Mallorca 2018 - A Cycling Gem

† Explanation of BAC Ride Fee – This fee is not included in the Estimated Cost and is non-refundable once submitted. The Ride Fee for US and Canada is $85 and $100 for all other countries, both are per participant.

Ride Description

OVERVIEW: Rarely visited by Americans - European cyclists, and now many BAC members, have made Mallorca their favorite destination. Growing more popular each year, this region now hosts more serious cyclists than Tuscany, the Loire Valley, and the Alps combined. A semi-autonomous region of Spain, Mallorca is a sunny and friendly island in the Mediterranean with varied and beautiful scenery, great roads, fabulous food, and courteous drivers. Because it combines mild weather, un-trafficked routes and a full range of terrain, many of Europe's Pro Teams now start their season here. Picturesque villages, hilltop monasteries, rocky alpine mountains, azure waters, beaches, limestone caves and groves of ancient olive trees that dot the rolling interior all make up the diversity that is Mallorca. Whether or not you've already cycled in Italy, France or Ireland, BAC members can continue to be among the first Americans to learn why Europeans love riding in Mallorca. This will be the 11th time that this popular trip has been offered.

Possible rides for layover days include: (1) Sa Calabra, Mallorca's answer to the Alpe d'Huez, (2) a terrific and scenic ride on a small old road to and from Port Valldemossa, (3) a beautiful ride out to the Cap de Formentor, which requires a light for a straight but unlit tunnel, and (4) other lovely interior and coastal loops. Other layover options include touring a beautiful limestone cave within walking distance of our agriturismo, boat rides along the coast, and a train ride from Port de Soller through the mountains to Palma. Our layover days allow flexibility for rest days, weather, challenging riding, hiking or merely passing the time at many of the outdoor cafes. 

RIDE RATING: The required riding includes 2 days with 3200' of climbing (with a couple of short sections at 10%), which exceeds the 2B rating. The longest day is 53 miles, the shortest is 20 miles, with an average of 35 miles. Many of the optional rides are a 3B/4B (3200' to 4400' of climbing).

Please Note: There are high quality bicycles for rent at the Hotel Taurus Park with Fred Rompelberg Cycling Camps and this is a recommended alternative to bringing your own bike.  Participants must make arrangements for renting bikes directly with Fred Rompelberg.

WEATHER: May is a very pleasant time to visit Mallorca when spring is in full bloom. The average high temperature is 73 degrees with an average low of 59, making it a great month to enjoy a sunshine holiday. There is an average of 1.5 inches of rain for the month of May.

LODGING: Hotel Taurus Park in Palma 3 nights (first two and last); Hotel Sis Pins in Port Pollenca 3 nights; Hotel Monnaber Nou, a countryside Agriturismo in Campanet 2 nights; Hotel Los Geranos in Port de Soller 3 nights; Hotel Mar I Vent in Banyalbufar 3 nights. Except for the Agriturismo, all lodging is on the ocean.

LOGISTICS: We meet outside of Palma (PMI airport code) at Hotel Taurus Park, in Playa Palma, 5 km south of the Palma airport on Saturday, May 12. The last day of riding is Friday May 25, leaving Palma on Saturday, May 26 after breakfast.

COST & ADMINISTRATION: $2930 based on the exchange rate of $1.20 = €1. The tour cost includes 14 nights lodging with buffet breakfasts, 7 group dinners, BAC happy hours, van and driver, maps, route sheets, and gps files. Initial deposit of $1000 is due at sign-up.  Second deposit of $1000 is due on December 1, 2017.    Final payment of $930 is due February 1, 2018.  Depending on currency exchange rates, there may be some minor changes in the amount of the final payment.

SINGLES AND SOLOS:  We welcome singles. We recommend that singles who want a roommate try to find their own. The Ride Leaders will assist in pairing suitable room-mates. The single supplement is approximately $600 extra, and should be paid directly to the Ride Leader by check, no later than December 1, 2017. Please contact the ride leader if you want to be solo, since extra rooms may not be possible to reserve in May, as we are getting into high season.

CANCELLATION POLICY: The $100 BAC registration fee and payment process fees are not refundable unless the entire tour is cancelled.  Refunds of tour payments will depend upon whether a replacement rider signs up, and on costs that can be recouped.  The amount refunded will be based on the principle that the tour’s remaining participants will not incur any additional cost as a result of cancellations.  If the canceling participant is replaced, a refund will be made at that time.  If the canceling participant can't be replaced, any refund will be determined after the ride and final expense report are completed.  If a single participant cancels and another roommate cannot be found, in addition to other costs that cannot be recouped the cancelling roommate may also be liable for the single supplement fee of the roommate remaining on the tour.  BAC encourages members to purchase trip cancellation insurance.

RIDE PARTICIPANT RESPONSIBILITY: Please remember that BAC Ride Leaders are volunteers, and that successful tours depend on participants providing much of their own support.  Participants are expected to come to the ride well trained, in good health and ready to accomplish the required daily riding using well-maintained bicycles.   All participants should accept responsibility for a safe and enjoyable tour. We encourage you to read the ride description carefully and respond to requests from Ride Leader.  While on the ride, support your Ride Leader with offers to help with various tasks such as happy hour preparation and clean-up.  Please do not interfere with the ride by inviting non-participants onto any portion of the ride or tour.  Please keep the Ride Leader informed of any special request you may have and respect the Ride Leader’s decisions.

