Mountain bike tours are the ideal way to discover the most beautiful corners of the sunny Canary Island of Gran Canaria. You can rent a suitable mountain bike on site and go exploring. With the mountain bike you can reach many hidden places that you cannot reach by car.
Enjoy the ride through the varied landscape and feel free. Various sights and spectacular views await you. To make your mountain bike trip on Gran Canaria unforgettable, you will find helpful tips and exciting information in the following article.
Essential facts about the mountain bike
The mountain bike is a popular choice for getting out into nature in a sporty way. Almost all mountain bikes are equipped with a suspension fork and wide, chunky tyres. This makes getting around in rough terrain easy. High-quality bikes also have hydraulic disc brakes that provide more safety and the necessary braking power. For many bike fans, mountain biking is not just a hobby, but a true passion.
Differences in mountain bikes
The difference in all mountain bikes is the suspension. There are hardtail mountain bikes and full-suspension mountain bikes, also known as fullsuspension. A hardtail mountain bike only has a suspension fork at the front. Such a mountain bike is well suited as a basis for learning various riding techniques. It is uncomplicated to ride, requires little maintenance and is usually cheaper to buy.
A fully suspended bike, on the other hand, has a suspension fork at the front and a shock absorber at the rear. This makes it more comfortable. With more traction and stability, you can reach higher speeds downhill and have better control. Fullys are mainly used for jumps and drops, but are heavier and require more maintenance than hardtail models.
Differences in the length of the suspension travel and the shape of the frame can also be found between the two types of mountain bike. In order to make the right choice of mountain bike, the intended use and the riding behaviour are decisive, among other things.
Overview of riding styles
There are six different riding styles in mountain biking, which can be characterised by different bike suspensions, touring conditions and riding experience.
Cross-country mountain bike
In cross-country mountain biking, suspension up to 120 millimetres is common. It is mainly used for mountain tours in the forest, either with a hardtail or a fully. The main focus of cross country is on endurance and speed.
Trail mountain bike
Trail mountain bikes have a suspension range of up to 130 millimetres. For the demanding paths, also called trails, both a hardtail and a fully can be ridden. A trail mountain bike is considered an all-rounder and is suitable for beginners and professionals.
Enduro mountain bike
An enduro mountain bike is designed for demanding trails, jumps and drops. The suspension range is up to 170 millimetres long and can only be found on a Fully. Riders should definitely have experience, strength and endurance. Especially since an enduro mountain bike sometimes has to go uphill.
Freeride mountain bike
A freeride mountain bike is primarily intended for downhill riding. This involves riding demanding trails with wide jumps and drops. A robust Fully with a 190 mm suspension range is a suitable choice for this type of mountain biking.
Downhill mountain bike
As the name implies, downhill mountain biking is exclusively downhill. The best way to get up the mountain is by lift. Downhill riding is all about speed and adrenaline. A suspension range of 200 millimetres is standard.
Dirt mountain bike
With a dirt mountain bike, the focus is on maximum agility for demanding stunts. The bikes work without gears and are best suited for jibbing, i.e. playing with tricks and obstacles in the city.
Adjustment of the mountain bike
For a pleasant riding experience and a high level of comfort, the mountain bike must be the right size and adjusted to you as the rider. This is the only way you can fully enjoy the tour with the mountain bike in Gran Canaria.
Wheel size
A mountain bike can have three different wheel sizes: 26 inch, 27.5 inch and 29 inch. These indicate the diameter of the wheels. The sizes are also available in plus sizes depending on the intended use.
26 inches is the original standard size of a mountain bike. However, it is hardly represented nowadays because it offers little traction and comfort. Its successor is the 27.5 inch wheel size. This offers more traction and a higher air volume. 27.5-inch wheels are used in all disciplines because they offer high agility.
29-inch wheels, on the other hand, are mainly used for cross country and trail riding styles. The plus sizes of the wheels give you even more traction and greater riding comfort on your mountain bike.
Frame
The frame is an important component of a mountain bike. The rule is: the higher the quality, the more expensive. The frames of a mountain bike are either made of aluminium, carbon, steel or titanium. Entry-level bikes are usually made of steel or aluminium.
The differences between the materials lie in weight, riding comfort, stability and feel. Carbon has the best stability-to-weight ratio, but cracks more quickly in crashes. The screws also overwind more quickly. Cross-country professionals, however, only use mountain bikes with carbon frames, as these weigh the least.
Steel frames are not used very often because of their high weight. The same applies to titanium. The latter material is also difficult to process and therefore quite expensive to manufacture. However, a titanium frame has to be given the benefit of the doubt that it will hardly be scratched or damaged in the event of a fall with the mountain bike.
Gear shift
The gears on a mountain bike consist of a crankset, chainrings, a chain, a cassette, the rear derailleur and the gear lever. The type of gears depends on various factors. Not only the riding style, but also the price range, the condition of the frame and the wheel size have an influence on the gears of the mountain bike.
In the beginner’s range, simple gears are usually found, while in the high-end range, electric systems or carbon components are often used. The standard for a mountain bike is a two-speed crank, as this is particularly light, low-maintenance and above all efficient. For beginners, however, a triple crank is often easier to use.
Tips for the selection of your bike
Before you explore Gran Canaria on a mountain bike, you should be clear about the purpose of the bike. What riding characteristics are important to you? What kind of terrain do you want to ride? The design of the bike should only be a secondary consideration.
