[parksey]

As the Vengaboys didn’t quite sing, I’m going to Mallorca.

It’s a family holiday, but I’ve been able to negotiate a day to do some cycling, so I’ve booked myself a day’s hire from one of the rental places. Nice carbon Synapse too, so happy with that.

I’m staying in Puerto Pollensa, so wondered if anyone had any recommendations for any good routes to take in on a circular ride from there?

I’m not the fittest cyclist in the world, but do fancy getting into the mountains, as well as some coastal riding. Tackling Sa Calobra is beyond me though!

Topic

[Merchant of Cool]

http://www.demon-cycles.co.uk
http://www.demon-cycles.co.uk/bmc/bi-po/

There are all the rides you will need here……all downloadable to a Garmin, all based from Puerta Pollensa……

Happy Cycling B-)

[pauldmorgan]

There’s a good cyclists map
There’s a good cyclists map you can get from the Mallorca Pro bike hire shop in Puerto Pollensa or in bookshops etc. I even saw a waterproof paper one (after I’d bought a normal paper one). It has some good circular routes on it with the gradients of the roads marked.

That shop is great by the way – nice people, good kit for hire and a decent workshop.

The trip to the lighthouse is great – nice beach on the way with a good cafe.
https://www.strava.com/activities/72903804

Lots of nice riding on the flat round there as well – into the interior or along the coast. https://www.strava.com/activities/72903799

Once you get your climbing legs going I would suggest Soller which is great. I drove there and did the climb both ways.
https://www.strava.com/activities/72903844

Agree with the others that say Bunyola https://www.strava.com/activities/72903851

And Coll de Femenia
https://www.strava.com/activities/72903848

Happy times!

[pauldmorgan]

There’s a good cyclists map
There’s a good cyclists map you can get from the Mallorca Pro bike hire shop in Puerto Pollensa or in bookshops etc. I even saw a waterproof paper one (after I’d bought a normal paper one). It has some good circular routes on it with the gradients of the roads marked.

That shop is great by the way – nice people, good kit for hire and a decent workshop.

The trip to the lighthouse is great – nice beach on the way with a good cafe.
https://www.strava.com/activities/72903804

Lots of nice riding on the flat round there as well – into the interior or along the coast. https://www.strava.com/activities/72903799

Once you get your climbing legs going I would suggest Soller which is great. I drove there and did the climb both ways.
https://www.strava.com/activities/72903844

Agree with the others that say Bunyola https://www.strava.com/activities/72903851

And Coll de Femenia
https://www.strava.com/activities/72903848

Happy times!

[pauldmorgan]

There’s a good cyclists map
There’s a good cyclists map you can get from the Mallorca Pro bike hire shop in Puerto Pollensa or in bookshops etc. I even saw a waterproof paper one (after I’d bought a normal paper one). It has some good circular routes on it with the gradients of the roads marked.

That shop is great by the way – nice people, good kit for hire and a decent workshop.

The trip to the lighthouse is great – nice beach on the way with a good cafe.
https://www.strava.com/activities/72903804

Lots of nice riding on the flat round there as well – into the interior or along the coast. https://www.strava.com/activities/72903799

Once you get your climbing legs going I would suggest Soller which is great. I drove there and did the climb both ways.
https://www.strava.com/activities/72903844

Agree with the others that say Bunyola https://www.strava.com/activities/72903851

And Coll de Femenia
https://www.strava.com/activities/72903848

Happy times!

[AJ101]

Do the climb up along the
Do the climb up along the Ma-11 and drop down to port Soller. I think there’s a funlittle train goes there too so maybe you could meet the family there for food by the harbour – it’s lovely. ignore the main road, it goes through a tunnel and bikes aren’t allowed – you’ve got to go up and over the mountain which is a real treat in itself.

[RichardHG5]

The road to the Lightouse has
The road to the Lightouse has been resurfaced and is now brilliant. Much better than the roads in North Yorkshire.

[sm]

It is indeed mine Parksey –
It is indeed mine Parksey – glad you found it useful. Enjoy the break – Formentor will be even better now they’ve resurfaced it. It’s a nice short ride so easy to fit in and around the family. I’m back out there myself in September – can’t wait.

[Martyn_K]

Formentor Beach – its easier
Formentor Beach – its easier to refer to a map than try to describe the road..

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/8662584

If you zoom in to the map and tick the mile markers setting. Between mile 16 & 17 there is a 90 degree left bend. Don’t follow the bend, go straight on there and the beach will be on your right. You should be able to see it after about 100 yards.

[parksey]

Thanks for the further input,
Thanks for the further input, particularly the blog link, sm (yours?), which was very useful.

Sounds like clockwise up to Lluc is the way to go then, but I’ll maybe plot both directions into the GPS and be led by the wind on the day.

Martyn – where’s the Formentor beach you refer to?

Bazza – noted re the ice cream, will definitely be well-deserved! B-)

[sm]

More inspiration here,
More inspiration here, Majorca cycle routes with elevation and GPX files. All that’s missing is the sweat. Over to you!

Formentor at sunset is a favourite. I’d also recommend a trip to the outdoor velodrome.

[Bazza155]

Just treat yourself to an ice
Just treat yourself to an ice cream from the stall by marina roundabout in Puerto Pollensa when you finish…I recommend Coconut or Jaffa cake.

[Zermattjohn]

Agree with Martyn_K, do it
Agree with Martyn_K, do it clockwise, having done both it’s the nicest.

[Martyn_K]

Personally i would ride the
Personally i would ride the route clockwise. The views as you climb from Selva/ Caimari through the mountain valley are fantastic and you would miss them when descending at speed. You also get quite a nice warm up with about 15 miles of flattish before the climb.

As noted there is a cafe next to the petrol station at the top of the climb to refuel (pun intended). Then its a quick right turn and a long descent to Pollenca, again with nice views through the valley as you drop. If you only have a single day of riding and want a bit extra then bolt on a quick jaunt over the Formentor viewpoint to the beach the other side. There is quite a nice cafe there (not a rip off like the lighthouse) and a chance to dip your feet in the water.

A steady climb back the way you came and a fast, open descent back to Port de Pollenca will get you home. Awesome day!

(Confirmation that the road to the lighthouse has been resurfaced, its an out and back route which is good as a multi day warmup ride. The views are great but ok to miss if you are tight on riding time).

[OnTheRopes]

Or book a guided ride with
Or book a guided ride with Sunvelo and ride in company with a group to match your fitness. Just spent a wèek with them. They are just up the road at Alcudia. http://www.sunvelo.com

[parksey]

Cheers for the input.
I sadly
Cheers for the input.

I sadly don’t have a Garmin account to access Martyn’s suggested ride, but I get the impression it’s broadly similar to Zermattjohn’s?

In fact, option 1 of yours is pretty much the exact route I was speculatively plotting for myself with a combination of Strava and StreetView. 50ish miles in 4+ hours is about right for me on this sort of terrain, even if I do have the bike for the day.

I’d plotted the route anti-clockwise though, i.e. heading west out of Puerto Pollensa on the Ma-2200 to pick up the Ma-10 up to Lluc, then down to Selva. Would you recommend (from the perspective of the gradient) going clockwise instead?

The Formentor road certainly looks formidable on the GPS!

[Author]

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