SIGN-UP: To submit a request to join this ride use the "links" displayed above this Ride Description.  When you are accepted, the Ride Leader will move you from the Waitlist to the Pending List.  At this time you will receive an email notification to login to the BAC website to sign the release of liability form and pay the non-refundable $100 BAC ride registration fee online and the initial tour deposit of $1500 by credit card.  As soon as your deposit has been processed, your name(s) will be added to the Participant List. To contact the Ride Leader, "click" the name at the top of this Ride Description.

Mallorca 2018 Itinerary

Day 1 - Playa de Palma - Grupotel Taurus Park. Dinner

• Arrive Palma, transfer to Grupotel Taurus Park on your own (approx. 5

miles from airport). Welcome meeting 5:30 pm.

Day 2 - Playa de Palma - Grupotel Taurus Park. Breakfast and Dinner

• Several loop rides from Playa de Palma along the coast to Palma or

through the countryside.

Day 3 - Port de Pollenca - Hotel Sis Pins B&B. Dinner on our own

• We ride across the island to Port de Pollenca through the rolling heartland

of Mallorca ~ 75 kms. Lots of restaurants choices.

Day 4 &5 - Port de Pollenca- Hotel Sis Pins B&B. Dinner on our own

• Option 1: Ride out and back to Cap de Formetor. Hilly with a tunnel. You

are required to walk all tunnels. You should have at least a rear light. ~ 40

kms, ~ 3000 ft of climbing.

• Option 2: Easier option to ride to beautiful seaside village of Cala Sant

Vicuna and backtrack. Then explore the charming town on Pollenca. A

great restaurant for lunch in Pollenca is Il Giardino in the main plaza.

Day 6 - Campanet - Hotel Monnaber Nou. Dinner

• Option 1: We have two routes to our agriturismo outside of Campanet. We

can take the easy and shorter route (20 kms) through the lanes outside of

Port de Pollenca and along the Cami Vell Campanet to our our hotel.

Check out the Caves of Campanet near the hotel. They are worth a look.

They are on the left just before the turn-off to the hotel.

• Option 2: Longer, hilly route to Hotel Monnaber Nou along MA10 to Lluc

Monastery then descending south towards Inca de Selva, then east in the

direction of Moscari, Campanet and to Hotel Monnaber Nou. ~ 44 kms

Day 7 - Campanet - Hotel Monnaber Nou. Breakfast and Dinner

• Option 1: Loop ride to Orient and Bunyola. ~72 kms hilly and beautiful

• Option 2: Relax at the hotel or spa, then walk to the Caves of Campanet in

the afternoon.

• Option 3: Ride through Pollenca to Lluc Monastery if you took the shorter

route the day before ~ 65 kms

Day 8 - Port de Soller - Hotel Los Geranios. B&B Dinner on our own

• Leave Hotel Monnaber Nou, climb up MA 2130 to MA 10 junction turn

left towards Port de Soller ~ 50 kms.

Day 9 & 10- Port de Soller - Hotel Los Geranios. B&B & Dinner Day 8

• Option 1: Ride along the main road skirting the town of Soller, taking a

left just before the tunnel onto the old road snaking up to the Coll de Soller

before descending the other side to the botanical gardens - Jardin d’Alfabia

or continue to Bunyola for lunch. Return the same route ~ 40 kms hilly.

• Option 2: Boat ride (11:00 am) to base of Sa Calabra. Steep but relative

short climb. Return (with extreme caution) back to harbor for boat return

from Sa Calabra to Port de Soller. THE LAST BOAT LEAVES AT 4:30

pm. You can also continue to ride along the same road as Day 8 to return

to Port de Soller. ~ 22 - 40 kms.

• Option 3: Tram and train ride to Palma where you can board a red double

decker bus that tours the city. You can get off explore and reboard any of

the red buses. Return by bus much faster and cheaper than train.

• Option 4: Take a cute tram to the town on Soller - a nice town worth

exploring. Then walk back (only 3-4 kms)

• Option 5: Do absolutely nothing. You’re on vacation! Or do your laundry

at the only laundromat on the trip.

Day 11 - Banyalbufar - Hotel Mar I Vent B&B Dinner on our own

• We ride along the gorgeous and hilly coast through the lovely old village

of Deia. Take a walk through the labyrinthine of alleys up to the church at

the top of the hill where poet Robert Graves is buried. A short detour of

the main road is needed to see Valldemosa. It is bit touristy but a good

spot for lunch. There is also the optional, very pretty and recommended

ride to Port de Valldemosa (6 kms each way) where you can have lunch

before the climb back to the main road. Arrive at Hotel Mat I Vent in the

lovely terrace village of Banyalbufar. ~ 39 kms.

Day 12 & 13 Banyalbufar - Hotel Mar I Vent B&B. Dinner on our own

• Option 1: Ride along the coast and continue to the Andratx intersection

returning through the mountains. This loop can be done in either direction.

~ 70 kms, 4000 ft.

• Option 2: Ride along the coast and return. ~ 35 kms

• On Day 12 group dinner at Son Tomas in Banyalbufar

Day 14 - Playa de Palma - Grupotel Taurus Park. Dinner and Breakfast

• Ride back to Playa de Palma. We have some climbing out of Banyalbufar

but the rest of the day is undulating to flat riding. ~ 70 kms.

Day 15 - Leave Mallorca…hasta la vista!…