A Cyclist’s Life in Tenerife (Canary Islands)

For 2012 we have some new full-carbon road bikes with more on the way! First to arrive is a small Carbon Pro road model and large-sized nanolight.

Tags: News Reel, Sales Pitch // 1 Comment »

I’m pleased to announce that we have a new delivery van this season. It’s a Renault Trafic 2900 dci 150, long wheelbase version with 150 horsepower. This is a stock image, but with any luck we’ll get the stickers on it soon and be able to take some real photos.

For those interested, it’s much more comfortable than the small Ford Transit connect that it replaces. It has ample space & power. The only two gripes are that the lower panoramic mirrors aren’t adjustable and that the steering wheel isn’t adjustable for height either (only reach). Despite this, I come home feeling refreshed even if I’ve driven for more than 4-6 hours per day. Insurance premiums actually went down for this van.

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It all started when I was in the local hardware store (Leroy Merlin) the other day, feeling rather bored. I love walking in there as it opens up so many possibilities for new projects. I’m the type of guy that always has to be occupied doing something, be it maintaining, modifiying existing components so they perform better than they did in their original state, or inventing something completely new.

Anyway, I walked down a new aisle called “alternative energy”. I was quickly impressed by how easy it looked to hook up all the energy & controller modules. I soon walked out of there with a 2W “solar battery charger” - better than nothing I thought, while I do some research on the other systems offered. I got home, promptly connected the solar charger to my motorcycle’s flat battery. My 8 year old neice in law had no idea what this new device was, further solidifying my belief that it was good to be emitting these new green vibes. I had it sitting there in the late afternoon for a few hours and it had still not generated enough juice to start the motor! Just a few turns of the starter motor was all I got. Somewhat disappointed, but thinking: for €24.95, what did I really expect? That’s a pretty lame foray into the world of solar.

Somewhat miffed, I just reminded myself that “more power” is the obvious way to go with solar panels. So I went back to Leroy Merlin the next day and sized up the different options. There were solar panels of all sizes, rigid, flexible, long and short. Even though there wasn’t much there to choose from, I walked away, scared by it all. Not just because of the initial cost, but the stigma attached to it all. Mulling it all over, I wondered: what are people going to think of someone who is paying €360 for a pair of 14W photovoltaic arrays? Aren’t I going to look like a dickhead, when a lot of the appliances I use are well over 500W? I hesitated and procrastinated so much, the security guys were starting to take notice! I looped around the store and got a basket and some other things first.

Then I noticed people wandering around, half of them lost, the remainder buying up all this stuff (with some restraint due to the financial crisis here in Spain). Who knows whether they really needed it or not. Meanwhile, I was facing some kind of reality shock. See, when I was in my early twenties, I decided my goal in life was to have a “minimum impact on the environment”. And here I am, a decade later, not doing anything even remotely green. Okay, for sure I turn off all the lights whenever possible (and there are no tungsten bulbs anywhere in my house or car), but so what? That’s the least you can do. Otherwise, you’re a bit of a moron, right?

My aim for this project was to light the back of my new van so that when I deliver a bike in the dark, there is ample light to do any adjustments, change pedals, etc. Street light is pretty feeble and it just doesn’t look like a very professional setup when you can’t even show people the best bike routes on a map because it’s too dark. The plan is to install some flexible solar panels on van’s roof, where there’s plenty of stray light already going to waste (reflections, heat and whatnot). I am also planning to at least recharge my mobile phone, laptop, credit card reader and possibly a few other devices like my cordless drill, etc. At least it’s a start. Because it’s modular, I can always add to the system - I’ve calculated that the roof of the Renault Trafic will fit up to 6 solar panels, giving a total power generation of 84W. That’s something to look forward to. If it all goes well, eventually we’ll get the desktop computer off the grid too.

“In just one hour,
the Sun transmits more energy
to the surface of the Earth
than what humanity consumes in one year”

This was my moment of self truth. A little fatter now than I used to be and about to commit to this new diesel van for work purposes, I felt environmentally obliged to invest in something good for the planet for once. Like someone was watching over me, something akin to the Truman show (how long does it take this member of society to buck the trend; we’ve made it so accesible for him?). Can I really afford four or five hundred Euros? Not really. Can I afford not to do it? No freakin’ way! (more…)

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It’s been two years in development and now we can finally release our newest product, Vertebrae Anubis. This is a slimline black ceramic gear housing for campagnolo 11 speed ergolevers. Of course its lighter, sleeker, more expensive than the original Vertebrae and most importantly, no modifications are necessary to the ergolevers. Here’s what it looks like assembled.

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Hi

I’m interested in a cycling holiday in Tenerife in early January, and will probably be using your rental service.

At this point, may I ask whether you organise group rides? I prefer riding with others, but doubt I can persuade any friends to come with me.

(by the way, I think your site is great. Very professional, well written, well laid out, etc. Well done.)
cheers,

Sam

Hello Sam,

For now it isn’t feasible for us (me) to offer guided group rides. We did offer them in the past but they weren’t that successful due to the following factors:

* Even small groups would split up bigtime wherever any climbing was concerned.
* Lack of fitness of participants.
* Lack of fitness of the guide! Take this to mean it was simply too difficult to maintain a full-time growing business andan almost pro like level of fitness for the faster clientele (regardless of whether there were potential clients or not).
* Full time training was a major physical exertion compared to the earnings (sometimes only 20-30€ per day).
* Whenever I was out riding, the time available to do the required admin, bike maintenance, emails, marketing, etc was reduced.
* Then finally there’s the old liability thing which rears its ugly head, being the group leader you are essentially responsible for the safety of the group.
* All this info lead my tax advisor to advise me not to do the rides anymore.

The best thing is to book early and you will obviously get the best selection of bikes. We can always help you with the best routes to follow, etc.

Look forward to hearing from you!

-Leslie

Tenerife-Training.net | Pro bike hire
www.vertebr.ae | Precision braking & shifting

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Dear Sir/Madam

I am planning a holiday in Tenerife later this year and I would like to do some cycling. I can cycle but I would like to improve my confidence and ability in a relatively safe environment.

Thanks

Ade

Hello,

Great! What would you like to know?
Tenerife is a safe enough place for cycling regarding other road traffic… nevertheless, there are certain roads to avoid because of high levels of traffic or poor quality road surfaces. Quieter mountain roads are better than coastal routes.

Also, most accidents we have seen are due to rider error (going down around corners too fast and mixing up front/rear brakes for example). Tenerife is also not the best place to learn with clipless pedals due to the abundance of hill starts. The flattest road for beginner cyclists is between Granadilla de Abona and Güimar which undulates along road TF28.

Hope this is of some help.

-Leslie

Tags: Ride the Volcano!, Learning Curve, The Bike Guru // Add Comment »

Here is a nice route via Guía de Isora, Chio and Arguayo, leaving from Abama.

