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Winter Sun Tips

I have written down here some of the places I have been to find some winter sun. It is aimed at you bikies that want to get some miles under your belt before the madness of the spring racing season.

Where to go in December & January..

Most of the places I have been to are regular haunts for "oldies" as well as bikes looking to avoid the British weather. In December and January the Canary Islands or Cyprus are favourite. The weather is generally warm enough for shorts but be warned that it can turn bad so don't forget a set of winter gear. The Canary Islands were once volcanoes and are only about 65km from the African coast. Bike riders choices are Lanzarote, Tenerife or Gran Canaria for the Canaries. For Cyprus holiday destinations are in the south as they are still officially at war in the north (but I think they have started selling holidays there)!

A brief description of each;

Lanzarote - I have only been twice and the first time I said never again! I have completely changed my mind after my second visit though. Lanzarote can be windy, I mean windy. On my last visit it was not too bad and the weather was good (shorts and short sleeves everyday, and this was just before Christmas). The roads have generally a good surface but some are a bit bumpy, (especially the red one going north from Uga. You soon learn to avoid this one). There are some reasonable climbs but no real epics. The north of the island is quite hilly and the south flatter. When you are looking for somewhere to stay avoid Puerto del Carmen unless you are out on the town every night! The roads around here are too busy too. I stayed in Playa Blanca on my last visit, this was quiet but with only two roads in and out I thought it would be a problem at first. When I go back I will probably stay there again though. The other main option is Costa Teiguise, this is more to the north with better access to the hills.

Overall - for easy winter miles on a road bike Lanzarote is your best bet in December and January. Don't go thinking it is flat though.

Tenerife - I like it here but it is hard. It has the highest mountain in Spain around 3700m. You can ride your bike up to the plateau at the top which is at 2300m, remember you have actually climbed all of those metres if you stay at the coast. The south of the island is were most Brit package tours go. The main resort being Playa de las Americas with the quieter Los Cristianos next door. I have been about ten times riding my bike to Tenerife in the winter and always stayed at one of these two resorts. If you opt for Las Americas make sure you are inside the motorway somewhere near the water park, but at all cost even if it is free don't stay at Xanadu apartments.

Overall - hard, big days out, very mountainous, busy near Las Americas, a week is plenty but I love it here. If you are looking for flat easy riding you best not leave the airport.

Gran Canaria - Like Lanzarote I said never again after my first visit and I have only been the once. When we went it was in December and it rained, hard. I can remember riding through a puddle that was well over my bottom bracket. This is the problem when it rains in the Canaries the drains just can't handle it. It is not all bad though, the roads are generally good but I do remember a few road that were well surfaced for miles but then just stopping, with no tarmac. We stayed in Puerto Rico, it was generally quiet but the resort is built around a bowl and there are numerous steps. Ask someone else who has been as this is hardly a glowing thumbs-up!

Overall - smaller island, some reasonable climbs, generally quiet roads, be ready for some off-road.

Cyprus - I have only been once here but it was okay. We stayed in Limassol which was alright too. You have a choice of mountains or flat. There are not that many road but they are not too busy and the drivers seem considerate to bikes. The weather was warm and I don't remember any rain, this was in December too.
Overall - ok but I like Spain better, enough roads and a good variety, good hotels. I have worked out why I'm not too keen, I like self catering and we stayed in a hotel - and therefore ate too much! There are apartments to stay in though.

For February, March and April...

The choices increase as the weather improves, there are many organised training camps in mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands. Near Benidorm at a place called Altea is a good bases, Graham Baxter's Sporting Tours organise camps here, I have been many times. This year I am going to Majorca for the first time, it is a favourite for cyclist in March and April. I'm probably one of the few cyclist that have not been.

Altea near Benidorm - With the Col de Rates, and the Tudons close by, plus all the back valleys. It is a great place for some early season training on some generally good quiet roads. Lance Armstrong has been near here for the last couple of years. If it's alright for Lance! Don't try and organise the trip on your own, it is best to go with an organised trip, you will have much more fun and a lot less hassle. The coach drivers have a bit of a turn when they see a bike bag on a full package tour near Benidorm. If you have to hire a car from Alicante to get your bikes to the hotel the few quid you saved will have vanished.
Mountainbiking in Sierra Espuna - I have been here for the last three years for a week, it is great. It is one of Spain's National Parks located in the region of Murcia. It is only a small area but full of singletrack and great trails. Graham Baxter organise trips here all year around.
Majorca - I have heard good reports but I've not been yet. Hilly in the north and flatter elsewhere, so you can avoid the hills. The only bad thing I have heard is the narrow roads and big buses using them. Many cycling holidays are based here. I wrote the first few sentences a few weeks ago, I am now in Port de Pollenca in the north-east of Majorca and have been riding for the past five days. We have been mainly on the flat but have done a few hills in the north. It is January and very quite, it is better than home but not warm. The roads are numerous and you have alot more choice of flat riding than Altea area. The few climbs we have done (around Orient) are a bit Toy Town like. They are narrow and there are many bike riding signs out. This is a popular place to cycle, but a little later in the year.

Overall - easy to avoid the hills and ride all day on the flat. The hills are there is you want them. Very cycling friendly.

Graham Baxter Sporting Tours - as he says, "tours for cyclists organised by cyclists". Road Camps near Altea, mountain biking at Sierra Espuna.
Expedia - good for checking package holiday prices.

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