Lanzarote. Thursday 2 February. Hairpins on Haria Pass

Lanzarote. Thursday 2 February. Clifftop road leading to Mirador del Rio

Lanzarote. Thursday 2 February. View from Mirador del Rio

Lanzarote. Sunday 29 January to Wednesday 1 February.

Sunday 29 January

Weather today was generally cloudy with a few sunny spells and temperatures getting to 18C. By previous arrangement I rode over to Costa Teguise to meet up with Alan and Liz. I took my usual route going inland and climbing to 1000ft.

Alan and Liz had moved to a very plush all inclusive Hotel for the last few days of their stay after getting a big price reduction for booking out of season at the last minute. There was a side entrance so I was able to get the bike round to their room to park it on the balcony.

Alan and Liz still had their hired car rather than bikes so I joined them in a drive over to the Jameos de Agua caves in the north of the Island. These are caves formed as part of a long lava tunnel from a Volcano to the sea. We had elevenses at a cafe in the caves and then looked round the caves and museum.

We then went on to Orzola on the northern tip of the Island for lunch before going on to a viewpoint at Guiante overlooking Graciosa Island and then returning to Costa Teguise.

I rode back by the same route completing 31 bike miles for the day and 2100ft of climb.

Tuesday 31 January –Search for a front mech.

Weather today was mainly sunny with some cloud in the middle of the day. Temperature got up to 19C.

Over the last few days I had experienced a lot of problems with my front gear changer and after a lot of fiddling I decided that the spring was probably done in. On a previous ride I had noticed a bike shop in La Santa village called Pro Bike. Today I rode over there. The English couple running the shop were very helpful and checked it out while I waited and confirmed the spring was finished but they did not have a replacement triple changer. They directed me to a Bike Shop in Arrecife called Cyclemania.

As the Bike shop would be closed from 1.30 to 4.30 I stopped for lunch back up the hill at Tinajo and then found a back road into the capital via Guime. The bike shop was easy to find being opposite the only high rise building in Lanzarote. I stopped in a cafe next to the bike shop and got talking to a couple from the Lake District who belonged to the CTC and had been admiring my Roberts Bike.

When the bike shop opened they found a Campag Mirage triple changer and fitted it while I waited. I had a pleasant ride back along the prom/cyclepath which runs for 6 miles on the seaward side of Playa Honda and the Airport to Matagorda and then the seafront road back into Puerto Del Carmen.

Mileage for the day was 45 with 2500ft of climb.

Wednesday 1 February. Volcanoes Ride.

Today I took a short ride taking in the lava fields and Volcanoes. Weather was mainly sunny in the morning clouding over in the afternoon and temperatures getting up to 18C.

I headed out on byroads up to Conil at 1150ft and then on the road across the Lava fields to Mancha Blanca and on to Timanfaya National Park. At the park boundary I stopped off at the Visitor Centre to learn all about Volcanoes and Lava. Then on to Yaiza and back on the main road with a stop for lunch at the Puerto Calero Marina.

31 miles for the day and 1500ft of climb.

Edwin

Lanzarote. Sunday 29 January. Alan and Liz at Jameos de Agua Caves

Lanzarote. Tuesday 31 January. Cyclepath near Airport

Lanzarote. Wednesday 1 February. Volcano near the National Park

Sunday 29 January - Walberton start
Jill and Harvie set out from Walberton at 10:00 am and took the Madehurst route to Whiteways, then through Amberley to the Willow Cafe at Bury for a coffee break. They continued through Bignor to Tiffins Cafe in Petworth where they met the Chichester Group. The weather was cold and windy with clear skies. They returned with the Chichester group though Cocking.

Sunday 29 January - Chichester Start
Only Phil & Mary were at the Cross at 9:30 which provided the flexibility to return via Runcton to replace a squeaking front wheel, and then take a route out through Tangmere. crossing the A27 and continuing up the hill to Upwaltham, down Duncton Hill, and into the lanes between Duncton and Sutton.

It was a clear, bright day, but with a cold northerly wind which made progress towards the north a struggle at times. We had one interesting encounter with two skittish horses that danced around in the road when they saw bicycles. We continued to Tiffins Cafe in Petworth where we met Richard who had mistaken the start time but still managed to arrive in Petworth ahead of us after negotiating the same skittish horses. We were then joined by Adrian, and a short time later Harvie and Jill arrived from Walberton.

We returned together toward halfway house and then took the Heyshott Road and the dirty lane up to the back of Cocking where we had tea at the Moonlight Cafe. Over Cocking Hill, Harvie went East from Singleton, Adrian disappeared towards Portsmouth, Jill, Richard and Phil & Mary continued down the Centurion Way back to Chichester - Richard being delayed by a puncture.

Lanzarote, Monday 23 January to Thursday 26 January
Monday 23 January

Monday was cloudy but dry with temperatures up to 18C. I got in a good hard bike ride with first a 1100ft climb to the central plateau and then down the main route towards Teguise but turning off on a byroad to descend back to sea level on the far coast at Famara overshadowed by towering 2000ft cliffs. Then a hard uphill climb into the wind via Soo, Tiagua and Masdache to return back via Tias.

38 miles today and 2300ft of climb

Tuesday 24 January

Today there was light rain most of the day so I decided I needed a rest day!!

Wednesday 25 January

Wednesday was a great sunny day with temperatures up to 21C. Today I took another ride over to the far coast but using different lanes. I rode via Tiagua and then a billiard smooth descent to Soo and then down to the coast near Club La Santa (a complex full of cyclists) Then up via Tinajo to the craters and lava fields and a great fast descent back to base via La Asomada. The afternoon was spent sunbathing on the terrace. 37 miles for the day and 2400ft of climbing.

Thursday 26 January

Alan and Liz and taken their hired bikes back and yesterday they hired a car for the rest of their trip. Today they drove over to my apartment for elevenses and then we took a drive round some of the sights of the SW corner of the Island. Weather was warm and sunny most of the day reaching 19C but with one short shower in the middle of the day.

We first went to view El Golfo Crater followed by lunch at a seafront restaurant in El Golfo Village. Then on down the coast to Los Hervideros where the sea has eroded caverns under the lava cliffs. Today the Atlantic rollers were very big pounding over the rocks. Then on to Playa Blanca for tea and cake at a seafront cafe

Edwin

Lanzarote. Wednesday 25 January. Descending towards village of Soo

Lanzarote. Wednesday 25 January. Club La Santa

Lanzarote. Thursday 26 January.Waves pound Las Hervideros

Lanzarote. Thursday 26 January.Alan and Liz on Playa Blanca Seafront

Sunday 22 January. Lanzarote. Costa Teguise.
Today I met up with Alan and Liz again and then we all joined Avryl and her friend who had arrived in Lanzarote for a week last Thursday.

Weather was warm and sunny with temperatures reaching 21C.

I cycled over to Tahiche and met up with Alan and Liz who had cycled over from Costa Teguise. We had elevenses at the cafe for the Cesar Manique Foundation. We then had a look round the Museum which is the former house of the famous sculptor, Architect and Painter. The house is built on a Lava Field with a lower level built out of small caves created from Lava bubbles.

We then cycled down to Costa Teguise to meet up for a lengthy Restaurant meal on a warm sunny terrace with Avryl and her friend before a short walk round to their nearby apartment for tea..

My mileage for the day was 31 with 2100ft of climb.

Edwin