Winter training / vacation ideas?

[adampaiva]

I specifically want to get out of the country for this trip and go somewhere that would be harder for me to visit on a shorter timeframe

[Thrillho]

One could do a nice training camp in Maui. There are several rides that you could do--and each one would be truly spectacular. Showing a photo of my climb up 10,000 feet to the summit of Mt. Haleakala earlier this year (as compared to Tuscon, for example, its like 3 Mt. Lemmons in a row). Plus in January and February you could still go surfing and snorkeling when not riding and the whales should be there.

[John H.]

Were you out there on January? Did I meet you by my condo in Kehei?

Originally Posted by Thrillho

One could do a nice training camp in Maui. There are several rides that you could do--and each one would be truly spectacular. Showing a photo of my climb up 10,000 feet to the summit of Mt. Haleakala earlier this year (as compared to Tuscon, for example, its like 3 Mt. Lemmons in a row). Plus in January and February you could still go surfing and snorkeling when not riding and the whales should be there.

[Thrillho]

Not this January. But I go once or twice a year. Its not as expensive as it sounds with Hawaiian airline miles and wise hotel/condo shopping.

[Idris Icabod]

Originally Posted by Thrillho

Showing a photo of my climb up 10,000 feet to the summit of Mt. Haleakala earlier this year (as compared to Tuscon, for example, its like 3 Mt. Lemmons in a row)

Just to defend my climb in TuCSon:

Mt. Haleakala: 36 miles; 10,000 ft gain; average gradient 5%
Mt. Lemmon: 29 miles; 7,080 ft gain; average gradient 4.3%

[Drmojo]

Originally Posted by Idris Icabod

Just to defend my climb in TuCSon:

Mt. Haleakala: 36 miles; 10,000 ft gain; average gradient 5%
Mt. Lemmon: 29 miles; 7,080 ft gain; average gradient 4.3%

Haleakala feels much longer--never too steep, but higher elevation, I have done it twice--the descent should be more fun--but lots of riding brakes--as I suck at descending

[John H.]

Haleakala is kind of a boring grind- especially in 2nd half.

There are better climbs on Maui- Taking the back way up to the saddle is nicer (Pulehu rd.), and also the climb over by Proflyght paragliding (Waipoli rd).

Originally Posted by Drmojo

Haleakala feels much longer--never too steep, but higher elevation, I have done it twice--the descent should be more fun--but lots of riding brakes--as I suck at descending

[Idris Icabod]

Originally Posted by Drmojo

Haleakala feels much longer--never too steep, but higher elevation, I have done it twice--the descent should be more fun--but lots of riding brakes--as I suck at descending

The elevation is almost identical. Lemmon is 9,157 ft, Haleakala is 10,023 ft.

[adampaiva]

Hawaii would I'm sure be a great destination, but not quite what I'm looking for.

Anyone done Mendoza or Patagonia? My googling is turning up lots of hits for leisurely winery to winery riding or bike trekking the length of Patagonia information. Not sure if it would work well for the sort of trip I have in mind yet. As a reference point I did a similar trip in a little village outside of Girona Spain called Madremanya and that was perfect for this sort of trip.

[54ny77]

go to los angeles west side, find affordable accomodations via airbnb or vrbo in santa monica and hit pch to go ride every day in the santa monica mountains. leave after weekday rush hour and you'll be golden. if you rent a condo that has a kitchen you can make your own meals and save (or spend) as much as you want.

the riding options are pretty much endless.

[trener1]

Have you thought about the Andalucia region of Spain? Maybe Granada? or maybe cheaper in a smaller town.
You would be right next the Sierra Nevada Mountain range, loads of good riding in the area, good food, good nightlife, still relatively cheap compared to other parts of Europe, and of course great weather and beaches.

[ltwtsculler91]

Originally Posted by trener1

Have you thought about the Andalucia region of Spain? Maybe Granada? or maybe cheaper in a smaller town.
You would be right next the Sierra Nevada Mountain range, loads of good riding in the area, good food, good nightlife, still relatively cheap compared to other parts of Europe, and of course great weather and beaches.

Fly east and head to Spain!
We do a Mallorca trip each February through Trek Travel and it is amazing. Just show up with kit/pedals/saddle and ride, they take care of the rest.

I've also heard Girona is an amazing trip, but haven't been in that area. My family is from Asturias in northern Spain (think last week of this year's Vuelta), but the weather there isn't great for early season training.

[Heisenberg]

Originally Posted by adampaiva

piggybacking onto this thread with a similar but slightly different question. I'm looking at some time off in December / January. For reasons I don't want to publish on the internet, I will not know exactly how much time off until then, but looking at between 1 - 4 weeks. I'd like to fly somewhere with my rando bike, rent a cheap little house or apartment for most of that time, and have a home base from which I just do a lot of (really good) riding. Don't want to do a bike tour for this trip. At the most, I think maybe split the trip into two places which either I cycle between, or train/bus between.

I want it to be :
-warm
-not in the USA
-not terribly expensive to rent an accommodation
-have good food
-ideally a smallish city or town. Not a big city. Some restaurants/nightlife would be nice but is not the focus of the trip. But don't particularly want to hunker down in the middle of nowhere for this trip either.
-have spectacular cycling accessible. Road riding and gravel type stuff. Enough to keep me occupied with day rides for 2+ weeks. Maybe an overnight or two either camping or credit card touring style. I will take my 650B L'Avecaise.
-If there's fly fishing too, that would be a plus.

I'm willing to splurge on the airfare but hopefully its somewhere I can rent a flat for a few weeks not too expensively ie not paying for 4 weeks of nightly hotel or b&b rates. Given the unknown timing part of it, it may end up all being confirmed at the last minute, but want to have a location or two researched and in mind so I can jump right on it, book a flight and be gone the next day when the time comes. I'm pretty used to spontaneous figure-it-out-as-I-go travel.

I was thinking maybe Argentina to the Mendoza area or further down into Patagonia. New Zealand also is an idea.

Manizales, Colombia.

Warm, cheap (to get to, too), friendly, great food, great riding, cycling-crazed country, safe, and in****ingsanely beautiful.

Thank me later.

[adampaiva]

OK now you guys are getting it.

I did do a similar trip to Madremanya outside of Girona. I essentially want to recreate that trip experience in a different location this time. I thought about just going back, but the weather won't be ideal. Not bad, but just not ideal. Maybe Andalucia is better being farther south. I'll check into it some.

Manizales - I've heard mention of Colombia as an epic cycling destination. I'll do some more research and keep this area as one of my options to seriously consider.

thanks! Keep em coming.

[BobO]

Originally Posted by Idris Icabod

Just to defend my climb in TuCSon:

Mt. Haleakala: 36 miles; 10,000 ft gain; average gradient 5%
Mt. Lemmon: 29 miles; 7,080 ft gain; average gradient 4.3%

Mt. Lemmon is an amazing way to spend a day in the saddle. It's a great road, the climb is as challenging as you want to make it, the viewpoints are spectacular, there are always new friends to make along the way, the decent is exhilarating but not exceptionally dangerous. And, there are well earned cookies in Summerhaven. As a cyclist, it's worth taking a trip here just to do that ride.