What is Truly Dramatic?

The northern coast of Mallorca is simply dramatic.  Cliffs drop straight to the water's edge, goats roam free in this land, their everyday life.  Cyclists dot the roads like a rainbow of ants, carving in and out of the hills with an unwavering flow.  These are practically daily scenes that I will never let become mundane.

Back-to-back trips has been quite tiring as of lately even with four being our largest group yet.  The 18 guests arriving this weekend will be a true test of the ride camps and of us.  The ride dynamics certainly change when hosting large groups on long rides with multiple options.  We have been working hard to ensure full support while also sticking to the basic idea of these camps, which is a more self-sufficient avid riding trip.  Personal time is always a luxury that we have few times during the week, so this Wednesday I have taken time to write this new post.

Wednesday is our rest day, because the rides become significantly longer and add significant climbing.  Thursday's ride is a roller-coaster over 135km.  We climb multiple colls (climbs of note), which eventually adds up to roughly 10,000ft of elevation gain.  Friday's ride tops the week off with a 145km loop to Cap Formentor, a lighthouse and the furthest point east in the Tramuntana Mountain Range.  The climbing is not as difficult, but the extra distance will gift anyone with a pair of sore legs.  The photograph above is view from the road to Cap Formentor, which is one of many spectacular sections of the coastal road in the north.

With two big days ahead, a big trip next week, and some open time, I am going to tackle some more preparatory tasks.  Thanks for reading and I will post some more photos soon.

Mallorca Livin'

Water crashes against the cliffs, slight breeze of crisp air and a coastal village perched on the edges.  The northern coast of Mallorca retains an ever-present humbling power, a surprising element as an island, but so wonderful and varied.  We are spending our time in Santa Maria del Cami, a small town at the foothills of the Tramuntana Mountains approximately 15km northeast of Palma.  This is the backdrop of our Mallorca Ride Camps, trips focused on a no frills riding experience.  Many people have been asking why we chose Mallorca as a ride camp location.  The answer is simply because we feel that our guests from the western hemisphere have not discovered this majestic island, and the riding is second to none; a reason why so many professional cycling teams visit during their off-season.

Mallorca has so much to offer ranging from amazing hiking, mountain biking, road cycling, climbing, cuisine and culture, and the list continues.  My co-guide, Justin, and I have been desperately trying to sample all of the possible activities because our time will go fast.  Our first ride camp began on Sunday and we have a small group, 4 people, to guide around the island.  The first day is a non-guided but planned route around the area to spin out travel legs.  We follow up the next day with our first march into the mountains, and we are not shy on distance, cycling about 100km for the day.  Today was our second trot into the western section of the Tramuntana Mountains along the MA-10 road.  I thought yesterday's ride was the best to date, but today was even better... and I was in the van!  I did get the chance for a quick and hard ride in the flatter areas south of our hotel, so I have been feeling fresh.  The island has much more grandeur than I originally anticipated, and I've been pleasantly surprised everyday.  

Our hotel, Read's Hotel, has been absolutely fantastic.  The owners and staff are wonderful people and they are our new family.  I am truly lucky to have the privilege of staying at Read's and meeting all those that keep the hotel running at peak performance.  I hope to grow and learn more during my stay, which I am certain will occur.  Everyday is another chance to have new experiences and share them with others.  I also hope to share them with you as I continue my journey through life.  Thanks for reading and that is all for now.  Time to get going and rest up!  Tomorrow holds another ride, easier for recovery, and then we ramp up with 125km and approximately 10,000ft. of climbing on Thursday!  Yes, the weather is wonderful... 60º and sunny!  I just had to tell you ;)

Time to recharge... fast!

We have been pulling 15+ hour days, and time is limited... so no blog posts.  I have not forgotten about this, but duty calls.  Stay tuned for some updates.  Now it's time to prep and try to recharge for our first ride camp on Sunday.

Thanks!

-Stefan