Gran Canaria Recommended Cycling Routes

dazz_ni45

I am off to Gran Canaria staying in Puerto Mogan at the end of October for a family holiday and have hired a bike for 3 days.

I will grab a map from Freemotion when I get there, but I would like to have a few routes preplanned and loaded on the Garmin before I go so does anyone have any recommendations of routes close to Puerto Mogan or garmin/strava files they don't mind sharing?

I am probably going to do two longish routes (4-6 hours) and one shortish/easier route (2-3 hours) in the middle day.

Thanks

drlodge

The serenity route is a must, something like the 20-35 mile section of this https://ridewithgps.com/routes/6079272 You can return via the GC505...which is a trip in itself like this https://ridewithgps.com/routes/6079150

You probably don't have time to get to the summit but that first route above, returning via Ayacata/GC60 is a good loop.

pblakeney

You could try creating your own using this as a guide -
http://marmot-tours.co.uk/tours/classic ... n-canaria/

shamrock134

I'm off to GC over Christmas.

I'd like to attempt The Valley of the Tears.

kingstongraham

https://www.strava.com/activities/439170941 5 and a bit hours for me from Puerto Mogan. Lovely.

If I go again, I'd look to go west around the coast, up VOTT and back down serenity through Mogan into Puerto Mogan

dazz_ni45

Thanks everyone

bilsea159

Having cycled on the Island a fair bit i recommend the following routes. The first one is an ideal route along the coastal road and is great for gently getting used to the feel for the roads and temperature, i started is Meloneros and returned from Mogan. The second routes are longer and I used them from the freemotion recommended rides.

www.strava.com/activities/355119185
www.strava.com/activities/561900888
www.strava.com/activities/563950502
www.strava.com/activities/565037878
www.strava.com/activities/561241195

sloppyschleckonds

Personal opinion of course, but i'd do everything to avoid that coast road, there are much nicer roads.
Motobikers being dicks, constant coaches/ buses and exposure to the wind do not make that a nice ride.

drlodge

SloppySchleckonds wrote:

Personal opinion of course, but i'd do everything to avoid that coast road, there are much nicer roads.
Motobikers being dicks, constant coaches/ buses and exposure to the wind do not make that a nice ride.

I both agree and disagree with that...there are only so many roads in Gran Canaria and whilst that coast road is not the nicest, it is pretty much the only way to get from Maspalomas to Puerto De Mogan or vice versa, without going a very long way round.

It is also quite hard to find a decent route that is not too long e.g. 40 miles or so especially one that doesn't involve that coastal road at some point.

kingstongraham

drlodge wrote:

SloppySchleckonds wrote:

Personal opinion of course, but i'd do everything to avoid that coast road, there are much nicer roads.
Motobikers being dicks, constant coaches/ buses and exposure to the wind do not make that a nice ride.

I both agree and disagree with that...there are only so many roads in Gran Canaria and whilst that coast road is not the nicest, it is pretty much the only way to get from Maspalomas to Puerto De Mogan or vice versa, without going a very long way round.

It is also quite hard to find a decent route that is not too long e.g. 40 miles or so especially one that doesn't involve that coastal road at some point.

Or to put it another way, there's only really 4 ways back into Puerto Mogan. One down from the hills, one motorway, and one coast road each way. Only way to avoid it are out and back routes or only head west. Which is admittedly a nicer coast road but rules out a lot of nice riding.

drlodge

Yep. If I were staying in Puerto De Mogan, then this is the loop I'd mostly be doing unless I had some extra hours to continue to Ayacata. Mid ride stop at the small café at Soria, can obviously be done the other way too i.e. descending the Serenity section but the climb up the GC505 is quite steep in places.

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/16614965

sloppyschleckonds

drlodge wrote:

Yep. If I were staying in Puerto De Mogan, then this is the loop I'd mostly be doing unless I had some extra hours to continue to Ayacata. Mid ride stop at the small café at Soria, can obviously be done the other way too i.e. descending the Serenity section but the climb up the GC505 is quite steep in places.

