Day 1 (Sunday)
We all collected or unpacked our bikes first thing in readiness for our first ride, we all met at 11am outside the bike basement and after a quick group photograph we all took off in our groups.
Rouleur Ride to Santa Magdalena & La Victoria 50 miles – 2487 feet: –
It was hot with the temperature recording 32 Degrees C at one stage, at the Magdalena the only choice was Paella and water, which we got the water with some difficulty which we shared around, onward and downward towards Sa Pobla for lunch, after lunch we headed out to La Victoria just on the edge of the coast with some great views and the last hill, cycling back via Alucidia we were hit by a bit of a side wind but we all got back safely.
Once back in the hotel some of us decided to use the pool which was colder than the Antarctic Ocean but ok when you are in. Ewen suffered problems with his tyre that day having to stop to change the inner tube.
Day 2 (Monday)
Rouleurs Ride – Lluc Monastery & Cala Sant Vincenc 45 miles 3074 feet: –
Today’s ride was a bit cooler for which we were grateful. Our first stop was the cycling Mecca Respsol Garage/cafe on top of Coll de sa Batalla, a fantastic and well organised cafe, we waited for the Novas to turn up and sat down for lunch together.
I have never seen so many cyclists in one place, after a well deserved break we cycled down to the Lluc Monastery with its great architecture and walked around it for a short while then moved on towards home (for the week).
Ewen continued to have problems with his tyre and had to cut the ride short but luckily we were close to the hotel. We found out afterwards that the tyre was slipping causing punctures, once sorted with the hire company Ewen did not have any more problems.
Day 3 (Tuesday)
Rouleurs and Tempos Sa Colobra 60 miles 6466 feet: –
A early start and a tough day cycling ahead out to Sa Colobra our first stop was the to the Shack just under the Aqueducte des torrent des Gorg Blau, the orange cake was one of the highlights at the Shack and once refreshed we cycled down towards Sa Colobra and the epic descent to the sea front where we stopped for some photographs and a short break before making our way back up the imposing Sa Colobra climb.
It seemed never ending looking above all the time thinking is this the top and the amount of cyclists coming down was incredible, the buses we also a problem on the bends having to stop to get pass them on occasions. Once back up the top at the Shack a well deserved break before moving on to our favourite cafe (Repsol) for lunch and the largest Cornetto’s (Shaun’s favourite) we have ever seen. Then homewards to the hotel.
Day 4 (Wednesday) Rest Day
Day 5 (Thursday)
Rouleurs – Alaro 61 miles 2700 feet: –
The Rouleurs ride started early with uncertainty as rain was forecast and just after we started we hit a heavy bit of rain but decided to keep going and thankfully it stopped raining for most of the ride, we cycled to Inca for our first stop as it started to rain again at the cafe “Oh La La” where we were well catered for with lady owner making sure we were all seated and all fed.
Onwards to our next stop to Lloseta we crossed a few sections of cobblestones, which was our first experience of them and they were unbelievably hard to ride on luckily they were very short, we reached the Casa De Ni cafe and stopped for lunch before completing the ride back. Only one puncture that day.
Day 6 (Friday)
Rouleurs Ride – Formentor Lighthouse 30 miles 3143 feet (some rides varied)
The last ride of the week we all went to Formentor Lighthouse.
Rouleurs ride
An early start to miss the buses and cars made it a cool one and the winds were up but the weather was sunny without a cloud in the sky, it was a short ride to the first climb so we all did a warm up around Port de Pollenca, it was a short climb to Coll de la Creueta and a quick stop to regroup and down al the way to Formentor Lighthouse, all down hill to Playa Formentor then back up again to the lighthouse, the wind was against on the way and only became a problem when we hit the bends facing the open sea but luckily not too bad to cause problems, the ride down the the lighthouse was great with fantastic views.
Once at the lighthouse we regrouped and took some time to take some photographs, the cafe was unfortunately closed until 10.
The ride back to Coll de La Creueta was a great with downhill sections and of course uphill as well and where we all regrouped at the top, well down to Linda Robbins who joined us on her first Rouleurs ride and did really well.
Once we stopped on the top some of us did longer rides or made our own way back to the hotel, myself and Shaun went up the the Albercutx Watchtower where there were some great scenery overlooking Port de Pollenca. A great finish to the week.
