Mallorca - Puerto Pollensa

[BREMBOV6]

Good morning all

I have been thinking recently about taking a week over in Puerto Pollensa for cycling. I used to go on holiday here when younger and have heard recently the cycling is supposed to be great.

I have never cycled abroad so was just looking for general advice and if anyone has been over to Mallorca to cycle before?

I will also be going by myself which I guess is slightly daunting but nobody is else is that keen. Was also looking at hiring a bike but think it perhaps make sense to bring my own.

Any thoughts/discussions welcome. Think I would most likely aim for the first week in August....

Thanks

[Rolls]

Its a fantastic place to go cycling : have been there 5 times now.
It'll be hot in august though : not sure i'd fancy doing long rides : i'd aim to be out and get back by 11am.

PP is the ideal base for cycling : all of the major climbs can be reached from there very easily..

I'd recommend doing the Andtrax > PP ride, but it will be an all day thing, and i'm not sure i'd want to be climbing Puig Major in the heat....

Im sure there will be numerous people along shortly with more detail.. i could go on for hours but am at work at present!

[G321]

Do it! Puerto Pollensa is a great location for cycling with some great rides from there. There's the ride to Formentor light house or the other way into the mountains or plenty of flat rides if that's what you're after. The range and prices of bike hire there makes it easier than taking your own bike

[crashley]

We go there regularly also, highly recommended - even on your own. As already said, can be warm in August so best to get out early and back by lunch. Lots of places to hire from in PP, last i used was a shop run by a Northerner who was super friendly, delivered and picked up the bike.

[smn159]

As has been suggested, you may well get more out of it if you can hang on until October, when the temperatures will be a bit more manageable, but it's a fantastic place to be on a bike.

Stayed there in October last year and had a fantastic ride out to Sa Calobra in particular, but the lighthouse ride is not to be missed either.

[Sa Calobra]

I'm going back in August. Also looking for advice.

[Master Bean]

I hired my bike from here. It's run by English people so no translation problems.

https://www.procyclehire.com

Don't forget suncream and drink lots. I mean water when cycling and beer back at the hotel.

[smn159]

Master Bean said:

I hired my bike from here. It's run by English people so no translation problems.

https://www.procyclehire.com

We hired three Massi Team Carbon bikes and I think there were issues with two of them not selecting all gears properly, which required continual fiddling. I've found German run shops to be much more fastidious about this sort of stuff to be honest.

[fromage]

If you are just going for a cycling holiday I would avoid Pollensa + Alcudia area otherwise its a super long ride to get to the best bit of the Island out by Andratx and you will be riding on the same roads to get out/back most days.

I usually stay around Inca (Selva, Lloseta etc) as you can access the best bits of the Island from there and also have some flat rides South for some recovery if riding lots also you will avoid the usual stty restaurants that are often found around the resort towns.

[Bobley]

smn159 said:

We hired three Massi Team Carbon bikes and I think there were issues with two of them not selecting all gears properly, which required continual fiddling. I've found German run shops to be much more fastidious about this sort of stuff to be honest.

On our first trip we hired Massi bikes too. Mine was okay but my lad snapped a gear cable on his SaColobra run which upset him somewhat. Second time we took one bike and hired a Trek from Tramuntana Tours (Soller).

I'm going back on the 27th and the lad 3 days later and staying out there for just over 2 weeks, we're both taking our own bikes out this time... and leaving them there ;-)

If you see anyone in a Team Milton Keynes kit it's probably us. If anyone want's to meet for a pootle then msg me. If you want to go fast then I'll send you out with the lad.

We've stayed in Pollença a few times and Soller once. The problem with Soller is that every direction you go requires lot's of up straight away. Pollença gives you the option of heading south for an easy pootle.

Edited by Bobley on Wednesday 14th March 23:33

[Bobley]

If you're in Pollença (or the port) you could always put your bike in the boot of the 340 bus and it'll take you to Inca in 15 mins (25) for a couple of euros.

In the summer theres a bus to Soller so you could always get on that with your bike and jump out after Escorca, nip down Sa Colobra and then ride back up and come back to Pollença various ways.

