| Tommy's article "Racecycling on Lanzarote"
  
 First of all the goodies -
                                  Lanzarote has a lack of big mountains (around
                                  600m maximum) and is located in the south -
                                  which means you will survive the climbs and
                                  there is not a lot of rainfall. There is no
                                  warranty but you have a good chance to stay
                                  dry if you watch the sky - even in winter -
                                  the rest of the year is dry.Then the less goodies - the same chance to
                                  stay dry is the chance to have wind. While you
                                  might have a week without any air-movement in
                                  winter - in summer you will stay dry but you
                                  will have wind. Wind on Lanzarote means in
                                  general more than a breeze - some days you
                                  might be faster up- than downhill. That sounds
                                  not so bad - but struggling uphill against the
                                  wind will maybe less funny - you will get used
                                  to that.
 Also clouds can travel very fast on windy days
                                  - so don't forget your windbreaker and - your
                                  suncreme as well! Temperatures should stay in
                                  winter between 15 and 22 degrees Celsius. In
                                  summer it can get quite hot if the wind is
                                  making a rest. On warmer days you should start
                                  early in the morning,make a little siesta and
                                  return on the road if the sun goes down.
 The roads of Lanzarote had changed a lot in
                                  the past - now you can count a 65% of good
                                  terrain,20% are more or less and the rest is
                                  still hard to believe - but getting better for
                                  the biker every year. You will bike over
                                  hills, plains, steeper and slower climbings
                                  and uphills - but nothing of a kind stays to
                                  long - perfect for different training-forms.
 Around the main town Arrecife there is traffic
                                  and there are frequent roads but mostly you
                                  will not meet to much cars. You should avoid
                                  the area of Teguise on Sundays - because of
                                  the market it is a lot of touristic traffic
                                  there,on other days it is fine.
 The landscape of Lanzarote is very changeable
                                  - you will find desertlike fields,
                                  mediterranean areas, only black lava as far as
                                  you can see,vine-yards, beautiful beaches but
                                  - you will not find any forest (and therefore
                                  no shades and - no windshields). When sun is
                                  going down, especially on days with very
                                  changeable weather, you will see colours on
                                  hills and mountains - which you might not
                                  believe and will not forget.
 Visiting some of the touristic attractions
                                  (the mirador's,the vine-yards and the places
                                  were Cesar Manrique had his hand on) might be
                                  a good idea - even maybe travel to the nearby
                                  islands Fuerteventura or the smaller La
                                  Graciosa. If you see a chance you should visit
                                  the national park of Timanfaya in the south of
                                  the island. This landscape is unique -
                                  sometimes you will feel yourself on the moon.
 For just training your fitness or for
                                  preparing yourself for your
                                  competitions-season Lanzarote is more than a
                                  good choice. The climate is perfect for
                                  serious biking and you can select any kind of
                                  different training-forms. The wind and some of
                                  the roads are not making it easier but you
                                  will get used to that and afterwards you have
                                  trained even more.
 Professionals know that all since quite a time
                                  - a lot of teams,sport-clubs,etc. make their
                                  winter-trainings on the island. The list of
                                  sporting-events taking place is getting longer
                                  every year - the biggest event is still the
                                  ironman in May. This competition is known as
                                  one of the hardest of the world and very well
                                  known as "last step" for the championship in
                                  Hawaii.
 The possibilities for trainings,especially for
                                  bikers,are excellent and the touristic
                                  infrastructure will help you a lot to enjoy
                                  your stay.
 The resort of Costa Teguise (ca. 8 km
                                  northeast of main town Arrecife) is a very
                                  good base for all routes to the north. Also
                                  you will find very good service in Tommys
                                  BIKES Bike Station where you have bikes for
                                  rent,repairs,spare parts and - at least a
                                  friendly bikers-smalltalk.
 Finally the words the cyclist already knows -
                                  don't ride without helmets - don't forget
                                  puncture-outfits and - take as much water as
                                  you can.
 
 © Norbert Dürauer for Tommys BIKES Bike
                                  Station
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