Finally, we’ve booked a holiday for 2024. All my leave was used up prior to Christmas and I don’t get anymore until April. We needed a break and something to look forward too so we’ve gone for 7 days in Corralejo, Fuerteventura (again!) in April. I’ve lost count how many times I’ve been now. 5 or 6 I think. Usually we go for 10 days but I’m trying to be a bit more conservative with my leave this year so we can get more trips in.
We briefly looked at alternatives in Gran Canaria, Tenerife and Lanzarote, where we went last year. I had visions of riding the Valley of Tears or Mt Teide but alas we have decided to go back to Corralejo because nowhere seems to have the same vibe. It’s a unique place, just nice and chilled. No idiots getting pissed, no loud bar streets and a vibrant live music scene. Plus Sally hasn’t been for a while now and I have. I went with Dan last August. So it was a done deal.
Bike Hire
More importantly though, I needed to hire a bike again. Corralejo is the North of the island and regrettably only has two tarmac roads in and out of the resort and one of them is a motorway now.
No one seemed to think converting a road into a motorway needed a cycle lane too given the lack or roads in and out. Considering how good the infrastructure is around the resort, it’s hard to believe they forgot this one. However you do see riders riding on the hard shoulder to the first junction (approx 2 miles) which is the route of the original road riders used.
Road cycling is pretty limited unless you ride great distances into the centre and south of the island where most road cyclists base themselves. I did take a gravel bike in 2020 and that was ok as it gives you more options. The gravel roads are well used by vehicles and tend to be very washboardy for long periods and rattle the shit out of you without suspension. 650b wheels and fatter 29 inch tyres would help but I can’t justify new wheels for a holiday so hiring an MTB Hardtail it is.
For the past few visits I’ve rented bikes from EasyRiders but their bikes are relatively cheap (and Trek!) and have coil spring forks. For someone my size it’s difficult to get the full benefit of fork travel so I’ve been on the hunt for a hardtail I can hire with an Air fork so I can soften and tune them and I found one!
ProAction Bike Rental is a place I hired a road bike once (before the motorway was built) and they now offer a Cube Reaction Pro kitted out with XT and a RockShox Recon Air Fork. Perfect and booked!
