Biking in Tenerife

[petersen]

Hi Bikers.
I want to go to Tenerife this winter as I heard it is a really good training ground. I have a flight from 15.01.2012 till 22.01.2012 and I probably stay in the south. I would like to go up to Teide mountain wich is the highest mountain in Spain-must be awsome!
So my question is: Is there anyone who has the same plans- does anyone want to go up together as is more fun and motivating? So if you are in the south of tenerife in january let me know! i th¡nk i´ll get a ridley carbon racebike at http://www.medanobike.com. I heard it´s a really good way to get a bike on tenerife, not a least because it´s kind of a hassle to take the bike on the plane!

 

[bicing]

I have a friend there called Eufemiano, he can hook you up with some training buddies called Frank, Ivan, Jan, Jesus, Michele and Oscar. If you see a guy with his face on his shirt, don't pass him or he'll whoop you. Good luck.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

I have never been, but I would think TF-24 would be a spectacular ride if you like hills, as it goes through the spine of the island and Mt. Teide National Park. Just Google it, you'll see what I mean.

For the morbidly curious, a fascinating place to visit would have to be Los Rodeos airport at the end of TF-24, the site of the world's worst air disaster, when two 747's collided on take-off in 1977.

 

[kielbasa]

Yeah, it's a great place to get ready for racing. Not sure about riding a bike though.

[sarcasm]

 

[LugHugger]

I got back last weekend. The best place imo to stay IS Medano. It's a 5 minute transfer from the airport and as you say has a bike hire shop Bike Medano run by Harold, a really friendly German guy and a couple of young German mechanics. The town is very Spanish still despite the islands reputation. This may have to do with the permanent wind which blows along the south coast and makes it a mecca for windsurfers and kite boarders. The first 10kms or so out of town up to Granadilla are pretty mellow gradient-wise probably about 6%. Once in Grenadilla take a left on to TF21 for some serious elevation gain - 27kms of climbing, some of it quite steep especially above Vilaflor, takes you to 2200m and the edge of the crater and some pretty breathtaking views. It took me 4 hours to ride 39kms stopping every 30 mins to rehydrate (it was mid 30's!) and get a gel or bar down me. Descent time crater to sea level: 45mins

 

[Arnout]

I have never been, but I would think TF-24 would be a spectacular ride if you like hills, as it goes through the spine of the island and Mt. Teide National Park. Just Google it, you'll see what I mean.

For the morbidly curious, a fascinating place to visit would have to be Los Rodeos airport at the end of TF-24, the site of the world's worst air disaster, when two 747's collided on take-off in 1977.

Most roads in the island are spectacular, you can also take the pass in the North West of the island starting from Santiago del Teide to the village of Masca. Small road but well-paved and breathtaking views.

The road to the Teide is wide, not a lot of traffic there and very well paved too. I rode up there this summer (in a car I have to add ) and it looked quite cycling friendly as no-one drives fast or reckless.

I by the way landed and took of from Tenerife North. There is permanent fog on that airport. From the terminal we could see the sky was clear at the end of the runway, on the runway itself the visibility was well below 50m (to give you an idea, at one point we couldn't see the back of the (small island hopping) plane that was waiting in front of the terminal. It stayed this way for 2 hours while we were waiting (we were delayed, flights didn't stop though surprisingly) until it finally cleared up a bit when it was our turn to take off. Not surprised at all that a big plane crash happened there.

 

[petersen]

I have a friend there called Eufemiano, he can hook you up with some training buddies called Frank, Ivan, Jan, Jesus, Michele and Oscar. If you see a guy with his face on his shirt, don't pass him or he'll whoop you. Good luck.

Haha well if the guys who you recommend for biking in Tenerife will whoop my *** maybe i should consider going solo but thanks anyway!