Family holiday in Gran Caneria

2

Comments

  • MikeBrew
    MikeBrew Posts: 814
    Posh hotels aren't ideal for bike holidays. Clanking across the polished marble foyer floor in your cleats, then taking the lift to the 5th floor with a dusty bike and sweat dripping from inch of you, isn't the best. Single level accommodation where you get back and can sit outside in your smelly kit and have an immediate post ride, pre shower cool drink, is more conducive to a more relaxing post and pre ride experience.
    This is a great complex, stayed here several times : http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/bungalo ... al;ucfs=1&

    As long as one of the 3 of you is OK with the bed settee downstairs.
  • drlodge
    drlodge Posts: 4,826
    MikeBrew wrote:
    Posh hotels aren't ideal for bike holidays. Clanking across the polished marble foyer floor in your cleats, then taking the lift to the 5th floor with a dusty bike and sweat dripping from inch of you, isn't the best. Single level accommodation where you get back and can sit outside in your smelly kit and have an immediate post ride, pre shower cool drink, is more conducive to a more relaxing post and pre ride experience.
    This is a great complex, stayed here several times : http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/bungalo ... al;ucfs=1&

    As long as one of the 3 of you is OK with the bed settee downstairs.

    The Melia Tamarindos hotel was good in this respect as you can go in/out via the rear entrance/pool area and the lifts take you from your room floor straight down to the lower ground floor and outside. Then we you get back, just rest by the pool and have a cool drink.
    WyndyMilla Massive Attack | Rourke 953 | Condor Italia 531 Pro | Boardman CX Pro | DT Swiss RR440 Tubeless Wheels
    Find me on Strava
  • bilsea159
    bilsea159 Posts: 256
    I have used Lopesan Baobab in Meloneras Twice now with my bike, it's a five star hotel and I have no problem storing my bike box and bike in my room and because of good access and lifts have no problem moving the bike around. It is about 5 km away from Freemotion's Sandy Beach Centre which is the main base for the organised bike rides, however there is also a shop 300 metres from this hotel where you can hire bikes from. My advice if you have not cycled here before is do a couple of the Freemotion group rides to learn some routes and then go off on you own. Ideally stay at Maspolomas as Puerta Megan, Amadores, Purto Rico are a little bit further away from the Facilities of Freemotion, Here are the main routes I did on my recent visit the longest ones I did with Freemotion Group rides, they charge 20 euros for the rides excluding Bikes, from the shop at the Sandy beach Hotel.

    https://www.strava.com/activities/572522369
    https://www.strava.com/activities/560185611
    https://www.strava.com/activities/561241195
    https://www.strava.com/activities/562993232
  • dazz_ni45
    dazz_ni45 Posts: 468
    All booked up for Puerto Mogan as it suited us better as a family but now going at the end of October instead of Christmas. Just need to get bike hire sorted with Freemotion and hopefully will do a few of their group rides and then plan a few rides myself.

    Does anyone know if Freemotion's group rides also leave from Puerto Mogan or will I need to make my way over to Playa Del Ingles?
  • banditvic
    banditvic Posts: 549
    It will be easier to do the VOTT from Mogan, that's one mother of a climb.
  • drlodge
    drlodge Posts: 4,826
    banditvic wrote:
    It will be slightly less impossible to do the VOTT from Mogan, that's one mother of a climb.

    FTFY
    WyndyMilla Massive Attack | Rourke 953 | Condor Italia 531 Pro | Boardman CX Pro | DT Swiss RR440 Tubeless Wheels
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  • banditvic
    banditvic Posts: 549
    Thanks for that drlodge that's what I should have written.
    Did the climb in Feb, blew up couldn't eat ran out of water excuses excuses you get the picture.
    Will return with dinner plate sized cassette, as the German at the bottom of the climb informed me to do.
  • MikeBrew
    MikeBrew Posts: 814
    Don't know what all the fuss is about :twisted: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLQnrz_FD_0
  • bilsea159
    bilsea159 Posts: 256
    I am afraid Freemotion only ride out from Sandy Beach Playa De Ingles so not at all close to where you are staying. It is about half an hours taxi journey or 15 miles cycling along the GC-500 costal road which you can see on one of my Strava rides.
  • ilovegrace
    ilovegrace Posts: 677
    MikeBrew wrote:
    Don't know what all the fuss is about :twisted: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLQnrz_FD_0
    ?
    regards
    ILG
  • drlodge
    drlodge Posts: 4,826
    Its a video of the Valley of the Tears ascent in Gran Canaria, a most difficult climb. However the guy riding is clearly a bit of a pu$$y as he stops a few times.

    One day I might try it, non-stop of course.
    WyndyMilla Massive Attack | Rourke 953 | Condor Italia 531 Pro | Boardman CX Pro | DT Swiss RR440 Tubeless Wheels
    Find me on Strava
  • MikeBrew
    MikeBrew Posts: 814
    drlodge wrote:
    Its a video of the Valley of the Tears ascent in Gran Canaria, a most difficult climb. However the guy riding is clearly a bit of a pu$$y as he stops a few times.

