Lune Vet's Majorca 2009 Click for Photographs (Courtesy of Geoff Rushworth) >>>

At the end of April, five Lune members took part in the S.Q.C.T. 8 Days of Majorca ; (Structured Quality Café Testing). We were based in our ‘usual’  3* hotel in S’Arenal which is on the coast just east of Palma . Those taking part were Alan, Geoff, Howard, Rob and myself. The outward flight at the crack of dawn with Easyjet was bang on time and by shortly after lunch and a welcome from Doug Petty, we were setting out for a gentle ride on the cycle path along the promenade to Palma . On the 10 miles or so there we gawped at some of the multi million pound boats in the Palma yacht club marina and posed for pictures with the magnificent Palma Cathedral in the background. On the return journey we tried a café on the beach and discussed whether to sit in the sun or the shade – a fairly novel decision to have to make!

  The next day saw about an hour of rain, first thing (it was not to rain again until the last morning) and then rapidly clearing skies, so shorts and sun bloc were in evidence as we set off for the 550 high metre Puig Randa climb which rears up as a huge rock about 12 miles inland  from the hotel. Approaching on an almost traffic free lane from the south side, the road consists of a series of hairpins before revealing a flat top which contains the Cura Monastery. Regrouping at the top we rode through the impressive gates to one of my favourite cafes which is on the terrace of the monastery with fantastic views across the island. Descending we found a ‘new ‘road to Algaida. ‘New’ because it appears to have previously been mainly a dirt road but has now  a pristine surface. Not only did we ride it 3 times in the week but we never saw a single car. It also ends up neatly in the town square in Algaida. 

  Our second full day saw us stick to around 105 kms of flatish but interesting lanes as we wound our way to Petra via Sineu This was holding its thriving Wednesday market and as the square was full we had a café con leche stop by the tiny railway station. Petra contains a lovely square with fountains plus palm trees to lean bikes against and two excellent cafes. The square is usually literally full of cyclists and this day was no exception. By cunning timing we managed to beat a well drilled German squad to the only free table and ordered lunch. Most days we had ham and cheese sandwiches with a drink of Coke or beer. Sitting in our Lune jerseys we were spotted by Paul Wensleydale, Border City Whls an old friend, who Gordon and I frequently race against in LVRC events. After lunch we pottered back in what was becoming a hot afternoon, on some lovely quiet lanes to Algaida where we stopped  to buy several litre of water to replenish our bottles. From here we followed a route known to us as ‘ Hidden Valley ’ which runs on the other side of the main road to the route we had discovered the previous day. This leads onto the service road besides a new dual carriageway; being slightly down hill over the last 10 miles to the hotel at sea level, the pace was somewhat brisk with Rob putting in some good 50+ kph stints on the front!.

  The following day saw one of the classic rides into the mountains. At just 70 miles long it embraces superb views, a climb of a real mountain pass and a fantastic descent homewards. Our route headed north east through some intricate lanes to skirt Palma and then climbed steadily to the café stop in the square in the village of Valldemossa which is at 437 metres. From there the road struck through the coastal range known as the Tranmuntana mountains.  The highest mountain attains a height of 1443 metres with the Puig Major. This is not high by Alpine standards, but on their northern flank they drop straight down to the sea; in fact one café has a sheer drop off the terrace of 3000 feet!  The road through the coastal range comes out on a spectacular ridge and has an enormous drop on the left down to the sea and the mountains on the right. We rode first to Deia and then onto Soller. Here we turned back inland to tackle the Soller pass. The best thing about the pass, besides the views is that about half way up a tunnel takes nearly all the traffic. Each rider selected his own pace which meant Rob was well ahead after only a few hairpin bends. Nearer the top as it flattened out there was a clanking of gears as riders came off the granny ring and selected the middle 42 chain ring in anticipation of a sprint for the Soller Pass sign. After admiring the view while we regrouped there was a fast but safe descent on wide, well engineered roads down to Bunyola for a well deserved stop, before the final run back to the hotel. That evening the unlimited buffet which usually allowed 6 or 7 different courses was tested to the full with a bottle of the house Rioja, over a very pleasant two hours.

