Training camp Majorca - what to expect?

rodgers73

I'm looking at booking for Majorca next March and I've found a number of websites offering "training camps" but I'm not sure what these offer over and above a bike rental shop that gives guided tours on top.

At the moment I'm probably going to book a bog-standard package holiday deal and reserve a bike for the week with Procycle. Total cost for this is going to be about £450-500 including flights. This compares pretty well with the camps!

Before I do that is there something I'm missing out on by not going for a proper official "camp" option? Are they just more sociable or something? Or is there more support on offer? If so, what form would this take?

NewTTer

Why dont you ask the people offering the camps what is included. Much easier than asking in here and you get it from the horses mouth do to speak

rodgers73

I was hoping for an unbiased view rather than a sales pitch

mamba80

aside from the route guiding, transfers to/from airport etc, you should get some form of car support, a grp of riders to train with, some sort of structure to your week, based on your fitness and goals, breakie and evening meal.
Depends on you really, if you think the above is worth it or not.
http://www.globalspokes.com/Mallorca/ma ... routes.htm

rodgers73

I've done something similar in the Canaries last year but a lot less structured - just bike hire and guided rides with a group of people. I was quite happy with that but wondered what else I'd get if it was a "proper" camp rather than just a bike shop with some guides.

giropaul

I'd say that it depends a bit on what you are training for. If it's time trials then riding on your own could be fine, if it's road races then the real benefit of a camp where there are various groups going out is that you will gain speed and hone your group riding skills ahead of your season.

Some camps have more coaching and advice than others. If you're newish to cycling this can be really useful, but if you know what you want and need to do then it may be less important. That's why I'd look at a selection of camps and find one that suits.

Unless you have mates there at the same time then the group to ride with is the biggy for me - groups you come across on the road generally don't take kindly to you getting involved, especially as it can affect their insurances I'm told. It's fair; they don't want someone of unknown ability fetching half the bunch down.

The other thing, of course, is that in the evenings they'll be people to have a beer with, banter with and generally have a good time. Stuck on your own in a hotel ain't a big lot of fun.

rodgers73

True, the social side appeals a lot. I was on my own in Canaries and it was a bit tedious, although I did end up going out with one of the guides a couple of times.

My goals aren't particularly specific - I do sportives/audaxes and enjoy hills but other than doing cyclocross this winter (for fun not glory) I don't really care for racing. So, the tips and so on aren't really as crucial to me as having a good group of people to go out on the bikes with (as long as the routes are well thought out etc)

carlosthejackal

Try Max Hurzeler (http://www.bicycle-holidays.com) and if you go, you've got to try the front at Playa de Palma (where there's a big Max Hurzeler shop). I've never known a combined cycling experience like it. As a cyclepath it's incredible. And the beach is pretty amazing too...

TurboCraig

If I was attending a training camp I would expect there to be guidance & advice or tutoring on offer aside from the riding, Stuff like nutrition & looking after your body etc. Training planning etc.
Riding the bike all day is a given really.

Rodrego Hernandez

TurboCraig wrote:

If I was attending a training camp I would expect there to be guidance & advice or tutoring on offer aside from the riding, Stuff like nutrition & looking after your body etc. Training planning etc.
Riding the bike all day is a given really.

What sort of price would you expect to pay for this sort of camp?

Just curious as the level of support on them can vary from having random club riders lead rides to having elite / professional riders and also coaches but prices seem to vary.

rodgers73

I think in conclusion I don't need/want the extra support a camp offers - I'm really looking for a place to go where other cyclists are staying so that evening socialising with like minded folk is possible. Is there one place in Peurto Pollensa where cyclings all stay??

carlosthejackal

rodgers73 wrote:

I think in conclusion I don't need/want the extra support a camp offers - I'm really looking for a place to go where other cyclists are staying so that evening socialising with like minded folk is possible. Is there one place in Peurto Pollensa where cyclings all stay??

See my previous link...

TurboCraig

Rodrego Hernandez wrote:

TurboCraig wrote:

If I was attending a training camp I would expect there to be guidance & advice or tutoring on offer aside from the riding, Stuff like nutrition & looking after your body etc. Training planning etc.
Riding the bike all day is a given really.

What sort of price would you expect to pay for this sort of camp?

