Bike mania

 

Puerto Pollensa as we climbed up the hill

 

This blog post is for the bikers in my life.  We spent 10 days on Majorca in mid-March and it was the best biking vacation we have ever had.  Typically it is bike vs. car for dominance on the roads.  Here, it is quite the opposite. From mid-February to June 1, bikers rule this island.  After June, it is all about the beaches as it gets hot, but now, driver beware.

The most famous ride on the island. Probably 1000 riders a day while we were there.

If you are a cyclist, you must come here for at least 10 days and really immerse yourself in the cycling culture that takes over this area.  It isn't about the pros that train here, it is all about the clubs that come from Great Britain, Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium and Croatia.  Other countries are also represented, but these were the powerhouses.  It is also one of the few areas in Europe where you see more women cyclists out on the road.  Few as old as me, but at least I am not in the 1% club as usual in France and Italy.

As it is such an international gathering place, it was nice to converse with other English speakers. There are many Brits living here and running businesses and they hope to stay once Brexit takes effect.

Road signs for the cyclists

The Spanish have made a huge effort to accommodate the cyclists on the island.  There is an extensive rural cycle route and fairly good maps.  Larry and I still managed to get lost innumerable times, and struggled with our GPS on our phones, which was very hit or miss.  Also, these roads were so small they often don't show up on the maps! Fortunately all roads lead back to the coast and we were able to find our way home.

For this trip we have rented bikes everywhere and gone without a car.  Miss my bike, but don't miss the hassle of traveling with it!

Beer time!