  The next day legs were somewhat sore, so it was agreed that taking it easy over a 100 km route known as ‘The Orient’ would be in order. This involved stopping again in Bunyola, an attractive village at the bottom of the Tranmuntana  range  and then with café legs tackling the climb out of the village which leads into the foothills of the afore mentioned mountains. This road takes in a mini col which provides the entrance to a high level valley with some spectacular views, before swooping down and through the village of Orient . The drop continues as the road swings southwards to another pretty village called Alaro. Here in the square is yet another favourite watering hole for cyclists and one which was to provide the Lune with a late lunch in order to fuel us up for a run back through Binissalem and Sencelles before yet another fastish run down the service road and on to the ‘red carpet‘, a superb cycle path which avoids using a main road into S’Arenal.

  The following day, a Saturday, was deemed a rest day. Howard and I went out for a potter separately with different groups. In Howard’s case ‘a potter’ turned into some 120 kms! Rob, Geoff and Alan took the bus into Palma for some sightseeing.

  Sunday we joined forces with some Leicester R.C members, one of whom, Rebecca, is a friend of Louise of the Lune, to provide a strong group to tackle the classic ‘Three Monastries’ ride. This is about 130 kms, and each monastery is perched spectacularly at the top of a big climb. We first headed east to Felanitx and then on to the St. Salvador monastery. This rears up about 1500 feet and is arguably the toughest of the three. The climb consists of lots of hairpins but with a manageable gradient. The rewards at the top are considerable. There are fantastic views to the nearby sea as well as a close up view from the refectory window of the crags and the drop below which make up this particular rock. In the entrance hall is a framed world championship motorpaced jersey and some photos of this local rider who now owns a bike shop in Felanitx. A fast descent was then followed by a pleasant road to Porreres where shortly after the climb up to the Sanctuari de Monte-Sion began. This is probably the easiest of the climbs and is definitely the shortest, but even so our legs were beginning to feel the previous climb.

  It was then on to the final challenge of the day – Cura monastery which we had tackled on the previous Tuesday. Rob was easily the strongest Lune member but even he found it hard to keep up with 61 year old Dave Binks and Rebecca from the Leicester R.C. which made us wonder what sort of riding they do down there. By this stage Howard and Allan were clearly having a good day which left Geoff and I to bring up the rear. The top was eventually reached for the second time that week and the terrace café reclaimed from the Germans for a welcome celebratory beer. A fast final last 15 miles which was almost all downhill, brought us onto the palm-lined and almost traffic-free promenade at S’Arenal. We felt the two hour six course dinner with wine that followed was well deserved.

  The final day dawned cloudy with drizzle in the air, so we reluctantly delayed the start until the roads had dried out and the sun reappeared at around 11’ish. What was intended as a pottering day still gave us 100kms of gently undulating lanes. A ride through Hidden Valley brought us to Algaida for coffee and then striking northwards we went through picturesque villages such as Pina, Lloret de Vistalegre before arriving in the square at Sineu. Here the old centre has a statue to a local cyclist as well as cafes for the all important lunch stop.

  The return route brought us along a smashing little lane with some lovely views of the turrets and towers in the village of Sencelles with the mountains as a backdrop in the distance. Our final stop was at a café just outside Algaida known as the ‘pudding or pie café’ after the delicious dessert dishes served as an accompaniment to their coffees. It is also famous for their incredible loos; no more detail you will just have to come next year to find out what is meant! Here, Alan who had been trying to learn and speak words of Spanish all week went to ask (in Spanish) where the loos were and ended up with another beer!

Then for the last time we rode back to the hotel in exuberant style with Rob putting some hard final turns on the front.

  Hopefully the Lune vets will be able to run a similar venture at the time next year and join the numerous other clubs and squads who use Majorca for both a holiday and a training ground.  

                             Adios, John Butler.