Didn’t get much sense from this last night, so I thought I’d try again!
Out of the main cheapo islands, which would you go for to ride XC-ish trails, i.e. no silly freeriding or full-face stuff. I probably won’t have any transport either, so trails from the doorstep would be a plus!
Any of them?
None?
Are the Canaries all just best for lying on the beach and drinking beer?
I’d have said Tenerife because it’s bigger, has more variety, and a big mountain in the middle 8) Having said that, there are dry, stoney, dusty trails on most of the islands.
I’ve ridden a fair bit in Tenerife, out on my own and guided with Lavatrax. The really good stuff is up in Teide national park but biking isn’t allowed but there is loads of other riding if you can find it. The problem is i couldn’t find any dedicated mountain bike route guides but there is loads of walking routes so buy one of those. The other big plus point is you can fit you bike in the hold of the buses so just get a bus up as high as you can ( the volcano is right in the middle) and explore the way down to the coast
have a look at gran canaria. loads of cheap places to stay around masapolomas (very touristy) but just a short’ish drive inland and you start to hit the mountains and its a bit more foresty than other places.
We’ve biked in Gran Canaria too, plenty there, but not sure how feasible for self guided. More in terms of getting to start/end points than the actual guiding
I’d miss Fuerteventura for MTBing. The only greenery on the island is around the hotels and if you come off your bike and land on the volcanic rocks your are in a whole world of hurt.
I thought that the trails in Fuerteventura were ok, The south of the island has mountains large hills and what it lacks in greenery it makes up for with goats.
Lanzarote has some sweet trails but guiding is best as nothing is marked so finding the best stuff is difficult on your own. if you want some sweet guided riding come and see me at Evolution bikes on las cucharas beach front in costa teguise.
James McKnight who writes for Dirt did a recent piece on one of the Canary islands, I’ll dig it out and post up which issue, with a quick potted synopsis.
no_eyed_deer – Member
Didn’t get much sense from this last night, so I thought I’d try again!
Out of the main cheapo islands, which would you go for to ride XC-ish trails, i.e. no silly freeriding or full-face stuff. I probably won’t have any transport either, so trails from the doorstep would be a plus!
Any of them?
None?
Are the Canaries all just best for lying on the beach and drinking beer?
Hmmm?
Lived in Tenerife for 2.5 years, do alreet in MTB races over here, loads of top tens and top 5 in these national enduro events, even though im 40 FFS !!.
Done all the Canaries, Inc the minute ones like La Gomera (F00kin very mountainous) and would vote for Tenerife first of all.
Lots of climbing but you can climb as hard as you want in Tenerife.
One photo enclosed which was about 8 years ago of my German training partner Olaf, also quite good for altitude training as the peak you can see is 3718 meters.