Mallorca tips

neeb

I'm off to Mallorca in mid/late March for a week. I've never been before. I got a cheap flight/hotel deal but the hotel is in Playa de Palma. I know this isn't ideal and that the best rides are further north and east, so I'm wondering 1) what good rides there are starting from Playa de Palma / Palma and how best to avoid the city center and surrounding busy roads 2) whether it's worth getting the train to Manacor or somewhere en route most days. I'll almost certainly do this at some point but I'm wondering if I should be planning to do this as a matter of course or just on one or two days. Is it easy to approach the train station in Palma by bike or are the roads really busy?

Also, any tips for a decent map that marks quieter roads that are better for bikes?

Thanks!

pablojag

Hi
Best map is the green Michelin one, doesn't show quiet roads but shows major & minor roads. This will also give you a basic Palma city map.
Check out a similar recent post on Mallorca, I've mentioned a few of the good climbs over there. What sort of distances are you looking to do? I could suggest a few routes then.

neeb

Thanks - actually I've changed the hotel, now staying in Puerto Pollensa which is bike-central by all accounts. Had to pay a surcharge but probably worth it to avoid city traffic and easier access to routes.

Saw that other post, seems like the OP there and myself are both asking the same thing given that neither of us are now staying in Palma but in the NE instead!

Looking at rides of 70 - 150km, dependent on whether I can manage to pace myself and not charge around like a dog let off a leash... (it's been a long winter in Helsinki.. ). Doubtless on the first day I'll do the Cap Formentor run as it's right on the doorstep. Am I right in thinking that most of the good climbs start at various points along the MA-10 from Pollensa? Is that road itself nice to ride on, i.e. not too much traffic?

Is it worth heading south from Puerto Pollensa or Pollensa for a change of scene?

Can't wait. Fingers crossed for the weather...

Solis

MA-10 is a great cycling road, not much traffic after Pollensa town and any there is, is normaly very considerate to cyclists.