Graham vs the volcano

[GrahamS]

Got a holiday in Tenerife coming up in a couple of weeks and to give the wife an uninterrupted spa morning she doesn’t know she wants I am selflessly thinking of hiring a bike and heading up the volcano. But I am not entirely sure I am fit enough and would like to get the thoughts of others after their first big climb?

The road I would like to do climbs 2,200 meters over about 32kms/20 miles, average a little over 6%. Quite a beast, and a bit scary which is exciting.

I’m 35, 16 stone and have been riding for a year, currently doing about 80-100 miles a week around the South Downs, lots of little steep climbs but nothing over 250 meters. My fitness is getting there but I’m not built to be a climber. I’ve done one 102 mile sportive and (just) achieved what Wiggle deems to be a “Gold Time”. A decent ride that would leave me walking funny would be 50-60 miles with 1,000 meters of climbing, pushing most of the way. http://www.strava.com/athletes/2636374

From the above do you guys think I could make it up the volcano with some sensible pacing? I suppose I could bimble around the outside of the Island instead… but it would feel like a cop out. On the other hand I wouldn’t want to get a third of the way up the Volcano and have to turn back.

I would hire a decent bike, better than the aluminium Genesis I have just upgraded to.

 

[Paul99]

From the above do you guys think I could make it up the volcano with some sensible pacing? I suppose I could bimble around the outside of the Island instead… but it would feel like a cop out. On the other hand I wouldn’t want to get a third of the way up the Volcano and have to turn back.

Give it a go. If you don't make it to the top, so what? Get as far as you feel comfortable and be happy with it. You'll still feel better than you would have if you just had that bimble....

 

[si_c]

I'd go for it, sounds like fun For me the motivation would be thinking of the ride back down, fairly certain that would get me up eventually, but I know what you mean about hills, there aren't any really big ones around me, so I'm mostly riding on the flat.

Just go for it and let us know how you get on

 

[GrahamS]

Yeah, I think I maybe need a less binary approach to success or failure. Every meter I add to my biggest climb stat on Strava will be ace. Mustn't worry aboutvthe Volcano mocking me for the rest of the holiday if I fail...

 

[Paul99]

Yeah, I think I maybe need a less binary approach to success or failure. Every meter I add to my biggest climb stat on Strava will be ace. Mustn't worry aboutvthe Volcano mocking me for the rest of the holiday if I fail...

It won't because you'll conquer it.

 

[si_c]

Yeah, I think I maybe need a less binary approach to success or failure. Every meter I add to my biggest climb stat on Strava will be ace. Mustn't worry aboutvthe Volcano mocking me for the rest of the holiday if I fail...

Thats the spirit, besides, surely your wife will be expecting multiple spa mornings

 

[Ajay]

Take it easy on your first ride up. It maybe long but it's not steep, so just spin up gently and enjoy the view.
Later in the holiday, after the mountain has been taunting you for a few days have another go, this time harder, and see what you've really got.
You're safe in the knowledge that
a. You've already made it to the top
b. You can free wheel all the way down if you blow

 

[ColinJ]

Sorry to be negative, but I think you would probably suffer like a very suffering dog!

A mate of mine has lived on Tenerife for a number of years. He weighs about 10.5 stone and is very fit and it takes him hours to get up that climb. It took him a few attempts to make it all the way up without stopping.

I have not been to visit him because I am not yet fit enough to tackle Teide though I do some rides round here with over 2,500 metres of climbing in 50-60 miles.

If you do tackle the climb, be prepared to take 5+ hours. Take multiple layers of clothing to put on or take off. You will get very warm and sweaty on the climb and very cold on the descent if you do not dress properly for it.

Have fun!

 

[Ganymede]

I have climbed Mt Teide on foot and it is FIERCE. You get very short of breath near the top as the air is so thin. I was very fit when I did it but near the summit I had to stop several times to get my breath and I was not going fast.

By the way, I'm not sure how close to the top you intend to go - I climbed right to the crater but we had to get permits to do so as there is only a limited number allowed. It was really worth it but I hadn't climbed from the bottom - only from the floor of the caldera. The landscape is stunning.

I think once you see it in the flesh you might revise your desires, and forgive yourself for doing so!

 

[GrahamS]

http://www.strava.com/activities/199245142

That was tough! Last half hour of the main climb was a killer and the extra cat 4 climb after I thought I was already at the top nearly made me cry. Had to stop several times to "take photos". Was smiling again 1 minute into the decent, especially when I got to carve through the quad bike safari. Glad I did it!

 

[Spinney]

http://www.strava.com/activities/199245142

That was tough! Last half hour of the main climb was a killer and the extra cat 4 climb after I thought I was already at the top nearly made me cry. Had to stop several times to "take photos". Was smiling again 1 minute into the decent, especially when I got to carve through the quad bike safari. Glad I did it!

Went to Tenerife last spring - it took long enough to drive from the coast up to the caldera! Chapeau!

 

[ColinJ]

http://www.strava.com/activities/199245142

That was tough! Last half hour of the main climb was a killer and the extra cat 4 climb after I thought I was already at the top nearly made me cry. Had to stop several times to "take photos". Was smiling again 1 minute into the decent, especially when I got to carve through the quad bike safari. Glad I did it!

Brilliant effort, Graham - well done!

I had forgotten that there is more than one way up the volcano. My comments earlier were about my mate's route which is up through Vilaflor, which I think is steeper, so I think you chose your route more wisely.

I also forgot to mention that the road goes down into what I suppose is a crater, before then climbing back up again. It did my mate's head in because he was not expecting it!

 

[GrahamS]

Yeah, picked the least steep looking approach, which made my route a loop rather that out and back so much harder to wimp out! Had a puncture at Vilaflor just as I was slowing fory lunch stop. Decent was tough on the arms!

 

[si_c]

Nice one, looks like a hell of a ride

 

[mick160]

Top effort. Well done.

But more importantly, did your wife enjoy her spa day?