Gran Canaria

crashoveroid

Hi All

I'm going to Gran Canaria the first week in Feb can someone let me know how they got on and what the spins are like over.

Thanks
Crash

Victor

It really depends on what you want. Stick to the east coast (Mespalomas-Las Palmas) for flats, anywhere else for mountains. Sunday is the usual cycling day for Euro types.

Be aware that many mountain roads are ill suited to large vehicles, but you will no doubt come across them regularly. Many such roads have concrete / stone pillars and timber rails protecting the cliff side, not proper crash barriers.

Plenty of opportunity in some locations for going off-road, but that can be too mcuh for a bike at times.

biker_joe

Hey crashoveroid

I am there from the 2nd of Feb ... PM me if you want some routes via mapmyride!!!

Biker Joe

Quigs Snr

I have been there a couple of times in the last 2 years. I may PM you on some stuff I wrote about it later if I can find it.

2x4

If you are not bringimg your bike you can hire new Cannondales from Freemotion http://www.free-motion.net/en
They also do organsed rides which I found good value for money. Last January there was just me and another guy out with the guide. I found it good having company and the guide knew some nice places for coffee.
Freemotion have a shop and small coffee area with a large map on the wall with the routes marked out.

elduggo

freemotion is a good little spot (its in playa del ingles, which I don't think was mentioned).

is it mountain biking or road biking though? Freemotion do both, but in terms of routes, etc?

no shortage of them. A severe shortage of flat stuff - even the flattish coast road (from Maspalomas to Las Palmas) has very steep sections. Like wise the coast road across the south of the island from Maspalomas to Puerto Rico (and beyond). The 2 best routes we've found (that'd be myself and biker_joe above) are across that south coast road, and either head to the roundabout for Mogan, and turn right into the hills (after Mogan if you're feeling strong, swing a right up a small countryish type lane about a mile beyond the village - otherwise stay going straight), or the roundabout before the Mogan one (biker_joe might know the name), swing a right there - that road swings through a gently inclining valley, then up a fairly amazing climb. Be warned though, there is an unfinished stretch of road that both these climbs end up coming out on if you're continuing up to Roque Nublo (the island's highest point), and it can be pretty rough if you're riding a carbon (which you will be if you rent a bike from the Free Motion crowd - the shop is run by Germans. Decent enough lot, for Germans!).

Edit: Oh, and the coffee is great everywhere (except maybe the Irish bars), and everywhere has great coffee.

Quigs Snr

The freemotion bikes are top notch, about 22-23 euro a day. Carbon frames, Ultegra gruppos with compacts fitted for the mountains, askium wheels (or shimano depending on the model you pick).

Good shop. 9 of us went for pre-season last year and about half hired bikes from freemotion, only worked out marginally more expensive than transporting one over there, and they fit you properly on it too.

crashoveroid

Hi Guys

Thanks for the replies got some great info and now have a better plan going forward my only problem i can see is lack of using he bike here due to the crap weather but hopefullly a week there will help.