Majorca, I love it.

1…5681011…21

Comments

  • bill_gates
    bill_gates Posts: 469
    durhamwasp wrote:
    Just got back from an excellent week in Mallorca. Based in Alcudia we did three full day rides and three family days. Sa Calobra is an obvious one but we also loved the Coll de sa Batalla and Coll d'Honor. The descent down from Puig Major to Soller was as good as I have experienced anywhere!

    We used Max Hurzeler bike hire, and found them fantastic. €160 for a Di2 equipped Cube Litening was good value and we also got a free saddle bag, spare tube and tyre levers.

    Met Sean Kelly at the top of the Batalla, was overtaken by Kevin Pauwels on the Coll de Soller and spotted several Team GB members at their hotel in Port de Alcudia.


    I'm heading out in a few weeks and will be my first time. Just going with the Mrs who is only a recreational cyclist so looking to get a day where I can maybe do a climb on my own and then maybe some routes that are better as a 'family run'.

    You got any GPX or Strava routes you can provide?

    "I like riding in my car, it's not quite a Jaguar."
  • durhamwasp
    durhamwasp Posts: 1,247
    maybes these work?
    http://www.strava.com/activities/132214047 (Caimari - Soller)
    http://www.strava.com/activities/132213608 (Alcudia - Sa Calobra)
    http://www.strava.com/activities/132214385 (Alcudia - Formentor)

    I also checked out Mapmyride and searched for rides out of Alcudia.
    http://www.snookcycling.wordpress.com - Reports on Cingles du Mont Ventoux, Alpe D'Huez, Galibier, Izoard, Tourmalet, Paris-Roubaix Sportive & Tour of Flanders Sportive, Amstel Gold Xperience, Vosges, C2C, WOTR routes....
  • WarlKicken
    WarlKicken Posts: 224
    Hello, really interested in going to Majorca later in the year.

    Been reading through this thread and my appetite is whetted, thoroughly.

    Does anyone have a guide or training/ holiday plan they could PM me? I would most likely be going out alone :( boooo!! but I am sure there'll be people about to chat to. Flights are easy enough and I'll probably take my lovely bike out there, just need ideas for hotels and how it all works. Where to keep bike etc etc. I'd love to go play in the Mountains :D

    Thanks
    WK
  • Grill
    Grill Posts: 5,610
    Just got back from 9 days and 870 miles on the roads. Did the Mallorca312 which was good fun, but still enjoyed the full climbing day more (Lluc, Sa Calobra, Puig Major, little Soller, Orient, Salva Gorge). I'm still defending my position that you don't need bailout gears as I never need lower than the 36x24.
    English Cycles V3 | Cervelo P5 | Cervelo T4 | Trek Domane Koppenberg
  • sloppyschleckonds
    sloppyschleckonds Posts: 8,019
    Grill wrote:
    I'm still defending my position that you don't need bailout gears as I never need lower than the 36x24.

    Did you get overtaken on any climbs……?
    I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles
  • Grill
    Grill Posts: 5,610
    SloppySchleckonds wrote:
    Grill wrote:
    I'm still defending my position that you don't need bailout gears as I never need lower than the 36x24.

    Did you get overtaken on any climbs……?

    One of my buddies put 8 minutes into me on Sa Calobra (he did it in 36:45). He was on a standard with an 11-25 cassette...
    English Cycles V3 | Cervelo P5 | Cervelo T4 | Trek Domane Koppenberg
  • moscowflyer
    moscowflyer Posts: 540
    Over there in two weeks, staying at the Duva in Pollensa.

    Cannot wait now, just need to get some routes gathered from Strava.
  • Grill
    Grill Posts: 5,610
    Here you go: http://www.strava.com/athletes/963993
    English Cycles V3 | Cervelo P5 | Cervelo T4 | Trek Domane Koppenberg
  • Tjgoodhew
    Tjgoodhew Posts: 628
    I am going out on 18th May with the OH and have managed to get the go ahead for two days cycling.

    We are staying in Cala D'Or so i have a Canyon booked for a couple of days. Living in Essex my experience of climbing is limited so looking forward to giving San Salvador a crack.

