was hot when I went, a bit too hot for me actually - I was struggling on the road ride despite having a bottle and a camelbak (yes, I know) full of water, I was towed back into town by a bunch of friendly locals who took pity on me panting & sweating my way up a relatively shallow incline.

wheeledwidewebb

Google 'free motion'

I used them and they are top notch, wouldn't hesitate to use them again.

They do organised rides as well if you like and they are at the bottom of a hotel.

If you have particular tastes in energy products then take your own though, their stock is all from one supplier I seem to recall.

ddraver

If you re on Lanzarote, the obvious place to stay is Club La Santa, but that may be a bit overboard for you. There are several bike hire places there (I was there last week, ostensibly on a kitesurfing holiday but I did nt get a breath all week!)

All of the places looked much of a muchness really. I was recommended bike-planet.de who are in Costa Teguise and Playa Blanca (unfortunately, 2 of the least pleasant places on the island). Although the bikes were nt new or pretty, there were specced sensibly and (more importantly) very well maintained.

If youre there, make sure you have a spin through the Timanfaya National Park and also around the North of the Island which is simply beautiful, even if you re not a geology nerd like I am...

bigpikle

another vote for Freemotion on G Canaria. Great range of 'like new' Cannondale kit right across the range, in road and MTB stuff. Guided rides if different distances every day of the week as well and last time I looked they published all the routes on their website as well so you could do them by yourself. Mostly German run and friendly knowledgeable staff - watch out for the uber quick european mountain goats on the faster rides in winter though!

Bluestoesonnose

Many thanks for all the reply's and the tip about the arm warms and Gilet. I'm still getting my head round which island etc. But Free Motion seems a good bet IMO, so I may aim for something near them for my first time at doing this kind of thing.

Will I need to take pedals as I use the Shimano pedals and cleats?

Cheers
Blues

sherer

i've used Free Motion before and they ar great. Depends on what island you want to visit but I did some cycling in Lanzarote and Gran Canaria and preferred GC. Stay in Playa Del Ingles and you can use free motion. I'm sure if you drop them a mail they will let you swap the pedals over. They have a great range of bikes too from entry level to top end carbon for hire

rodgers73

Bluestoesonnose wrote:

Many thanks for all the reply's and the tip about the arm warms and Gilet. I'm still getting my head round which island etc. But Free Motion seems a good bet IMO, so I may aim for something near them for my first time at doing this kind of thing.

Will I need to take pedals as I use the Shimano pedals and cleats?

Cheers
Blues

Yes, take your pedals and cleats. Freemotion are a fantastic outfit. Hired from them intending to go out on my own but ended up spending the whole week riding with their guides. Great bikes, great service. Couldn't fault them.

Bluestoesonnose

Cheers