Majorica - Can Picaford and Cap de Formentor cycling advice

snack_box

Hi folks,

I'm looking for a little advice but I apologise in advance if the below questions are obvious!

I'm staying in Can Picafort in two weeks time and I'm thinking if hiring a bike to explore the area for a day or two. Has anyone rented form the bike shops in the area or should I venture as far as Alcudia for a better selection? 

Alternatively, has anyone gotten a bike delivered from someone like procyclehire.com? I.e. how early do they deliver etc....
As I'll be on my own while my better half stays by the pool and questions the logic of cycling during a holiday, are there any routes you'd recommend for a relative amateur? 

From a little research,I was thinking of Puerto Pollensa to Cap de Formentor. However, I'm a little daunted by the climbing!! Is the climb manageable with a compact chainset and once I take my time on the ascent? I'm not the strongest climber but I get by. As I'm from the midlands and thus unfamiliar with the concept of mountains:) 

Is the decent a little scary if you're not used to mountains or is ok once the brakes are working? I'm asking as I've watched a few Youtube videos and it looks a little daunting given how much speed cyclists tend to build up and the lack of a hard shoulder if you need to stop at any point.

If you have any other cycling advice about the area, I'd appreciate it!

Thanks in advance!

07Lapierre

the hills are hard or easy depending on your fitness level.

A compact chainset is perfect.

Cap Formentor is well worth the trip and highly recommended.

the great thing about Majorca is there are plenty of Bike routes suitable for all levels. you can cycle in the hills or stay on the flatter parts of the island.

For route suggestions: https://www.tramuntanacycling.com/en/

jamesd

Cap Formentor is a must, its a lovely spin and you will meet people doing it on mountain bikes, trail gator's towing their kids up and so on. Go as early as you can as the roads are quiet, I thinks its 10am the lighthouse cafe opens so we were there for 10am last month and as we were heading back into town the roads were getting busier. (Plus its cooler too)
We were staying in Port de Pollence so rented bikes there from RentMarch , used them last year too as they were easy to deal with.

mr spuckler

07Lapierre wrote: »

For route suggestions: https://www.tramuntanacycling.com/en/

cheers for that link, i'm going to mallorca in september for a family holiday but am being released for a couple of days cycling and there are some great looking route options there.

Exiled1

Great place for cycling. There are lots of bike rental places in your area. Best to bring your own saddle for comfort and a few measurements from your own bike. You should get a very good machine from about €30-35 per day.
Cap Formentor is a beautiful spin and the climbing is consistent, no killer ramps. Another possibility is head eastwards along the main road to Arta, then to Ermite de Betlem monastery. Less travelled but a similar climb. If you wish to try out a velodrome, why not head out to Sineu and test the municipal velodrome. Good coffee shop there too.
Enjoy.

Grassey

Did the climb to Betlem and Formenter 2 weeks ago, both lovely routes.

If you are looking for something easy to stretch the legs to start if you go towards Artà and take a left towards Colonia St Pere (?) nice descent down to sea level, grab an ice cream and then climb back up. Probably need to add a few more km to it after to soak up the sun.

Shabby workmanship

Are any Irish clubs doing an autumn Majorca training week this year?
My club is not and I am eager to join a crew.
Thanks.

07Lapierre

mr spuckler wrote: »

cheers for that link, i'm going to mallorca in september for a family holiday but am being released for a couple of days cycling and there are some great looking route options there.

Here's a link to one of my favourite routes. Of course if you have the time (and fitness), do head over to Sa Colabra! A spectacular descent, followed by a tough climb back up!

Favourite route: https://www.strava.com/activities/666262185

Sa Calobra : https://www.strava.com/activities/662963022
Video: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HQwcXGc-7Uw

Andalucia

Cap de Formentor is a lovely spin, its only 40km return from Porto Pollensa, about 850m climbing though very manageable

Sa Colobra is just class, 53 switchbacks and a lovely surface makes it very enjoyable

was over last month, must try and go again in autumn

mr spuckler

07Lapierre wrote: »

Here's a link to one of my favourite routes. Of course if you have the time (and fitness), do head over to Sa Colabra! A spectacular descent, followed by a tough climb back up!

Favourite route: https://www.strava.com/activities/666262185

Sa Calobra : https://www.strava.com/activities/662963022
Video: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HQwcXGc-7Uw

that video :cool:

thanks again, will most likely be based in port de pollenca as it looks like a perfect combination for baby and cycling friendly holiday

snack_box

Thanks for the advice folks, I'll definitely give Cap Formentor a shot! As I'll only have one day free to explore on a bike (two max), I'm trying to make the most of it! 
I'll probably hire a bike from a shop in Alcudia as there's a better selection of bike shops than in Can Picafort. Also, from what I can see on Google maps, it's a nice cycle along the sea front to [font=Open Sans, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Port de Pollenca before the climbing begins. [/font]
[font=Open Sans, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Given my lack of climbing prowess, I think I'll have to forget about Strava segments to/from [/font]Cap Formentor on this occasion[font=Open Sans, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][/font] 

jamesd

Here is my video - going to the lighthouse last month
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbFdLCMAgtI

This is where we stayed in Port de Pollenca, fully setup to suit cyclists and also
suits family's as we had our 2yr old with us.
http://hoposa.es/hotels-destinations/puerto-pollensa/hotel-apartments-hoposa-villaconcha/

07Lapierre

mr spuckler wrote: »

that video :cool:

thanks again, will most likely be based in port de pollenca as it looks like a perfect combination for baby and cycling friendly holiday

Yes Port De Pollensa is the perfect place. It's very family orientated. Myself and herself are heading over there later this year too! cant wait.

Heres another Bike hire option: http://www.pinarelloexperience.com/

I treated myself to one of these for a day a few years ago! https://www.dropbox.com/s/aq9n5eyp3jw5d5z/Pinarello.jpeg?dl=0

mr spuckler

07Lapierre wrote: »

Yes Port De Pollensa is the perfect place. It's very family orientated. Myself and herself are heading over there later this year too! cant wait.

Heres another Bike hire option: http://www.pinarelloexperience.com/

I treated myself to one of these for a day a few years ago! https://www.dropbox.com/s/aq9n5eyp3jw5d5z/Pinarello.jpeg?dl=0

i'd already looked at the dogma 65.1 ultegra for £106 for 3 days. between carriage charges and also needing to rent a bigger car i reckon i'd spend at least that much bringing my own bike over so net net it wouldn't really be costing me anything

jamesd

Sa Calobra is worth doing, lovely 100km spin and the climb can be done by anyone I think that has some mileage in their legs.

Go very early to avoid the bus's.

mr spuckler

quick update on this thread - i was over in Majorca last week, stayed in Port de Pollenca. I'd planned on going out twice on the bike but a sleepless child meant i only got out once for the short spin to the lighthouse at Cap Formentor. but...what an amazing spin! was dying to do it again later in the week but just couldn't do it unfortunately. i drove a few of the other roads around Lluc, Inca etc and can safely say it's somewhere I hope to get back to, possibly even next year with a few mates.