Majorca

Ibaz

Well, earlier on the week of had a an oh Fu£& it moment and booked 3 nights in Majorca with bike hire in the first week of April on my own.
The bike is a carbon/ ultegra from a manufacturer I've not heard of but I guess similar to my Ultegra KTM.

I'm staying I Puerta Pollenca. I've never been to Majorca before
I will ride Cap de Formentor but what other middle ability routes from Pollenca would people recommend?
I'm too big to be a natural climber but I don't mind a bash at the long drags but the short sharp ones wipe me out.
Cheers

mrb123

Not many short sharp ones on Mallorca so you should be fine.

Worth doing the Formentor ride fairly early or in the evening as it can be a bit busy. Roughly 20-25 miles round trip from the Port.

A must do is the loop up the Campanet valley, up the Col de sa Battala, past Lluc and down the Coll de Femenia. From memory that's about 40 miles.

If you can manage it, Sa Calobra is not to be missed. Maybe 65-70 miles out and back from Port de Pollenca. A bit steeper than some of the others but nothing silly if you pace yourself.

mrb123

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/848090 ... ref=plSrch

Worth getting yourself one of these. Has all the main cycling roads marked. Some of the more popular routes are marked on the map. The map is colour coded to show how busy the various roads are. It also shows the gradients of the climbs.

Ibaz

Cheers guys
Sa Colabra was one I was looking at - but couldn't figure the climb and milage from pollenca. 60 miles is very do able.
Weired, I've never looked forward to a holiday as much as this. Just hope it lives up to it.

jheg

It's exactly 60 miles from Puerto Pollensa I did that exact ride in April last year. See my strava ride here https://www.strava.com/activities/54594 ... 1460718732

crescent

I did Sa Calobra last May, almost exactly 60miles round trip from PP. Try to do it early in the morning before the tourist buses block up the road - you will enjoy the descent so much more. I left PP at 0645 and was in Sa Calobra by 9. It's a fair old climb back up but then mostly downhill back to Port Pollensa. Back in time for lunch, even with a coffee stop at the roadside cafe under the viaduct. A great morning on the bike. Cap de Formentor is a must do as well.
Mallorca is cycling heaven, very jealous.

jp1970

Also try and get over to soller Worth the trip. I never managed to get over on my left trip .. ran out of credits with the wife.. also didn't have the legs..

markhewitt1978

MrB123 wrote:

A must do is the loop up the Campanet valley, up the Col de sa Battala, past Lluc and down the Coll de Femenia. From memory that's about 40 miles.

+1 for this one. The Col de sa Battala is an amazing climb, yes it's tough but amazingly rewarding as it's just stunning and the ride down Col de Femenia is pretty decent too. It's not far from the top of Battala to the top of Sa Calobra if you wanted to do that in one ride.

navrig2

I thought Col de sa Battala was the nicest climb plus it has a nice cafe/fuel stop right at the top with plenty of shade if needed.

Sa Calobra is more exposed to the sun.

mamba80

i know this is against the grain but i d not bother with Formentor unless you feel like adding it in to a much longer ride, its too short a ride considering you ve just 3 days.

i think one of the nicest loops is to take the Campenet valley to alaro and then go up over the Orient climb to Bunyola, then up the Col soller, either return back down via Santa Maria/alaro and back up the Battala or continue over Puig Major but thats very hard if your not fit or have a lot of time.

markhewitt1978

mamba80 wrote:

i know this is against the grain but i d not bother with Formentor unless you feel like adding it in to a much longer ride, its too short a ride considering you ve just 3 days.

I would still say it's a must do for a cycling holiday in PdP. But certainly it's a ride to do the first day after travelling there or the last morning if you've got a few hours before you check out etc.

BTW the Cap is a featured route on Road Grand Tours http://roadgrandtours.com/

markhewitt1978

mamba80 wrote:

i know this is against the grain but i d not bother with Formentor unless you feel like adding it in to a much longer ride, its too short a ride considering you ve just 3 days.

I would still say it's a must do for a cycling holiday in PdP. But certainly it's a ride to do the first day after travelling there or the last morning if you've got a few hours before you check out etc.

BTW the Cap is a featured route on Road Grand Tours http://roadgrandtours.com/

dazz_ni45

mamba80 wrote:

i know this is against the grain but i d not bother with Formentor unless you feel like adding it in to a much longer ride, its too short a ride considering you ve just 3 days.

i think one of the nicest loops is to take the Campenet valley to alaro and then go up over the Orient climb to Bunyola, then up the Col soller, either return back down via Santa Maria/alaro and back up the Battala or continue over Puig Major but thats very hard if your not fit or have a lot of time.

