The Bicycle Adventure Club - Come Ride With Us!

Mallorca 2024 Second Section

May 18th to June 1st

Ride Director: Nelson Diaz
Ride Co-Director: Kathy Diaz
Ride Driver: Russ Hanson
Report by: Barbara Delaney

Our trip to Mallorca led by Nelson and Kathy Diaz was an amazing adventure.

The beauty of this Balearic Island off the Eastern coast of Spain did not disappoint.  The people are welcoming, flowers are in full bloom everywhere, the mediterranean sea sparkles and the skies are an amazing shade of blue.  Cycling is challenging, beautiful and epic.

Along the daily rides we passed fragrant orchards, rows of olive trees, quaint farms and herds of goats and sheep.  Gentle breezes with the warm sun on our backs make for perfect riding conditions.  Every biker dreams of those epic rides and Mallorca is filled with them.  You can come and decide which ride is the best but everyone agreed there is one which would make your list of top rides ever. 

Starting in Palma we headed out of town towards the mountains going from sea level to 2200 feet of elevation on our first day.  Hills in Mallorca are long with many winding turns.   If your legs are screaming, just tell them to shut up and keep going, the views at the top are worth every pedal stroke! 

Our first “epic ride” was from Formentor along the ocean up to the lighthouse.  There are winding roads with spectacular slopes on one side and cliffs down to the sea on the other.  Stop and take in the views, linger for pastries at the lighthouse and be sure to savor every moment.

The road from Sa Calobra to the Coll dels Reis is the most famous ride in Mallorca. The fun starts from Puerto de Soller where a ferry took us on a beautiful ride along the coast to Sa Calobra.  You begin at sea level where there is nowhere to go but up the steep road with 26 hairpin turns!  Give a victory cry as you go through the arch at the top.  The descent on the other side offers spectacular views back to town.

Every trip has days that you will never forget and days that you cannot forget fast enough. There were lots of obstacles to be wary of while riding.  Goats saunter out in front of you, you might meet a bus head on, trying to make a hairpin turn, and city riding could be tricky.  One day we were hit by a deluge of rain.  We waded through water 2 inches deep until we could find shelter.  Probably the most challenging and heart pounding ride was the descent back to Sollier.  It turns out hundreds of motorcycle riders were out for a rally and were not the least bit concerned about the bicyclists.  Thankfully happy hour started early that day. 

Our trip will long be remembered for the incredible, fresh Mediterranean meals.  Our daily rides always included a stop for coffee or a bite to eat while sitting on a sun filled patio overlooking the sea.  Ahh,  these are the moments we ride for. What truly makes for the best biking adventures are the people that you cycle with, dine with, laugh with and share your stories with. We came to bike but left with wonderful friends. 

It is no easy job to bring a group of diverse people together and keep them happy.  Great leadership is what makes BAC run.  Nelson and Kathy and our van driver Russ were gracious hosts who made everything run so effortlessly. And we all know that most BAC folks are “not so young”, sometimes cranky, occasionally demanding and can really be a thorn in your tire.   Thank you for making Mallorca such an epic and amazing adventure!