FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
FAQ
PRIVACY POLICY
Here at Lavatrax we promise that we will never share your information with any third parties at any time.
Any information provided as part of the booking process, such as medical information, insurance information, next of kin etc will be kept until your trip or holiday has been completed and will then be deleted or if paper copy it will be shredded and destroyed.
It's as simple as that. We will not share or sell your information.
The only exception being that sucessful candidates from MIAS MBL courses will have to agree to have their details shared with the MIAS organisation for the purpose of registration and provision of their certificates and ID cards etc. MIAS have their own privacy policies for the data that we may supply to them with your permission.
DATA SECURITY
We will utilise all available security measures in an effort to stop your emails etc from being accessed by unauthorised parties. So, strong passwords and two factor authentication and fingerprint access where available as standard. Mobile devices will also be run in encrypted mode to secure any information should the device be lost or stolen.
What is the weather like in Tenerife?
The weather on Tenerife can change greatly depending upon your location on the island. Sometimes even by only driving 5 or 6 kilometres you can move from dark heavy cloud to bright uninterrupted sunshine.
The warmest climate is to be found on the south and west sides of the island, but up on Mt. Teide where the peak is 3718m (12,198ft) above sea level, cold winds and even snow are not hard to find, especially in the winter months.
Tenerife has the lowest average temperature difference between the summer and winter seasons than anywhere else in the world. Hence the island has been nick named the land of the eternal spring time. The weather does occasionally include rain but there is no specific rainy season.
The minimum and maximum annual average air temperatures (not the temperature you'll feel when sat in the sun, this is much higher) are about 15
I've read in places that all mountain biking in Tenerife is Illegal, is that true?
Well, it's not 100% true. There are some places on the island where it is prohibited to ride off road, specifically within the Teide National Park. In these areas there are strict controls and fines for those caught breaking the rules. The fines can be very onerous, up to 1,500 euros per person, so we feel it's best to steer clear of these areas!
There are a few sections of trail which pass through small areas of the Teide National Park where the National Park Rangers tolerate access as a means of accessing the road from outside of the park or as a means of exiting the park, but you should always be sure that you are riding on one of these permitted routes to be on the safe side.
Outside the national park, most things are legal, the local senderos (footpaths) are not strictly legal to ride, but as is often the case in the UK, many riders do use these footpaths as they see little walking traffic and are excellent singletrack routes.
When is the best time to come Mountain Biking in Tenerife?
The busiest period is from October through to early May when the temperatures are much lower than in the summer months. However, cloudy skies, especially at altitude are more prevalent, especially between November and March with the risk of wet weather above around 1800m also being a little higher.
This said, the weather is still more favourable to that generally encountered in the rest of Europe at that time of year.
Summer riding is not out of the question. Whilst the temperatures on the coast may be around 30 degrees, higher up the mountain, the temperature is much more pleasant and suited to riding.
Generally, the trails are much quieter in the summer months so if you want a trip with the trails to yourself, that's the time to head here.
What is the terrain like in Tenerife?
The terrain here varies depending on where you choose to ride on the island. But, in general, expect to find it rocky!
There is a great network of forest roads which are reasonably smooth and great for people wanting to go Cross Country riding, these are well used by the local XC riders but do take some following as they are not generally sign posted.
Outside of the defined forest roads there are a large number of disused caminos, senderos and other trails which can be incredibly rocky and loose. Extended rock gardens are not uncommon on our trails, especially the DH routes, but even the more technical XC routes involve some pretty technical riding along rocky singletracks littered with boulders, steps and drops. Just remember, that these are natural trails, mother nature doesn't tend to go easy!
However, go to the north and you will find the trails a little more forgiving, with much more soil around, the trails can be more like a UK forest trail, with tree roots and rocks around, but in general, more smooth flowing dirt than technical rocky stuff.
Many people ask what clothing and equipment to bring with them on their biking trip. We recommend the following:
CLOTHING
Light windproof / waterproof jacket
Riding gloves, full finger are a good idea
Normal riding shorts and top
In the winter you might want a light base layer for when you are riding at altitude, you won't need it lower down, but above 2000m it can be chilly!
PROTECTIVE WEAR
Knee pads are recommended, especially for the Enduro / AM trips
Elbow pads are also a good idea
A good helmet. Helmet use is mandatory, no helmet, no ride. We also have helmets available to use FOC
Eye protection
And I say it again.....Gloves. Gravel rash on the hands is never a good feeling!
In addition it is a good idea to have plenty of sun screen and water with you on your ride. If hiring a bike from us, some have a bottle cage, but others do not. It depends on the frame design and whether a bottle cage fits or not.
Tyres and tubes, or tubeless?
Tyres are much about personal preference, but we recommend a dual ply tyre for the Enduro / AM routes as the trails are very rocky. Pinch flats are all too common as are slashed side walls. Don't think that flashy sidewall protection systems are going to help either, they slash just as easily as a standard tyre.
We use or have used the following tyres with good results:
Maxxis Minion and High Roller
Schwalbe Hans Dampf
Continental Baron
Panaracer Fire FR
Bontrager Team FR
For the XC routes a lighter tyre is fine, although there is still a risk on some of the rockier trails that sidewalls can pick up cuts, so choose the strongest tyre you feel you can put up with.
Tubeless works well so long as you don't damage a sidewall.
Standard tubes are fine but a heavier tube is worth the weight penalty for a flat free ride.
It is worth bringing a few spare tubes as you will also be riding in cactus territory, these bad boys take no prisoners and will leave several thorns in your tyre if you give them half a chance.
