Mallorca 312....

terrydel

Anyone doing it this year?
I'd booked it, also booked a rental bike and hotel (both of which I can cancel with no charge) but with the weather we've had and the fact I've not done anything longer than 65km this year so far, I'm gonna give it a miss this time.
I only wanted to have a go at the full 312km distance, so anything else doesnt interest me.
This poxy long winter is really starting to annoy!

Steve SilverMint

I wouldn’t rule it out even if you haven’t many miles in your legs, you’ve all day to do it.

Why not just do the 167 it’s a great route as is the 225 if you’re feeling good on the day.

cats pyjamas

20 something from our club going over. Haven't done as much as I'd hoped over the winter due to weather and life in general but I'll still go over and enjoy it.

I'm aiming for the 225 but if I end up doing the 167 then its not the end of the world either.

terrydel

Steve SilverMint wrote: »

I wouldn’t rule it out even if you haven’t many miles in your legs, you’ve all day to do it.

Why not just do the 167 it’s a great route as is the 225 if you’re feeling good on the day.

Only booked it for the challenge of the 312k to be honest mate, just for something to really test myself beyond what I've done in the past. Other distances wouldn't give me that, and also I'd want to have a right good go at it rather than flogging my way round with no training.
It would have been a logistical pain regardless as I've a wedding to go to two days before, so gonna give it a miss. All the best to you if you're heading over.

ford2600

Steve SilverMint wrote: »

I wouldn’t rule it out even if you haven’t many miles in your legs, you’ve all day to do it.

I think you have 14hrs to do it; if you only stop in total for an hour you'd need a moving speed of 24km/h to complete in time.

With 5000m elevation, a lot of riders might struggle to complete in time, especially as benefit of group riding won't be useful as it was on old route; which had some flat/rolling sections.

Even the fastest guys will take 11hrs.

It is a brilliant route though

terrydel

I did the Maratona last year, its 4300 metres over less than half the distance, and managed just a tad over 20kmph, I reckon 5000m over that distance I could do 24kmph especially if I got some group benefit. But only with serious traning behind me. It was always gonna be a struggling given the time of year it occurs at, but the weather this year has totally blown it for me.

Corker1

There is a good sized group from The Reservoir Cogs CC doing it this year. Ten lads I think? I was booked to do it but a health issue put paid to my plans this year. I already had booked the event, hotel and flights so I'm still heading over with the group for some warm weather spins and to give the lads a cheer and a bit of support along the way. Or maybe I'll stay at the bar and pool ;-) . I completed the Mallorca 312 in 2016 (new route with clubmates) and 2014 (old route unaccompanied ) and had an almost identical finishing and moving time with an average speed of 27.2kmh. I took generous stops too. One of best Sportives ever. Definitely one to aim for. But being so early in the year it is hard to get the winter training done. And as for the crap weather here this Winter and 'Spring' I don't envy anyone trying to get the miles in the legs. Hope you get to do it another year.

barryf42

Hi Corker 1 - you don't happen to have a spare entry, if you are not competing. I have an entry, but now have a friend travelling with me and if i could get one it would be great. i know you need the ID at sign on etc- so if you were in town and had a spare entry - would be great thanks

OleRodrigo

Had originally booked the 312 but will do the 225 instead I think. Not enough kms in the legs this winter and I can use that plus some spins during the week leading up to it to prepare for some summer events.

I’m doing the 225. Absolutely 100% underprepared thanks to this bizarre winter that just wont end, but feck it, as long as I don’t die I will be happy.

Corker1

barryf42 wrote: »

Hi Corker 1 - you don't happen to have a spare entry, if you are not competing. I have an entry, but now have a friend travelling with me and if i could get one it would be great. i know you need the ID at sign on etc- so if you were in town and had a spare entry - would be great thanks

Hey Barryf42. I still have the entry so if you PM me I'm sure we can sort something for your friend.

irlgw

terrydel wrote: »

Only booked it for the challenge of the 312k to be honest mate, just for something to really test myself beyond what I've done in the past. Other distances wouldn't give me that, and also I'd want to have a right good go at it rather than flogging my way round with no training.
It would have been a logistical pain regardless as I've a wedding to go to two days before, so gonna give it a miss. All the best to you if you're heading over.

I'm looking for an entry for this. Would you sell yours if you are not going to use it?

WMP

I am going and am doing the 312 but haven't enough training done. I'm hoping to get another 500km+ in the coming 3 weeks so hopefully that will be enough to get me through it. Longest to date is LBL (279km) but I had more training done that year.

