Gran Canaria

OleRodrigo

Heading over in a few weeks and will be based in the south, in Maspalomas. Anyone any tips for cafe stops, recommended routes, recovery establishments, restaurants etc?

1bryan

OleRodrigo wrote: »

Heading over in a few weeks and will be based in the south, in Maspalomas. Anyone any tips for cafe stops, recommended routes, recovery establishments, restaurants etc?

go to free motion in playa del ingles, down by the beach. Buy a route map from them for around 7 euro. That'll give you all the info you need, including cafe stops. But really, if you see a cafe and you fancy a coffee, just stop. All the ones in the mountains are quality.

Old Perry

OleRodrigo wrote: »

Heading over in a few weeks and will be based in the south, in Maspalomas. Anyone any tips for cafe stops, recommended routes, recovery establishments, restaurants etc?

How did ya get on?

OleRodrigo

Old Perry wrote: »

How did ya get on?

Was good. Got a few spins along the GC60 and back along the GC505. Was steeper than I was expecting but great scenery.

Maspalomas is quite touristy though, with lots of traffic.

If I go again to GC, it'll be an airbnb somewhere not far from the airport. Taxi with the bike was 45 each way to Maspalomas.

You need to bring climbing legs, mind you - there are no easy days there. I found Mallorca, Fuerteventura & Lanzarote more agreeable in that regard. You can plan recovery days there.

Recovery in GC is going up 10% + a bit slower

NBar

Been to Maspalomas this year and last and love the climbing, only this year found a great coffee place when not cycling but wanted a good walk on the days not cycling which was every second day, only gripe was the roads that were closed last year still closed so limited my routes, will be back again next year as love the climbs, the roads and the courteous drivers etc

best coffee is this Italian place il caffettino, look it up on Facebook, real Italian community, fresh pastries and the coffee is the best you will get anywhere and very very cheap as well and worth going to early in morning either walking or before a spin

Tenzor07

Going this week for some biking in the dry and warm temps!

OleRodrigo

God I struggled to find good coffee in Maspalomas.

il caffettino - Noted.

1bryan

OleRodrigo wrote: »

God I struggled to find good coffee in Maspalomas.

il caffettino - Noted.

La Esquina in San Fernando. As you cycle up that first hill through the built-up area if you're heading from Maspalomas towards the climb to Fataga. It's at the first or second roundabout. Lovely coffee and good tapas.

OleRodrigo

1bryan wrote: »

La Esquina in San Fernando. As you cycle up that first hill through the built-up area if you're heading from Maspalomas towards the climb to Fataga. It's at the first or second roundabout. Lovely coffee and good tapas.

Think I saw it, after the turn off to LIDL... just before the start of the GC60. Actually there was a couple of riders stopped there too.

The damage had already been done at that point though. Sachets of ' gold blend ' from the local grocer.

Old Perry

So I've been thinking of heading of to warmer climate for some cycling, had GC in mind and then I heard about the climbing. I've very little climbing experience. So had a look at Tenerife, this seems to be the same but not as hard-core.

Anybody with exp. of both able to advise. I'm a beginner by all means and would intend on this being mostly leisure and fitness oriented, would like to enjoy it rather than kill myself slogging up hills every day.

lukegjpotter

I'm heading over just before Christmas. Aiming for two climbs of Pico de las Nieves during the week. I'll be using the Strava route generator extensively to avoid going up the steep grades.

Alpe du Zwift will be getting a few reps, once they get rid of this New York bulloni.

Old Perry wrote: »

I've very little climbing experience. So had a look at Tenerife

Are we talking about the same Tenerife? Are you mental?
Maybe cycling up the volcano from the Northside.
The Southside, more touristy (English Speaking), would be tougher.

Might I recommend Sierra Nevada with http://www.sierranevada.cc/ , it was my first climbing holiday and the climbs are nice. A group just came back from there and the temperature was very high teens, so you'd want to go quick.

