Just returned from another trip to this wondeful island. Although it is a popular training camp venue in early spring I have twice had to make do with riding there in August whilst taking time out from slapping factor 2000 sunblock on the sproglets. Probably due to the training camp connection there is no shortage of bike hire shops. This year we were in Cala d'Or, and a quick mooch around the resort revealed two bike hire shops where (in one German run establishment http://www.mallorquin-bikes.de/htenglish/index.html) I hired a superb Stevens half carbon Ultegra equipped job for eu15 for 24 hrs. The next morning I set the alarm for 0530 in order to avoid as much scorchio afternoon sun as possible. At 0700 it actually decided to get light so I was off up the centre of the island (completely untouristed but still very nice). At 1000 I arrived at the southern portal of the tunnel de Soller which to my relief was banned to bikes so it was over the 495m top via an easy version of AdH and back down the hairpins into the resort. My objective for the day was the highest road point just by the military roar up to Puig Major. I avoided the first grocklebus infested 6km of the long climb by taking the minor road through Fornalutx. By now the sun had turned it on and after a seemingly endless series of twists and turns I got to the tunnel near the Puig where a commanding view was had back over Soller before a nice cool dark ride through the tunnel took me to the summit at about 750m. I continued past the Gorch Blau to a welcome liquid and peanuts stop looking down the Torrent de Pareis (a very demanding canyon but highly recommended, it has been removed from most of the guide books now after several fatalities). From there the 14km hairpin descent down to Inca, where it was a routine flat but windy 50km back to Cala d'Or. For the last day I hired a sit up and beg bike and had a quick 30km plod to the southernmost tip of the island where a commanding view is to be had of the Cabrera islands.
Two important things to remember in Mallorca or indeed anywhere in Spain; 1.unless a road has a signpost it will almost certainly go nowhere, and a promising looking bit of off road will inevitably lead to someone's farm (complete with dogs) and nowhere else. There are no bridleways. 2. If you pass a place selling cold drinks, buy and consume as many as you can there and then, do not put them in your bottle unless you like 30oC water. Repeat every 5-10km.
Just returned from another trip to this wondeful island. Although it is a popular training camp venue in early spring I have twice had to make do with riding there in August whilst taking time out from slapping factor 2000 sunblock on the sproglets. Probably due to the training camp connection there is no shortage of bike hire shops. This year we were in Cala d'Or, and a quick mooch around the resort revealed two bike hire shops where (in one German run establishment http://www.mallorquin-bikes.de/htenglish/index.html) I hired a superb Stevens half carbon Ultegra equipped job for eu15 for 24 hrs. The next morning I set the alarm for 0530 in order to avoid as much scorchio afternoon sun as possible. At 0700 it actually decided to get light so I was off up the centre of the island (completely untouristed but still very nice). At 1000 I arrived at the southern portal of the tunnel de Soller which to my relief was banned to bikes so it was over the 495m top via an easy version of AdH and back down the hairpins into the resort. My objective for the day was the highest road point just by the military roar up to Puig Major. I avoided the first grocklebus infested 6km of the long climb by taking the minor road through Fornalutx. By now the sun had turned it on and after a seemingly endless series of twists and turns I got to the tunnel near the Puig where a commanding view was had back over Soller before a nice cool dark ride through the tunnel took me to the summit at about 750m. I continued past the Gorch Blau to a welcome liquid and peanuts stop looking down the Torrent de Pareis (a very demanding canyon but highly recommended, it has been removed from most of the guide books now after several fatalities). From there the 14km hairpin descent down to Inca, where it was a routine flat but windy 50km back to Cala d'Or. For the last day I hired a sit up and beg bike and had a quick 30km plod to the southernmost tip of the island where a commanding view is to be had of the Cabrera islands.
Two important things to remember in Mallorca or indeed anywhere in Spain; 1.unless a road has a signpost it will almost certainly go nowhere, and a promising looking bit of off road will inevitably lead to someone's farm (complete with dogs) and nowhere else. There are no bridleways. 2. If you pass a place selling cold drinks, buy and consume as many as you can there and then, do not put them in your bottle unless you like 30oC water. Repeat every 5-10km.
What are the road surfaces like ? Are they tarmac or loose chipping jobs ?
I wouldn't mind a bit of mid-Winter training there if it ain't too hot.
What are the road surfaces like ? Are they tarmac or loose chipping jobs ?
I wouldn't mind a bit of mid-Winter training there if it ain't too hot.
all superb tarmacced roads with a side refuge for when trucks come too close, certainly good enough for several 60kph bits. Even in August I saw dozens of other riders but they had the sense to get up into the mountains very early in the day.
Several companies offer training camps but you can DIY for much less on a package tour (like £100 all in), depends whether you want to ride in company or not and how fit you are. There is a company which will take your bike from the airport as well. Or just hire one; the bike I had was beyond my wildest dreams, a bit like car hire used to be. The brakes will be on the wrong side though if you have them UK stylee. Biggest issue was forcing the bike into a bend on the other side of the road, it felt very strange.
It's certainly not hot in mid-winter, snow is common on the Tramuntana range along the North coast. I think Feb-March is like our April-May. Don't believe what the winter sun holiday brochures say, it is just an earlier drier spring AFAIK.