Second half looks 'easy' enough with no big climbs so it should be ok in a group. Hope to see some of you out there.

Buzwaldo

Getting close now. Resting up for tomorrow. Beautiful weather. Great buzz around registration area.
Doing the 167 but criminally under-prepared.

I was planning on doing the 225, but received an email yesterday saying that riders who haven’t made the 167/225 break point by 11:30 have to do the 167 route.

I heard that last year some people took nearly 30 minutes to cross the start line, so four hours to do 93k seems a little tight, considering what those 93k involve.

Still, if I have to do the 167, it won’t be the end of the world. Really looking forward to it now

jamesd

What time does it start tomorrow? Not doing it but planning to hit the lighthouse again tomorrow so don't want to get in the way of this cycle.

Budawanny

jamesd wrote: »

What time does it start tomorrow? Not doing it but planning to hit the lighthouse again tomorrow so don't want to get in the way of this cycle.

Kicking off at 7am tomorrow morning.
167 for myself.

irlgw

Yeah I'm doing the 312 but majorly disappointed in the hire bike from BMC store rad-salon. Being German owned I would have thought the service would be excellent. Booked a BMC Gran Fondo 2 with disc brakes and got a repainted frame with rim brakes and two odd wheels! Spent most of yesterday getting it rideable for the distance but its taken the shine off things a bit. Anyway if anyone is going again would recommend the hassle of bringing your own wheels. Got a late entry only from sportive breaks in the UK and their service was excellent..must remember to load up on paracetamol for breakfast

irlgw

irlgw wrote: »

Yeah I'm doing the 312 but majorly disappointed in the hire bike from BMC store rad-salon. Being German owned I would have thought the service would be excellent. Booked a BMC Gran Fondo 2 with disc brakes and got a repainted frame with rim brakes and two odd wheels! Spent most of yesterday getting it rideable for the distance but its taken the shine off things a bit. Anyway if anyone is going again would recommend the hassle of bringing your own wheels. Got a late entry only from sportive breaks in the UK and their service was excellent..must remember to load up on paracetamol for breakfast

I’ll be on this stead I hired from Liberty sport. Never heard of Denti, but I’ve done over 100k trouble free so far

WMP

Bad luck with the BMC store bike irlgw. I'm really surprised at that and might have refused to take it.

I can definitely recommend Max Huerzeler bikes. His shops are everywhere and you must have seen them I guess. Top quality bikes and good prices. I got an ALU Centurion, it wasn't the lightest but was in top condition.

Managed to do the 312. Tough day! Was struggling mid way through but lots of coke and ham sandwiches got me back on track again. Great day out all considered.

terrydel

WMP wrote: »

Bad luck with the BMC store bike irlgw. I'm really surprised at that and might have refused to take it.

I can definitely recommend Max Huerzeler bikes. His shops are everywhere and you must have seen them I guess. Top quality bikes and good prices. I got an ALU Centurion, it wasn't the lightest but was in top condition.

Managed to do the 312. Tough day! Was struggling mid way through but lots of coke and ham sandwiches got me back on track again. Great day out all considered.

Coke?! Thats an awful brave admission you cheating fecker!!

On a serious note, well done. I had entered but decided a while back I wouldnt bother, given the cost of flights, the fact I'd sod all training done etc.

WMP

terrydel wrote: »

Coke?! Thats an awful brave admission you cheating fecker!!

On a serious note, well done. I had entered but decided a while back I wouldnt bother, given the cost of flights, the fact I'd sod all training done etc.

For long days in the saddle like that, you take what you can get! : )

Buzwaldo

Well just about recovered now from last Saturday.
I entered this with the vague idea that it would be good to do more than the shortest 167 distance, but a very curtailed winters training (about 700 km total since last October) had me heading off on the club trip to Majorca just praying for survival on said 167 route.
The day arrived, great atmosphere, and I set out at a very conservative pace on the early hills, hoping to make the distance. Sustainability was my key word and thought. Somewhere before the routes split at 93 km, I got the notion that I was going ok and could cycle like this for a long time. I made a belated burst to reach the junction before the cutoff point of 11.30 ( or was it 11.40?). I failed in that attempt, but after stopping at the splitting point for a few minutes, I said what the hell and turned right for the longer route. I knew there were five climbs left on the 225, whereas the remainder of the 167 had no long climb I think, but I didn't mind the climbing at my own pace.
I ended up getting lost once or twice due to poor signage on the convoluted last section, and any stewards had left the junctions before I got there.
Nonetheless I felt good at this stage and passed a good share of fellow stragglers to finish about 11.30 rolling (12.30 total), average 20kph. Well outside the 10 hour cutoff for the distance. My longest cycle by about 40 km, and way more climbing than any other long spin I did.
Really enjoyed the day ( all the days cycling in Majorca - my first time). Great buzz, perfect weather, lovely climbs - very little above 9%, none of the killer ramps you can get in Ireland.
Negatives were food stops ( but hard to cater for such numbers) and convoluted back road section late on, but I guess if you want to close the roads some compromises have to happen.
Chuffed to get the 225 done - one of my most memorable cycles ever, for all the right reasons.