Old Perry

Thanks . Will have a look at that..... for next time. I threw caution to the wind a few days ago. I'll be heading to gran canaria at the end of the month for 5 days. Will take it as it comes have routes fairly well researched so I'm not caught out. Looking forward to it, with apprehension ðŸ˜

1bryan

lukegjpotter wrote: »

I'm heading over just before Christmas. Aiming for two climbs of Pico de las Nieves during the week. I'll be using the Strava route generator extensively to avoid going up the steep grades.

curious to know the route you end up taking. The most direct route would seem to be from maspalomas to ayacata, via fataga, then up to Pico via Roque Nublo, but the road does go back down across the east of the island. I've never cycled that one, but have driven it. The road goes on forever. I guess it depends on where you're based when there also.

cunavalos

1bryan wrote: »

curious to know the route you end up taking. The most direct route would seem to be from maspalomas to ayacata, via fataga, then up to Pico via Roque Nublo, but the road does go back down across the east of the island. I've never cycled that one, but have driven it. The road goes on forever. I guess it depends on where you're based when there also.

Probably one of the tougher ways up to the summit is "La Pasadilla" via Ingenio. Those who have done the Summit Tour with Free Motion are probably familiar with the route but normally their tour descends this way after climbing through Fataga - Ayacata.

The Strava for the segment is https://www.strava.com/segments/711517
This climb also features as the Hill Climb part of the annual cycle tour sportive festival held in December. I have only descended this way and can imagine it is a bit of a grind all the way up.

Old Perry

https://www.flickr.com/photos/69847162@N06/45990707521/in/dateposted-public/

Well that was epic. I've never had so much fun on a bike as chasing cars down some of them hills. I started out from peurto mogan, so probably one of the easier routes from what I have read, I have no gps or tech on board but left at 9am ish and back in apartment about 3/3.30. I'm just happy I made it to the top having tried the 1st day I was here and giving up, took it easy the second and managed it today.

I'm a bit sore now, reckon the bike was slightly to big for me, cannondale supersix evo, but how and ever it was well worth it. Gonna be very hard to go back to my alu frame and winter/ waterproof gear 😣

1bryan

Old Perry wrote: »

https://www.flickr.com/photos/69847162@N06/45990707521/in/dateposted-public/

Well that was epic. I've never had so much fun on a bike as chasing cars down some of them hills. I started out from peurto mogan, so probably one of the easier routes from what I have read, I have no gps or tech on board but left at 9am ish and back in apartment about 3/3.30. I'm just happy I made it to the top having tried the 1st day I was here and giving up, took it easy the second and managed it today.

I'm a bit sore now, reckon the bike was slightly to big for me, cannondale supersix evo, but how and ever it was well worth it. Gonna be very hard to go back to my alu frame and winter/ waterproof gear ��

the climb from Porto de Mogan to Ayacata is beautiful. Definitely not the hardest on the island, but still tough enough (mostly because there are really steep sections late on). Heading over myself in a couple of weeks. Can't wait to give this one a go again. The road along the south of the island had been closed the last couple of times I was over, so it wasn't possible to get to the climb.

Old Perry

1bryan wrote: »

the climb from Porto de Mogan to Ayacata is beautiful. Definitely not the hardest on the island, but still tough enough (mostly because there are really steep sections late on). Heading over myself in a couple of weeks. Can't wait to give this one a go again. The road along the south of the island had been closed the last couple of times I was over, so it wasn't possible to get to the climb.

Those last 11km from the coffee stop up past roque nublo to the top, nearly had me turn around. If I'd known it was like that I would have paced myself a bit better. I was slightly pissed off watching these middle aged germans pass me on there electric mtbs, converstion in free flow, as I had stoped for break panting my lungs out.

I wanted to do a cycle from peurto mogan to masapalomas but was informed by the freemotion guys that the road was closed and the only option was to go up as far as gc605 and back down.

Will definitely be back here jan/Feb, only question is will I base in mogan again or not. Fantastic place, as another poster said though, you need to bring your climbing legs, it's not really a leisure destination for cycling.

1bryan

Old Perry wrote: »

Those last 11km from the coffee stop up past roque nublo to the top, nearly had me turn around. If I'd known it was like that I would have paced myself a bit better. I was slightly pissed off watching these middle aged germans pass me on there electric mtbs, converstion in free flow, as I had stoped for break panting my lungs out.

I wanted to do a cycle from peurto mogan to masapalomas but was informed by the freemotion guys that the road was closed and the only option was to go up as far as gc605 and back down.