The Masca route via Tamaimo and Santiago del Teide, also leaving from Abama. Return via Buenavista del Norte, Garachico, El Tanque & Erjos. Note the location of the start of the El Tanque climb.

A much shorter loop maybe for the first/last day or else a “recovery ride”.

You can also travel up the road directly opposite Abama and then link up with TF465. They’re not connected on google maps, but with a bicycle you can do it.

Tags: Ride the Volcano!, The Bike Guru // 1 Comment »

Here’s a unique map we recently found hidden on the Cabildo website. It’s a traffic density map of Tenerife showing the average number of cars per day on each road (numbers marked in bold). The red figures indicate the percentage of “heavy vehicles” (I expect that means ones weighing in greater than 3,500 kg MMA (maximum authorised mass). It’s in pdf format and can be downloaded by clicking on the thumbnail image to the left…

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With just over 2 months notice, I’d like to annouce that we’ll be closed from 08/06/2011 to 18/07/2011. This means bike hire and guided rides won’t be possible during that time. Of course the website will continue to function and I’ll administer it while I’m away. Throughout the June July period we’ll also still be able to answer emails and take advanced bike reservations for the 2011 Summer & Autumn seasons. All current bookings for this period will be respected (currently there’s only one so Chiqui will take care of that).

The pro bike hire service will resume as normal after that date. We are of course happy to take bookings now for the remainder of July, as well as August, September, October, November and December 2011.

Happy cycling!
Leslie

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For those of you thinking about renting a car in Tenerife, I think it’s a great idea. If you’re a cyclist wanting to make the most of your cycling holiday, or just a casual tourist, hiring a car allows you the freedom to go wherever you and want, whenever you want. It’s surprisingly cheap to rent a car here too! Before you go ahead, I do have a few recommendations as far as local driving culture is concerned…

The roads on Tenerife are something else. Even though everything is well signposted, driving here isn’t what you’d call ‘easy’. In fact, the word “extreme” comes to mind, because there are almost no flat or straight roads here. Now, with that in mind, know that local drivers are accustomed to driving on these roads over and over and over again, hence most of them get a tremendous amount of practice driving on this little island. See where I’m going with this…? (more…)

Tags: Island Life, Mental Anguish // 1 Comment »

Hello, I would like to rent a bike for three days, but have still a few questions in mind:

1. what if e.g. one week before my renting starts there is a rain forecast for my rental days, is there a possibility to change days or cancel without cost - what’s your policy on this?
2. my current bike has a sloping frame (Specialized Roubaix) size 56. Virtual top tube length 56,5cm (+11cm stem) and effective seat tube 56cm. Would you have the 56cm Pro-Lite Cumeo Rival or Ultegra available?
3. Ok to change my own saddle on the bike?
4. would there be any open group rides organized that I could join?

Hello,

To answer your questions:

1) Most people do not cancel due to the weather. Will your airline or hotel refund your holiday because of rain? It is just a case of luck with the weather. If you don’t want to commit & reserve a bike, you will almost
certainly miss out during christmas time.

2) We only have a 56cm Pro Lite bike available on the 12th & 13th of December, for 2 days (shimano ultegra, compact cranks). Otherwise if you want a bike for three days, there is a 58cm leader 730R road bike
available…

3) Yes that is definitely okay. You can attach any of your own equipment to the bikes. GPS, make handlebar adjustments, etc.

4) We have stopped doing group rides and focus on bike hire. The best thing is to contact a bike club, or have a look at Tags: The Bike Guru // 2 Comments »

Hi Leslie,

Around 3 years ago you gave me invaluable info for my journey to Tenerife…this year I’m again heading to Playa Amaricas with my family…

Im doing3 routes…

I’m going up to Satiago Del Teide…then down to Masca…onto Buena Vista Norte then up the hairpins at Garachico and back over the Erjos Pass back to Santiago Del Teide and back through Chip to Las amaricas…I’ve done this in reverse the last time (swine of a climb out of Masca) so know I can get water in stretegic places..

I’m also doing Teide from San Miguel…up through Granadillo and onto the TF21 up to Vilaflor…to Boca Tauce…

Water is the thing thats worrying me…Will I get water in the Las Canadas Crater at the cable car?

My 3rd outing is the most worrying….

Im gonna get dropped off at Guimar by Taxi…then onto Arafo and up the TF523 to Teide…I’ll be heading passed Azana through the Las Canadas crater back down thru Vilaflor to Las Americas…water is worrying me! Will I get water at El Portillo?….is there nowhere else to refuel between Arafo and El Portillo?…its pretty worring me…especially in August heat…

Any help you can offer would be truly appreciated..

Many thanks,

Richard

Hello Richard,

Yep, I’m pretty sure I remember you, from bikeradar forums, right? To answer your questions:

Looks like you know what you’re doing with the Erjos/Masca loop… like you say, it is a difficult one if you do it in reverse!

> Water is the thing thats worrying me…Will I get water in the Las Canadas Crater at the cable car?

Yes you can get water at the base of the cable car; I’m pretty sure there is a restaurant there but I never take much notice as I always bypass it. Before you reach that, you will arrive at a small hotel with restaurant & café called “El Parador”. That’s a few kilometres (1 or 2?) before the base of Mt. Teide.

You can also get water in Vilaflor on the way up- that’s the last reliable water source before reaching El Parador.

> Im gonna get dropped off at Guimar by Taxi…then onto Arafo and up the TF523 to Teide…I’ll be heading passed Azana through the Las Canadas crater back down thru Vilaflor to Las Americas…water is worrying me! Will I get water at El Portillo?….is there nowhere else to refuel between Arafo and El Portillo?…its pretty worring me…especially in August heat…

That sounds like a great route and I think you will be rewarded in planning it!

You will definitely get water in both Arafo and then in El Portillo. A few kilometres past El Portillo there are two more restaurant-cafés either side of the road. Then you’ll go past El Parador again (th emost expensive of the lot). Besides those three places (and maybe the base of Mt Teide), you won’t find anywhere else that I’m aware of to refuel between Arafo & Vilaflor. There is one place along road TF24 somewhere but I can’t remember if it’s after the Arafo junction or not… I’ve just tried in vain to find out but I’ve already spent a good 20 minutes searching with no results. It’s like a lodge log cabin thing and I’m pretty sure it’s
closer to La Esperanza.

I would make sure you bring two 750ml bottles (Decathlon even sell 1L versions) or else do like we do in OZ and get a camelback and/or two bottles which hang off the back of your seat like you see in the triathlons…

Currently in Australia (Sydney) on a business trip for vertebrae components so I’m not around to make any phonecalls for you regarding the location of that other unknown restaurant, etc. won’t be back until mid-August & I’m looking forward to tackling all those roads once again…

One more thing: There’s another log-cabin style bar at the top of the climb coming out of Vilaflor [called “Las Lajas”]. It’s on the left, just at the crest of the climb, pretty much right below the treeline. If you start veering to the right and then back down left and down into Boca Tauce (a 200m descent), you’ve past it. I’m not sure of the opening times and it is $$$.

