Mallorca with cakes - by Jo and Liz

Occasionally Liz and Jo take some time off.  In April they took BikeRight! values on their annual trip to Majorca, described by some as a training-camp-with-cakes.  “It’s not our fault that it’s Mike’s birthday” they say, while tucking in.

If you visit Porto Pollensa during March or April you will find the concrete monstrosity called the Pollensa Park hotel hosting a mix of cyclists, twitchers and elderly tourists.  All have come for the sun and the humongous buffet breakfasts and dinners – hefty British fare with portions of tapas or paella to give it local flavour – to fuel their road riding, bird-watching or sight-seeing.

SUNDAY

“As it’s our fourth year, we found our way easily to Bruce’s bike shop and came out with beautiful Ambrosio and Pinnacle full carbon bikes with compact chainsets.  We tried them out on a 30-mile circular along lanes and past meadows of poppies and daisies, taking in Campanet and Alcudia before heading back along the coast road to Porto Pollensa and a beer. The most strenuous part of the day was loading our plates at the evening meal.

MONDAY

The BikeRight! team were out in force.  As it was Mike’s birthday, a compulsory cake stop in Muro was followed by lunch in Petra.  Arriving in a square full of cyclists sitting in outdoor cafes is something to be believed, with fresh orange juice to die for. [pic]  Back along a similar route to yesterday, 45 miles in total.  Jo cooled off with ten lengths in the hotel’s Olympic sized pool.

TUESDAY

First day of serious climbing to Lluc monastery.  It’s 8 kilometres of ascent, but the pain of the steady gradient and hairpin bends is nullified by the beauty of the shady mountainsides,.  “Dig in” is our motto.  So what if hundreds of people overtake us?  We catch up with our fit friends at the top, who are tucking in to….. coffee and cake!  Hurtling downhill was marginally less frightening than last year, but Liz ended up ‘towing’ Jo home for the last 7 miles along the flat.  Ended up at the same café for spaghetti and sardines.  About 40 miles in all.

WEDNESDAY

A rest day for us: a walk to the beach, leisurely swim and lunch on the prom.  The others went to the mountains; unfortunately Dave had a nasty fall, but luckily no broken bones, just a badly bruised hip.

THURSDAY

A short but tough ride to the lighthouse at Formentor, (37 miles in all).  The road was rough, coaches threatened to shove us off the precipice, a goat ran in front of our wheels. Each turn brought expanses of blue sea and we realised we had no idea what lay over there – Africa? Spain? As usual, the ride had a civilised goal, and the chocolate cake at the lighthouse café was mmmmm.  Another scary downhill (they’re always so bone-rattlingly long), then superb formation ride along the flat to the gorgeous little cove at Cala San Vicenc.  After sardines and chips, the inviting turquoise bay turned out to be extremely cold.  A beach-full of normal people watched six English adults writhingly change in and out of swim-gear with two mini-towels between us.  Meanwhile hopalong Dave had been to hospital and got a clear x-ray and a walking stick.

FRIDAY

Things were hotting up, cycling-wise, and Jo crossed the line from weakest group member to Cyclist With Attitude.  “I’m up for Ronda monastery” – not realising the 5km climb to the Santuari de Cura was after three hours riding. We earned our lunch of pa amb oli (literally bread with oil) and Sprite.  The long pull back was peppered with lots of lovely downhills, and the BikeRight! team formed a tight peloton against the wind for the final 15 miles through the marshes and round the bay back to Porto Pollensa.  The day took in 80 miles. 

SATURDAY

A drizzly morning: an excuse to lie motionless on our beds for a couple of hours.   A so-called recovery ride (how come it was 44 miles then?), aimed for lunch in Muro.  A Mayday festival was in full flow in the hilly streets of Buger, complete with baby goats wearing ties, sheep for sale, and donkeys (to Martine’s delight).  Too cold for the pool, so we sweated in the the hotel’s new steam room and sauna, then washed off in an extremely surprising cold shower – watch out for those jets!

SUNDAY 

On a roll: 77 miles through Bunyola, over the mountain to Orient and then downhill back to base.  It was cold, café stop was reduced to coffee and snaffled cake from the hotel, and lunch consisted of a superb paella after an eternal wait, all of us getting colder and colder.  Heading homewards, we  braved glassy road conditions in pouring rain – perilous on road bikes.  Quote of the day from Mike: “I’m trying to think when I’ve been more miserable on a bike”.  To cap it all, we tackled the steepest climb of the week – ‘golf course hill’ – just a couple of miles from home.

MONDAY

Head for home.  353 miles in our tally.  Definitely crossed the line.