Will definitely be back here jan/Feb, only question is will I base in mogan again or not. Fantastic place, as another poster said though, you need to bring your climbing legs, it's not really a leisure destination for cycling.

yep, section is fairly eyeball-popping.

Out of interest, where is the road closure? If you made it to Ayacata, it must be somewhere between there and San Bartolome?

Old Perry

1bryan wrote: »

yep, section is fairly eyeball-popping.

Out of interest, where is the road closure? If you made it to Ayacata, it must be somewhere between there and San Bartolome?

I wanted to cycle the coast to masapalomas via the gc500, guy in free motion informed that road is closed a few kms out of peurto de mogan. Only other options then are gc1 or the long way round .

cunavalos

Hadn't realised the road closure was as bad. A small stretch from Taurito to Puerto Mogan is affected but it looks like it is a permanent closure due to the damage from a major rockfall.

They will not be repairing the road and most likely a new tunnel will be required parallel to the motorway (GC1) with a 3-5 year timeline. Looking at youtube videos of the damaged section, it does look ropey enough

Its a real shame as the cycle from Maspalomas to Puerto Mogan for an ice cream and back was the closest to a recovery spin on the island.

Probably the only option now from Maspalomas is to go via the Soria climb GC505 after El Pajar and follow signs for Presa las Ninas. If memory serves me right this last section is fairly rough and steep and there were official-ish no cycling signs.

Old Perry

cunavalos wrote: »

They will not be repairing the road and most likely a
Probably the only option now from Maspalomas is to go via the Soria climb GC505 after El Pajar and follow signs for Presa las Ninas. If memory serves me right this last section is fairly rough and steep and there were official-ish no cycling signs.

Think this is the route freemotion said I would need to take.

1bryan

cunavalos wrote: »

Hadn't realised the road closure was as bad. A small stretch from Taurito to Puerto Mogan is affected but it looks like it is a permanent closure due to the damage from a major rockfall.

They will not be repairing the road and most likely a new tunnel will be required parallel to the motorway (GC1) with a 3-5 year timeline. Looking at youtube videos of the damaged section, it does look ropey enough

Its a real shame as the cycle from Maspalomas to Puerto Mogan for an ice cream and back was the closest to a recovery spin on the island.

Probably the only option now from Maspalomas is to go via the Soria climb GC505 after El Pajar and follow signs for Presa las Ninas. If memory serves me right this last section is fairly rough and steep and there were official-ish no cycling signs.

It's fine to cycle up it. The surface is dodgy in places but at no point will you ever be cycling fast up there (due to it's 17% slopes!). I've seen those no-cycling signs but have no idea why they're there. I've never seen to many up there and, any time I've cycled up, it's rare you'd meet a car.

Shame about that rockslide. That road has been plagued with rockslides since I started going to GC about 15 years ago. They must just have gotten the road reopened at Arguineguin when this happened. I guess that's what happens when you build a road on a pile of dust!

I'm staying in Maspalomas. It's disappointing Mogan is cut off but there are plenty of other options on the east/southeast of the island.

Thanks for posting the video. Looks passable on foot but my fear of heights will prevent me from trying it!.

meercat

I’ve been there twice this year and it’s passable with your road bike. You’ll have to lift it around 2 barriers and Armco at the side of the road. Lots of walkers still use this road.
There is a fine if you’re caught but I’ve never seen anyone around enforcing it.
There is a ferry from Puerto Rico to puerto Mogan hourly that you can bring your bike on too

Safe travels

1bryan

meercat wrote: »

I’ve been there twice this year and it’s passable with your road bike. You’ll have to lift it around 2 barriers and Armco at the side of the road. Lots of walkers still use this road.
There is a fine if you’re caught but I’ve never seen anyone around enforcing it.
There is a ferry from Puerto Rico to puerto Mogan hourly that you can bring your bike on too

Safe travels

might be one for a weekend day then. I've climbed over roadworks/rockfalls there on 2 occasions in the past. There'd be lads on the road works during the week and they'd stop you, but not a sinner at the weekend. Though it sounds like, in this case, there aren't even road works there. I might chance it.