Hope that helps,

Thanks,
Leslie

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Good evening,

I’m a keen mountain biker and road cyclist and wish to get some rides in while visiting Tenerife. Was planning on being there in Oct and Dec, will the weather be good enough for the rides you mention on your website?

Also if are the mountain bike trails easy to follow if I was to cycle alone?

Many thanks,

James Young

Hello,

Yes, the weather will be cooler obviously but still rideable. In fact the December-April period is our busiest time - most of our clients who rent bikes come down from Northern Europe to cycle here then & escape their own Winter.

It will be colder up the mountain, so you will likely need arm & leg warmers. It’s a good idea to bring a thin windshell jacket + gloves for the December visit too! Check out our Weather & info page for more info about the climate…

The mountain trails are not all that easy to follow as they aren’t really marked. But all you really have to do is point your bike downhill in the direction of the sea, and you can’t go too far wrong.

The best map is the Kompass 233, available here.

On the road it is completely different - all roads are clearly signposted with a TF designation.
Hope this helps.

Thanks,
Leslie

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There are many apartments and villas in Tenerife - needless to say- but not all of them are what they say they are. So after 5 years of delivering bikes all over Tenerife and having seen a lot of different properties ourselves in the flesh, we decided to write this list of what we consider as the best apartments, rural houses & private villas. We’ve included links as some of these places are not easy to find online otherwise. Here’s the link to the top ten hotels in Tenerife.

1. Villa Preciosa

This is without a doubt one of the most exclusive villas in Tenerife and also has a long heritage. Villa Preciosa has recently been totally renovated and the attention to detail is amazing. Here you can relax in your very own private bar, pool (heated if you desire), and surrounds. Even the bathrooms exude luxury!

2. Casa La Abejera

The owner is your typical Mr Fixit, so everything works. It’s a very cute little house which has a charming rustic theme. Worth mentioning that the owners are into recycling & ecological gardening.

3. Casablanca Apartments

consistently has the highest tripadvisor ratings of any property in Tenerife, regardless of location or status.

4. Masaru Apartments

One of the best modern hotel/apartments in the Puerto de la Cruz zone. Also has a great kitchen and bar, so in that sense it’s more like a hotel.

5. Jardin de la Paz

This place probably has the best vantage point on the island, located atop a true 300m cliff with views out over neighbouring island La Palma and the Atlantic ocean.

6. Villa Caya An authentic rural house located in an ideal spot for cycle-training in the North of Tenerife.
7. Aparthotel Riu Adeje Although it seems a little fake, it’s still one of the best apartments in Las Americas (it’s usually resort hotel accommodation in Las Americas) - NOTE: now called “Family Isabel”
8. Playa de las Roques

Located in a very secluded spot in La Romantica, Los Relejos; nevertheless, it’s right on the coast and is a great place to stay if you’re looking for peace and quiet.

9. Villa Caya An authentic rural house located in an ideal spot for cycle-training in the North of Tenerife.
10. Hollywood Mirage

Located in Los Cristianos, it’s just like the website shows…

11. Apartamentos Villa Mandi

Also located in Los Cristianos, it is clean and well-maintained.

Tags: Island Life, That's Business, Inspiration., The Bike Guru // 1 Comment »

We’ve become quite fond of our our official delivery van since getting it late last year. It’s a 2004 Ford Transit connect, with a 1.8L turbo diesel engine delivering 75ps. This is an ex-rental van from Molina rentacar. We have since fixed up the interior a bit and added the Pro Bike Hire signwriting and then not long after, the name “Molly” stuck. We’ve tried out a number of similar small vans like the Citroen berlingo and VW caddy, but they are just not as practical as the transit connect.

Unfortunately, about six weeks ago, Molly’s engine exploded. Here’s basically what happened: The day before, we heard an unusual sound coming from the engine bay. We stopped as soon as we could and checked the engine temperature & oil level, both seemingly ok, but the sound grew worse as we came home. The very next day, we had another delivery to do in the South of Tenerife. In hindsight, we shouldn’t have taken the van that day, we should’ve taken it straight to the mechanics. But we assumed it was the fanbelt and that another hundred kilometres or so wouldn’t be detrimental. (more…)

Tags: News Reel, That's Business, Sales Pitch // 2 Comments »

There has been an “Extreme wind risk” issued by the spanish medioambiente site for Tenerife on Monday the 29th of November 2010. I.e. tomorrow!

There are also simultaneous “rain” and “coastal” risk alerts. The maximum gust of wind is predicted to be 170 km/h, with a 40%-70% probability. So yes, this is a serious weather alert folks…

There are three (four?) alert levels:

No Risk  Risk  Important Risk  Extreme Risk.

It’s normal for there to be a few sub-tropical storms in the Canary Islands, especially at the start of Winter. This happens when snow is dumped on the peak of Mt Teide. The main danger for all road users are gale force winds, which can cause trees, branches and rocks to fall onto the road surface or vehicles themselves. The chances of this provoking other accidents is greater than normal, due to reduced visibility around blind corners, etc. Cars, trucks and buses may then swerve to avoid obstacles. Therefore, it’s highly reccommended that you don’t cycle at this time, especially above 1000 masl where the wind level is always esculated.

Last year a whole bunch of pine trees (hundreds!) fell down in the area called “chanajiga” in the North of Tenerife. That landscape is still scarred today by strong winds such as these. Anyway, the good news for tourists is that the weather forecast for Tuesday is much improved, with just the “rain” risk currently in place.

Tags: Island Life, News Reel, Ride the Volcano!, The Bike Guru // Add Comment »

This is just a quick note to say that apart from other green measures we are taking, it’s worth noting that the Tenerife Training website is also hosted by a green server. What the hell does that mean? Well, it means that the people who host all our files use wind energy instead of energy derived from oil or nuclear sources. In simple terms, it means that when other people see our website, the information that we provide 24 hours a day to the world is accessed through the use of green energy.

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We’ve been to enough hotels in the past 5 years to know which ones stand out above the rest. Here’s the link to the top ten villas & apartments in Tenerife.