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/16614965

GC in general is very steep in most places

LegBurn

As a Grancanarian I can confirm. Rode the Ingenio to Pico de las Nieves climb last week and there were sections I could only clear by mashing on the lowest gear at 50 some rpm, the infamous valley of the tears doesn't hold a candle compared to it unless you take the Juncal/Carrizal de Tejeda variant instead of the Acusa one by turning right a bit after the second dam hairpins rigt before the tunnel, now that's a section that will really make you cry.

If you are renting a bike and are not super fit and conditioned or love to suffer I suggest you to get one with the lowest gearing possible, I've witnessed some tourists huffing and puffing up some climbs obviously regretting the decission they made by renting the bike they were riding.

drlodge

LegBurn wrote:

As a Grancanarian I can confirm. Rode the Ingenio to Pico de las Nieves climb last week and there were sections I could only clear by mashing on the lowest gear at 50 some rpm, the infamous valley of the tears doesn't hold a candle compared to it unless you take the Juncal/Carrizal de Tejeda variant instead of the Acusa one by turning right a bit after the second dam hairpins rigt before the tunnel, now that's a section that will really make you cry.

If you are renting a bike and are not super fit and conditioned or love to suffer I suggest you to get one with the lowest gearing possible, I've witnessed some tourists huffing and puffing up some climbs obviously regretting the decission they made by renting the bike they were riding.

I was about to post that the Gran Canaria climbs are not actually that steep The two you listed: Ingenio to Pico de las Nieves, and VoTT via Carrizal de Tejeda are the two very steep climbs that I'm aware of and for that reason have not attempted them. The only place that stopped me on a 34x32 geared Synapse was ascending the GC600 just out of Ayacata, a combination of a steeper section, the heat and having been climbing for 3 hours was just too much and I had to put a foot down.

So I would say there are a small number of very steep climbs that should be attempted with extreme caution, however the majority of roads are not that steep (7-8 %) but they do go on a for a very very long time. Pico de las Nieves via Ayacata took me about 4 hours.

dazz_ni45

Thanks everyone, lots of options.

Hire bike (synapse) has a compact with a 32 on the back and I do like the steep stuff, although it is probably the length of the climbs and heat (compared to Ireland!) that will cause the problems. With only having 3 days on the bike I want to make sure I get the most out of it.

DavidJB

No easy days in GC

shamrock134

It can't be worse than Hardknott Pass right?

drlodge

shamrock134 wrote:

It can't be worse than Hardknott Pass right?

Hardknott Pass isn't 4 hours in bottom gear in 30 degree heat.

shamrock134

drlodge wrote:

shamrock134 wrote:

It can't be worse than Hardknott Pass right?

Hardknott Pass isn't 4 hours in bottom gear in 30 degree heat.

4 hours climbing? :shock:

I'm going at the end of December so hopefully it won't be 30C!

drlodge

Yep...4 hours more or less. Its 30 miles from coast to summit @ 2000m, 7-8% and as there's a noticeable "dip" about 1/4 the way up, total climb is nearer 2,400m I think. 2 or 3 stops for me before getting to the top!!

https://www.strava.com/segments/5537532

kingstongraham

I only did the first 20 miles (up to Ayacata) when I went, took me about 2 hours. There's a nice man selling water and fruit halfway up.

In December, be aware that even when it is sunny in Puerto Mogan (it never rains in Puerto Mogan), it can be miserable up the hills. We drove up one day and it was about 6 degrees, raining and windy at Ayacata. Next day I went up on my bike and it was beautiful. Got caught up by some Sky/Wiggins riders and they said it was the first dry day up there for a week.

dazz_ni45

Just back from GC and had 3 good days on the bike. Thanks for all the advice on routes.

sloppyschleckonds

dazz_ni45 wrote:

Just back from GC and had 3 good days on the bike. Thanks for all the advice on routes.