meercat

I passed midweek. No sign of any activity at all. You’ll be alright

SwissToni

I’ve gone over it on a few occasions bit of pain climbing over Armco but not too bad.
Only found out recently you can get fined, I’ll be keeping an eye out next time.
Just remember it’s closed for a reason, the cliff face above is unstable don’t hang about to long under it and avoid going up after rain or in strong winds.

devonp

heading over to Playa del Ingles after Xmas.


will hire a bike for 2-3 spins; what hire places are best, Free Motion pops up a lot on Google?


what climbs do i need to do, better to do a group or go solo ( kinda prefer)

Tea2

devonp wrote: »

will hire a bike for 2-3 spins; what hire places are best, Free Motion pops up a lot

I rented with Free Motion a few weeks ago and found them fantastic, highly recommended. Well worth joining one of their tours on your first day, takes away the hassle of planning and the guides will be happy to help you choose some routes for your solo days.

1bryan

devonp wrote: »

heading over to Playa del Ingles after Xmas.


will hire a bike for 2-3 spins; what hire places are best, Free Motion pops up a lot on Google?


what climbs do i need to do, better to do a group or go solo ( kinda prefer)

from play del finglas the best route to do would be to head across to San Fernando and find the climb across to Fataga. That takes you to about 900m. Then you can continue up to Cruz Grande and over to Ayacata (around 1200m). If you're really feeling strong turn right in Ayacata for the shortish killer climb up to Roque Nublo, and continue on up to Pico de las Nieves (~1600m) if you really like climbing. Then come back down the same way, either doubling back on the climb you went up, or go back via Santa Lucia - head across to the CG500 and cycle back in the coast (just be mindful of the wind direction on this road - can be a killer if it's a headwind).

A nice, shorter climb (but fairly stiff), is up to Soria. Cycle along the south coast of the island for about 10km til you get to a roundabout at Arguineguin. Cycle into the valley (follow signs for Las Fillipinas/Soria). After about 12km of a 1-3% drag the road goes up. Soria is at about 650m and you can get coffee there. Alternatively, if you really like steep stuff, once you get to the top of that climb, there's a left turn that takes you up a broken (but not too bad) road. That has gradients of up to 20% on it and is about 4km long. When you reach the top of that climb, you can descend over to the road coming from Mogan, which will take you to Ayacata if you choose to continue climbing.

The third option is to cycle right across the south of the island, to Mogan. Cycle up to Mogan village. About 2-3 miles past Mogan village there's a right turn that takes you into a forest, for one of the most beautiful climbs you will ever do. Eventually that road will meet the route in the previous paragraph.


It depends on your standard and how fit you are. There isn't much flat stuff over there. If you're in Free Motion you can pick up a route map there for a fiver.

devonp

GC report






hired a C'dale synapse from Free Motion and did their Pico de las Nieves challenge on Wed, signed on for the hobby level but was able to keep with the sport level when the groups split, hard enough climb but great views from the top, descended the same route(group decided to do that rather than going east which has a very steep downhill with bad surface according to the guide)


on friday did my own thing, as above sugg by 1Byran, -coast then up to Soria (coffee) over the broken road (Tauro Pass?) and over to Ayacata and up to PdlN again and straight back down the long hill to Playa de Ingles


we rented a car for one day and drove down the GC210 (which is described as the VOTT lite!! going up) a very stressful drive but would be a great cycle up from Mogan and very hard...what is the real VOTT be like ?? anyone here done it?

free motion do a route but the days didn't suite me


and the GC500 from Puerto de Mogan is still closed so had to take the GC1 back in the car


thanks to all above for the advice

1bryan

devonp wrote: »

GC report






hired a C'dale synapse from Free Motion and did their Pico de las Nieves challenge on Wed, signed on for the hobby level but was able to keep with the sport level when the groups split, hard enough climb but great views from the top, descended the same route(group decided to do that rather than going east which has a very steep downhill with bad surface according to the guide)


on friday did my own thing, as above sugg by 1Byran, -coast then up to Soria (coffee) over the broken road (Tauro Pass?) and over to Ayacata and up to PdlN again and straight back down the long hill to Playa de Ingles


we rented a car for one day and drove down the GC210 (which is described as the VOTT lite!! going up) a very stressful drive but would be a great cycle up from Mogan and very hard...what is the real VOTT be like ?? anyone here done it?

free motion do a route but the days didn't suite me


and the GC500 from Puerto de Mogan is still closed so had to take the GC1 back in the car


thanks to all above for the advice

great stuff, you got some great miles in. The cycle from Ayacata to Pico is tough going. Some really steep stuff right the way to the very top. And, as you say, the views there are breathtaking. I loved cycling up there, then descending back to Ayacata for lunch.