Buzwaldo

Buzwaldo wrote: »

Negatives were food stops ( but hard to cater for such numbers) and convoluted back road section late on, but I guess if you want to close the roads some compromises have to happen.
Chuffed to get the 225 done - one of my most memorable cycles ever, for all the right reasons.

The food stop you would have missed, the Esporles one, was little more than a rugby scrum. The one at Inca was very very well organised though.

In Esporles some plank thought they would forego propping their bike up somewhere and decided to bring it with them to the feeding frenzy. He had several comments in different languages, but my favourite was a distinctly Irish voice enquiring as to whether he wanted to "Feed his feckin bike too"?

it did get a chuckle from the English speakers, but may have been lost on the rider himself

Budawanny

Aegir wrote: »

The food stop you would have missed, the Esporles one, was little more than a rugby scrum. The one at Inca was very very well organised though.

In Esporles some plank thought they would forego propping their bike up somewhere and decided to bring it with them to the feeding frenzy. He had several comments in different languages, but my favourite was a distinctly Irish voice enquiring as to whether he wanted to "Feed his feckin bike too"?

it did get a chuckle from the English speakers, but may have been lost on the rider himself

hahaha :-D. that was chaos that place. they ran out of water too but had loads of some crap that you really dont want on a got day called aquarade..or something.

TheBlaaMan

saw this a little earlier from an ultra endurance rider thanking unknown Irish guys ............perhaps some guys on here will recognise themselves?
https://twitter.com/Laura_Scott/status/990309382201192454

Just registered for 2019.

AxleAddict

As have I - did it this year for the first time and really enjoyed it. I'm not the fastest of climbers (but I'm certainly not the slowest either). The main points I took away from this years event was to get closer to the front of the start line (even if that means rocking up a bit earlier and standing about in the cool morning air for a bit longer) because it took us 15-20 minutes to get through the start line this year (we were probably about half-way back in the queue) and we were taking it relatively easy in the early stages before the climb, having a chat with others etc - but it came as a bit of a shock to hear the broom wagon siren just before the 167 cut-off - thankfully I was able to continue on the 225 route. I wouldn't waste time at the first water stop either (unless you really need it). Hoping that the weather over winter isn't going to be as dreadful as it was last time around - makes it hard to get the training miles in. I thought this year's jersey was really nice and next year's looks great too!

Boscoirl

Signed up last night going to aim for the 225(haven’t a hope of the 312)

Have 6 months to lose about 10kg+

Was planning to go to Majorca at Easter for the long weekend but when saw this was the week after I made the full week work.

Now to tell the wife...

magicbastarder

mallorca is being absolutely hammered by rain at the moment - 5 dead.

AxleAddict

magicbastarder wrote: »

mallorca is being absolutely hammered by rain at the moment - 5 dead.

Yeah - heard this on the news this morning - not good - in addition to the confirmed dead there are some more missing or unnaccounted for as well :(

fat bloke

magicbastarder wrote: »

mallorca is being absolutely hammered by rain at the moment - 5 dead.

Cripes, i only came back from there Monday night. Was pretty torrential around Pollenthat afternoon for a time but we still managed cap Formentor in the morning and the taxi ride across the island that evening was bone dry and sunny.

Andy Magic

Anyone know how much it costs to do the 312 ?

magicbastarder

fat bloke wrote: »

Cripes, i only came back from there Monday night. Was pretty torrential around Pollenthat afternoon for a time but we still managed cap Formentor in the morning and the taxi ride across the island that evening was bone dry and sunny.

only recently back from the south of spain; malaga airport is flooded, marbella got something like five inches of rain

we were staying 15km inland from torre del mar - torre del mar was biblical, but where we were staying didn't get rain, weirdly.

Andy Magic

Andy Magic wrote: »

Anyone know how much it costs to do the 312 ?

70, 80 or 90 euro depending on when you register.

then there's flights, hotels, bike hire.......

It isn't cheap, but a fantastic experience.

