Lowther Hill

Last Sunday  a fellwo clubmate and I headed into the Leadhills. Its a loop I have done before but my young clubmate wanted to climb to the Radar unit (The Golf Ball) on Lowther Hill above Wanlockhead. It is a private road to the top but you can lift the bike over the barrier at the bottom and head up the steep climb. It was a tough one which steepens as you near the summit but at the top you are rewarded with views all the way to the Lake District.
The day gave me my biggest day of climbing on the British Isles and my second century ride of the year.

Cycling the Tramuntana Mountains

This year I was holidaying in Peurto De Pollenca in Mallorca. I had been looking forward to my holiday in the sun as I always do but more so for the cycling on offer for which the island is famed.
The hotel I was in, The Villa Concha, was perfect for the family and also for the cyclist.
The hotel had its own bike shop, bike storage, tools, water and washing facilities for guests (see pics) that and rental bikes which were of a high quality. I found myself riding a carbon Bianchi Intenso full Ultegra for the week with fulcrum wheels which was fantastic.

Cap de Formentor

The first of my cycles was a favourite from my last visit to the island. Out to the lighthouse and back along the Cap De Formentor was spectacular and as awesome as always. This time though I added in the small (if rough) climb to the pepper pot which gives great views of Port De Pollensa.

Alcudia and Femenia

The next cycle was a bit of exploration. I headed out along the Cap De Alcudia. It was a nice winding road with some small climbs and switchbacks. There was a lighthouse at the end which I was hoping to get to however I came to a tunnel with giant gates across the front advising that it was a military zone so I turned around. I headed back towards Play De Muro then inland to Sa Pobla. I then truned and enjoyed the rolling hills and the sounds of the crickets as I headed to Pollensa old town before turning on to the Ma10 to climb the Col de Femenia. It was just spectacular. Limstone cliffs and mountains either side of the road gave me stunning scenery as I climbed the switchbacks and at one point I was accompanied in the sky with what could have been an Eagle or a Mallorcan vulture. The decent back in to Pollensa was just as enjoybale bfore heading back along the carpet like road surface to the hotel.

Coll de la Creueta

My next cycle was a small before dinner jaunt up the first climb out of Port De Pollensa called Coll de la Creueta. Its not long 10 mile round trip but the heat saps everything out of you and makes even the smallest of climbs feel like an Alp.

Sa Calobra and Puig Major

This was the biggest day of cycling in distance, climbing and in bucket list stakes. I met up with a fellow Ayrshire cyclist Jim who spotted me on the island on STRAVA and sent a message to go a joint ride.

We drove in his rental to Lluc and then set out early in the morning to take on the Col De Reis before descending the infamous Sa Calobra. Wow. Wow. Wow. Its like someone built a scaletirx track for cyclists. The switchbacks scenery and road itself are breath-taking. We reached the bottom and after a coffee stop started the climb back up which was equally spectacular. I have never cycled anything like it in my life and my words do not do it justice. You will have to go yourself to experience it for yourself.

After completion and with a lot of the day ahead we rehydrated and headed towards Puig Major, the highest peak on the island. While you cannot get to the top as it’s a military road you can reach the Mannibar tunnel which itself is at 900m above sea level. We made the descent into Soller down a twisty serpentine road. We then poured water into our bottles and over our heads (the heat was 38oC) and started the climb back up to the tunnel. The 14km that took us around 20 minutes to come down took us over 2 hours to climb. The heat just sapping all energy and even though its full effort the heat means you can never go fast enough to be out of breath. Once through the tunnel again we made the descent back to Lluc past the beautiful Gorge Blau.

This was by far the most spectacular day of cycling I have ever done and has only left me pining  to be back in Mallorca every time I see the rain outside or cycle on Scotland’s diabolical road surfaces.

The Best of the Lot

The only thing left to do was the best cycle of the holiday. A totally different rental bike with child seat and My daughter and I cycled along the coastal cycle track to Alcudia and back singing as we went.

 

Mallorca is a magical place. the Tramuntana mountains typifying this. I cannot fully describe how incredible these island mountains are for cycling but one things for sure, now that we are booked up for next year in the same hotel July 2018 can’t come fast enough.