How do I measure my bicycle frame size?

We measure our frames the traditional way, from centre of bottom bracket shell to centre of top tube. The next measurement we use is the length of the top tube itself, from the centre of the seat tube to the centre of the head tube. This assumes you have a bicycle frame with traditional geometry (i.e. a horizontal top tube, not a sloping one).

Some modern frames have what is called “compact geometry”. This just means that the top tube slopes down more than normal. Compact frames are typically measured in size designations such as extra small”, “small”, “medium”, “large”, “extra large” and even “extra extra large” (the actual seat tube measurements provided are pretty meaningless on their own as it depends on the degree of slope of the tube). To measure a compact frame the traditional way, take a look at the diagram to the left. Simply draw an imaginary line parallel to the ground and measure the height of your seat-tube from that position. This is called the “effective frame geometry”, which is what we use to determine frame sizes.

How do I book a bike?

1. Submit a bike hire reservation request for each bike.
2. You should receive a copy of the form submitted via email. Double check that all details are correct. If you do not receive a copy in your email inbox, please check your spam folder. If you definitely have not received a copy of the booking request, please resubmit the form.
3. We will e-mail you with a list of available bikes within 48 hours. We will supply photos of the actual bikes offered.
4. You will be asked to leave a 10-20% deposit to secure the rental bike(s) on your requested dates during your stay in Tenerife.
5. Once the deposit is payed, we will send you a booking confirmation via email to confirm your reservation.

How do I pay the deposit?

You can do this one of several ways: provide your credit cards details over the phone; send a paypal payment to us via email; mail us a bank cheque in Euros currency; or make a direct bank deposit into our local account (using an IBAN transfer).

The full or remaining balance must be payed upon delivery of the bicycle(s). At the time of delivery, we accept all major credit/debit cards through our mobile bank terminal. We also accept full payment in Euros cash.

Can I rent other cycling equipment with Tenerife-Training?

We have a wide selection of pedals available, along with helmets and shoes. New water bottles are available at a cost of €5 each. We can provide seatpost-mounted racks for light touring as well as PortaBike carriers for your hire car. If you have any other requests, please contact us via e-mail or telephone.

Who’s it for?

Put simply, all the roads are either up or down. So for those cyclists crazy about climbing & descending, this place is perfect. Flat roads don’t really exist here! Most of the climbs on this beautiful island have gradients between 5 to 10%. This is ideal for extended cardiovascular training. There are also numerous roads and streets with a maximum incline of about 20% (one in five), great for improving leg strength and VO₂max!

There are also virtually no straight roads on this island. One single week on this island is a great way of practising your cornering technique! Everyone has a different skill level, hence there are never any speed-advisory signs around any of the corners.

Tenerife has always been a popular tourist destination and is becoming more developed. Yes, cars are to be expected – although it has to be said that they are super-cyclist friendly, always giving a full metre (or more) of space when overtaking. Nevertheless, we believe that Tenerife is a very worthwhile destination for cycle-tourists, provided you’re already fairly fit.

When is a good time to visit the Canary Islands for cycle training?

As far as we are concerned, the best time to come is in the Autumn (September, October, November). This is a great period weather-wise and you also have the best selection of rental bikes. Summer is the sunniest, hottest time of year and is also a great time to come.

December to April is the busiest time of year as far as cycling goes because people tend to escape from their European Winters then, so please book well in advance if you’re planning on coming over Christmas or Easter.

What do I need to bring with me?

All hire bikes come well prepared and are supplied with a mini tool kit (multitool, pump, tyre levers, spare tube).

Don’t forget the following: cycling shorts, jersey, helmet, shoes, sunglasses, gloves, suncream, water bottles and any tools that are specific to your bike. Many people don’t realise how cold you can get descending from high altitude for extended periods of time, therefore during winter months, you will also need to bring a pair of lycra arm & leg warmers.

If there is snow present on Mt Teide, cold weather is to be expected. So if you’ve decided to tackle Mt Teide, a windproof jacket is also a necessity especially during the winter months. Windproof gloves are also preferable; if you have them, it’s worth bringing them if only for that one descent (unless your fingers enjoy a bit of hypothermia at the end of a ride). It’s best to check out the weather page for more detailed information about expected temperatures and adverse weather conditions (or else ask Les personally).

If you’re hiring one of our bikes, preferably bring your own clipless shoes & helmet, although we do have this equipment for hire also. We can always supply a pedal spanner. If you have a preference for certain energy bars & drinks, we recommend that you bring those along too.

Where can I pick up the bike?

This is an internet business – so there is no shop as such. We actually work from our home office base now located in La Matanza de Acentejo. Minimising our overheads means we are able to provide better quality bikes. For that reason, we prefer to deliver bikes to El Puerto & surrounding regions. Bicycle pickup is by appointment only; if you can arrange your own transport, we can always email you detailed directions and a map to help you find our exact location.

What about accommodation?

We have a list of recommended hotels, apartments & villas. These are places we have visited personally which maintain a fantastic level of service & hospitality.