The alarm goes off early, but nobody complains. The group gathers outside the hotel with bikes leaning against the wall, bottles filled, and the mountain already visible in the distance. Some days the target is the long drag toward the Teide, other days it's the climbs cutting through Gran Canaria. The plan is the same: ride in the morning, recover in the afternoon, eat together at night. Before any of that, there's the small ritual of getting dressed.

Getting ready before the climb

He pulls on a set with HO1 technology, the patented horizontal opening, comfortable for left-handed men too. The waistband is microfiber, ultra-soft, and doesn't dig in while he's pulling on bib shorts over it. The cut runs long, with slightly longer legs that limit friction. It's a small detail, the kind nobody talks about at breakfast, but it's part of getting ready for the ride ahead.

Hours in the saddle

The road ramps up fast outside town, switchback after switchback, the sea shrinking behind them with every turn. Conversations fade as the gradient bites, replaced by breathing and the occasional click of a gear change. The fabric underneath is breathable, fast-drying and moisture-regulating. Up near the top, clouds sit below the group like a floor, and someone finally breaks the silence to point it out.

The descent and the reset

Going down is its own kind of focus: hands light on the bars, eyes scanning the next bend, the cold air sharper than on the way up. Back at the hotel, bikes get racked against the wall again, helmets hung on the handlebars. There's a shower, there's a nap for some, and there's that specific tired-but-good feeling that only a long climb produces. The Modal-cotton he wore has a soft touch and good absorption, built to withstand the wear of hours in the saddle.

Dinner in the village

By early evening the group walks down into the village, past shuttered shops and a small square where kids are still kicking a ball around. He's changed into a shirt made from Tencel, sometimes called plant-based silk, with a crew-neck and a rectangular, close-fitting cut. The fabric absorbs four times better than cotton and resists wrinkles. The restaurant is simple, with a few tables set outside.

The table fills up

Plates of grilled fish and potatoes start arriving, along with a carafe of local wine nobody ordered but everyone's happy to see. Someone pulls up a photo from the summit, clouds below the road, and passes the phone around the table. The talk turns to tomorrow's route, whether to repeat the climb or try the other side of the island. Legs are tired, plates are empty, and a dog trots past the open door of the square.