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Guys can anyone recomend somewhere to go for a bike break over the festive season, I can do both road or mtb not really fussed which. I would be going on my own I'm thinking Canaries because of the temp or should I look elswhere?
Cheers
I have been doing some similar research with the view of possibly getting away the week prior to Christmas what I have come up with so far is:
- Club La Santa on Gran Canaria actually have an MTB training week from 16th December.
- Lava Trax on Tenerife
Not much else at the moment but I am still waiting to confirm my work schedule.
I went to Majorca a few Decembers ago and we had fab weather - like nice early spring weather in the UK, though I'm not sure how reliable that actually is. There are still cheap flights available from Easyjet, Monarch (well maybe not them) etc and accommodation wouldn't be a problem. Worth considering if the longer trek to Canaries doesn't appeal.
pretty sure someone told me weather great but very windy to point of being blown off a couple of times (road)
Did 5 days with Lavatrax in Tenerife last year. It was fantastic. There's a post on here that went up yesterday with a review/description of his week with them.
We've been to the Canaries the last 2 novembers, and we're off there again in 6 weeks. Gran Canaria this time. Wooohoooooo.
Its perfect for cycling. On and off road. The temperature is mid 20's in December, with a constant breeze off the sea.
I just took all my kit and hired a bike when we got out there from [url= http://www.caletacycles.com ]Caleta Cycles[/url] in Caleta on Fuertoventura. Geoff who runs it will take you out on or off-road tours. He's an absolute gent. A fast one mind. i only did off road with him. Bikes are decent XT kitted stuff at about 15 Euros a day. I didn't do any road, but the roads are smooth, wide, with bugger all traffic
Caleta on Fuertoventura is a bloody lovely place. Quiet with some really nice bars and restaurants.
The riding is a bit like riding on the surface of the moon. Its ace!
Some piccies from our various jaunts out down the coast or into the mountains
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I've just got back from 4 days mountain biking with lavatrax in tenerife (mini review here http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/lavatrax-tenerife-1), I'd recommend it.
Other options to consider (if you're not dead set on the canary isles), is majorca, I have used toni at www.tramuntbike.com for mountain bike guiding. Again I'd recommend , but the weather in majorca is likely to be not as warm as tenerife.
Done Lanzagrotty in Feb and Gran Can in April, mainly surfing but did a couple of days on bikes on both. Both great cycling destinations.
I'd not recommend lanza for mtb. Guy in a shop put it well when he said that people who hire road bikes tend to be impressed; mtb disappointed. Hired a road bike for a couple of days, and could just about see the point. Smooth roads, lots of hills but rarely over 10% gradient, more cyclists than I've ever seen bar tour de flanders... Would go back. Hired off some shop in costa teguise.
Gran Canaria's busier. I think half the canaries population live there and you notice it on the roads, especially nearer to las palmas. Hired off Freemotion who run a pretty slick operation and who I would recommend. Bikes were great, road and mtb. Only downside on the mtb was it was out of the high season for cycling, which is winter. So I did one guided ride which was a bit mixed ability and mainly rocky landrover tracks. But you can see the potential all around (unlike Lanza where I didn't feel I was missing much.) Couple of Half days on the roadbike were great albeit on bloody terrifying mountain hairpins...
Anyway, weather should be great over christmas. You've given me an idea...
I went to La Palma for last xmas and it was stunning for weather and scenery. We stayed and rode in the mountains - mountain bikes but mainly small roads and forest trails (not much singletrack). Nice and quiet everywhere. Email if you want any details!
pleased to see that my negativity inspired by some more than half forgotten conversation is corrected by binners post - def back on my list 🙂
La Palma for last xmas and it was stunning for weather and scenery.
La Palma the island, not the city is amazing. No idea about the cycling but the island is stunning.
Thanks Guys some good ideas, Maybe I'll just do my own thing and do a couple of days road and a couple mtb then I'll get a good mix. Looks like I'll be heading over myself.