Mallorca

Wishing all our international cyclists the very best for their trip to Majorca/Mallorca, have fun but most of all stay safe.

Hope you get some good weather at home too, so that you get some decent cycling in this week.

I promised to write a summary of routes. Will leave social report to someone else.(Based around O'Haras Irish bar whose true Irish clientele increased considerably in the week)
First day in the tradition of the club had to be the Coastal. Unfortunately, although started pleasantly but then a trudge through a crowded and commercial town of Alcudia. Finally on to open road and down to Colonia de Sant Pere, a quiet village for a delightful lunch by the sea. On way back Sammy had a major mechanical and had to go straight back in a fixed gear witha small support team. The rest went back through the beautiful country roads through the old medieaval town of Mura and back through a nature reserve to home base Arived at cafe to find our neighbours to be North Down CC, so had our usual Daft Eddies fight with them to get seats. 62 miles Elevation 2352 ft speed 16.1 mph 3hr 48 min in saddle connect.garmin.com/activity/303775428 Second day, a big climb going up through spectacular mountain scenery to the Col de Femenia and then to the Coll de sa Batella. On to the coffee stop before starting the infamous and iconic Sa Calobra nicknamed the Snake. Starts with a further steep climb to the top of the Col de Cal Reis at approx 700 metres. The view down is truly breath taking. A not far off sheer fall to sea level with a road which appears to snake down in 180 degree turns for ever to the coast. Comparing the Spelga corkscrews is a bit like comparing Ballynahinch United FC to Bayern Munich. Around 6 miles with an average gradient of 8% and peaking to 13% or more on most bends and a number of straights. Going down with a smell of burning rubber and numb brake fingers trying to avoid a horde of cyclists and the tour buses with stomach churning cliff drops to one side. At bottom a quick turn round or bite to eat, then grit the teeth, engage granny gear and away. The faster boys in the group were around 50 minutes to the top, Bradley W takes 23 minutes, averaging about 14 mph, not far from our average speed aroung the coast ! Then a climb back to Col de Batalla and another glorious run down corkscrews and mountains to Selva, Campanet and back home along country lanes. An epic day and even I am not going to call it flat 71 miles 12 mph 7260 feet connect.garmin.com/activity/303775384 Third day into middle mallorca area of flatter roads through picturesque villages of Campanet, Selva, Inca, Llubi, Sineu, Petra, Maria, Muro , Sa Pobla, Alcudia and home with a strong headwind at the end. 66 miles 15.3 mph and 2700 feet climbed, corrected from my garmin route due to senior moment when I forgot to switch it on between Petra and Muro. connect.garmin.com/activity/303775336 Day 4 a rest day for some. Damien and Dermot did another epic going up Soller Pass and up the Puig Major ( The Pig) some 110 miles. Others went to the Formentor lighthouse and Cap de St Vicenc. Day 5 The Wee Tiddlers, which included myself did a relaxed meander along off road cycle tracks , lunch in St V and halfway to lighthouse and back doing about 35 miles and then swimming or relaxing around the pool. The Big Fish did a 70 miler to South West of the Island at Big Fish pace. Can a BF please describe the route. A great week and thanks a million to Peter B for organising transport and accommodation, all went perfectly to plan. I know the M word has been banned at home and I hope this report does not rub it in too much but if it means divorce, the sack , bankruptcy or all three try and make a club tour, its worth it.