What a splendid time we had in Mallorca
What a splendid time we had in Mallorca: glorious weather, good hotel, fantastic routes and great company.
At the suggestion of club member Justin Taylor, a dozen of us set off early one Thursday morning at the end of March 2023 to escape the cold and drizzle, bike boxes and light luggage (well most of us) on to the plane from Gatwick to Palma. By early afternoon we were checked in to a “sport hotel” dedicated to supreme athletes like ourselves, with pool and gym amenities, comfortable rooms and excellent catering. With the sun glinting off the pool we took a light lunch before setting up our bikes for an afternoon ride to the iconic Cap Formentor lighthouse.
And clearly, most drivers in Mallorca were not of English descent, as it soon became apparent to this newbie that a certain respect, even regard, is offered to cyclists on the road. For example, our “road train” of a dozen of us singled out could pass through a roundabout (having approached with care) hardly slowing and cars would actually stop on the roundabout – no sounding of horns, even - to enable us all to follow on. This was cycling to dream of!
This was a cruel awakening for your correspondent, having never ridden abroad, experiencing climbs which do not even out after a few hundred metres – more like many kilometres! The novelty did not end there, however, most notably in the condition of the road which for most part felt like newly laid runway over which our wheels seemed to purr.
Well it was until I experienced our second day, which became something of a bad dream for me as the day wore on. A fabulous 100 mile tour of the island type route, with two long climbs (around 7km, averaging 5%) were included and these completely drained my meagre tank. And then I had to cycle the remaining 30k or so to get back! What a learning curve. I think I fuelled ok, but definitely did not hydrate sufficiently, and my novice attempts to climb resulted in much destroying of the glutes – could hardly sit in the saddle by the time we got back. Mind you, six and a half hours of riding is challenge enough?
We were spoilt by the weather, as well as the rides, as each day was sunny and for that time of the year warm, getting to around 20C by the afternoons. A few of us got a little burnt, but shrugged off this minor inconvenience for the joy of cycling in the sun.
The following day was a leg turner along the coast to Alcudia and for some an opportunity to sample the numerous bike shops and purchase some extra kit. For me, this was a much needed recovery and I especially enjoyed a long beach front lunchtime stop with the gang.
The following day was an apprehensive start for me, as we headed off to the vaunted, even celebrated ride to Sa Colobra with its legendary climbs – how was I ever going to survive? Learning from the earlier experience I kept the fluids up and made the most of the stops for fuelling and determined that I would ride a steadier tempo uphill, focussing on my heart rate, in order to try not to explode. The scenery in the hills of north Mallorca is wonderful: rugged outcrops, giving way to pine tree hillsides and walled fields of vines and older terraced farmland, creaking gently with the afternoon heat. Stopping at a roadside café, adjacent to an ancient viaduct, we watched crowds of riders (mostly of a more senior age) – many on organised tours, given away by matching kit and bikes – head up to the heights of the mountain. And the question of the moment: would we have the legs, would we have the audacity, would we have the nerve to actually cycle down to the coast and back up the 10km, 7%, climb to the top!?! Of course we did.
For me, this ride was the pinnacle of the trip (apart, naturally, from the camaraderie of my cycling compatriots). The spectacular route amidst breathtaking hillside scenery, the personal challenge of actually riding up the blooming hill without bonking, the perfect road conditions and wonderful weather; fantastic!
A brief word about our group. There were nine of us from K1/K2, joined by three friends of club member Zuhir, and what a difference they made! Not just bringing the average age down by about a decade, but in powering the rest of us along the road and entertaining us at every stop and mealtime with japes and banter. We had a wizard time and general conviviality accounted for much of the enjoyment of the trip together. At least until I started snoring on the first night and my unfortunate roomie had to sleep on the sofa bed to get away from the noise; his first words to me in the morning: my poor wife.
The following day was departure day, but prior to boxing up our bikes, we headed out for a loop in to the country on now familiar roads and stopped in Alcudia once again for a final coffee – make mine a Cortado! It was good to be on the bikes each day of our mini break and make the most of the roads in this beautiful part of the island. Hats off to Justin for bringing together a terrific combination of routes and accommodation (and weather!) to make for a memorable first cycling trip abroad for me. Let’s go again next year!