AxleAddict

Yeah - I think the price of the sportive itself has crept up a tiny bit from last time from what I remember - by maybe 5 or 10 euro - but you do get a great jersey and 75-85 euro for a 312km closed road event in Mallorca is a bargain, albeit you've got the additional costs of travel and accommodation, but most people I know tend to go there for a few extra days cycling beforehand to acclimatise as well as maybe some additional relaxation afterwards. Accommodation and transfer costs can obviously be offset by travelling as a group (if possible)

Personally, given the amount of climbing and potential distances involved I preferred to bring my own bike with me (which my body recognises) rather than risk hiring what may be a great quality but unfamiliar bike which may feel fine over short to medium distances, but what starts out as a little niggle early on could turn out to be a disaster later in the day (I appreciate that adds additional costs of either buying or hiring a bike box as well as additional flight and transportation costs)

Curious how many others have done the full 312 route on a hire bike (as opposed to taking your own)?

WMP

Firstly thats terrible about the people dead from the storms over there. Jesus climate change is wreaking havoc but that's another story.

I did the 312km last year on a hire bike. I would have much preferred to have my own bike but I'm too worried about it getting damaged during travel. That will probably pass as it gets older. I have traveled with other bikes and haven't had a problem.

The standard of hire bikes from Max Hurzeler in Mallorca is excellent. I had an Alu Centurion with Ultegra. I think it cost 105 euro for a week and the same for the 5 days I had it. It was maybe 30 or 40 euro more for a carbon frame but to be honest I think there is no difference between a decent ALU bike and an entry level carbon frame. Difference is weight peanuts also. Bikes are in top condition, spotless clean and in perfect running order. For 105 euro that's about the cost of transporting a bike and zero hassle. So well worth in my mind.

The event itself was great but tough. I under estimated it and mentally wasn't properly prepared for it. Its started great but I struggled from about 100km to 160km. Took a break and had a few ham sandwiches and a couple of cans of coke. Felt better then and the second half went ok. Finished with a 27kmh average which I was happy with.

Would definitely go back and do it again. Picking up the starter pack on that sunny day and chatting to all the lads from Ireland, the UK and everywhere else with the sea and beach close by was a great buzz!

cats pyjamas

I have been to Mallorca a good few times and hired from different places. They are usually great quality. Max Huerzeler, Sports Bequi and Bike Experience are all excellent. The only time I had trouble was when I hadn't booked a bike in advance and had to take what they had left (not one of the companies above). They book out very quickly.

I have done the sportive twice (and hired bikes both times. Not going next year but if I ever go back for the sportive then I would like to bring my own bike

One of our lads used www.shipmytribike.ie to bring his bike over this year.

You might want to check their travel dates though - I think there was a fairly quick turnaround after the 312. That might be an issue if you are out early or staying longer afterwards.

fat bloke

Having been to Mallorca (Majorca?) a couple of times now and done all day spins over the various mountains, odometer readings of 160km + are hard earned. It's hard to get your head around the 312 number. But then I know a bunch of lads that managed to do it, some of whom are only recent, occasional, leisure cyclists.

But I'd have no interest in the event myself. You'd have much more enjoyment out of clocking up 400km over the course of a 3-4 day stay, in my opinion. Every day on the bike is an occasion on the island with the sheer volume of cyclists around. You'd come back lovin' the bike and in fine fettle. The danger of the big event is coming back in absolute flitters and not wanting to go near a bike again for weeks.

fat bloke

fat bloke wrote: »

Having been to Mallorca (Majorca?) a couple of times now and done all day spins over the various mountains, odometer readings of 160km + are hard earned. It's hard to get your head around the 312 number. But then I know a bunch of lads that managed to do it, some of whom are only recent, occasional, leisure cyclists.

But I'd have no interest in the event myself. You'd have much more enjoyment out of clocking up 400km over the course of a 3-4 day stay, in my opinion. Every day on the bike is an occasion on the island with the sheer volume of cyclists around. You'd come back lovin' the bike and in fine fettle. The danger of the big event is coming back in absolute flitters and not wanting to go near a bike again for weeks.

the difference between the 225 and the 312 is 87km of flat (and apparently boring) cycling. The difference between the 167 and the 225 is two tough climbs, Galilea and es Grau.

Initially i wanted to do the 225, but when it came to the point where you divert on to the 225 course, I knew it would end up being a chore and not pleasure and decided to take the easy option. I have no regrets either.

For me though, it only enhanced my love of cycling. When we left Esporles we joined a large peloton zipping along at around 40k and shot around a few roundabouts in near perfect formation. I really wished someone had filmed that for me because to an onlooker, it probably looked like i knew what I was doing!