    Looking at putting some routes together to take with me - is it better to ride on the main roads or are the minor roads ok to ride on. When looking on google maps its not clear what roads are actually roads and which are just dirt tracks
    Cannondale Caad8
    Canyon Aeroad 8.0

    http://www.strava.com/athletes/goodhewt
  • bigjim
    bigjim Posts: 780
    Minor roads are brilliant to ride on. Very low traffic count and usually well surfaced. However the hills are steeper though shorter. I was out in May last year and it was very windy. So I was glad to dive into the minor roads for some shelter.
    This February it was much better.
    The main roads are lovely and smooth and good for getting the miles in. Many have a large shoulder but are liable to be busy. Sometimes it becomes hard to distinguish what is a main and, to us, what is a local road. You can get main raods that are quiet and quite narrow. If you take the coast road from where you are over to Cala Dor be aware its quite challenging with long inclines and pretty busy plus you lose the shoulder in places. Good fun though.
    I just love the place.
    Nothing to prove. http://adenough1.blogspot.co.uk/
  • moscowflyer
    moscowflyer Posts: 540
    Grill wrote:
    Here you go: http://www.strava.com/athletes/963993

    Cheers, some tasty looking routes there!
  • bobbydazzla
    bobbydazzla Posts: 289
    Tjgoodhew wrote:
    I am going out on 18th May with the OH and have managed to get the go ahead for two days cycling.

    We are staying in Cala D'Or so i have a Canyon booked for a couple of days. Living in Essex my experience of climbing is limited so looking forward to giving San Salvador a crack.

    Looking at putting some routes together to take with me - is it better to ride on the main roads or are the minor roads ok to ride on. When looking on google maps its not clear what roads are actually roads and which are just dirt tracks

    I did loads of routes round Cala d'Or last year and most roads were fine if you're heading inland and North, I didn't go far to the South.

    San Salvador is the hardest climb in the area, it's testing. And if you ride on the PMV4014 up to Porto Cristo there's some decent hills along the way.

    And the guys at Canyon are really helpful, they'll give you some pointers on where to go and they also have group rides most days if that's your thing.

    I'll be there a couple of weeks after you are, can't wait.
  • Starsboy
    Starsboy Posts: 66
    Tjgoodhew wrote:
    I am going out on 18th May with the OH and have managed to get the go ahead for two days cycling.

    We are staying in Cala D'Or so i have a Canyon booked for a couple of days. Living in Essex my experience of climbing is limited so looking forward to giving San Salvador a crack.

    Looking at putting some routes together to take with me - is it better to ride on the main roads or are the minor roads ok to ride on. When looking on google maps its not clear what roads are actually roads and which are just dirt tracks
    I was in Cala dOr week before last and loved it, San Salvador is a nice climb (it was busy at mid day so went early) nice cafe at the top also. Booked a Canyon myself and the bike/service was spot on.
  • jmillen
    jmillen Posts: 627
    Loving this thread...I'm now going to start to look at organising a trip, it looks great
    Would be good to continue to see reviews of accommodation, bike hire, pics etc :D
    2010 Specialized Stumpjumper FSR Expert Carbon
    2014 De Rosa R848
    Carrera TDF Ltd Commuter
  • durhamwasp
    durhamwasp Posts: 1,247
    Our Mallorca album here... https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set ... 202&type=3
    http://www.snookcycling.wordpress.com - Reports on Cingles du Mont Ventoux, Alpe D'Huez, Galibier, Izoard, Tourmalet, Paris-Roubaix Sportive & Tour of Flanders Sportive, Amstel Gold Xperience, Vosges, C2C, WOTR routes....
  • moscowflyer
    moscowflyer Posts: 540
    Ok, so we'll be there in 24 hours and my first mission is to get over to Sa Calobra. Daft question maybe, but what's the 'real' way of doing this, is it south to north or vice versa? Or is it a case of once you've gone south to north you have no option but to turn around and do it the other way as well?
  • markhewitt1978
    markhewitt1978 Posts: 7,614
    Not sure what you mean? The only way on road to get into Sa Calobra is over the mountains and down the descent into the town, then the same way out again. You can get a boat from Port de Soller as well I think?
  • moscowflyer
    moscowflyer Posts: 540
    markhewitt1978 wrote:
    Not sure what you mean? The only way on road to get into Sa Calobra is over the mountains and down the descent into the town, then the same way out again. You can get a boat from Port de Soller as well I think?

