Diego Exposito, a former federated cyclist, continues to pedal in his spare time. He is the director of the Club Pelotón de Tenerife, which brings together some 40 members in different categories. Mas three decades of route through Tenerife’s roads They give you the experience you need to give your opinion: «We are aware of the need to preserve our natural spaces. Not only because we are exposed to a penalty of thousands of euros, but because we really believe the idea that conservation is essential ”.
One but: “We would like to be able to organize more tests, because the authorities are more and more strict with the permits.” In this sense, remember that «in 2020 we were able to do very few competitions, because the drawbacks to organize races are very great. And the pandemic complicated everything even more, still »
Exposito calculates that there are «thousands who go out on weekends by bike to the road for fun or training. Most of them do it in a group, like a platoon. ‘ Sometimes, he values, “we meet in the same space with quads or dirt bikes.”
Two by two and to the right.
He advises all cyclists to “comply with the regulations, circulate two by two and always to the right because the road is not only ours. And, if possible, circulate on roads with little traffic ”. Two of the latter stand out: «Las Teresitas (Santa Cruz), on Saturdays and Sundays, from 8 to 11 in the morning, and on weekdays between 5 and 8 in the afternoon; and the TF-28, the old highway of the South ». Diego, a veteran of cycling from Tenerife, corroborates this massive presence and insists that “there are thousands – there are more than 15,000 people linked to this world among users and federated, about 1,000 in the province, the vast majority in Tenerife – those who go out with the bike on the weekend. He argues: «Platoons of 30 or 40 runners are organized in Las Teresitas; from 20 to 30 in the Las Galletas circuit or in a similar number in the North, on the road that goes to Buenavista. There are three areas with a high concentration of cyclists, but there are more ». Exposito analyzes that «the pandemic has been a fundamental factor in exponentially increasing the love of cycling on the Island. It already existed, with events of great tradition such as the Vuelta Ciclista, but now people wanted to go out and enjoy nature ». He sums it up: “There have been those who have sold their boat or a high-end vehicle and changed them for the bike.” He believes that “this trend is here to stay. It is the present and the future. With an added world that is growing more and more, that of the electric bicycle, a real boom ».
Velodrome necessary.
Diego Exposito recalls an old request from the cycling world: «An island velodrome is fundamental and its construction would influence everything that is being debated these days. It would avoid overcrowding on the roads or natural spaces and I would prepare the young people to go out to them with practice on the track ». There, he continues, “the children could play and start in this sport, the parents could be calm, the clubs could organize tests or jinkamas and the older ones could improve their skills.” Remember that “there are some cycling schools like Candelaria that works very well.” But, he concludes, “when push comes to shove, you have to hit the road.”
Benefits for all.
Another voice is that of mountain biking practitioners on the island, defending their specific activity through a manifesto on social networks and rejecting the possibility of new restrictions on access to certain areas. They aim as benefits for the entire community in the first place to contribute to creating an alternative, sustainable and quality tourism modality. Also be a healthy sports practice for the general population, the approach to the natural environment in a non-polluting way or a recreational use compatible with the main tracks. These sources understand that their activity is closely linked to care and respect for nature. As in any group they recognize that there are always some unscrupulous but they are a minority among lovers of this discipline. They request from a policy of promotion of mountain biking to a code of good practices through a means compatible with the conservation of nature. They also ask to elaborate an insular guide of itineraries for mountain biking and propose not to reduce the areas enabled to practice this hobby that is passion. The commitment is to comply with the regulations and collaborate in everything necessary for the preservation of the natural environment. In this sense, cyclists value that their practice “is closely linked to care and respect for nature.” They recognize that it is necessary “to avoid soil degradation caused by inappropriate traffic, as well as noise pollution from noise.” Another unavoidable action involves “not leaving the waste generated during the activity or breaks.” They understand that “animal life must be respected and protected and the life that inhabits the environment should be avoided as much as possible.” Finally, the commitment is to respect all current regulations. In this way, the defenders of this cycling activity in the island nature conclude, “with our effort and responsibility the practice of the different forms of cycling in all its variants will continue to be compatible with respect for our environment.”
Ideal setting
World cycling champions such as the British Chris Froome or the Spanish Alberto Contador have chosen Tenerife for its excellent training conditions. It is possible to find routes that cross the Atlantic coast to those that rise above 2,000 meters of altitude. One of the most complex is the one in the north with a cumulative climb of 2,727 meters challenging, especially in the ascents to the Teide National Park. But there are much more affordable and less tough tours that adapt to possibilities and capabilities. For example, the one that begins in Costa Adeje. They are 70 kilometers between the landscapes of Arona, Granadilla, El Médano or Las Galletas. Another challenge is that of the Mountain Bike when pedaling through endless pine forests.
Forest routes
Five forest routes make up the island’s network of natural trails. Most run through the Corona Forestal, the largest protected landscape in the Canary Islands. As a general rule, cyclists can circulate without restrictions on the forest tracks set up for them, so a special permit is not necessary. A real challenge is Route BC-1, the Northern Route with a total of 84 kilometers on its main route and another 53 between the thirteen derivations and variants. It is the largest on the island as it runs along the entire northern slope, through 15 municipalities and six protected natural spaces. Shorter is the BC-2, that of Monte de La Esperanza. Its 6,559 kilometers are developed entirely within the protected landscape of Las Lagunetas and connects with Las Raices. The route has a bypass of 3.6 kilometers that connects with the La Esperanza camp. The BC-3, Pinar de Chío, traces 9.32 kilometers in the northwest of the island. It runs along part of the forest tracks of Fife and El Canal, between two points on the TF-38. As for the BC-4, that of Pinares del Sur and Volcanes Negros, it has a route of 16.61 kilometers. It runs along part of the southern summit and crosses a landscape of extensive natural pine forests. Finally, the BC-5, called Pinares de Vilaflor, reveals a large part of the municipality, one of the highest villages in Spain. Within the Parque de la Corona Forestal and in one of its most emblematic pine forests. A wide network of possibilities for expert runners or those with little experience. Tenerife is a cyclist’s paradise. Road or mountain.
Balance
Diego Exposito and other consulted defend that cyclists, in general, behave correctly when they go out to enjoy their love of Tenerife’s roads. They acknowledge that there may be exceptions but make it clear that most maintain a scrupulous balance between respecting natural spaces, protected or not, and enjoying outdoor activity. They consider that it is necessary to regulate but not restrict spaces to be able to organize tests. They understand that preserving is compatible with sports activity. A group aware that the key to maintaining their hobby is to respect a nature as rich as that of the Island of Tenerife.
And the Biciclieta Observatory?
In August four years ago, the Cabildo de Tenerife launched the Bicycle Observatory to organize and improve the cycling situation on the Island. A transversal project with the participation of Sports, Environment, Tourism and Roads. It included an awareness campaign to promote respect for cyclists who circulate on Tenerife’s roads and avoid accidents. It was intended to be a meeting forum in which to channel and attend to the demands, proposals and needs of bicycle users, regardless of their type of practice. There were campaigns such as raising awareness among schoolchildren through talks in collaboration with the DGT or a Guide for bicycle users with 10,000 brochures to distribute to the population. Not forgetting initiatives such as the Tenerife Bike Festival, linked to tourism promotion. The change of the island government and the pandemic have left the idea in the drawer for now.
