Majorca, I love it.

bernithebiker

Tjgoodhew wrote:

Im returning for two days end of September after an amazing trip in May. I stayed in Cala D'Or and rode the baby mountains - San Salvador and La Randa. Im going to stay close to the airport to save transfer time and want to do the big mountains this time. Is this possible from Palma without having to ride 100 miles + And only having two days which climb should i prioritise ? Puig major ??

I was also thinking of exploring the South West of the island - there looks to be some nice climbs down there. Has Anybody ridden over that way - down towards Andratx ??

See my previous posts; the ride from Andratx to Soller is (IMO) the best on the island.

4kicks

End September Trencagarrons may be on (it was cancelled last year), then you can actually go up the Puig Major, to the radar base, not just through the Monnaber tunnel.

ednino

I never needed a map, found the island is very well signed and easy to get about 8)

ilovegrace

Well thanks everbody for the recomendations, place to stay maps bike etc.
I hired a bike from baleir rasen (Wrong spelling I know) who workout of Club Pollentia , first class service , Focus Izalco team with sram red and cosmic wheels , fantastic bike.
Up at 6am breakfast changed and out for 6.45 every morning,back for 10 ish , ideal conditions to ride .
By the way I was offered the bike for 1200 euros , would you buy ex rental , if |I had not just bought one I would have been very tempted.
thanks again
regrds
Mark

matt-h

ilovegrace wrote:

By the way I was offered the bike for 1200 euros , would you buy ex rental , if |I had not just bought one I would have been very tempted.
thanks again
regrds
Mark

You had the best test ride ever.
If it was that good you would have had it.
You would have had to buy a box or bag to get it back as well

Matt

keithc440

Just back from Majorca where I hired a bike for 7 days from www.bikehead.se. I hired a Cervelo. Bike fit was spot on and I had no problems with the bike. Delivery was prompt just after 0900hrs on the first day of hire. I would hire a bike from them again.
I based myself in Alcudia and this gave me access to some of the islands best riding.

sloppyschleckonds

keithc440 wrote:

Just back from Majorca where I hired a bike for 7 days from http://www.bikehead.se. I hired a Cervelo. Bike fit was spot on and I had no problems with the bike. Delivery was prompt just after 0900hrs on the first day of hire. I would hire a bike from them again.
I based myself in Alcudia and this gave me access to some of the islands best riding.

€40 delivery, where are they based the UK?

Dippydog3

Off there next week. I am making so many trips there I am leaving a bike there permanently. I reckon that my economic breakthrough into profit will happen when I have had 200 days holiday in Majorca.

So, as it is in by best interests, I will be booking holidays there for three months a year for the next couple of years.

Well, that's the argument I am going to use with my other half. After all, I am the marketing guy and she is the public servant. What does she know about economics?

bernithebiker

Dippydog3 wrote:

Off there next week. I am making so many trips there I am leaving a bike there permanently. I reckon that my economic breakthrough into profit will happen when I have had 200 days holiday in Majorca.

So, as it is in by best interests, I will be booking holidays there for three months a year for the next couple of years.

Well, that's the argument I am going to use with my other half. After all, I am the marketing guy and she is the public servant. What does she know about economics?

Me too.

Taking a bike on the plane these days is a right pain, and expensive. The hire bikes are good, but the cost mounts up, there's the delivery / pickup hassle, and you're never quite sure what you're going to get. I also have to install my pedals, stem and seatpost/saddle combo, to get a decent fit.

Where you basing it? Mine's in Palma.

bigjim

I used to leave a bike in Mallorca. The problem with that is retrieving it if you are not always staying in the same place. I don't like being tied to the same resort as I can't always book the hotel of choice. It's good IMO to stay in different areas of the Island to experience more of the local rides. Nowadays I just find a rental when I arrive and suck up the fees. It's worth the bit extra for a lot less hassle.

sloppyschleckonds

I know a couple of people on here are going out to Mallorca in November, would it be better to go to Southern Spain for a few days later that month rather than Mallorca/ Palma?

freefall_junkie

Just back from a superb week riding in Majorca with Stuart Hall Cycling. Never been anywhere with such amazing road bike culture - there seem to be keen roadies absolutely everywhere. I will definitely be going back.

Gratuitous pic of my bike in Port de Soller after the fantastic descent from Puig Major :

bigjim

SloppySchleckonds wrote:

I know a couple of people on here are going out to Mallorca in November, would it be better to go to Southern Spain for a few days later that month rather than Mallorca/ Palma?

I've done mallorca in November. It rained for about half the week so it's a bit of a gamble. Malaga area is probably warmer. I was touring in Portugal last week in 30C so that may be a better bet but you have to like hills. Oh, and cobbles.