    That does actually answer my question. So the climb starts from the port, so we basically do the Sa Calobra in reverse to get to the port, then turn around and start the climb back up.
  • markhewitt1978
    markhewitt1978 Posts: 7,614
    MoscowFlyer wrote:
    That does actually answer my question. So the climb starts from the port, so we basically do the Sa Calobra in reverse to get to the port, then turn around and start the climb back up.


    Yup. But it's a formidable climb just to get to the top in the first place.
  • moscowflyer
    moscowflyer Posts: 540
    Yeah, I've just mapped it out, I didn't realise the MA10 from Pollensa was so bad!

    http://www.strava.com/routes/339677
  • markhewitt1978
    markhewitt1978 Posts: 7,614
    In terms of steep? Yeah! Coll de Femenia - it's hard work alright! But a fantastic ride.

    13465073735_de9666247f.jpg
  • moscowflyer
    moscowflyer Posts: 540
    I can't wait now, weather looks good too so no excuses.
  • Grill
    Grill Posts: 5,610
    markhewitt1978 wrote:
    In terms of steep? Yeah! Coll de Femenia - it's hard work alright! But a fantastic ride.

    Errr... it's not steep... Not remotely.
    English Cycles V3 | Cervelo P5 | Cervelo T4 | Trek Domane Koppenberg
  • markhewitt1978
    markhewitt1978 Posts: 7,614
    Grill wrote:
    markhewitt1978 wrote:
    In terms of steep? Yeah! Coll de Femenia - it's hard work alright! But a fantastic ride.

    Errr... it's not steep... Not remotely.

    Was for me but then I'd only just started road cycling a few weeks before!
  • JohnW52
    JohnW52 Posts: 34
    It's true that it's not steep but it is a long drag. If you have the time it's much nicer to go up the Col de Sa Battalla from Caimari and come back over the Col de Femenia, which is a wonderful long fast descent. From Pollensa bay look for the road parallel to the north of the main Palma road through Campanet and on to Caimari.
  • Grill
    Grill Posts: 5,610
    markhewitt1978 wrote:
    Grill wrote:
    markhewitt1978 wrote:
    In terms of steep? Yeah! Coll de Femenia - it's hard work alright! But a fantastic ride.

    Errr... it's not steep... Not remotely.

    Was for me but then I'd only just started road cycling a few weeks before!

    Fair, I remember thinking the same thing of The Bwlch when I started cycling. Should have seen how Wiggo took care of that sort of gradient on yesterday's stage of the ToC.
    English Cycles V3 | Cervelo P5 | Cervelo T4 | Trek Domane Koppenberg
  • sloppyschleckonds
    sloppyschleckonds Posts: 8,019
    JohnW52 wrote:
    It's true that it's not steep but it is a long drag. If you have the time it's much nicer to go up the Col de Sa Battalla from Caimari and come back over the Col de Femenia, which is a wonderful long fast descent. From Pollensa bay look for the road parallel to the north of the main Palma road through Campanet and on to Caimari.

    Or follow the cycle route.....
    I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles
  • markhewitt1978
    markhewitt1978 Posts: 7,614
    SloppySchleckonds wrote:
    JohnW52 wrote:
    It's true that it's not steep but it is a long drag. If you have the time it's much nicer to go up the Col de Sa Battalla from Caimari and come back over the Col de Femenia, which is a wonderful long fast descent. From Pollensa bay look for the road parallel to the north of the main Palma road through Campanet and on to Caimari.

    Or follow the cycle route.....

    Which is what?
  • JohnW52
    JohnW52 Posts: 34
    I presume he means one of the many designated routes on back roads across Mallorca. One of those is the road I described through Campanet but there are many others and some could be more appropriate depending on your exact starting point.
  • Mac9
    Mac9 Posts: 134
    I'm off to Santa Ponsa in September for a week and I'm definitely planning on doing 2 or 3 days of cycling.

    Anybody familiar with the area and know if any good routes to the climbs mentioned in this thread are nearby? I hope there will be a cycle hire shop nearby, I'll have to get looking online for hire and some routes!

    Cheers!

Categories