Mallorca - Cycling

[fossyant]

Now I know why Mallorca is soo good for cycling....

Just backfrom holiday there (been a few times before - not on bike and mainly resort based) but ventured into the Mountains on the West Coast.

This is Inca to Sa Collabra (PS not my shots - not downloaded of camera yet)

OMG - 1 hour of climbing and descending in a coach - over 50 switchbacks easily. My wife and daughter were sick as pigs.

I've got to go out there and ride the switchbacks OMG.

Coaches were a pain for cyclists - certainly traffic respected the cyclists, but passing a coach on a bend was hairy. Coaches only allowed one way till 1.30pm, where they then can come back to Inca after (one road in and out).

 

[Tim Bennet.]

Go early or late in the day and there's no coaches.

 

[ASC1951]

Or go early in the season. It was very quiet this April.

Anyway, Fossy, those are hairpins. Only Americans call them switchbacks. <pedant off>

 

[fimm]

I opened the thread to post "Sa Colabra", but I see you went there! I have not been myself, but my other half has been a few times. They're well set up for cyclists there, I'm told, at the resorts at the hilly end of the island.

 

[fossyant]

I only went there on a coach unfortunately. Would have rather got off and rode - but bike was in UK.

Yes I know it's hairpins !

There was one that even looped under itself (via a bridge).

There are lot's of cafe's and service stations which seemed to be suitable - saw lots of cyclists stopping.

 

[Fiona N]

I have a theory that God made Mallorca as a playground for cyclists then forgot to hide it from tourists

The descent from the top of Sa Calobra down the Lluc side of the mountains to Pollenca is one of the great descents of the world. The other side, over the pig (Puig Major) is also good but not as good IMHO.

 

[krushavik]

Thats why I go for 3 weeks every March, no coaches very few tourist. cyclist paradise. Wonderful.

 

[fimm]

If you are interested there's a bit on my OH's blog on the triathlon forums here with a bit of description of the routes they did.

 

[graham56]

Did some cycling there two year ago. Hired a bike from Bruce Griffiths at Pro Cycle Hire in Puerto de Pollenca. Fantastic cycling to be had and it's nice to be given a wide berth by drivers.
Visited last week but didn't get round to hiring a bike this time, plenty of Cube bikes on the road and was wondering if these are the hire shop option this year.

 

[LosingFocus]

Im off there on Saturday, might have to look into hiring a bike properly and getting out and about at least once.

 

[fossyant]

I spotted lots of Trek and Orbea hire bikes, as well as a fair few Cubes.

Most seemed to be Ultegra equipped.

In our resort, the main bikes for hire were Hybrids. There were a few decent Spesh Hardrocks available, and a few low end road bikes.

 

[Fnaar]

Never hired a road bike abroad before, but a quick Q... what pedals do they have? Is it worth taking my spd shoes on hols, do you think?

 

[graham56]

Never hired a road bike abroad before, but a quick Q... what pedals do they have? Is it worth taking my spd shoes on hols, do you think?

Take your pedals with you, i did.

 

[Fnaar]

Good idea there Graham... might just do that...

 

[graham56]

This is the place i used,Pro cycle hire, but many more