OwenB

I'm just back from a short break in Puerto Pollensa, it was absolutely amazing and have already told Mrs OwenB that I'm planning on the same next year, unfortunately I had pneumonia in the 7 weeks leading up to the break so I wasn't as healthy as I would've liked but managed the ride up to Lluc Monastary on the last day of the trip whereas all the other rides out were flat.
Our hotel was the Puerto Azul if anyone was interested, the garage was spot on, rooms were nice and food was good too.

sloppyschleckonds

bigjim wrote:

SloppySchleckonds wrote:

I know a couple of people on here are going out to Mallorca in November, would it be better to go to Southern Spain for a few days later that month rather than Mallorca/ Palma?

I've done mallorca in November. It rained for about half the week so it's a bit of a gamble. Malaga area is probably warmer. I was touring in Portugal last week in 30C so that may be a better bet but you have to like hills. Oh, and cobbles.

Thought that, settling on Alicante

Dippydog3

Forecast for the next two weeks in Palma is perfect.

We have always gone straight when climbing out of Lluc. Next week we go down and then up Sa Calobra. The ambulance is on standby.

markhewitt1978

I was there last week. Rented from Rent March in Port de Pollenca, but I was staying in Cala d'Or. Meant my main two rides were Port de Pollenca to Cala d'Or and back.

The first trip didn't go well at all, started out at 1pm, which I know now was a big error. As the route South was basically one big climb followed by a steep descent it was far too hot and I was massively struggling, just not used to the heat .

After some riding around the Cala d'Or area the day after, on day 3 I rode back to Port de Pollenca, this time starting out at 8am which was much nicer as I was doing the climb up to Felantix before the sun had risen properly and there was a coolness in the air when I was riding the narrow roads towards Petra. By the time the weather had warmed up I was already descening to Alcudia.

When I got to Port de Pollenca I found myself caught up in the middle of a race! I rode across the finish line on the front road, arms aloft in triumph of course!

One thing to note is that on the inland roads drivers are no more courteous than they are in the UK, even had a few beeping and gesticulating at me, which is not what I'm used to in the UK. Plus the number of close passes was about the same.

IMG_5855 by Mark Hewitt, on Flickr

Bar Shaker

SloppySchleckonds wrote:

bigjim wrote:

SloppySchleckonds wrote:

I know a couple of people on here are going out to Mallorca in November, would it be better to go to Southern Spain for a few days later that month rather than Mallorca/ Palma?

I've done mallorca in November. It rained for about half the week so it's a bit of a gamble. Malaga area is probably warmer. I was touring in Portugal last week in 30C so that may be a better bet but you have to like hills. Oh, and cobbles.

Thought that, settling on Alicante

The weather in both will be pretty much the same. They are only about 50 miles apart. If you climb Col de Rates near Jalon, you can see the Ballearics most days.

You would need to go down to Malaga to be looking at different weather.

In Nov, I would go to the Canaries.

hjghg5

Not majorca, but I have an ex hire bike in gran canaria and much prefer it to renting - not least because I usually fly on saturday and the hire shops are closed on sundays! But I do always stay in the same place (my parents house, and the bike lives in their garage). I'm just about at the break even point and in part because it never gets wet it hasn't needed anything more than new cables/brake pads.

The one downer is when you get on holiday and realise you have to change the cables/tweak things before getting out on it - at least the hire bikes are ready to go when you pick them up!

mallorcajeff

Buying an ex rental bike on the whole is great. I know the bikes at balear reisen are fantastic. Ive got two canyons from them. Gehard is the guy in the shop and the focus izalco pro you rode is a great bike and for that money a steal. They are so well looked after there. In a different shop i have seen some real old bikes like 6-7 years old with really old 105 equipment and absolutely battered bordering on dangerous being sold for 500-600 euros and they are well worth avoiding. Balear reisen and max hurzeler and bikehead seem to have the best bikes from my experience on the island and hving lived here for six years and worked in the industry im pretty well informed. Off the radsr but also great bikes can be had from sport bequi in alcudi on the burger kind roandabout fluro green wiliers and next door at bimont he has brand new orcas with dura ace. Both well worth checking out.

mattythemod

mallorcajeff wrote:

Buying an ex rental bike on the whole is great. I know the bikes at balear reisen are fantastic. Ive got two canyons from them. Gehard is the guy in the shop and the focus izalco pro you rode is a great bike and for that money a steal. They are so well looked after there. In a different shop i have seen some real old bikes like 6-7 years old with really old 105 equipment and absolutely battered bordering on dangerous being sold for 500-600 euros and they are well worth avoiding. Balear reisen and max hurzeler and bikehead seem to have the best bikes from my experience on the island and hving lived here for six years and worked in the industry im pretty well informed. Off the radsr but also great bikes can be had from sport bequi in alcudi on the burger kind roandabout fluro green wiliers and next door at bimont he has brand new orcas with dura ace. Both well worth checking out.

