Pedals & Peaks

Today we are back to riding.  Weather is clearing, rain has stopped, temperature still cool and we do have low clouds, but hey, I can get back on the bike. It's after 9am as there was a lot of fog, but as we are riding along, we notice there are some oldies out, guys of course, maybe locals?  The young guns of last week are gone.   We choose to do the reverse Col du Honor and the Orient Valley, it was such a pretty ride and one of the first we rode. As you can see, low clouds around, so we avoid the high roads and have to keep our ride fairly short today as Allison is heading back to Oz. The road service ain't that great in some parts, but hey, who's complaining, it's stopped raining, so we continue on to climb the Col d'Honor, (ACW)  Wow loved the climb from this side, easy, nice sweeping switchbacks and NOT ONE CAR, awesome ride We roll down the hill, taking it easy on the greasy corners and there is a lot of riders now coming up the other side from Palma.  We...

After two days of persistent rain, I was feeling quite trapped, needing to get riding, otherwise my quiet demeanour will turn nasty.  Mind you, we did go out for a lovely walk yesterday, 8km or so to the next village, Selva.  Lanes were void of riders, all housebound due to the very wet conditions, very quite. Locals were out walking too and we came across this fabulous raincoat for dogs, must get one for Luna Everything looks great in the wet, even these little pebble steps. Mallorca historically is known for its leather products and Selva is no exception.  We visited an handmade shoe factory, Dave enjoyed seeing the old machinery dated back to 1925 from Germany.    What size are you sir?            Hill climbing is always fun 😛 The walk home was a little dryer, found the longest tails on these sheep.  They don't seem to cut them off here, it's quite common. Gorgeous gorgeous homes, so inspirational.

Today, the Mallorca 312 cycling event takes over the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range, with over 9,000 cyclists participating on closed roads, so we took this opportunity to head South to complete two climbs on our list of must do's. A quick 5km spin into Inca, to catch the train to Manacor, located south east of the Island.  Very different feel down this way, industrial with wide busy roads.  Beautiful steel art sculptures adorn the middle of this round about, just had to stop.  Heading towards our first climb of the day, the roads are busy.  Head down, keep going Sant Salvador is hard to miss, seen from any direction, a large lump of rock jutting out of paddocks of hay bales, Olive groves and the like.   The climb itself, if 4.7km long with an average gradient of 7%.  Tight sweeping bends with pitches up near 10% is common, but it's the views at the top which are simply amazing, 360 degrees, stunning. There are lots of riders joining us (with the same i...

Wanting to explore the southern side of the Tramuntana mountains, Dave spent some time, designing our route, ensuring we could get through the outer suburbs of Palma.  And what a route it was.  This was an unforgettable ride, our best so far.    The day started with a 5km ride down to the Inca train station where we boarded the train, for the quick trip into the suburbs of Palma, for the start of our ride proper. We climb steady out of Palma basin into the lush green Mountains, riding through small villages, the main hub of Andratx, until we hit the Mediterranean Sea, and wow, wow. We are riding high above the ocean, through amazing engineered tunnels, terraced fields, almond trees, beautiful stone clad villages, along the incredibly beautiful famous Tramuntana coastal road. The sea is calm, the wind is cool but its sunny. We come across a cafe/restaurant perched high on the cliffs, over looking the sea and have to stop for a coffee break. We order some hot potatoes,...

Rain for two days, looks like the weather is clearing finally. Its Wednesday we set off early to a cold 6 degrees, towards Puig Santa Magdalena, an early climb to warm us up, 2km steady gradient, with a 13th Century Monastery on top.  Its quite, dead quite, no one around with extraordinary views.   But it's freezing, we don't wait around as light drizzle has started.        By the time its lunch has arrived, we are on the coast at Port Pollenca with the hoards of cyclists.  Suns out, It's very busy. Riders everywhere. After a break, we make our way towards Coll de Femenia.   This is a great climb, 9km in length, some pitches above 10% but generally a steady gradient.  As we started early, we are in our winter kit to keep warm, so by the time we are at the top of these climbs,  'I feel like a donkey' having to carry all the gear in my rear pockets. Beautiful scenery, stunning rock faces makes for a great day, just under 92km    ...