    One day I might try it, non-stop of course.
    To be fair he's pushing some pretty good watts most of the time. Missed the bits where he stops - rider perspective cycling videos can be soooo boring :D
  • dazz_ni45
    dazz_ni45 Posts: 468
    It looks pretty brutal. Training starts now lol
  • MikeBrew
    MikeBrew Posts: 814
    dazz_ni45 wrote:
    It looks pretty brutal. Training starts now lol


    Weighing slightly less that a [dry]fart is the only way that that climb is ever going to be easy(or do mean "even vaguely do-able" ? ) :P
  • drlodge
    drlodge Posts: 4,826
    The climb to the summit via GC-120/130 is also fairly brutal, think I would try this one first before the VOTT
    WyndyMilla Massive Attack | Rourke 953 | Condor Italia 531 Pro | Boardman CX Pro | DT Swiss RR440 Tubeless Wheels
    Find me on Strava
  • ducknumber1
    ducknumber1 Posts: 1,172
    To jump in on the bandwagon on this thread, I'm planning on hiring a bike for a few days while I'm in Puerto Rico in July.

    As this will be first time doing this sort of thing, are hotels generally ok with keeping the bike in your room?
  • banditvic
    banditvic Posts: 549
    Most hotels are used to bikes so shouldn't be a problem.
    If your going in July heat is going to be your main problem, along the coast is ok but as you climb so will the temperature, mid to high thirty's so take some white jerseys and salt tablets.
  • bilsea159
    bilsea159 Posts: 256
    Try and ride early in the morning as by Mid day it will be hot especially if you climb inland
  • sloppyschleckonds
    sloppyschleckonds Posts: 8,019
    MikeBrew wrote:
    dazz_ni45 wrote:
    It looks pretty brutal. Training starts now lol


    Weighing slightly less that a [dry]fart is the only way that that climb is ever going to be easy(or do mean "even vaguely do-able" ? ) :P

    Have you ridden GC Mike?
    I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles
  • kingstongraham
    kingstongraham Posts: 28,170
    dazz_ni45 wrote:
    All booked up for Puerto Mogan as it suited us better as a family but now going at the end of October instead of Christmas. Just need to get bike hire sorted with Freemotion and hopefully will do a few of their group rides and then plan a few rides myself.

    Does anyone know if Freemotion's group rides also leave from Puerto Mogan or will I need to make my way over to Playa Del Ingles?

    We went in November last year, and one day it was really cold and rainy in the hills, next day it was beautiful. The weather both days in Mogan was the same - warm and sunny. You might want to decide whether to stay near the coast on a day by day basis rather than going with the planned rides.

    You staying in the Cordial?
  • thefog
    thefog Posts: 197
    bilsea159 wrote:
    I have used Lopesan Baobab in Meloneras Twice now with my bike, it's a five star hotel and I have no problem storing my bike box and bike in my room and because of good access and lifts have no problem moving the bike around. It is about 5 km away from Freemotion's Sandy Beach Centre which is the main base for the organised bike rides, however there is also a shop 300 metres from this hotel where you can hire bikes from. My advice if you have not cycled here before is do a couple of the Freemotion group rides to learn some routes and then go off on you own. Ideally stay at Maspolomas as Puerta Megan, Amadores, Purto Rico are a little bit further away from the Facilities of Freemotion, Here are the main routes I did on my recent visit the longest ones I did with Freemotion Group rides, they charge 20 euros for the rides excluding Bikes, from the shop at the Sandy beach Hotel.

    https://www.strava.com/activities/572522369
    https://www.strava.com/activities/560185611
    https://www.strava.com/activities/561241195
    https://www.strava.com/activities/562993232

    I've just returned from a week at the Lopesan Villa del Conde. Excellent hotel, though perhaps not the family (child) orientated complex that the Baobab is reported to be, but very good standard (Conde Nast recommended). Anyway, didn't go biking myself but visited fee emotion in Meloneras for a future visit. during the week one hotel guest (as it happens a local to me York Clifton rider) was often out and the hotel let him lock his bike in an building in the complex, rather than the room. I suspect it's commonly done.
  • ilovegrace
    ilovegrace Posts: 677
    *UPDATE*
    After a lot of googling my daughter (Grace) came up with this place http://www.hotelesdunas.com/es/hotel-du ... as-resort/
    It is close to a Freemotion centre and the rides recommended here on the forum (Many thanks chaps).
    I have another question , I do not use garmin /strava etc , when on holiday in Majorca I bought a "cycling in Majorca " type map.
    Does anyone have any recommendations links I can look at ?
    Just need to hire the bike now .
    regards
    ILG
  • MikeBrew
    MikeBrew Posts: 814
    FreeMotion, sell a laminated map with their routes on for about 6 euros.
  • ilovegrace
    ilovegrace Posts: 677
    MikeBrew wrote:
    FreeMotion, sell a laminated map with their routes on for about 6 euros.
    Top man
    many thanks
    ILG
  • First.Aspect
    First.Aspect Posts: 17,219
    drlodge wrote:
    Its a video of the Valley of the Tears ascent in Gran Canaria, a most difficult climb. However the guy riding is clearly a bit of a pu$$y as he stops a few times.