Just curious as the level of support on them can vary from having random club riders lead rides to having elite / professional riders and also coaches but prices seem to vary.

No idea, but I hadnt thought about that. However IMO if I was paying for an organised training camp the minimum I would expect would be dedicated bike transportation & storage, organised group rides & some kind of seminar/advice sessions. Or else I may aswell just book any-old package holiday & take my bike.

Rodrego Hernandez

TurboCraig wrote:

Rodrego Hernandez wrote:

TurboCraig wrote:

If I was attending a training camp I would expect there to be guidance & advice or tutoring on offer aside from the riding, Stuff like nutrition & looking after your body etc. Training planning etc.
Riding the bike all day is a given really.

What sort of price would you expect to pay for this sort of camp?

Just curious as the level of support on them can vary from having random club riders lead rides to having elite / professional riders and also coaches but prices seem to vary.

No idea, but I hadnt thought about that. However IMO if I was paying for an organised training camp the minimum I would expect would be dedicated bike transportation & storage, organised group rides & some kind of seminar/advice sessions. Or else I may aswell just book any-old package holiday & take my bike.

Bear in mind what a coach will cost you I think it's unrealistic to expect one to be included on a training camp unless paying a premium.

A training camp should cover all of your bike / luggage transfers and give you the option of a group ride. Anything above that should in my opinion be considered an extra. Not everyone needs or wants training / nutrition advice etc. you can pay £500 for a week of group riding in a 3* up to around a grand for a more 'deluxe' version with a 'coach' and a nice rep to tell you how good you are!

bornagaincycler

I went to Mallorca for the first time in March 2012. I wanted to train on the bike & have a holiday. I got a late deal with Thomson Holidays with my partner at the Gran Vista Hotel in Can Picafort. When I got there I found a Max Hurzeler organisation on site. It was very impressive. I hired a really good Cube triple, & joined some lovely folk from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, & had 6 great days of cycling, & I would definately do it again. OK that was more holiday cycling but there are plenty of more serious groups than I went out with. You cant go wrong with Max Hurzeler, just about everyone speaks English & as a bike rider, well were all the same. I had a great time, superb cycling, good weather, & made a whole load of new friends too. They charges around 100 euros for the bike & the organised groups with leaders. Well worth it & thoroughly recommended.

mallorcajeff

living on the island i see it all and have to say the organisation from the hurzeler company is fantastic. german/swiss proffesionalism and organisation. they put on a big sportive in April which i do every year called the hurzeler classic. well recommended to do it if you book for the week they do that, its around 800 riders taking in the mountains a realy good day out. As far as training camps go I have only ever seen the group ride thing. The ex pro german rider marcel wust offers something more along the lines of a trainig camp from what i hear and ive seen him many times hes bloody fast!
http://www.casaciclista.de/cms/index.ph ... ng=english

pinarellokid

man i would love to spend a week out there riding.!!!!!!

roughly what would it cost to do one of these camps including flights ??

i could find out exactly with a little google effort but just asking roughly for now.

has anyone else got any input on thse types of trips.!!!

Crimmey

expect......crap coffee!!! from all over the island. I must have visited 50 different places, possibly more. All the joints use those fancy, expensive machines but it tastes as bad as the watered down beer the all inclusives serve. I was reduced to drinking espressos by the bucket load to try and knock my caffeine craving on the head. Must use some sort of decaffeinated bean on the island. Do not add milk to the rubbish they serve as there's something funny in the milk too. The only semi decent coffee was from a Maccy D's! Only needed two of those. The first thing I did when landing back on UK soil was find a bleedin' coffee place in the airport. Someone please tell me of a good place anywhere on the island( near popular cycle routes as well as town centres) as Ill be going back early next year.

It's been bothering me since I got back last week and I just needed to vent somewhere

pinarellokid

hope you feel better now caffeine kid lol

you need to take some booster gels with you pal haha.

whats the terrain like over there??

mallorcajeff

very rare that i find a bad coffee on the island and i have one virtually everyday somewhere on the island? avoid the cappucino chains of cafes as they are such a rip off. let me know where your staying next time and i will tell you where i go for a coffee but to have so many bad ones I dont think i could have 50 bad coffee on the island sure is was not you? Nothing in the milk on the island either?