I've never done the VOTT but have been up it in the car. Never did it because I figured, at my fitness level, it would wipe you out for a day or two afterwards (would be 80km from where I stay to even get to the bottom of the climb), which isn't ideal if you're only out there for a week,

As a climb, it's bonkers. As you said, it's a stressful drive with lots of unprotected drops. Gradients are off the scales mental, and it goes on and on and on. Often meant to drive across to St.Nicholas and try and cycle it from there. But much respect to anyone that ever made it up.

And, the other climbs mentioned are actually enjoyable, and sufficiently challenging for most people. There are enough routes to fill up a week without needing to do the VOTT so I'll leave that one way down the bottom of my to-do list.

ford2600

devonp wrote: »

we rented a car for one day and drove down the GC210 (which is described as the VOTT lite!! going up) a very stressful drive but would be a great cycle up from Mogan and very hard...what is the real VOTT be like ?? anyone here done it?

I did it for my 39th birthday in 14 according to Strava.

We were staying in Playa de Mogan and it was in middle of 100km loop via San Nicolas. Strava calculated something ridiculous with over 5000m climbing but it wasn't much with half that I would think.


I took a right turn off the GC-210 which is the hard way up I think. It's not easy but it shouldn't give you too much bother. I actually ran out of water half way up the climb and got it in some private house.


Brilliant descent down to the junction with GC 200

Enduro

Did 4 spins over Christmas. Will post up photos in the photo thread if I get around to it. Home base was Meloneras. Hired a hybrid, Connondale Quick 1 Disk, I think, (last minute change from road bike) from Free Motion. All good with them.

Spin 1: Warm up
Maspolomas out to El Doctoral on GC500, then up GC65 to Ayacata via Santa Lucia and San Bartolme (GC60 from there). A good starting climb. Back down on GC605, taking the left turn past the "no cycling" signs on the nice steep zig zags down to GC505. Then down the "alpe du huez" zig zags and long nearly flat run out to the coast and back to base via GC500.

A good opening spin. Only stops were for map reading, but plenty of opportunities in the villages, and good scenery.

Spin 2: Top of the Island
Head for the top... straight into it up (and down and up) GC60 via Fataga, and then repeating the upper section from San Bartolme to Ayacata. Turned onto GC600 there, and OMG finally found the steep stuff. Was down to secons lowest gear at one or two points. Once passed the parking sports for Rogue Nublo the slopes returned to something a bit less intense. Onto GC130, then GC134 to the top. Great views up there. started the return on GC130. Nice flowy descent. Intended to take the turn onto GC120, but confused myself with map reading too fast and missed it. So ended up North of the Airport in Telde a lot further from Meloneras than intended. Headed down GC100, which was actually grand for cycling. Luckily headwind wasn't too bad, and managed to make it back before sunset (just). Saw much more of the island than intended. Big day!

Spin 3: VOTT
Headed out for Puerto de Mogan on GC500. Enjoyed this section a lot. Lifted the bike over the barriers and joined about 100 people (99 walkers, one other cyclist!) on the closed section from Tarito to PdM. Cycled it all. Very obvious why it was closed to cars! Then up GC200 to Mogan itself, and onwards to La Aleda de San Nickolas. Took a while to make it to here, as lots of up and down, but very enjoyable roads for cycling. Then onto GC210 and Valley of the Tears. Big deterioration in road quality, but hardly mattered. some nice steep section up past 2 damns. Going passed the second of them I was thinking I had the back broken on the climbs as the views were really opening up. Boy was I wrong. Map check at the juntion of GC606 and realised I was going up it. Holy feck. I have rarely ever needed to use the bottom gear on a road cycle, but I must have been 20 minutes climbing here on the floor. And it kept on giving. Definitely the toughest climb I found, but so so rewarding. Views were super. And yes, there is no shop/cafe anywhere on the climb, so be aware of that. By the time I had topped out and was descending into Ayacata I knew I had done enough for the day, so descended down the previous spin's climb on GC60, with one or two little kicker climbs on the way to keep things honest.

