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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