To ensure that you experience maximum riding comfort during the tour, it is worth taking a short trial ride on the mountain bike beforehand. Afterwards, the mountain bike can be individually adapted to your needs. The bike rental Rent Bike Meloneras in Gran Canaria measures your height to find the ideal mountain bike for you.
Mountain biking equipment
There is a wide range of equipment for mountain biking. This is useful both for riding comfort and for your safety. Without the necessary protective equipment, falls on your bike can be dangerous.
Do you have your own equipment? No problem: The bike rental Rent Bike Meloneras in Gran Canaria offers you the possibility to professionally mount your equipment on the rented mountain bike.
Equipment
The right equipment protects you from light but also serious injuries in case of crashes with your mountain bike. To ensure reliable protection, the equipment should be the right size and worn close to the body.
Helmet
If you fall off your bike, a helmet protects your head and temple area. A helmet is therefore part of any good mountain bike equipment. For downhill riding, you should choose a full-face helmet that also protects your chin and jaw. For trail and enduro rides, helmets with a removable chin guard are preferred.
Mountain bike helmets with MIPS technology in particular offer a high level of protection and also ensure optimum ventilation inside the helmet. To avoid being blinded on sunny days or when the sun is low in the sky, helmets with a large shield are suitable.
Clothing
The right mountain bike clothing depends on the shoes. The better the grip on the pedals, the better the control over the entire bike. Mountain bike shoes are therefore very robust and have stiffened soles for a good grip.
A difference is made between flat and clipless pedals. With clipless pedals, the mountain bike shoes connect to the pedal so that shoe and pedal form a unit. Every movement is converted. With flat pedals, on the other hand, there is no fixed connection. Instead, they have small pins that improve the grip of the shoes on the pedal.
If you are riding a mountain bike, breathable and stretchy clothing made of a tear-resistant material is recommended. The top should offer enough space for protectors. The trousers should be long enough and ideally have padded, removable inner trousers. A small zipped pocket on the trousers is also an advantage for storing necessary small items.
As already mentioned, protectors should also be part of your equipment if you are riding your mountain bike in rough terrain. Knee pads, shin pads and back protectors are particularly important. Soft pads for trails are breathable and offer a lot of freedom of movement. Protectors with hard pads are good for sliding over the ground with protection after falls.
Preparation
To be well prepared for your mountain bike tour, you should definitely pack a water bottle for when you get thirsty. Small saddle bags are ideal for storing your keys and mobile phone. Alternatively, you can use a small fanny pack that you place on your back.
The right preparation for the tour also includes route planning. You can find plenty of inspiration for this on the internet. Rent Bike Meloneras can also provide you with interesting routes and help you plan your tour.
To make sure that your mountain bike tour in Gran Canaria is a success, it is recommended that you reserve a bike in advance. This way you can be sure that you won’t be without a bike on the day of your planned tour.
Explore Gran Canaria with your mountain bike
The most beautiful way to explore Gran Canaria is by bike. The landscape is particularly diverse and offers optimal conditions for both beginners and experienced cyclists. Of course, you can’t take your bike with you on the plane – but you don’t have to. You can easily rent a suitable mountain bike on site.
Advantages of renting a bike
You don’t want to miss out on some exercise while on holiday? Then grab a mountain bike and go for a ride! Renting a bike in Gran Canaria is easy. You can usually choose, reserve and rent a bike online or directly on site. This way you will get exactly the bike you want.
Rent Bike Playa Meloneras
At Rent Bike Meloneras you can easily rent a bike. Choose a suitable model online in advance and reserve it for the period in which you want to be on the bike. If you need inspiration for your mountain bike discovery tour, the friendly and competent team can help you at any time and give you tips.
The mountain bike will be adjusted to your size. In addition, at Rent Bike Meloneras it is possible to have equipment you brought with you installed on the rented bike. This way you are equipped in the best possible way for your tours.
Rent Bike Meloneras has three locations on Gran Canaria where you can rent or return a mountain bike. The locations are at the Hotel H10, at the shopping centre Centro Commercial Meloneras Sunset Beach and at the shopping centre Centro Commercial Varadero.
Exciting tours on the island
There are many beautiful bike tours to experience in Gran Canaria. One of the most popular is the Los Giles circuit from El Cardon. The tour is 52.6 kilometres long and takes you to the Los Giles viewpoint. This tour is less suitable for beginners, as good endurance on the mountain bike is required and there are some metres in altitude to climb.
Another popular tour on the island is the Presa des Ayagaures tour. It starts in Maspalomas and stretches over 40 kilometres. You also need to be in good physical condition, but you will be rewarded with a breathtaking view over the sea.
If the day is drawing to a close, a tour to the marina in Pasito Blanco is recommended. You can start from Maspalomas, but you should have some downhill riding skills as the tour is very demanding.
FAQ
Can you rent mountain bikes in Gran Canaria?
Renting mountain bikes is possible on Gran Canaria and is also very uncomplicated. With most rental companies you can reserve a suitable bike or rent one directly for several days.
When it comes to the size of the mountain pass, what does it depend on?
The ideal fit depends on the rider’s height and stride length. The taller you are, the bigger the bike or frame needs to be.
Are there tours for beginners on the island?
The island offers challenging trails as well as easier tours that are suitable for beginners. If you still need inspiration, you can always ask your bike rental for tips. Tourists also recommend varied routes on the internet.
