Winter Gravel in Lanzarote

[@chrisbaker544]

Just watched a video this morning on another channel about bikepacking across all the Canary Isles - and seeing you post this here tonight is starting to make me want to explore them too! The landscapes are fabulous - I find these wide open, austere volcanic regions have a beauty all of their own. I can well imagine taking a tumble on those sharp and spiky lava rocks would be very unpleasant (they are not pumice by the way - thats a much lighter coloured rock with much finer gas pockets & chemically different from basalts - you held up a piece of scoria, a dark, sharp, gas-pocket filled piece of basaltic lava thats a common component of cinder cones). As usual, another inspiring video - looking forward to the next ones!😎👍

[@arnoldmonk6381]

I was walking part of your route in December, hardly anyone around. Usually go to Lanzarote twice a year to cycle off road and walk, you don’t need to go far to have the place to yourself. Didn’t cycle in December, did the half marathon and needed a few days off, added to which the mountain bike hire shop I have used for years has closed. There are sections where getting off to walk makes a lot of sense, falling onto lava doesn’t bear thinking about. Sea kayaking is also excellent in Lanzarote, highly recommended.

[@bobwightman1054]

In the mid 1990s I did some work on a seismic exploration survey in Oman. The rock was, I think, Oolitic Limestone. Whatever, it was razor like *and* extremely hot (temps got over 50C on many occasions), if you fell the cuts were as if by a hot knife. I still have the scars on my legs. We'd carry closed cell foam camping mats because if anyone got injured they would literally bake just lying on the ground.

[@cyclinginberlin]

Thank you for your new adventure, sir! You are an Inspiration!

[@fastfreddy19641]

Just got back from Fuertaventure yesterday. The conditions there are similar. A nice off road ride across the desert is from Morro able to put jandia in the south.

[@lorraineglobe6892]

Loved watching this! I go road cycling in Lanzarote every Xmas & the weather is amazing & most of the roads smooth & fast. The wind is a constant irritant though - I’ve had a few days where it has been too dangerous to ride!

[@HughDWallace]

I love my Topstone! Albeit I use it as a road bike for 'winter' (ie. all year round in Scotland) riding. Thank you for bringing Lanzarote to my attention.

[@ridethelakes]

I am writing this from Tenerife, the gravel riding here is also spectacular. Warmer than the other islands too, its been a steady 23-25 degrees throughout, not a cloud in the sky. Only a bit of a breeze.

[@alwaysanotheradventure]

We’ll be there next month - but on foot not bike. Then to La Gomera.

[@markianross]

@@alwaysanotheradventure La Gomera is a stunning island! One of my favourites in the Canaries.

[@ChuckHarris-go5nz]

Excellent video thank you for sharing your beautiful ride

[@dalefoster4561]

Great production. Can't help feeling you sound like John Craven 👍

[@alwaysanotheradventure]

It has been said...

[@FoobsTon]

Great video. The stuff you're getting with that drone is great. Hope it's not too much faff. Many thanks.

[@Ecoroof1986]

Great video. My wife and I have just booked a week there in March. Never been before so on the lookout for routes (gravel bikes). Hopefully, the wind calms down a bit, but I doubt it.

[@alwaysanotheradventure]

Have fun!

[@williambrazil3760]

I'm laughing to myself as I gave up on those in the Parque Natural on a rented 28mm road bike, looks great

[@guido9762]

Out there this Friday for three weeks road, gravel and mountain biking - can’t wait. Effectively a “hot” Iceland 😀. Much prefer this to mainland Spain. Club la Santa a fantastic base for cyclists for the best cycling routes ion the island. Enjoy!

[@alwaysanotheradventure]

I’m jealous

[@bigsurxl]

Really interesting to see so much love for Lanzarote here. For me personally the scenery is just too bleak and harsh - I'd honestly rather ride in Scotland in full winter kit where at least I'll see trees, rivers, greenery etc. I have been to Club La Santa once but would not rush back for that reason.

[@andrewphelps9952]

OMG!......it's just clicked where I recognise that voice! Been watching your videos for the last year and it was bugging me how familiar your voice sounded.....BBC Look North News in the 80s with Mike Neville and Wendy Gibson...I was just a wee bairn.

[@alwaysanotheradventure]

It sometimes feels like an entirely different life Andrew - but well spotted!

[@matauboy]

Makes me laugh. Here in NZ in the sixties I grew up riding gravel roads on my Raleigh and now it's a thing😮 Mind you I still enjoy it.

[@VividCollectiveWorks]

Like Central Oregon 🙂

[@alwaysanotheradventure]

Yes! I remember that bit while walking the PCT

[@GreigStephen]

Hi Simon how strange I am just back from Lanzarote and done a 89 k gravel epic ( walking / climbing with my hired heavy emtb) really enjoyed it and all of your videos great work keep it up 👍🏻

[@alwaysanotheradventure]

That sounds really hard-core!

[@Mike-3745]

Amazing Mini documentary. I follow on Komoot too and I’m wondering if is possible to see where the route would be better if you walked? When I safe my route in Komoot I can only select one variable like eg “gravelbike”

[@alwaysanotheradventure]

You’d save my Komoot track to your account then switch to Hiking. However, I’ not sure how good the Open Source Map data is on Lanza.

[@figmoisp]

Are you coming also to Tenerife? Very good election this paradise (Canary Islands) for biking or running.

[@alwaysanotheradventure]

I'll be walking there next month but not on the bike

[@thecycle2worker152]

Is there still a concrete skateboard half pie in the middle of La Santa Village ?

[@alwaysanotheradventure]

I can’t remember - so much stuff!

[@ianrobertson8514]

The Canaries, and especially Gran Canaria, offer a much more challenging/rewarding road biking experience than Majorca. As those who know like to say "Gran Canaria for cyclists and Majorca for tourists". All joking apart I have owned properties in the South of Spain and on Majorca over the last 3 decades and had plenty of road cycling experience in both locations so feel well versed in the pros and cons of both. As luck would have it I jet off to GC first thing tomorrow for my 3rd cycling trip there this Winter. As you experienced, Lanzarote can be just a touch too windy and indeed a little cool in the depths of Winter. The road cycling there, however, can also be very enjoyable .............. try cycling on Majorca's main arterial roads whereas on Lanzarote's LZ1 it can be a very fast and rewarding experience.

[@FoobsTon]

Yeah. I love GC for roadbiking. The weather and Western movie type scenery is fabulous. Have you rode The Valley of Tears? Any thoughts on it? Haven't tried it yet myself. Even the name is terrifying.

[@ianrobertson8514]

It’s tough - and it is now quite tricky to access due to semi-permanent coast road closure at Pt Mogan. Favourite climb is Soria which is GC’s Alpe d’Huez.

[@FoobsTon]

@@ianrobertson8514 Yep, done Soria & Serenity. It's a pisser about that road closure although I hear you can get the ferry from Puerto Rico quite easily. Haven't done Pico de las Nieves so that'll have to be done this year.

[@jamble7k]

not quite scotland is it 😂

[@JamesFryerCreative]

👍

[@AlessioCondotta]

Thanks for the video! In Lanzarote which shop do you recommend to rent a gravel/mtb bike?

[@alwaysanotheradventure]

Choice of bikes are part of the package at Club la Santa so I don't rent them, sorry.

[@infocuslearning]

Give me Scotland any day.

[@FoobsTon]

Not when it's pisching sideyways!

[@ridethelakes]

For about 3 days of the year I would agree with you!