Just back from a GREAT week’s riding.
I ended up taking my own bike which worked out fine (you really need to book bikes before Xmas to stand a chance of getting what you want).
We stayed in Hotel Uyal which is on the seafront in Puerto Pollensa. Excellent hotel with great breakfast buffet from which we snaffled plenty of pastries to stuff into pockets for the rides. They also have a secure bike garage with racks, locks, workstands, washer/drier and a water fountain. Ate out most nights; lots of choice though none of it super cheap.
The riding itself is outstanding. I managed about 400 miles in 6 days and only had to throw in the towel on day 7 due to a touch of tendonitis in my right knee. Highlights included:
85 miler taking in Col del Orient, Col d’ Honor, Coll de Sóller and the monster climb up to the Tunel du Monnaber followed by a lovely return via the Col de Femenia.
Sa Colobra climb. Very hard if it’s your first proper ride of the year (we did this on day 2). Good tip is NOT to eat at the bottom as this will avoid spending a lot of money on poor food and also the resulting tactical chunder 2/3 of the way back up the climb.
Descent from Coll de Sa Batalla. Beautiful, sweeping bends with a few switchbacks. Perfect gradient that requires little braking.
Cap Fermentor ride. Only 26 miles return but a beautiful viewpoint. Also worth taking in the “Pepperpot” climb from the first col out of town. Stunning place, though the descent would rattle the gold from yer teeth.
Arta, Sineau and the East Coast. This turned into a 100 mile day with a couple of add-ons including the truly beautiful climb to Ermita Betlem out of Arta. There are some very “rustic” lanes between Arta and Manacor which are more like a Belgian Classic in nature. Just when I thought we were going to go hungry, we rolled into the bustling town square in an otherwise-deserted Petra – lifesaver! Lots of fast, rolling roads on this one rather than the big climbs in the Tramuntana.
In general, the roads are superbly surfaced. Cyclists outnumber cars by 10:1 (probably no exaggeration) and the motorists are infinitely patient and respectful.
Just go!