We also carry a stock of stanard tubes which are available to buy for 3.50€ each.
General Spares
We recommend that you bring with you anything that is particular to your bike. Items such as a mech hanger may cost a few quid, but having one could save your holiday when you've made contact with a rock.
Brakepads are readily available for more common brands such as Shimano, Avid and Hayes. But more exotic brands such as Hope or Formula can be harder to find, so it is worth having a couple of spare sets with you.
Other than those items, pretty much everything else is available from local bike shops.
Packing up your bike for the flight.
Packaging up your pride and joy ready to place it at the mercy of the airport baggage handlers can be a worrying thought. But with a little careful preparation you can safeguard yourself against most foreseeable damage that can occur in transit. Firstly, there is no need to invest in an expensive bike bag. A bike box from your local bike shop is just as effective and much less costly, depending on your local bike shop, they may even have a box that they will give you for free! From there a couple of other packaging items will see you safely to the other end of your journey, firstly some bubble wrap and second some spare foam pipe lagging.
So here goes, these are the things you need to do.....
Remove the bike wheels and the QR skewers from the hubs, you can stow the QR's in the spokes for transport.
If your bike has disc brakes, I recommend removing the disc rotors from the wheels to avoid them getting bent in transit.
Again, for disc brakes, fit a spacer between the pads in each caliper to stop them being accidentally activated. You can get specific plastic spacers, but a folded piece of card is just as good, or even the sticks from an ice lolly! Just make sure that they are a snug fit to stop them falling out in transit.
Remove the pedals
Disconnect the rear mech from the bike frame. Wrap it in bubble wrap and fix it to the INSIDE of the rear stays with cable ties
If your frame has a breakaway rear mech hanger you might want to consider taking it off for transit. But take care with the screws as often these are designed to break off at low torque.
Now we turn our attention to the front of the bike. I suggest removing the handlebars from the stem rather than taking the whole stem off.
Wrap the bars in bubble wrap and fix them to the bike frame with cable ties.
Loosen the stem bolts to allow you to turn the forks through 90 degrees whilst keeping the stem facing "forward"
This is where the pipe lagging comes in. I recommend putting a section of lagging around the stanchions of the forks to prevent scratches and dents on this delicate and important area. Hold the lagging in place with a little gaffer tape or more cable ties. More recently, I've seen people using their knee or elbow protectors to cover the stanchions. A good idea and saves on buying pipe lagging.
If a dual suspension bike with an air shock it's also worth putting a small section of lagging around the shaft of the shock too.
Finally, you need to protect the drop-outs from being crushed in transit. Some bike shops may have spare plastic axle spacers that are normally fitted between the drop-outs when they receive new bikes. These are ideal and are again probably free from your LBS. Alternatively you can pick up and old wheel hub and fix it in place with an old QR to protect the frame.
The forks are less likely to suffer this type of damage due to the position we have put them in, but if you have a spare spacer or hub, there is no harm in using them as a belt and braces approach.
If you value your paint job, then use bubble wrap / lagging / rags to protect your frame in the appropriate places
Finally placing all of this into your bike bag or box carefully to avoid things rubbing against each other.
There are a number of YouTube videos available to help you along the way, some more advanced than others, but this is a link to a playlist of useful videos on the subject.
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=BA7F200D322FF4DC&search_query=packing+mountain+bike When asking for bike boxes and things from your local bike shop, cakes or biscuits often go along way towards easing the transaction along ! One final thing, contrary to popular belief there is no need to let the air out of your tyres or suspension parts before flying, if a aerosol can of deodorant can stand the low air pressure, your tyres and suspension sure can! We hope that helps to get you away with the minimum of fuss and risk, if you think we have missed something, or you have a particular tip you would like to share with your fellow travelers then please feel free to drop us a line.
Where on the island should I stay?
I plan to come to Tenerife and go riding with Lavatrax, where should I stay?
We are based in the south of Tenerife, close to the south, Reina Sofia airport and around 15 minutes drive from the main resorts. We will pick up our clients on each riding day from any of the areas within the shaded area of the map below.
https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1lB5ws_MFPRYfylf3wHrrf7j7lvqg8qw&usp=sharing
Good medical / travel insurance is not only a good idea, it's also mandatory to join one of our guided rides. Whilst in the past, lots of ravel insurance policies covered you for mountain biking, these are becoming harder to find so it is worth checking the small print on your travel insurance to make sure that you are covered.
If you are a resident of the EU you should also make sure to bring your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). If you don't have one, you can apply for one here
Make sure to apply for the card in plenty of time. Note that the card is FREE. There are lots of websites taking up the first place positions on Google etc, who offer to get your card for a fee. Avoid these like the plague, there is no need to pay anything for your EHIC and the online application is very easy!
Once here, it is worth making sure that you carry a photocopy of your medical / travel insurance documents, EHIC and Passport in your pack. Leave the originals in your hotel safe.
Hopefully, you'll never need to use them anyway!
Unlike other MTB companies we do not operate on a guest house basis, this leaves you free to decide on the type of place you'd like to stay.
Tenerife has a massive selection of accommodation options, from 5 star all inclusive resorts through to 3 and 4 star family resorts, Country hotels, Boutique Hotels, Self catering apartments, Bed & Breakfast and even Hostels. So it's easy to make your break fit your budget.
Unfortunately we are not allowed to make accommodation reservations on your behalf (blame the Spanish red tape!), but we will be happy to make suggestions and recommendations if you let us know a little about what type of place you're looking for.