Rather than list all the hotels that we don’t recommend, here’s my personal list of favourite places to stay on the island:

1. Gran Hotel Bahia del Duque Resort. For me it’s like entering fairytale land where everything is perfect. Time and time again, they’ve proven to me that they know how to run a hotel with unrivaled professionalism.
2. Abama Golf and Spa Resort. It’s an isolated hotel on located right by the coast, surrounded by banana plantations. Every time I arrive at Abama they offer a good welcome. The decor is classy without going over the top.
3. Barcelo Santiago. This is a spot which probably takes the record for repeat clients; guests keep coming back here year after year. It’s a small, cosy resort located in Los Gigantes. It’s quite affordable & has a great buffet breakfast. Not to be confused with Barcelo Varadero in Puerto Santiago.
4. Hotel Alhambra. This is a small hotel located close to the old town of La Orotava. Every room is different and the hotel itself is quite unique.
5. Roca Nivaria. A cut above the majority of resorts in Las Americas. This one is located in Playa Paraíso.
6. La Quinta Roja, a cosy, understated hotel in the charming old seaside port town called Garachico.
7. Hotel Gran Melia Palacio de Isora. This is renowned as the top hotel in Tenerife, but personally I’d rather stay at Abama or El Duque.
8. Hotel Riu Garoe. A newly constructed resort in Puerto de la Cruz. This hotel has effectively managed to push Hotel Botannico off this top ten list, because the facilities are newer.
9. Europe Villa Cortés. Possibly the best hotel to choose if you’re looking to stay in the heart of Las Americas.
10. Hotel El Nogal. A beautiful rustic hotel in a quiet spot in La Escalona, not far from Vilafor.
11. Hotel Rural El Patio. This is where we jokingly say we’d like to retire to… like an estate house.

Tags: Island Life, The Bike Guru // 1 Comment »

Hi,

Very informative website you have.

Planning a road cycling trip in France, Spain and Canaries for Aug/Sept 2011.
We are 3 couples who are serious riders, who have ridden most all the Cols of note in France, the last couple of years.

For the best cycling experience for one week in the Canaries, would you have any recommendations on where (city/island) to stay for the best cycling?

Appreciate any advice you might have for us.

Best Regards,
Larry

Hello,

It’s really hard for me to say what are the best locations to stay. I think you would be very limited by spending only 1 week in the whole Canary Islands. It might be best to choose two islands at most.

Here is my list of “top 10 climbs in Tenerife”. Depending on what you are seeking out, you can choose your location based on that…

Personally, as far as Tenerife is concerned, I wouldn’t miss the main climbs to Mt Teide (all but the western approach), Masca & Anaga. La Gomera is a great little island I’ve always been meaning to explore by bike. I’m sure La Palma and Gran Canaria also have some rides which are not to be missed…

Thanks,
Leslie

www.Tenerife-Training.net | Pro bike hire
www.vertebr.ae | Precision braking & shifting

+34 922 578 623 (home/office)
+34 605 56 2020 (mobile)
+34 622 22 7262 (mobile 2)

Tags: The Bike Guru // Add Comment »

This giant rider snatches the record for our tallest client to date by just 1cm; Jurgen van Oorschot of the Netherlands, measures an incredible 204cm tall (6′8″). He sure towered above me! The previous record holder stood 203cm tall.

Tags: Ride the Volcano! // Add Comment »

…I have small hands and a quite weak grip, so please make sure that the brakes of the bike grips good and that the break levers run easy with no effort!
Otherwise i will not make it down the mounatins!…

Hello,

Yes we have just the bike for you!
It is a 48cm Vitus shuffle ladies bike just been built up a few days ago, photo attached.

It features a compact crankset (in small size 165mm with 34/50T chainrings), low-range cassette (12-27t), full carbon fork, 10 speed components.

The good thing about this bike is that it has narrow, compact reach handlebars, and we have also reduced the reach of the levers for small hands (they’re the new carbon ultegra shifters). Possibly the best thing about this bike is that we have equipped it with our own brand of compressionless cable housing called “vertebrae”, so although the brake levers don’t have much travel, you definitely won’t run out of brakes. (normally f you reduce the reach of brake levers, they will hit the handlebars when you apply them hard)

The brakes are also very easy to apply, because all your hand force goes into working the brake calipers, not compressing the brake lines… have a look at our link below for further info…

We can also mount a short (50mm) stem, ladies saddle and zero-setback seatpost if you prefer.

I’ve reserved this bike for you over your requested dates… total price is 85 Euros including delivery & all necessary equipment. The small merida is also available & will have an upgraded compact crankset, but the Vitus is a much nicer bike, especially with the brakes & gears…

Very much looking forward to your reply,

Thanks very much,
Leslie

www.Tenerife-Training.net | Pro bike hire
www.vertebr.ae | Precision braking & shifting

+34 922 578 623 (home/office)
+34 605 56 2020 (mobile)
+34 622 22 7262 (mobile 2)

Tags: Learning Curve, The Bike Guru // Add Comment »

Hallo,

mein Freund und ich möchten im Dezember Rennradurlaub auf Teneriffa machen. Wir möchten dann gerne zwei Rennräder bei Ihnen mieten. Können Sie uns eventuell ein günstiges Hotel empfehlen, das auch über einen Radkeller verfügt?

Für eine baldige Antwort wäre ich dankbar!

Martin Jeitner

Hello!

I would try the following:

* casablanca apartments
* puerto palace
* florasol
* masaru
* orotava palace
* turquesa playa
* chimisay

other hotels might be cheaper but maybe don’t have the same quality…

What sizes of bikes are you interested in renting?

Thanks,
Leslie

www.Tenerife-Training.net | Pro bike hire
www.vertebr.ae | Precision braking & shifting

+34 922 578 623 (home/office)
+34 605 56 2020 (mobile)
+34 622 22 7262 (mobile 2)

Tags: The Bike Guru // Add Comment »

Dear Dr. Brown,

I just read your exciting blog on climbing and thought I’d ask some advice.

I used to ride a Bianchi Torino but I moved on to a Kona PhD. The components of the Kona are far superior to the heavier Bianchi. Nevertheless, the heavier, inferior
bike climbs with vastly more ease than the Kona. When I have asked cycling experts, most of them spoke of cycling position or dismissed my claims as “in my mind.” I
would rather conclude the opposite: I expected the new sexy bike to make climbing a cinch. While it is subjective to a degree, I experimented using both bikes to climb
the same steep hills and found that the difference was phenomenal. I asked yet another cycling expert/friend and he concurred that it could be the gear ratios. So
naturally, I thought I’d show you the specs of my Kona and ask whether taking your advice and switching to a 53/39/30 chainring would make a significant difference.

Here are the specs: http://www.cyclerscafe.com/AroundTownBikes/Kona/PHD.aspx.

Thanks in advance for your time.

Sincerely,

Jerry Piven

Hello,

It definitely makes a huge difference.
I’m a bit confused because the photo of the Kona already shows a triple… what gearing does your older bianchi have?

You could try installing an 11-28T cassette, which is easier because you won’t have to but a new crankset, front derailleur & possibly shiftlevers. 11-28T should work with a standard rear derailleur, if not, it’s still less investment than a triple setup (just a long cage rear derailleur is required, and possibly a longer chain. Then if that doesn’t make a difference, have a look at installing a compact crankset as well. Don’t do it the other way around, because changing the rear sprockets makes more of a difference than the front gears.

With all our bikes, we are moving in this direction: 34/50T or even 33/50T front chainrings, 12-27 or 11-28T cassette - merely because it’s the most flexible and economical setup.