I have cycled in Majorca on several occasions prior to this, but that great atmosphere the place has is intensified a thousand fold during the 312 weekend.

This year I had two objectives, 1) don't die 2) finish. next year it will be 1)don't die, 2)finish 3)do the 225.

AxleAddict

I had aimed to do the 312 earlier this year, but when it came to the 225/312 split in the end I opted for the 225 route - I definitely had more than 225 in the legs - but with all the earlier climinb I was unsure if I would have managed the 312 (with another 4,000ft of elevation) - from the photos I've seen, the atmosphere in the town of Arta (which is in the north-east of the island, and is the home of the cycling club involved in organising the event) looks amazing - but I decided that by the time I'd reached the cut-off point, it would be better to arrive back in Alcudia in daylight hours when there would still be plenty of people around and soak up the atmosphere that way - in that respect I don't regret switching to the 225 - it was a great day out, but will hopefully be better prepared for the 312 next year.

AxleAddict

fat bloke wrote: »

Having been to Mallorca (Majorca?) a couple of times now and done all day spins over the various mountains, odometer readings of 160km + are hard earned. It's hard to get your head around the 312 number. But then I know a bunch of lads that managed to do it, some of whom are only recent, occasional, leisure cyclists.

But I'd have no interest in the event myself. You'd have much more enjoyment out of clocking up 400km over the course of a 3-4 day stay, in my opinion. Every day on the bike is an occasion on the island with the sheer volume of cyclists around. You'd come back lovin' the bike and in fine fettle. The danger of the big event is coming back in absolute flitters and not wanting to go near a bike again for weeks.

I hear what you're saying - myself and a few clubmates went on several casual leisure/acclimitisation spins in the days leading up to the Mallorca 312 this year - and very enjoyable they were too. I can only speak for myself, that as time has progressed and my cycling ability/endurance has improved I need to find events which are a challenge - not to the point of total and utter exhaustion where I never want to ride a bike again mind you, but enough to feel that I've achieved something - if it were 'easy' then I probably wouldn't bother (I suspect that applies to plenty of others). You do wonder why you're putting yourself through it at the time for sure, but the feeling at the end is great. I certainly wouldn't recommend the event to occasional cyclists (even the 167km route would be a significant undertaking, never mind the 312) but I think for cyclists of average fitness and above its a great challenge.

Boscoirl

Flights booked
Accomm booked
Bike rental sorted

The Noble Nudge

Was I on the wrong site recently said it was sold out with a waiting list and haven't heard a thing since.....??

The other more expensive option is to do it with a tour company....

benneca1

Sold out within a few days.

AxleAddict

Just under a week to go now. Weather conditions looking promising....

Boscoirl

Going to attempt the 167 with absolutely no training done( have had 2 spins upto last week, and few here this week) what could go wrong? Have the wife warned she may need to collect me somewhere!

07Lapierre

I see Alberto Contador will be there. Should be a good event! Enjoy!

I am very very jealous.

I had planned to take part but had to pull out this week.

Enjoy.

Boscoirl

The lads just went down the reg and had their pictures with Contador

Boscoirl

Wow that was amazing and excruciating!

Cycling in Majorca is amazing. Only did the 167km and it took all day. We plodder around. Stopped for a nice lunch and plenty of pics. 9its the most Metres I have done on a single ride.

Some of the other lads the 312 &225

Not sure I’d do it again though. There was a few organizational things they were were poor. We managed to sneak into a spot just after the pros and vips. So we’re on the road 6min after the start. Heard of others that took over 40min to get going. It would have been very hard to make cut offs starting that far back. The first food stop was completely gone and taken down when we passed. ( we had stopped for lunch and that was mainly cow we knew the food stop would have been closed by the time we got there) They could have been many more water stops. We ran out of water and and even had other people asking when passing did we have any to spare. The second food stop only had Nutella sandwiches when we got there.


At the last junction where the 225/167 and the 312 split. The signs were taken down and there were no Marshall’s. Only for a lady living in the house at the corner told us the way we were stumped. But a few people had gone straight on in the wrong direction.

The finish was all over the place I ended up coming at it from the wrong side, I probably missed a turn. I had to cycle up past it climb over a high curb and cycle back down. Kinda ruined the finish for me. Those pot noodle things at the end were disgusting.

Other than that I really enjoyed it.

The general consensus between our club members is that if we come back to go on our own spins and forget about the 312.

Fair play to anyone that completed the 312. Met one guy from Ireland who was devasted. He missed the cut for the 312 by a few min.