Would you happen to have a route map or gpx of that route?

pippi_langsamer-2

markhewitt1978 wrote:

MrB123 wrote:

A must do is the loop up the Campanet valley, up the Col de sa Battala, past Lluc and down the Coll de Femenia. From memory that's about 40 miles.

+1 for this one. The Col de sa Battala is an amazing climb, yes it's tough but amazingly rewarding as it's just stunning and the ride down Col de Femenia is pretty decent too. It's not far from the top of Battala to the top of Sa Calobra if you wanted to do that in one ride.

+more for this.

Just take bloody care on the descents- many a (competent), rider come to grief on the descents. Have a read of Scott's account of a Holiday from Hell (scroll from bottom upwards)

http://scottyob1.blogspot.co.uk/search?updated-min=2016-01-01T00:00:00Z&updated-max=2017-01-01T00:00:00Z&max-results=10

Not wanting to put you off, but to just reiterate- be safe!

thistle_

I was crapping myself going down Sa Colabra, and Coll de Soller - it was slightly damp and the road down to Soller was green...
Going up was OK though

On the way back from Sa Colabra to Soller I ran out of water with no shops or anything on the way back - not nice. There's a cafe/shop/shack where you turn off MA-10 I should've stopped at. I'm not sure what there is on the way back to Puerto Pollenca but would be worth checking.

mamba80

dazz_ni45 wrote:

mamba80 wrote:

i know this is against the grain but i d not bother with Formentor unless you feel like adding it in to a much longer ride, its too short a ride considering you ve just 3 days.

i think one of the nicest loops is to take the Campenet valley to alaro and then go up over the Orient climb to Bunyola, then up the Col soller, either return back down via Santa Maria/alaro and back up the Battala or continue over Puig Major but thats very hard if your not fit or have a lot of time.

Would you happen to have a route map or gpx of that route?

i think i have actually ... if i can find it might not be exact but near enough.

mrb123

Don't get too worried about the descents. The roads are never particularly steep and the surfaces are immaculate. Take it steady at first and you'll be fine. Descents over there are far more about picking lines and hitting apexes compared to this country where it's usually a case of hanging on for grim death as you get rattled around by all the bumps in the road.

If it is wet over there however then proceed with extreme caution...

mamba80

MrB123 wrote:

Don't get too worried about the descents. The roads are never particularly steep and the surfaces are immaculate. Take it steady at first and you'll be fine. Descents over there are far more about picking lines and hitting apexes compared to this country where it's usually a case of hanging on for grim death as you get rattled around by all the bumps in the road.

If it is wet over there however then proceed with extreme caution...

the biggest danger is other cyclists ascending, i try to be out by 0730 to 0800 to limit this, there are some idiots riding over there and they look for cars buses coming down and fail to see a single rider (if they look at all.)
Coaches on Sa Colabra you need to wary off.

thomasmorris

I think Battala was maybe a slightly nicer climb than Lluc from Pollenca, however, I found it much busier with coaches. Maybe it's on the tourist route from the central island to sa calobra? Lluc to Pollenca is much better descent though, with many more open corners, you hardly have to brake the whole way down.

I never got a chance to do the Campenet valley to alaro and then the Orient climb to Bunyola; but it looks like it would be quite with no obvious tourist destination.

Sa calobra was awesome, and I think we timed it well with 'one way' bus system. However, to make sure of a clear run I'd be up at the crack of dawn to do it again.

Formentor is a great bit of road. again traffic can spoil it a little, but it was my impression a lot of coahces only go as far as Playa Formentor half way along the peninsula and then teh ride out to the lighthouse is not quite as congested.

As said above, the roads get very slippy in the wet compared to the tarmac used in the UK. But, if it's wet, you'll not be getting the views up in the hills anyway, so I'd plan a route to one less touristy interior towns.

crescent

Sa Calobra - as above, best aim to arrive early, before the buses clog up the road. Only problem is, I arrived at 9am before anything was open - I was literally the first cyclist in the port as far as I could see. Intended to have a bit of breakfast before cycling back up but nothing was open. Had to beg a cleaner in one of the cafes to sell me some water, a can of Coke and some chocolate.
Cap de Formentor - yes, it is only a 25-30 mile round trip from PdP but is just stunning. Again, best to go early morning. I think it would be quite difficult to make it part of a longer run as you need to go out and back on the same road so would end up in PdP again no matter what. However, and I have never done this myself so don't quote me, I think there is a seasonal ferry between Playa Formentor and Soller that might allow some kind of longer run, albeit with a ferry transfer in the middle. Also worth looking at some of the shuttle bus companies that take you and your bike out to Soller and drop you off to allow you to cycle back.
Again, let me state how jealous I am

thiscocks

I ended up doing the Puig major climb a good couple of times when I was there last year. Did a loop from Pollenca clockwise to Soller for lunch and then up it. Also went down it one day and it is a great decent! Nice and smooth and fairly wide so you can pick a decent line. Sadly didn't do Sa Colabra as had just come up Puig major both times I had the chance- bottled it . Really enjoyed it there though, my first experience of riding proper gradients out of the UK.

bernithebiker

If you get a chance to ride the coast road up from Andratx to Soller, take it, it's one of the best rides on the island.