Our base in Mancor de la Vall is located at the foot of the northern Tramuntana mountains, almost in the middle of the island, a great base for riding in all directions.  But it's the village life and ascetic that makes this place special.   For an easy day off the bike, we walk the streets and narrow roads that head into the hills behind the village.  Every thing shuts at 1pm for siesta, re-opening at 5pm. Dinner is served at 8pm.  Too late for us unfortunately, to wait for the local cook to arrive at 7.30 at the local pizzeria, so we cook up a storm and generally in bed by 9.30.   There's no such thing as a garbage bin here.   If you can imagine, household green bins outside these properties, would block the streets.  So each property has a hook to which they hang their compostable waste.        A very good recycling collection happens almost every day of the week, one day bottles, one day cardboard, another day plastic ...

A crisp early morning start, 6 degrees with a top today of 21.  We set off towards Bunyola via the tiny lanes, meet no one till we get on the main road leading to Bunyola.  Lots of riders out.  We loose Lisa and Allison in the criss cross tiny streets of Bunyola, off course Dave and I make our way, via the Wahoo map redirect onto the main road for our first climb for the day, 'Coll du Soller' Beautiful, super smooth, stunning easy climb. Coll du Soller, very quite, switchbacks with super wide turns, easy gradient with amazing views towards Palma and the sea. We ride the glorious switchbacks down to the old town of Soller, for a coffee and pastry before getting onto the MA10 and our main climb for the day, Puig Major.  At 14km long, average over 6.5% this was a ride where you definitely had to pick your own pace.  Settle in, keep snacking, drinking and take in the views.  Never too steep, this is Mallorca's longest and highest climb. The summit is just beyon...

 What a ride, OMG what a road!!  We woke early and headed off towards the coast.  Temp's at 8 degrees, so leg warmers, buff's and jackets were necessary.  Beautiful stunning crisp morning, no clouds in sight, so good after rain yesterday. We ride to Port Pollenca, for a quick bakery stop and had an iconic Mallorca pastry, the mouth watering 'ensaimada'.  Sorry no photo's, devowed too quickly........... Pastry like butter, ever so soft custard, finished with dustings of icing sugar.  I can feel the muffin top growing :( Onto the very busy main road again, the coastal cities have lost their Mallorca authenticity, lots of high rise apartments line the beach side, commercial stores abound.  So glad we are not staying in this area. By 9.30am we are onto the climb, 35km in length and almost 1,000 metres of elevation on silky smooth tarmac, simply impressive engineering and beautiful views to keep your mind off the legs.   Sheer cliffs, a tunnel, little ...

Allison has arrived. It's awesome to be able to share this cycling experience with girls I have followed on Zwift and Strava for many years.  Never met before, but feel like I have known these girls forever.  Its so cool. Yesterday we headed up to the beautiful town of Selva for the start of the Sa Calobra Climb.  Silky smooth tarmac, little traffic to Coll de Femenia, then we turned right and headed down the super long decent, dodging a few roaming sheep, to our coffee break at the Twin Sisters, in Pollenca, before returning back to our base via tiny back roads. The amount of riders going up to the Sa Calobra Climb, from the coast was amazing, at a guess I'd say 1000 or more. All shapes and sizes, young and old, big groups and singles.  All with one goal in mind, get to the top. The traffic also, was much busier on this side, with lots of buses and car's, coming up from the coast. Today we wake to a very light mist, but heavy dark clouds cover the Serra de Tramuntan...

  We wake to a crisp morning, another hot one predicted, we set out (kinda) early to avoid the heat.  We choose a short climb today and head off toward the base of the Tramuntana Mountains for the Coll d' Honor, riding through tiny towns, back orchard roads, seeing farmers tend to their prized flock's and its quite, super quite.  Too early for the coastal groups to arrive. The views take our breath away.  We come across a tiny three wheel Lorry, making its way towards town, with black smoke billowing out the exhaust, we have to pass. Take a quick shot of Lisa, she's actually taller than it. Makes a good video too, for Strava, as I pass. Coll d' Honor is short at 6.7km and a pleasant climb from the town of Bunyola.  I thought we'd stay together, but Dave is ahead of me and doesn't have the map on his head unit, so misses the turn off right, and heads somewhere............  I wait, waiting waiting.   He comes back, around a corner, I shake my head, we ha...