Thanks,
Leslie

www.Tenerife-Training.net | Pro bike hire
www.vertebr.ae | Precision braking & shifting

+34 922 578 623 (home/office)
+34 605 56 2020 (mobile)
+34 622 22 7262 (mobile 2)

Tags: The Bike Guru // Add Comment »

In order to encourage further activity on our local cycling forum, we are giving away several free gifts for the following categories:

• most number of posts per month wins a free multitool
• funniest post of the month wins a pair of advanced polymeric PEEK water bottle bolts from our sister company, Vertebrae Components.
• most useful post of the month has a choice of Isostar isotonic sports drink, twin bottle cages from Btwin or one very detailed map of Tenerife (Kompass Teneriffa 233)

Tags: Island Life, Sales Pitch, Lucky Dip // Add Comment »

These are the three projects we have chosen to support with CajaCanarias:

Tags: Island Life, Inspiration. // Add Comment »

Every time I turn on the news or read a newspaper, it seems as if everything is against us, the Earth itself included. Have you noticed that certain weather incidents are now portrayed as a bad thing? Don’t misunderstand me. When I say they are bad, if there are casualties, it goes without saying that a tragedy has taken place.

What I don’t agree with is the notion that that the environment has somehow reached enemy status. Like it has a mind of its own and it’s out to get us to teach us a hard earned lesson. No! It’s our friend for Pete’s sake. It’s the oxygen we breathe. We grew up here. It’s almost like teenage children rebelling against their parents! Here’s a thought: if you’ve driven a car today, don’t attack the weather afterwards like some kind of evil foe.

I guess unlike a lot of other things, the weather can be dangerous and we’re naturally afraid of that. Just witness the air travel chaos caused by the recently erupting Icelandic volcano (Tenerife is a primary European holiday destination, so we were indirectly affected by all the flight cancellations). But then people begin to react with fear & anxiety which stems from a threat which usually can’t be controlled easliy.

I’m just waiting for the day when some bright spark proposes [seriously] putting a stop to these ‘human inconveniences’ by plugging that Icelandic volcano or some other grandiose idea to reduce the volcanic ash cloud. Because my biggest fear is actually the moment when humans do try to stop or prevent weather phenomena in order to create a more ’stable’ environment. Oh wait, seems it’s already happening:

Climate intervention is a field so new that the senior scientists who attended the five-day meeting don’t agree on its name. Some are calling it geoengineering; others call it climate remediation. Either way, it involves complex — and, some say, ethically questionable — processes to reduce the impact of global warming.

You may or may not be aware that us humans have a great history of fucking things up big time. Sorry to say this, but whatever we touch, we end up destroying in one way or another. Sometimes we’re so stupid, we don’t even know what we’ve destroyed until it’s too late. Sometimes we’re that ignorant and we’ll never even know what we buggered up. The bigger the scheme, the greater the fuck-up. Mark my words people, because the first thing scientists do before attempting to create an artificial ’solution’ is to measure or characterise something. Some of the most powerful computers on Earth are dedicated to weather prediction. I hope we never reach the stage where we try to interfere with Earth’s natural systems. It’s probably too late, since it looks like we have already kick-started another global warming phase. I wouldn’t be suprised, for example, if some clever schmuck is right now devising an artificial gas halo to protect the Earth and cool it back to it’s natural level. Or they could extend the Earth’s orbit a bit and cool it down that way. If it isn’t clear already, I think that these sort of grandiose schemes are doomed to failure right from the start. Not because they won’t work, but because of the unintended consequences.

Journalists are not entirely to blame. You even hear people being interviewed on the street. Too much rain is bad, too much hot weather is bad, too much snow is bad. There is drought and at the same time there is flooding. But who decides how much is too much? In my opinion, the rapid change in weather patterns we see now probably are caused by humans. But I’m not convinced that we can fix our mistakes quite so simply. Anyone who thinks otherwise should probably read the book “why things bight back”… In conclusion, I think it’s our entire mindset we really do need to change not just our lifestyle.

Tags: Vida Enigmática // 2 Comments »

Preface: This article is turning out to be very difficult to write. Part of the reason is that I began writing it when I was suffering from depression myself. Hence, my motivation was a lot less than it is now. Depressed people also have a slanted or warped perspective - they have an extremely negative or pessimistic outlook on life. This is something I wanted to take advantage of during the time that I was “infected” with the disease. During this phase I wrote some paragraphs which seemed to retain that negativity, but they weren’t written well. I can tell from my own words now that I was struggling with everything.

Yet I normally enjoy being an optimistic person, always thinking very positively. So it’s challenging for me to write now because I’m cured (at least temporarily)! This didn’t happen overnight - it was a gradual process over several months, gradually transforming from pessimist through to optimist. I’ve had this article in draft form for some time now and just want to present the idea to you as part of the section “Vida Enigmática”. Let’s just say that it’s not a prediction. It’s a possible future scenario. Hyper-optimistic people will definitely not be able to relate to this article - they simply will not be able to comprehend the situation I describe below. (more…)

Tags: Mental Anguish, Vida Enigmática // Add Comment »

Do you notice the terminology “global warming” is somewhat detached from the humanity that caused it? As if it were the planet’s response to our domination, but not directly our own fault.

Deforestation today proceeds at 55,630 to 120,000 square kilometres each year. At this rate, all tropical forests may be gone by the year 2090.

I think the real reason why some people continue to deny global warming is taking place (subconsciously or not) is that they can’t deal with reality. So if they convince themselves that it would’ve happened anyway, they can simply carry on life as normal, and not have to worry about it.

For me, the notion that this is all some part of a repetitive ‘prehistoric cycle’ which man has nothing to do with is preposterous. It just happens at the same time man enters the industrial age, and is happening 10x quicker than anything before. Hello! coincidence!! The words RATE OF CHANGE have very strong meaning in the scientific community. Grand geological transformations don’t just happen over a matter of years or even decades. They are supposed to take millenia, or longer. So now that the average global sea & air temperature has risen a degree already, I think we’re already in deep shit my friends. (more…)

Tags: Mental Anguish, Science Simplified, Vida Enigmática // Add Comment »

	We’re proud to announce that we’re now a member of the official Turismo Tenerife association. Rest assured that partnering with Turismo Tenerife won’t affect the day to day running of our business.
Being a member should help promote our cycling activities both online and in the real world and thereby create new opportunities to expand the business and also improve cycling activities in Tenerife. Here is the link to all nature activity businesses sponsored by Turismo Tenerife.

Tags: That's Business // Add Comment »

Here is a new ad we are going to place in the November issue of Cycle Sport magazine:

Tags: That's Business, Sales Pitch // Add Comment »

1. Your brake levers easily hit the handlebars, consequently you’re not stopping like you’re supposed to.
2. You don’t have the power to skid either wheel.
3. You start smelling that all too familiar smell of burnt brake pads.
4. You have to do a virtual panic stop just to enable you to slow down.
5. You’ve warped your disc rotors, and they stay warped no matter what you try and do to straighten them.
6. You get hand fatigue on long descents.
7. You want to be able to brake with one or two fingers, so you can maintain control of your bike properly.
8. Your current braking system has all the requisite symptoms of bipolar disorder (it’s either “on” or “off” and there’s no inbetween).
9. Riding in the rain has become an unthinkable activity.
10. You want to be faster, braking for each corner at the last possible moment.