    One day I might try it, non-stop of course.
    The VOTT was the most painful thing I've ever done on a bike. Bearing in mind that I generally get in the top 10-15% of Strava times on big climbs if I put my mind to it, I can safely say that this one is hell. The ave gradient is misleading because there are a couple of downhills, so when you are climbing, its generally 10-12%, except at the start which is 20%+. There's just nowhere that you can sit in and get into a rhythm. Its like the sharp climbs you get on Dartmoor, only 4 1/2 times as long with a shitty road surface and some goats.

    I did not make the top 10% on this climb. About a 1/3 of the way down, but I think its self-selecting because most sensible people will take one look at the first couple of km and assess that a rope and crampons are required. That's what I'm telling myself anyway.
  • ilovegrace
    ilovegrace Posts: 677
    First Aspect wrote:
    drlodge wrote:
    Its a video of the Valley of the Tears ascent in Gran Canaria, a most difficult climb. However the guy riding is clearly a bit of a pu$$y as he stops a few times.

    One day I might try it, non-stop of course.
    The VOTT was the most painful thing I've ever done on a bike. Bearing in mind that I generally get in the top 10-15% of Strava times on big climbs if I put my mind to it, I can safely say that this one is hell. The ave gradient is misleading because there are a couple of downhills, so when you are climbing, its generally 10-12%, except at the start which is 20%+. There's just nowhere that you can sit in and get into a rhythm. Its like the sharp climbs you get on Dartmoor, only 4 1/2 times as long with a sh!tty road surface and some goats.

    I did not make the top 10% on this climb. About a 1/3 of the way down, but I think its self-selecting because most sensible people will take one look at the first couple of km and assess that a rope and crampons are required. That's what I'm telling myself anyway.
    Is this do able from Maspalomas ?
    What sort of distance are we talking about for a round or there and back trip ?
    regards
    ILG
  • banditvic
    banditvic Posts: 549
    Its a 78 mile circuit from Maspolomas I did it in February and its a killer. Met a couple of Germans just by the reservoir where you turn onto the steep bit, they looked at my 28 rear sprocket and said probably too small and I could go with them, but was probably an extra 12km. I said to them that I was going to climb it as it was quite a journey just to get to this point.
    Within three switchbacks I was stopping, I was on and off the bike for the next five miles it was hell, didn't take any gels with me and just couldn't eat and was concerned about running out of fluid, nothing about on this climb .
    With hindsight I would have stopped at the village before the climb for food and should have hired a Synapse which comes with a 32 rear sprocket.
  • kingstongraham
    kingstongraham Posts: 28,170
    ilovegrace wrote:
    First Aspect wrote:
    drlodge wrote:
    Its a video of the Valley of the Tears ascent in Gran Canaria, a most difficult climb. However the guy riding is clearly a bit of a pu$$y as he stops a few times.

    One day I might try it, non-stop of course.
    The VOTT was the most painful thing I've ever done on a bike. Bearing in mind that I generally get in the top 10-15% of Strava times on big climbs if I put my mind to it, I can safely say that this one is hell. The ave gradient is misleading because there are a couple of downhills, so when you are climbing, its generally 10-12%, except at the start which is 20%+. There's just nowhere that you can sit in and get into a rhythm. Its like the sharp climbs you get on Dartmoor, only 4 1/2 times as long with a sh!tty road surface and some goats.

    I did not make the top 10% on this climb. About a 1/3 of the way down, but I think its self-selecting because most sensible people will take one look at the first couple of km and assess that a rope and crampons are required. That's what I'm telling myself anyway.
    Is this do able from Maspalomas ?
    What sort of distance are we talking about for a round or there and back trip ?
    regards
    ILG

    Would be a long day out, but would be a round trip. Round the coast past mogan, then further round, up the VOTT, and back down past Fataga. Beautiful but brutal.
  • First.Aspect
    First.Aspect Posts: 17,219
    Yes, I'd agree with all of this. I think I was about 40 miles and 1000m of climbing in when I got to the VOTT. I felt good for about the first 1km.

    All is not lost, though. I didn't ride it (car only), but there is a fabulous road up from Mogan, not so far from Maspalomas. Easily more picturesque than the VOTT. Good surface and a pretty bonkers road in its own right.
  • jdee84
    jdee84 Posts: 291
    should gc be avoided for cycling in the summer? are there any cycling b and b type places or cycling friendly hotels?

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