Any notable climbs?

doug5_10

Slight hi-jack, as I'm planning my first cycling getaway to GC in January. A combined beer and beach holiday with some family away for 7 nights, will hire from Free motion for 5 days. Question on hire times: do you just have to drop your bike back to the shop before close of business on your final day (and pick up as early as possible on your 1st day to make most use of your time)? Planning on getting in Soria, Serenity and up to Pico de las Nieves plus a couple of shorter days. Think no amount of hill reps between now and Jan would get me up VOTT by the sounds of it!

bilsea159

There is no problem returning the bike as late as possible on the last day and Freemotion do open quite late. On the first day you will need your passport to hire the bike and the admin takes about 10 minutes. Just make sure you have your pedals with you for them to fit, and know your size of bike and saddle height to get on your way ASAP. You can rent from two locations about 4 miles apart, one in Playa de Inglis at Sandy Beach Hotel the other in Meloneros near the Lopesan Hotels I think they open at 9AM. It might be worth doing the rides that they organise as they give you a feel for the Island, and then do your own rides if you want. See my rides on page one of this thread to get some idea of what you can do. I found a coastal out and back 35 mile ride form my hotel and a couple of longer 60 mile rides if you have more time

LegBurn

I'm glad everyone is enjoying their rides down here, the scorching summer has gone and I'm not riskig a heat stroke every time I go for a ride.

This weekend I was climbing from San Fernando towards San Bartolome through Fataga just to find the road closed at Fataga without any previous warning, no sign, no nothig but at the gate that closed the road. It wasn't nice climbing up there just to find I couldn't go any further and had to go back the road.

Apparently there was a car race that no one was kind enough to announce, I was politely told to piss off by the nice policeman that was standing there.

Same thing happened a while ago at San Barolome/Tunte towards Ayacata, road closed, screw you, not my buisness, have a nice day lycra clad faggot.

If you notice caravans at the edge of the road, an unusual amount of EVO style cars and reckless drivers along your way you may found an unpleasant surprise at some point.

Also be warned that the road from La Aldea towards Agaete is closed because of rock slides until further notice. The Guayadeque climb is also closed due to illegal campers, I don't know if they let bikes pass but knowing how dumb authorities can get down here I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't.

drlodge

Freemotion will supply pedals (look/shimano) and will measure you for seat height and fit. Suggest you pay for rent of lights as they are required if riding through any tunnel, and used to be rechargeable with mini-usb lead (not micro usb as used in phones, mini is the same as my garmin). They also have a free locker facility (EUR 10 deposit) which is very handy.

shamrock134

Less than 6 weeks until I'm off to GC!

I'm staying near Play del Ingles and have booked a Supersix Evo with Di2 from Freemotion. Need to look at plotting myself some GPXs soon! Thanks for any tips and route recommendations so far.

sloppyschleckonds

shamrock134 wrote:

I'm staying near Play del Ingles

Or as it is generally referred to, the gay friendly capital of Europe.

scott_w1987

Going to GC on the 5th of December for a week, hired a supersix from freemotion. There are quite a few of us and I'm hoping to get in some epic rides and hopefully rejuvenate the tan lines a little.

There's some good info in this thread. I've just got a Garmin 820 so finally have proper navigation when going abroad. Will look into some of the routes posted earlier and put them forward to the group and see what everyone thinks.

scott_w1987

Just back from our week long trip - service from freemotion was good, I ride Cannondale anyway so it suited me to hire for 6 days rather than take my own bike. Weather was absolutely fantastic, already looking at going back next December just to get away for a week. Riding was good, but you always get stuck for new routes if you've got some form of time restraints or an indecisive group. I'm sure there's loads of alternative routes once you get into the hills and explore a little or have more knowledge of the island.

Favourite loop of the trip was Playa de Ingles - Soria - Tauro - Ayacata - San Bartolome - GC60 back.

I attempted to do the VOTT loop in the big ring the whole way, no idea why, but just a challenge I set myself before leaving. Eventually failed on the second last straight of the steep section at the tunnel junction. The valley of tears wasn't actually as hard as I was expecting and I far preferred that loop to just riding straight up to Pico and back down.


Here's my 5 days on the bike

https://www.strava.com/athletes/613071