Tags: Sales Pitch, Ride the Volcano!, The Bike Guru // Add Comment »

1] La Esperanza - Izaña
There are several approaches to the centre of the island, and this Eastern one has the best combination of road surface, length, spectacular views and the least amount of traffic.

2] Barroso - Aguamansa - El Portillo - Mt. Teide
The road around Aguamansa has just been resurfaced this year; dare I say it but the TF21 approach from the North of the Island this has now become a world-class climb. It’s often a few degrees cooler than the Southern approach, which is great in the hot Summer months. It’s also sheltered quite from the wind (compared to Arico for example).

3] Granadilla - Vilaflor - Mt. Teide
Lots of cycle-tourists will already know this route as many are based in Las Americas or Los Cristianos and therefore it’s the most convenient climb. It has lots of smooth sweeping bends past Vilaflor, which make for some fast descending.

4] Almáciga - Taganana - Pico del Inglés
This ride is highly recommended. It’s steeper than the others, but the topography is truly amazing.

5] Arafo - Izaña
Choose this route if you’ve aready explored some roads in Tenerife & you’re looking for a Sunny approach to the top of Tenerife.

6] Buenavista - Masca - Santiago del Teide
A top-ten list wouldn’t be complete without including a ride to Masca. Prepare yourself for the last 5km, because the road out of Masca climbs 450 metres in only 3.4km, giving an average gradient of over 13%

7] Afur - Pico del Inglés
One of my favourites simply because it’s more isolated than other climbs.

8] Los Silos - Tierra del Trigo - El Tanque - Erjos
The first part of this road is brutal. It literally zig-zags up the side of a cliff face. From afar, you wouldn’t think a road like this is even possible. If you’re looking for your new HR_max, you won’t be disappointed.

9] Los Gigantes - Tamaimo - Santiago del Teide - Las Llanadas
This road is one of the steeper ascents in the South of Tenerife, so make sure you choose the right gearing.

10] Batan de Abajao - Pico del Inglés
Another personal favourite, but not easy to get to.

Tags: Ride the Volcano!, The Bike Guru // Add Comment »

Yes, we can now finally accept credit cards wherever there is mobile phone coverage in Tenerife (most places on the island except Teide National Park). If requested to pay a reservation deposit during the high season, you can phone us to provide your card details. Other convenient forms of payment are IBAN bank transfer, paypal and Euros cash.

Tags: News Reel // Add Comment »

Take advantage of our 24hr Custom Vertebrae Installation!

If you are planning a Tenerife cycle training vacation, you should be pleased to know that we are now offering a door-to-door cable housing fitment service with a 24 hour turnaround period.

We first pick your bike up directly from your hotel or apartment in Tenerife, where you will meet Dr. Leslie Brown to discuss your specific requirements; we then perform a professional, customised vertebrae installation to your exact specifications, finally returning your bike to you within 24hrs in perfect working condition.

There is currently a €150 surchage for this premium service (price subject to change). We are pleased to also offer you a courtesy rental bike from Pro Bike Hire while we are working on your bike. Alternatively, you can opt for a rest day and see some of the attractions in Tenerife while we setup vertebrae on your bike. Please call +34 605 56 2020 for more info.

Why Tenerife?

It’s no coincidence that many cyclists choose to train in the Canary Islands -Tenerife- the largest island, offers one of the best cycling locations in Europe all throughout the year.This is home to the world’s third largest volcano, and it serves up some of the biggest and most challenging climbs in all of Europe. Starting from sea level, you can ride up to an altitude of 2300m!

What better place to test the limits of your braking & shifting? Naturally, with all the steep offroad descents to be found, it’s even popular with the DownHill crowd.

For more information on Vertebrae Components, please see our sister site: www.vertebr.ae

Tags: Sales Pitch // Add Comment »

With well over 2 months notice, I’d like to annouce that we’ll be closed from 26/06/2010 to 14/08/2010. This means bike hire and guided rides won’t be possible during that time. Of course the website will continue to function and I’ll administer it while I’m away. Throughout July and August we’ll also still be able to answer emails and take advanced bike reservations for the remainder of the 2010 Summer & Autumn seasons. All current bookings for this period will be respected (currently there’s only one so Chiqui will take care of that).

The pro bike hire service will resume as normal after that date. We are of course happy to take bookings now for August, September, October, November 2010.

On a positive note, despite the global financial crisis we had quite a successful Winter season renting road and mountain bikes this year. As always, I look forward to resuming again in mid-August and we’re expecting strong growth into 2011. I think everyone deserves a break after working hard; so I feel that I deserve a good holiday! I’m really excited about going back to Australia for a month to see all my family there!

Happy cycling!
Leslie

Tags: News Reel // Add Comment »

There’s just two small road bikes available this Easter long weekend, as well as one small MTB and large MTB. Other than that, we have full capacity this week. So if you’re a small rider keen to get out, now’s the last chance to grab a rental bike! The best thing is to phone me directly on +34 605 56 2020.

Tags: News Reel, That's Business // 1 Comment »

Simple enough really. Limit one per customer. Quality fruit of the loom T-shirts with proper printed logos (you won’t see any iron-on transfers used here!). It will feature this logo on the front. Just so you know what you’ll be getting, they are white T-shirts available in small, medium & large sizes. Either short or long sleeve - and when they’re gone, they’re gone!

Tags: Sales Pitch // Add Comment »

We deliver rental bikes anywhere in Tenerife. Since early February this year, we have been trialling a totally FREE island-wide delivery service!

This applies to all bike rentals with a 3-day minimum hire period. Delivery of bikes to the La Orotava / Puerto de la Cruz area is totally free of charge, all year round (and there is no minimum number of days required).

Please keep in mind that we are based in the North of Tenerife, approximately one hour’s drive away from Las Americas. For deliveries to the South of Tenerife during the low season (May through September), a delivery charge may be applicable in order to cover our basic running costs; the delivery fee for Los Cristianos, Las Americas and Los Gigantes is €36 (pickup included). The delivery/pickup charge to Santa Cruz, La Laguna and Icod will remain at €26.

Tags: News Reel, That's Business, Sales Pitch // 1 Comment »

I’ve had enough enquiries lately about full suspension bikes so I decided a few weeks ago to act. I just bought three lovely frames from Mountain Cycle. They are a small company that really lead the way in big-travel suspensions bikes way back in the nineties. They’ve now been around for 22 years, which is an eternity in the MTBing world. If you’re in your thirties like I am now, you’ll definitely know who they are… they were the whackos who insisted on 100mm+ travel bikes and dual hydraulic disc brakes to complete the package. Somewhat amazingly, that has virtually become standard now. I ask people if they’ve heard of Moutain Cycle now and the answer is resounding ‘no’. Visionaries!

