The A-D Bikes Blog: Frame and Wheel Puerto Rico winter training camp

Puerto Rico is fine destination for a winter training camp. The climate is warm, terrain is challenging and there are plenty of things to do when the riding is done (the beach, Old San Juan, great restaurants). Additionally, there are numerous direct flights from the east coast, there are good bike shops and there is a local cycling scene. Isle Verde is a good area to stay. There is a super market nearby, it is near the city and it provides for convenient access to the rides around El Yunque National Park. There are many apartments for rent in Puerto Rico, but you have to book in advance as Christmas and New Years is peak time for Puerto Rico. Renting a car also requires booking in advance. The traffic is not too bad outside of San Juan, and it is very light on the back roads in the mountains. Drivers are respectful of cyclists for the most part, but caution is required. Frame and Wheel notes that there is no yellow line on the roads in the mountains so staying under control and well to the right is essential (many drivers coming uphill swing well over the yellow line). "Oyo" means pot hole and is an important word when riding in a group. "Ola" is an informal greeting and an effective warning for others. The temperatures are in the 80s during the day. In the early morning there can be light rain. In the mountains, temperatures are cooler and the roads can be wet and slick. There is no cell phone coverage in El Yunque national park, but coverage is fine everywhere else.

Route 187 leads from Isla Verde to Loiza, Suarez and Rio Grande and is the primary thorough fare for getting to the rides in the hills east and south of the city. It is straight and flat and requires 100 percent vigilance for cars passing in the other direction. In the afternoon, there also iguanas to look out for. There are deep and large potholes on all the roads and they can appear out of nowhere on otherwise smooth pavement. In the mountains and in El Yunque national park, the roads can be rough, especially in the corners of the switchbacks. Clinchers with some tough tires are a must. There are dogs too. Most are confined to their owners compounds, but some escape and give chase (Frame and Wheel was pursued twice by the same Rotweiller). A good rule of thumb is to not to build up too much speed on the downhills so that there is extra reaction time for those hazards and the more typical ones: cars backing out of driveways, pedestrians, drainage grates).

The rides are productive and can be viewed at Frame and Wheel on Strava Cycling. Frame and Wheel recommends repeats on the El Yunque park road from the welcome center to the top. The traffic gets busy with tourists, but then it calms down. It allows for a good ride without having to venture too far out and away from home base. A harder ride is to go south on Route 956 to the peak and then down the back side on Route 957, turn around and head back up Route 957 and down Route 956. There are some very steep sections here. Route 185 after Benitiez is quite busy and not worth the stress. Route 3 is rideable, but it is a busy big road that is more effective as a means for getting to the smaller roads in the hills. Frame and Wheel just scratched the surface of the potential rides in Puerto Rico. Renting a car and heading an hour out of town will open up some great terrain.

Roland Marrero is a great guide and mechanic from The Bike Stop. Jose at B.Bikes runs a nice shop and is in the Isla Verde area. It is worth calling these shops in advance to find out about local rides. The fortress at Old San Juan is a great visit, but do not drive into town. Traffic is terrible.

A note on flying: Frame and Wheel used JetBlue. The flight was on time and comfortable. If you can get your bike into the standard size travel case (around 60 x 40 x 10 inches) and it weighs less than 50 pounds, it will count as your checked in bag and thus will not incur an oversize or overweight fee. IF you have another checked in bag, you will have to pay $30.00 for that one. Be sure you know the rules as the agents checking you in do not always know how it works.