Smooth, winding roads, plenty of climbing, and constant views out to sea from a high vantage point.

Banyalbufar and Deia are highlights.

Jerry185

Sa Calobra is brilliant, just don't end up following a coach down

pippi_langsamer-2

I personally think Sa Calobra looks better than it actually is to ride. It's hard work going down- traffic aside, and it's pretty boring going up too. I think the vendors at the little harbor at the bottom built this road to funnel unsuspecting cyclists down it to trap them before charging extortionate $$$ for errrr.........everything!

Id agree with the previous comments- Campenet, Alaro, Orient, Bunyola, Soller loop variations are the most stunning...

jheg

Pippi Langsamer wrote:

I personally think Sa Calobra looks better than it actually is to ride. It's hard work going down- traffic aside, and it's pretty boring going up too. I think the vendors at the little harbor at the bottom built this road to funnel unsuspecting cyclists down it to trap them before charging extortionate $$$ for errrr.........everything!

Id agree with the previous comments- Campenet, Alaro, Orient, Bunyola, Soller loop variations are the most stunning...

Totally disagree. If you like climbing this is a must do ride it's an amazing climb! I agree the descent is a little tricky particularly if there is traffic and goats jumping off rocks but if like me you are going for the ascent then it is anything but boring and worth rolling down to do it. There is also a cafe on the 360 loop that serves good coffee and another one further up the road you will pass by next to the viaduct - You are better to refuel and enjoy a coffee after the climb in my opinion so that you are not carrying unnecessary weight on the way up

durhamwasp

https://snookcycling.wordpress.com/mallorca/

Heres our report of our trip a few April's ago, staying up the road in Alcudia. We also rode Sa Calobra from there, in a big loop. We arrived around lunch time, had something to eat and just as we hit the summit (around 1:30pm) the tourist buses were starting to arrive)

bernithebiker

If anyone's thinking of doing the MA-10 coast road in the next few months, watch out! The tunnel has had a roof cave in, and they've closed it off with fencing too difficult to climb.

We had to traverse a rock face to the side to get through, which was NOT easy! (yesterday)

markhewitt1978

Which tunnel? There are many tunnels on the Ma-10 !

Have to agree about Sa Calobra town the place itself is pretty but the resaurants are all awful. All of them are self service cafeteria style that charge an absolute fortune for terrible food, microwaved often. If you're planning to do Sa Calobra, my advice is take something to eat with you.

I never did the descent, unless you count driving down!

mrb123

markhewitt1978 wrote:

Which tunnel? There are many tunnels on the Ma-10 !

Have to agree about Sa Calobra town the place itself is pretty but the resaurants are all awful. All of them are self service cafeteria style that charge an absolute fortune for terrible food, microwaved often. If you're planning to do Sa Calobra, my advice is take something to eat with you.

I never did the descent, unless you count driving down!

Yeah even water is a rip off down there. Nowhere sells big bottles so you're forced to buy small ones at extortionate prices. Stock up at the top before you descend!

The descent itself is utterly thrilling. The traffic tends to bunch up so just wait for a clear window before you launch yourself down. If you catch up the buses then just stop and take a couple of photos to let them get well ahead again.

bianchimoon

bernithebiker wrote:

If you get a chance to ride the coast road up from Andratx to Soller, take it, it's one of the best rides on the island.

Smooth, winding roads, plenty of climbing, and constant views out to sea from a high vantage point.

Banyalbufar and Deia are highlights.

we were looking at doing this in May while we're there, trouble is the cycle bus doesn't leave Pollenca till 8am, a bit too late in the day for that journey back - probably, looks a great ride tho'!

bernithebiker

bianchimoon wrote:

bernithebiker wrote:

If you get a chance to ride the coast road up from Andratx to Soller, take it, it's one of the best rides on the island.

Smooth, winding roads, plenty of climbing, and constant views out to sea from a high vantage point.

Banyalbufar and Deia are highlights.

we were looking at doing this in May while we're there, trouble is the cycle bus doesn't leave Pollenca till 8am, a bit too late in the day for that journey back - probably, looks a great ride tho'!

I thought the bus was designed for that cycle trip back? If you start cycling by 9am from Andratx, you should be fine.

That photo / tunnel is at the bottom of Col de Sa Gramola, the first big climb after Andratx, so that would block you off. There is no alternative road. But I'm sure they'll have it fixed by May.....won't they?!