This is the model they call ‘fury’ and we will have small, medium & large examples of each. The aluminium frame is anodised black and has up to 5″ or 130mm of rear wheel travel, with Rock Shox Ario air shock & remote lockout included. The remaining bike spec is to be advised. Rest assured it will be good!

The good news is that I’m planning to drop the price of the existing Merida hardtails into the budget price bracket, so you’ll save 30% on the standard web-based prices by hiring one of those.

Tags: News Reel, Sales Pitch // 1 Comment »

Dear Leslie,

I am travelling to Los Gigantes in mid-August and am interested in doing some cycling during my 10 day stay. I have only recently got back into cycling from being a child and currently commute daily to work within London - so the thought of having some open space cycling is very inviting! My enquiry is what you think would be available to me given my location and relative lack of experience. I really like the thought of a full day’s cycling around the volcano tracks as the pictures look incredible - and am not overly keen on the thought of hairpin alpine like extreme hills.

Thanks for your help,

Katy

Hi,

If you’re talking about MTBing, the best thing would be to head to Chinyero / Arenas Negras. There are lots of offroad tracks around there…

The main climb to get there is tough, so I would consider alternative arrangements (taxi, bus, hire car)

Thanks,
Les

Tags: The Bike Guru // Add Comment »

Yes, we can now finally accept credit cards wherever there is mobile phone coverage in Tenerife (most places on the island except Teide National Park). So you can pay directly with your Visa or Mastercard when the bike is delivered. Bike reservation deposits are also more easily paid via this method (you can either telephone or email your card details to us). Other convenient forms of payment are IBAN bank transfer, paypal and Euros cash.

Tags: News Reel, The Bike Guru // Add Comment »

If you can’t be bothered reading this, the short answer is ‘no’.

Inititally, all I did was guided road rides leaving straight from the hotel, but from the very beginning most of our potential customers had something different in mind (meaning they wanted to be picked up, taken on a shorter ride and dropped off at the hotel - not so much about the training but more of a sight-seeing tour for the wealthier folk). For a while I started to do a few guided MTB rides in my spare time (which I also enjoyed doing moreso than onroad), but I think we have greater competition in that area; that alone was never enough to pay all the bills. There’s technically even more chance for offroad accidents due to the steep descents invloved.

Basically we have had to look at who we are, what we are about and where we want to take the business in future. (more…)

Tags: News Reel, The Bike Guru // Add Comment »

I’m planning a road biking trip to Tenerife with a couple of friends. In your opinion, what would be a best town to stay in regarding the available cycling routes?

Hello,

* Well Los Gigantes is a nice, small resort but the road & MTB rides are pretty limited around there. The road condition up to Mt Teide from the Western side is not the best - it really needs resurfacing. The road to Tamaimo and Santiago del Teide is generally steeper than a lot of the other road climbs in Tenerife.
* From Los Cristianos you have the Southern approach to Las Cañadas. For example you can also you can ride from Granadilla to Arafo, a flatter but still ‘undulating’ route. Having said that, you either love or hate the Las Americas resort.
* From Santa Cruz you are very close to Anaga & La Esperanza (a good starting point for the climb to Teide from the Eastern side)
* And last but not least, there are several climbs close to Puerto de la Cruz / La Orotava valley region. For me this is the best region!

Thanks,
Leslie

www.Tenerife-Training.net | Pro bike hire
www.vertebr.ae | Precision braking & shifting

+34 605 56 2020 (mobile)
+34 622 22 7262 (mobile 2)

Tags: The Bike Guru // Add Comment »

Hi-

I am so excited I found your site and service. I will be traveling to Tenerife for a work conference on 1/27 and want to do some serious riding and exploring from around 1/29-2/1.

I am not certain whether I want to go roadie (my preference) or offroad (because the terrain looks unbelievable). At this point it looks like I’ll be traveling solo. I ride a 54 cm in road and 16/medium for offroad.

Can you give me some insight that will help me make a decision about road v. offroad rental? For road riding, I love hills and epic routes. For offroad, although I am in very good shape and enjoy hills, my technical mt. bike skills are not at the same level, so I guess I’d be looking for more cross-country type routes.

I am really looking fwd to it…. not into laying on the beach or shopping, and I most definitely want to spend my vacation riding.

Pls let me know your thoughts as soon as possible, as I want to make sure there will be a bike available.

Many thanks.
/erin kenneally

Thanks,

Well I am both a MTBer and a roadie so I know all about these kinds of “decisions decisions”.

The road climb to Teide is definitely an epic route, preferably starting from either La Orotava in the North, La Eperanza in the East or Granadilla de Abona in the South. Where else can you climb constantly from a sea level resort to 2300m (7000 feet) in one ride???!

The bummer with road bikes seems to be traffic around the coastal resorts. However, the local drivers here are extremely considerate when overtaking etc.

To make your descision that much harder, some of the firetrails that criss-cross the upper La Orotava valley are probably the flattest roads (either on or offroad) to be found on the whole island. They are connected by a series of perpendicular “downhill runs”. Yes it is possible to get 1 bus to drop you off at the base of Mt Teide so you can ride back down various ways—

There are no jumps and things of that nature. The main obstacles are rocky volcanic boulders and further down, slippery pine needles… so it’s easy for your font tyre to lose its line if you brake and corner at the same time.

Getting back to the road bikes… our road bikes cost basically twice the MTBs because they don’t seem to get abused as much. So we have a beautiful new Pro Lite 54.5cm Cuneo road bike (or 2); one has just been built up last week with the new Ultegra carbon levers! It’s so new I haven’t even had a chance to photograph it yet.

Hope that is of some help.
-Leslie

Tags: The Bike Guru // Add Comment »

Hi Leslie

If you have the time would very much appreciate your advice. My wife, myself and very young son are coming to Tenerife from Feb 27 until Mar 6. I’ll be training up for a cyclosportif in France so will be very keen to ride whilst there. I actually do quite a lot of road cycling (I have a Cervelo Soloist ­it’s either a 56 or 68 cm) and mountain biking (I ride a lapierre x-control 510 51 cm).

I know very little about Teneriffe and would welcome your views on a good area to stay ­ my wife wants sun but I really don’t want to be near any trashy resorts (I have heard that part of the island has a few of these).

I’d also look to rent a bike ­ I’d appreciate your advice here also. Although the sportif is on the road if you think Tenerife mountain biking outweighs the road cycling I’d be happy to do that. Just want to keep the legs kicking over. And of course do you have anything available for that time (I also have a friend coming who will be looking for something
commensurate ­ he’s the same size as me).

Chrs

Ian Edwards

Hello Ian,

I’d be happy to offer some advice on places/locations to stay.

