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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 anyway.
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 BIKE STATION
COSTA TEGUISE 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.
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