It's all good. I'm not too sure about pedalling in August though. You'll have to go out bloomin early and then sit under the AC when you get back...

[BMWBen]

I usually do Pollenca, but you have have to be prepared to drive out to the start of some rides if you want to do the south of the island in reasonable sized chunks.

General advice would be:
There's nothing to be afraid of, a hill is just a hill, pace yourself, eat, and you'll be fine. After all, it never gets easier, you just go faster...
Definitely do the formentor (lighthouse) ride.
Definitely ride Sa Calobra.
Do a long ride down the coast road from Port De Soller (Ma-10) for as far as you can - it's stunning. There's a restaurant (Restaurante Es Grau) you can stop at to refuel perched on top of the cliffs over the sea near Estellencs. Well worth a stop. Perhaps divide that into two different loops and do Port de Soller, Esporles and round on one day, then Esporles round to Andratx and back through Galilea on another.

Also take your own bike, it's only 60 quid or so depending on the airline, which works out cheaper than hiring and then you know what you're dealing with. Hire bikes are generally good, but there's the issue of fit, comfort... and if you're doing long rides it might be a bit painful to adjust!

Edited by BMWBen on Thursday 15th March 08:39

[JEA1K]

I would certainly stay in Puerto Pollenca (or nearby again) ... well I'm back there next month. First time I went, stayed at the Duva in P Pollenca ... next time we stayed in Orient ... great for me, but for others, staying in a mountain area when you want to get home can break people after doing the Puig and Sa Collabra :-D With Pollenca you have an option to ride flat or up in the mountains. I wouldnt want to stay in Alcudia ... think of Magaluf ...

Before I cycled, I always stayed in the South West ... Portals across to Andratx area, still love that area but roads can be v busy.

[BREMBOV6]

All, thank you for the great advice and what sounds like a great place to cycle.

In regards to bike hire what are the costs like? I currently have a fairly normal Felt road bike but really fancy a TT bike, do you know if they have any hire bikes available that may cater?

I did have a look at the Pinarello experience but was a fairly frightening amount!

Further question please. Once landed in Palma I assume with luggage etc you just get a bus/taxi? Distance from Palma to Puerto Pollensa is very reasonable.

[Master Bean]

€100-150 for a week usually for a carbon bike with 105. Good luck riding a TT bike up mountains. We hired a coach but I'm sure there's a bus to take you there.

[simonpieman]

We're going there in three weeks time, with our cycling club. Can't wait. Taking our own bikes.

[smn159]

simonpieman said:

We're going there in three weeks time, with our cycling club. Can't wait. Taking our own bikes.

Bike boxes or bags? Logistics can be tricky with a load of bike boxes, with taxi drivers not too keen to get involved or wanting to charge a fortune..

[Rolls]

Its very easy to arrange a transfer with bikes : last year I went out there with the wife, our little boy, both sets of grandparents... and my bike...

we hired 1 car as staying in PP didn't really need one (apart from going to aldi to get the shopping... or is it lidl - i forget!) and i sorted out a transfer for the grandparents and my bike - all very simple and easy to do, and reasonably priced too!

[Bobley]

The no 1 bus takes you from the airport to Palma in 15 mins (get off at the Plaça d'Espanya), go down the escalator into the train/tram/bus station "Estacio Intermodal". Ignore all the ticket machines and counter (they're all for the train/tram) and head round to the right and down another escalotor into the basement bus depot and find the no 340 bus. You pay on the bus, it takes ~an hour to get there. Airport to Palma is €5 and Palma - Pollença is €5.30 (the port may be a € more). Luggage on the no 1 bus is tricky as it's a boggo bus. The 340 is actually a luxury coach and has a large boot.

https://www.tib.org/en/web/ctm/autobus/linia/340

A pre booked taxi is €180 return.

You can rent a Caddy/Doblo van from the airport for £24 / day (£17 + £5 insurance waiver).

If you get stuck give me a call, I'll come and get you... (but only from 27th March to 7th April!)

[Sa Calobra]

Hang on. I've got next week off and I have a decent road bike..