Firstly, if you don’t want to stay near a trashy resort, stay away from
Los Cristianos & Las Americas. There is another side of Tenerife…

Have a look at places like Barcelo Varadero in Los Gigantes, Riu Garoe in
Puerto de la Cruz. Give me some further info & we can narrow things down a
lot. Do you want to stay in a hotel, apartment or quiet villa? What about
beach access, or you don’t care? Proximity to restaurants?

Well now’s an ideal time to start thinking about the bike reservations, as
the best bikes always get snapped up first. We already have some bookings
around then… MTBs are always more fun, but then if you’re like me, you
tend to get lazy and just go downhill more. If you’re serious about
training, I’d go with a road bike, but that’s just me.

I take it you are both around 180cm tall?
Looking forward to your reply,

Thanks,
Leslie

Tags: The Bike Guru // Add Comment »

Hi Leslie,
If you can think of any regular or irregular group rides out of Puerto de la Cruz, let me know. I don’t care what language they speak! Otherwise, I’ll be doing a lot of exploring on my own.

Hello,

The local cyclists meet at the Shell petrol station at Las Arenas, point
“A” on the following google map:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Unknown+road&daddr=&geocode=FaZRsQEd0IID_w&hl=en&mra=ls&sll=28.407256,-16.539402&sspn=0.055414,0.076818&ie=UTF8&t=h&ll=28.404311,-16.535368&spn=0.055415,0.076818&z=14

I’m told that they usually meet on weekends at 8:00am

Hope this heps—

Tags: The Bike Guru // Add Comment »

Hi
me and my wife are hoping to come out to tenerife, me for some good road training and my wife for the sun.
can you reccommend a quiet resort or villa with pool that is away from the night clubs and package destinations we like to relax in percefull surroundings.
yours
Lyndon and Teana

Hi there,

I’d be only too happy to recommend some places to stay…

It really depends on your budget and how far away you want to be from
restaurants, etc. Are you looking for something like a rural villa, or do
you prefer a resort hotel in a quieter zone but still close to one of the
main resorts?

I’d generally steer clear of Las Americas.

I personally would stay in any one of the following:

* Casablanca, if you want convenient, affordable self-catering apartments
within walking distance to the centre of Puerto de la Cruz.
* Hotel Riu Garoe, in the “La Paz” (means “the peace”) zone of Puerto de
la Cruz for a 5-star resort. Restaurants in the Botanico region are a 5
minute walk away.
* La Quinta Roja in Garachico… a boutique hotel in a jewel of a town.
* Hotel Rural El Patio between Icod & Los Gigantes. Again, just look at
the photos of the location on their website… probably some of the best
rides from around here too!!
* Hotel Alhambra in the old town of La Orotava. Only a few rooms, but
absolutely a marvelous place and possibly the best value for your dollar.
* Luxury Villa? Look no futher than Villa Preciosa in El Rincon. I’ve been
there and it’s really “no expense spared”.

* Abama, for a 5 star resort all on its own isolated turf (but not if you
don’t like golfers… it’s the furthest resort from us, on the other side
of the island)
* Hotel Barcelo Santiago in Los Gigantes, just because a lot of people
overlook the area around Los Gigantes, Playa Arena Puerto Santiago… I
think this one is the classiest places to stay?

As far as getting away from things even further, go to one of the rural
villas/fincas owned by locals… the closest ones I can recommend are
Villa caya and La Abejera just about a mile away from us, although the
pools won’t be as nice as the aforementioned places as they are generally
at 500m altitude and a lot smaller/cosier.

Please let me know if you need help finding the websites or we can narrow
it down further in the next email…

Thanks,
Leslie

Tags: The Bike Guru // Add Comment »

Hello Leslie,

I will be coming to Tenerife for a week in mid January. I will be bringing my own bike.

I am usually a self explorer, make my own mistakes kind of guy. But your knowledge and expertise is evident and I really appreciate that.

I don’t like hand holding and do like riding at my own pace especially on unfamiliar roads. But I might be up for a day or two of you showing some of your local roads.

It wasn’t clear to me if you are still doing road rides or not. I will be in Tenerife from the 15th to the 24th. Let me know what the current situation is.

Are there good local maps readily available? I found some here (USA), but may not be able to get them to me in time for my departure.

Thanks,
Rich

The current situation is that the bike hire side of things is probably twenty times more poplular than the guided rides ever were. For the time being I won’t be doing them (guiding people onroad) as I have to deal with about 50 simultaneous bike hire bookings…

Regarding the maps, yes they are available here from most tourist/newsagent type of shops usually selling suncream, etc. Here’s what the best maps look like:

Kompass 233

Freytag & Berndt Teneriffa

You can always contact me closer to your arrival to see if I am freed up enough for a ride…

Thanks,
Leslie

www.Tenerife-Training.net
+34 922 578 623 (home/office)
+34 605 56 2020 (mobile)

Tags: The Bike Guru // Add Comment »

Hello Leslie,

First of all, I would like to tell you that you have a fantastic website !
I suppose you know that anyway as a lot or people will be congratulating
you.

We plan to go to Tenerife for a cycling holiday (2 pax) from 2nd to 10th
Jan 2010. As there are no organized rides, is there a way to get in
contact with other cyclists in Tenerife in order to plan group rides ?

I signed in the forum on your website, but need to wait an e-mail from the
administrator before I can log in.

Thank you for your help if you have the time and any suggestion.

We do not need bike hire as we travel with our own bikes.

Kind regards,
Flora

Hello Flora & thanks for signing up.

Also a big thanks for your kind praise regarding the website.

As you can see, the forum is not very active, but don’t give up hope for an answer… We generally get over 1000 visitors daily on the site! The whole idea of setting up the forum was for cyclo-tourists to hook up with eachother. I suspect with time, more people will join up and use it for its original purpose… so I definitely encourage you to make a few more posts. At the very least I myself will respond within a few days (I tend to let other members reply first now).

There are almost 100 members, most of them are lurkers and so not all of them active. But it takes time to develop the level of trust & input needed for a forum to work.

You might try contacting some of the clubs in this list.

Most of them speak Spanish though…

Thanks,
Leslie

www.Tenerife-Training.net
+34 922 578 623 (home)
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Hi Leslie,

Seasons greetings hope you have had a good one. As you know we are going to based in the south of the island, with this in mind do you have cycling route maps for the area or recommend routes to us. We plan to ride between 3 and 6 hours a day, are there any organised rides near us?

Cheers

Hello,

Yes thanks, we had a traditional spanish dinner on the 24th. Presents aren’t given until the 6th of January here.

There are no planned rides in the South. There isn’t much organisation w.r.t cycling in Tenerife, hence my website. I’ve also started a new cycling forum here (feel free to sign up & post something, you might just get the ball rolling…hehehe). One aim of my forum is for cyclists to be able to meet up on holiday and ride together (even if they’re not hiring one of my bikes).

I can suggest the ride from Granadilla de Abona via Vilaflor through to the base of Mt Teide, and as far as you dare to go in the direction of La Esperanza. That’s an awesome ride.

Thanks very much,
Les.

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