I too have recently returned from my maiden trip to Mallorca and loved it , I stayed at the fantastic Club Pollentia Resort and hired from the on site Max Hurzler Station , Full Carbon , Ultegra equipped for 115 euros for the week , very helpful staff especially Mario whos soon off to run the new Max Hurzler superstore in puerto pollensa .

Special thanks has to go to MallorcaJeff for all his local input and posts on this thread .

I enjoyed it that much that i have booked to return next year with a few pals .

rudivoller22

A few of us are looking at getting a short cycling break in next March time. Would the weather be good enough in Mallorca early March or are we better going somewhere like Tenerife?

markhewitt1978

rudivoller22 wrote:

A few of us are looking at getting a short cycling break in next March time. Would the weather be good enough in Mallorca early March or are we better going somewhere like Tenerife?

It'll be coolish early March, probably more like early summer in the UK so still very nice for cycling. But that time of year the weather can vary, especially in the hills, you you'll need a full compliment of arm warmers, jackets etc

markhewitt1978

I did a ride last week gone starting early morning from Cala d'Or at 8am, sun was still coming up but it was quite warm and I was in shorts and short sleeved jersey, climbing up a slight incline I was sweating buckets already feeling the effects of the heat. But other riders had jackets and leg warmers on! I think I would have died! Shows I that I'm from England I suppose!

rudivoller22

thanks. Not bothered about it being cool, more rain I was worried about. It sounds great out there. 50-50 on Mallorca or Tenerife at the moment, should be 6-8 of us so should be good either way.

From experience on here are we better going with one of the tour companies like Stuart Hall or just finding a self catering apartment somewhere. Will be hiring bikes. Just seems like a lot less hassle than flying ours over.

freefall_junkie

rudivoller22 wrote:

thanks. Not bothered about it being cool, more rain I was worried about. It sounds great out there. 50-50 on Mallorca or Tenerife at the moment, should be 6-8 of us so should be good either way.

From experience on here are we better going with one of the tour companies like Stuart Hall or just finding a self catering apartment somewhere. Will be hiring bikes. Just seems like a lot less hassle than flying ours over.

Just back from a week with Stuart Hall and can highly recommend. Amazing deal at £315 a week half board in a pretty decent hotel including guiding and airport transfer to Puerto Pollensa. Route finding in the mountains is fairly easy, but I would never have found some of the flatter routes we did along all the tiny back roads, even with a map. You can drop in and out of the organised rides as you please - all very relaxed.

rudivoller22

Just got the flights booked for mid april next year so excitement setting in. Just need to book accommodation and bikes now.

Looking at bikeexperiencemallorca.com anyone ever used them for bike hire? Or failing that Bikehead have some decent bikes too.

Do most places switch the brakes over to UK set up? Some make it clear they don't so just wanted to make sure I don't get caught out. Nearly got wiped out in the past making that mistake!!

bernithebiker

rudivoller22 wrote:

Just got the flights booked for mid april next year so excitement setting in. Just need to book accommodation and bikes now.

Looking at bikeexperiencemallorca.com anyone ever used them for bike hire? Or failing that Bikehead have some decent bikes too.

Do most places switch the brakes over to UK set up? Some make it clear they don't so just wanted to make sure I don't get caught out. Nearly got wiped out in the past making that mistake!!

It's a massive PITA for bike shops to switch brakes over, and in my experience, they don't. It takes a good while to get used to left hand front braking, and personally I never really get used it, even after a week.

rudivoller22

bernithebiker wrote:

rudivoller22 wrote:

Just got the flights booked for mid april next year so excitement setting in. Just need to book accommodation and bikes now.

Looking at bikeexperiencemallorca.com anyone ever used them for bike hire? Or failing that Bikehead have some decent bikes too.

Do most places switch the brakes over to UK set up? Some make it clear they don't so just wanted to make sure I don't get caught out. Nearly got wiped out in the past making that mistake!!

It's a massive PITA for bike shops to switch brakes over, and in my experience, they don't. It takes a good while to get used to left hand front braking, and personally I never really get used it, even after a week.

Yep I just can't get used to it! Bikeexperience will change to uk set up for a small fee just waiting for bikehead to get back to me.

Anyone ever used bikeexperiencemallorca.com?

poppit

Yep, used them last month, they were very good, we also went for the brake swap and upgraded the wheels.