Endless kilometer - “International Bike Weeks”

Posted: Wednesday November 19, 2008

Exploration of Lanzarote different than usual – by bike!

Another edition of the “International Bike Weeks” took place at Club La Santa during the last two weeks. From October 30th to November 14th well-known hosts like Rolf Aldag, Andreas Klier, Jakob Piil, Gunnar Asmussen, Tom Kristensen and Hermann “the artist” Reichold, together with the Green Team guides, lead the participants through the fantastic volcanic landscape of Lanzarote. The first week of this two-week bike event was an optimal preparation for the 10th “International Bike Tour of Lanzarote” (see separate article) wherein almost every cyclist of the “International Bike Weeks” participated in. This special tour consisted of the Pro tour (75K, average speed 26 km/h) and the Family tour (55K, average speed 20km/h) and was open to everybody, guests or residents.

The daily bike rides of the “International Bike Weeks” started in the mornings from the Bike Center after a short briefing of the planed tour and the current guides. The participants were divided into three groups that cycled with different speed from 21km/h to 30km/h or even more. Group three didn’t cycle that many kilometers per day than the other two did. It was the slowest group and therefore called “Cappuccino-group”. In spite of the group division, every cyclist had to manage a lot of challenges as Lanzarote’s landscape is very rough, hilly and there is always wind. Unfortunately they had sometimes rain, especially at the first two days and so the road developed into a dangerous glassy surface. As they are all experienced cyclist nobody slipped or injured oneself during these tricky first rides on a slippery road.

The rides during the “International Bike Weeks” were:
Friday: 1st week: Fire Mountains (50K) 2nd week: Mirador del Río (100-130K) or day off
Saturday: 1st week: Famara-Montaña Blanca (55-60K) 2nd week: El Mojon (75K)
Sunday: 1st week: El Golfo (70-80K) 2nd week: “International Bike Tour of Lanzarote” (55/75K)
Monday: Tabayesco (85-130K) on both weeks
Tuesday: La Santa-Tinajo-La Santa (time trial) on both weeks
Wednesday: Femes (75-100K) on both weeks
Thursday: Cesar Manrique (60-65K) on both weeks

Every participant has joined at least one of the former Club La Santa’s Bike Weeks before and was used to cycle under such tough conditions. Some of them will even celebrate their 40th stay at CLS next year! The participants were a mix of “true” cyclists, triathletes or duathletes who used these two weeks for improving their bike skills. About 35 cyclists participated in the first week and about 50 in the second. Some individual cyclists participated just in single days and only a few people did both weeks.

Hermann “the artist” (see left picture on the top), a German-Italian artist, guided his “Cappuccino-group” and even created this year’s t-shirt with the donkey course map. “There is normally always a donkey in Soo but this time we haven’t seen him unfortunately,” noticed Hermann and another cyclist added “but instead of him, there are lots of very thin dogs, maybe waiting for some exhausted cyclists…!” To avoid this, full supply was offered by Tiia, Event Week Coordinator or one of the Green Teamer during each bike ride. After all, every cyclist had to regain their strength and not be dog food.

“It’s so great that all guides are so friendly and helpful,” said Martin enthusiastically after the tour towards Femes on Wednesday during the first week and he continued “although my legs hurt so much I felt really good the way downhill from Tinajo. It was partly quite exhausting, then, I had to concentrate myself very much and had to use my whole body. However it was mostly enjoyable and we had little chats on the side.”

The “International Bike Weeks” didn’t consist just of bike rides! Tim Lawson (on the right side), from Science in Sport cycled not only assiduously with them he also gave a lecture on nutrition both Tuesday evenings. Themed “Nutrition for training, nutrition for racing. What’s the difference???” both participants and guides received useful advises about it and Tim answered all their upcoming questions! Furthermore they had the workshop “How to set up your bike correctly” with Gunnar Asmussen, an active cyclist for more than 40 years who won the gold medal in the 4000m for teams at the Olympics in Mexico in 1968 and also several Nordic Championships. His workshop on Saturday, was an important technical sessions that should be known by every cyclist.

Besides lots of kilometers on the bike, workshops or lectures they had also social activities like the Pool tournament in the “Green Bar” Sunday evening and end each week with a dinner in the restaurant “La Casa”. In the second week they even changed their two bike wheels against four motorized, go go-karting and tried to win against one of the instructors, Tom Kristensen, who has been driving all kinds of racing cars with great successes and won the 24 hours of Le Mans eight times (record).

Once again a successful “International Bike Weeks” with many happy cyclists! Special thanks to all guides and Tiia & team for their great job!!!

Be part of the next “International Bike Weeks” from Oct 30th – Nov 13th 2009! We are looking forward to see you there once again!