A Cyclist's Life in Tenerife (Canary Islands)

Here are some updated cycle routes from Puerto de la Cruz. Take note: we have taken special care to indicate the best way(s) of getting into and out of Puerto de la Cruz. You may find it helpful to print out certain sections particularly around Puerto de la Cruz (note there are three or four ways in, “El Botannico”, “Martianez”, “Las Arenas” and “Las Dehesas”). Some people find the way through to La Orotava & Icod EL Alto a bit confusing, and also the way through La Laguna and the way back through El Sauzal…

• El Puerto de la Cruz to the base of Mt Teide.
• 100km loop past Izaña & La Esperanza.
• Icod, Garachico, El Tanque, Icod El Alto & back.
• A different way to Masca via El Amparo, La Vega, La Montañeta and back to Garachico via Teno.
• How to get to Afur, Anaga and how to cross the TF5 highway without touching it.
• TF352 from Santa Catalina to La Guancha is a short “power climb” averaging 12.4% gradient over its 2.8km length.
• A slightly easier route is via TF351 from San Juan de la Rambla up to La Guancha at 5.3km length (average 8.4% gradient). You can of course connect these two routes making a short circuit along TF342.

Tags: Ride the Volcano!, The Bike Guru by Dr. Leslie Brown
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There was an important quote by Lance Armstrong regarding chefs, masseurs and chiropractors, but I thought in light of recent events I’d skip over it. Let’s just say that massage has become an intrinsic part of multi-stage races. Not only does it hasten muscle recovery but it also relaxes the riders. And we all know that this world is ever-more stressful.

I had a great, authentic Thai massage yesteray as a gift for my 35th birthday. I came out feeling 5 years younger and about 5cm taller.

First a note about Thai massages. They are given while you are fully clothed, long pants and long shirt. Just so we know, I’m into innocent relaxing massages, not of the erotic variety. There’s nothing to be ashamed of here.

The hour long massage was nothing short of amazing. It’s as if the masseur worships your body. It’s very hard to describe their technique, but I’ll try. The scientist in me is compelled to say that “pressure comes in the form of carefully modulated, overlapping waves”. [Read more →]

Tags: Inspiration., Island Life by Dr. Leslie Brown
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It looks like the new highway between Adeje and Santiago del Teide has been delayed again. However, governmental funding has been approved, work can now continue and hence the expected completion date has been postponed until the end of 2013. This coincides with another part of the island loop (“anillo insular” in Spanish), the stretch between Icod de los Vinos in the North of Tenerife and Santiago del Teide. The two new roads represent a 400 million euro investment for the island of Tenerife. [Read more →]

Tags: Island Life, Mental Anguish, Ride the Volcano! by Dr. Leslie Brown
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