Sunday 30 October 2016

More heavy legs Wednesday

Battered again today but cycling now is the commute and non negotiable. I toyed with the lunch run as was struggling to think at work and so effected the 10 minute rule but actually felt 10 times better after 10 and so ran 50 mins. Slow and steady. It also made he afternoon 10 times more effective.  Then home again on the Tank but late at night after a load on at work. 45+ks today on bike and run.

* I often feel guilty heading out at lunch as no one else does but figure you need to invest to reep the rewards. With no run sometimes the head does simply not clear.

Heavy legged Tuesday

Rode in on the Tank but my legs were spent. Mad busy day in the office ensued before riding the Tank back home. Runners legs do not make for good cyclists.

Santa Catalina (Monday)

Managed to roll out of bed by 10 as wanted to make the most of the high 20s temps and so ran the marina this time heading right (west). It's massive and ran largely the promenade bike path. Very leasiurely in 5.30s as the legs were smashed.

Grabbed food with O in Santa Catalina for lunch before heading to airport to meet Mo and the flight back to Gatwick. Amazingly home by 730 where the family were all home to greet me. Nice dinner chatting with all and then straight to bed.

Pics of the day and some of the pro photographer pics on Sa Calobra.


























Sunday 23 October 2016

Sa Colabra

Another epic day this time with O and Mo.

Up early doors to shift downstairs and find a cab to take us to Lluc which is about 70ks away west from Palma.  Nice drive past where I got my flat yesterday and through the mid range of Mallorca.

We started ascending approaching the town and then O made the right call (the only call) to get out as he felt we were cheating, so that's what we did.

To start with we rode to the Col de Sabataia (Col de Petrol Satione) which was about 5k up and stopped for a quick coffee before shifting to the infamous Sa Colabra peak.

Stunning views over looking the sea and the climb is used by Team Sky and others to 'test' climbing credentials.  It starts at sea level in a beautiful bay (almost Thailand-esque) with a tonne of switch backs and lasts about 9ks and 700ms (c.7.5% avg gradient).

The descent was fast but clean and then another coffee stop as we tried to settle our nerves.  I was crapping myself.  O said that 50 minutes is the time of a good rider so of course that was then the time to beat.

I set off and had pre-planned to keep my HR between 140 and 150 and ride tempo with only later going into the 150s if the gradient kicked up. I executed precisely that picking off a few riders and only upping the effort toward the latter stages whilst needing to grind it out.  I was pleased to get to the Col in just over 40 minutes which was steady.  Apparently, Henao the Spanish Tour rider has the record in 25 which is insane and god only knows how juiced he was when he did that. O then came over the top followed by Mo who put in a serious shift and given he only started cycling recently was a very brave effort.  I reckon with more training he'll be a force to be reckoned with.

After we exchanged pleasantries with a German couple from Kassel near to where my Ma comes from (Mo had ridden up with them) we started the descent back to the junction where this time we would go right to the 'Puig Major' Col at circa 850ms (the highest pass on the island).

Probably my favourite piece of the entire ride was the descent down to Soller - Mo agreed..... The road was new and wide and we were hitting 70+ kmh. I reckon it's about 15 or so ks down to Soller.  Half way down we stopped for lunch at the Mirador de Ses Barques tucking into cheese cake before descending the final section down to Soller.

At this point O started racing some dude who had one handed taken one of the fast bends @40kmh + on his drop bars!! whilst at the same time gesticulating to us with his other hand as we left for lunch.  Turns out it was Joan Horrach who rode for Katusha no less and even won stage #12 of the Giro in 2006.  O and him went on to enjoy some banter at > 50kms before saying our farewells!

Approaching Soller we made the call not to go down to the Port but go straight over the Col where I had been for each of the 2 days prior. That was tough as by that time we were all sun cooked (temps were in the high 20s and the sun was strong) so again we took it easy.  Mo again showed massive amounts of guts to get over.  More quick coffee at the top (a continuing theme!) before hammering down the switch backs on the other side.  I then volunteered to steam train everyone home which was a lot of fun averaging low 40 kmh all the way back into Palma with O and then Mo following close on my wheel.  I absolutely love this about cycling (more so than running) as you really can help a team mate and somehow does not hurt as much when you know you are helping out.

I have to say O and Mo have been brilliant company.  I've enjoyed hanging with Mo (well grounded and super down to earth) and it's been amazing to catch up with O who I've known since the age of #11. Despite him being unwell of late he showed his strength and experience in the mountains and lived up to his 'mountain goat' nickname which he got when we climbed Mont Blanc together - given to him by one of France's most revered mountaineers.

The route is in the Strava link below which brings me nicely up to 300k+ of riding over the last 3 days and nigh on 6,000 metres of vertical climbing - mission accomplished.  I am now completely f#cked.

So looking forward to seeing the Fam tomorrow but for now it's steak with Stevie, O and Mo with Stevie watching Real Mallorca today.

I highly highly recommend Palma (for cycling - a shame there is no surf...) and has been voted the 2nd best place to cycle in the world behind Colorado - not sure about that but it is great all the same and feels like I have ridden most of the island in the short time I've been here.

I will be back and have made a promise to get the boys with me as well.  Reckon Tommy and Jack could hold their own.

https://www.strava.com/activities/753696026

The pics: