Mallorca

TurloughT

I was wondering if anyone has cycled much in Mallorca.
I'm thinking of renting a bike for a few days.
Any good advice? Routes and places to stay.

stopped_clock

I was out there at the end of May. There's some great cycling with a choice of hilly or flat. I stayed in Port d'Alcudia, which was good, but next time I think I'd go further up the coast like Pollenca.

There's a very good cycling route map you can pick up for a few Euros. For starters I'd recommend heading out the Cap Formentor peninsula and going to Sa Calobra. Both of these need to be done early in the morning - I was heading off about 6:30 - to avoid tour busses an the heat.

Chips Lovell

Have never cycled there, but it's popular with the pros for pre-season training. There was a thread here a while back about cycling in Spain with some good tips. Leaving early in the morning is a must at this time of the year.

Bikerbhoy

Turlough when you planing on goin over ? Great shop in Pollensa he runs organised rides too and he rents out top quality Giants Alus , carbons road and MTBs

vektarman

+1 on Stopped Clocks advice re Formentor, a bit of a climb but very manageable, some fantastic views from the top, the North end of the Island is quite flat otherwise.
Bikerbhoy, any address or link to the bike place in Pollensa, I'm heading over next month and will drop in if I find it , thanks.

TurloughT

Thanks for all that. I'm going over on the 21st until 26th (day after Ventoux!).
I think I know the rental place you are talking about, www.procyclehire.com
I'm organising rental from them. Good enough for Sean Kelly...
Thanks for the advice.

Bikerbhoy

Vektarman link above in last post , the guys name is Bruce

TurloughT

Thanks for the advice everyone. For anyone going there in the future Pro Bike hire were dead on and supplied fine bikes. (made by a Catalan company called Massi).

I stayed in a hotel/restaurant around the corner, 60 for two per night.
There are lots of nice restaurants in Pollenca & Port de Pollenca. It was hot though - 44 degrees somedays. It was still possible to get a few hours in early in the morning (as the lads in the previous posts advised). It was also possible to get out in the evening too as it was cooler and all the tourist busses were off the road.
If you travel on your own there was a group that anyone can join leaving the town every morning at 9.30 for decent long spins.

I can see why pro teams go there for winter training.

DBCyc

TurloughT wrote: »

Thanks for the advice everyone. For anyone going there in the future Pro Bike hire were dead on and supplied fine bikes.

Great pic!

That site looks like great value & with great bikes! Majorca is an amazing place, I'd love to cycle around it. Bookmarked for future holiday!

stopped_clock

Nice pic Turlough. Where was that taken? How did you find staying in Pollenca in terms of access to routes/climbs?

Hope you don't mind me adding some of my Mallorca pics to the thread (for information, not boasting...);)

This was the road at the very end of the Formentor peninsula, looking inland:



I think this is a little bit further up the same stretch of road.


I seem only to have photos from this one spin. My other pics must still be in the camera.

paddy's hill

I have been to Majorca a few times in February, a great place for winter training, great roads a nice mix of flat and hills. also accommodation is very cheap out of season and the scenery is amazing. The weather is usually very good with sun and temperature in the high teens or early twenty's. When I first went in 1999 it snowed the first day and by the end of the week it was 25c. A great place to cycle, despite this:
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/0731/breaking3.htm

TurloughT

stopped_clock wrote: »

Nice pic Turlough. Where was that taken? How did you find staying in Pollenca in terms of access to routes/climbs?

I think my pic is looking out at where you took yours. Mine was taken at the round tower on a little side climb on the road to Formentor. I think yours was taken farther on that road after the tunnel.

I think Pollenca is a great base for the Tramuntana. Good access to routes & nice food options each evening. (see below) I stayed in the Port de Pollenca, but its €10 taxi to Pollenca itself or €2 on a bus.

..............................................

Here are the best restaurants:

Ca'n Cuarassa
Ctra. Port de Pollença

Restaurant La Goleta
Paseo Saralegui, 118
Port de Pollenca

Little Italy - Italian/Pizza
Psg. Vora Mar 57, Puerto Pollensa

Clivia
Pollenca

Cantonet
Pollenca

stopped_clock

Yeah - while Alcudia was great for cycling along the coast, there was quite a lot of flat road getting to and from the Tramuntana.