A super spin, but doing it as a big loop like this is a big day out. Free Motion drive people out to Mogan and start the "loop" from there on their spin. Well worth it though.

Spin 4: "Alpe Du Huez"
Out a short section GC500 along the coast to Santa Agueda, and then up the valley along day 1's decent on GC505 with a gentle climb to Las Filipinas. All grand to there, then the climb kicks in. Nice relentless zig zagging climb of about 600 meters to Barabquillo Andres. A left turn there onto the poor quality "no cycling" road, which kicks up even steeper. Onto 2nd from bottom gear for a lot of this. Not quite as steep as VOTT, but nearly! Bt the time the road reaches the GC605 junction about 1000 meters has been climbed. Up GC605 to Ayacata seemed much easier than anticipated after that. Took a long-cut back, branching off GC60 at San Bartolome to head to Santa Lucia, where I took my first and last ice cream stop. Then cliumbed out on GC550. Took that to the GC551 junction just before Aguimes, taking that back to return onto GC65. Returned from there back along GC500 and dropped the bike back.

An easier day, but still plenty of interest. A good mix of harder and easier sections.

Overall it was superb. I think Tenerife is probably a bit harder in general, but GC has more variety. Both make for excellent cycling holidays.

Tenzor07

Enduro wrote: »

Did 4 spins over Christmas. Will post up photos in the photo thread if I get around to it. Home base was Meloneras. Hired a hybrid, Connondale Quick 1 Disk, I think, (last minute change from road bike) from Free Motion. All good with them.

Can't believe you didn't go MTB'ing?

Enduro

Tenzor07 wrote: »

Can't believe you didn't go MTB'ing?

Yeah, I'd heard so much about how epic GC is for MTBing from Robin his crew for years before I ever got there. My first trip there many many years ago had me hiring a MTB and exploring under my own steam. That was the days before useful portable online mapping sites, or indeed any useful mapping of any kind that I could find, so anything I found was near random. I only "discovered" LOTR on a descent in an ultra running race there a few years ago... epic trail though! I wasn't able to figure out where TF I had managed to get to on my first trip on my most recent one though, dammit!

Tenzor07

Enduro wrote: »

Yeah, I'd heard so much about how epic GC is for MTBing from Robin his crew for years before I ever got there. My first trip there many many years ago had me hiring a MTB and exploring under my own steam. That was the days before useful portable online mapping sites, or indeed any useful mapping of any kind that I could find, so anything I found was near random. I only "discovered" LOTR on a descent in an ultra running race there a few years ago... epic trail though! I wasn't able to figure out where TF I had managed to get to on my first trip on my most recent one though, dammit!

GC is the best place for Winter MTB, weather is more reliable than Southern Spain and Italy too...

lukegjpotter

They've built a wall at the broken road in Playa de Mogan now.
You need to ride 2km on the GC-1 to get to Mogan.

Katie Butler on Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/2172780328

YouTube Evidence:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mS8r_hgHOks

1bryan

yeah, ridiculous. Or get the ferry from Argeneguin to Mogan. Either way, a pain in the hole. The wall went up in the last week and people have been jumping it.

Will take them a few years to build the tunnel around the broken road too. Obviously the the local auyunamiento don't place too much worth on cyclo-tourism, which is a real shame, cos it contributes millions to the local economy there. Certainly a lot more than a cycle path through the bit that's now impassable.

Raam

In fairness, it's for our own safety. Who wants to be the one on it when it collapses even more?

Anatoly

Planning this route next week so glad to know it'll be a few 100m less of climbing for the day.

Is it technically legal to go on the Gc1 on a bike?

1bryan

Anatoly wrote: »

Planning this route next week so glad to know it'll be a few 100m less of climbing for the day.

Is it technically legal to go on the Gc1 on a bike?

technically, probably not.

Apparently you don't, strictly speaking, ride on the motorway itself. It's just a slip road, and ride the opposite way on it, against traffic, like.

Just heard that second hand so don't know how true it is.