Conquer Sa Calobra: A Cyclist’s Challenge in Mallorca

Mallorca Cycling:

If you’re looking for a thrilling cycling adventure, Mallorca is stands out as the ultimate destination.  Panoramic rides along the Mediterranean coast, heart-thumping climbs, endless coffees, cakes and gels only complement the weather, bars, beach and decent grub.

Martin and I descended upon Mallorca mid-sept and took on two of the island’s most famous rides, the stunning Cap de Formentor and the beastly Sa Calobra – both unforgettable moments, and a mid-island trip to quaint village called Inca to collect some insect bites and snap some tyre leavers.

The Cap de Formentor: The Lighthouse – A road (hill) to Paradise (with another hill in the middle)

Cap de Formentor is a 40 km loop that starts and ends in Port de Pollença, winding its way to a lighthouse perched on the island’s northeastern tip. While it’s no Everest in terms of elevation, the 900 meters isn’t to be sniffed at, certainly not in the heat, with no wind and tarmac that’s hot to touch.  It’s good mix of rolling hills, exhilarating descents, and stunning ocean views, but take care, the coaches like to get close.  It’s a ride that balances joy and effort perfectly. Sure, the climbs will have your legs burning, but the pay-off comes quickly as you coast along cliffside roads overlooking the blue Med. There’s a cheeky final climb up to the lighthouse, which will get your heart rate spiking one last time, but the views are unbeatable and worth every ounce of effort, don’t expect too much from the café, but do stay long enough to recover before the return, which I enjoyed more.

Pro tip: Start early in the morning to avoid traffic and the sweltering midday sun, I didn’t.

Sa Calobra: A Battle with the Beast

If the Cap de Formentor is a joyride, then Sa Calobra is the beast that demands your respect. Officially known as “The Serpent,” this climb is famous for its relentless gradient and stunning views—9.5 km long, 670 meters of ascent, and a relentless 7% average gradient, but that’s an average, there are parts that are nearer 12/15%, so enjoy the flats, if you can find them.

Do take the time to prepare for the decent, it will be over all too quickly and when you get to the bottom there is virtually nothing there, and so then you realise you have the return leg – which hurts.  It’s a consistent push that has even seasoned cyclists out of the saddle, and so for Martin and I it was quite testing.  Nevertheless, reaching the top is like conquering a mountain—there’s no better feeling than knowing you’ve faced a legendary climb head-on and won.  T’was EPIC!

Pro tip: Keep a steady pace getting there, no heroics, you’ll need energy for the return, and it’s a long way home from Sa Colabra, it was 6hours in total in the saddle, 9hours door to door…. And don’t eat a meal at the bottom, just grab a coke and get back to the top!

Punctures and Snapping Tyre Levers in Inca

No cycling adventure is complete without a bit of drama, right? On the way back from Sa Calobra, Martin one of the few potholes and so we stopped in the village of Inca with a puncture. Normally, a quick fix—but it turns out tyre levers don’t always cooperate, especially when you’re tired, hungry, and trying to make your way back to base.  A good learning opportunity, and one that left me wishing I had an electric pump – not to self, buy one.

In a scene that was more comedy than catastrophe, both tyre levers snapped under the pressure of getting that stubborn tyre off, the locals got a good laugh out of it, or maybe they were eyeing up our bikes?

Practical Tips for Riding Mallorca Like a Pro

1. Time It Right: The best months to ride are from March to May and September to October. Cooler temperatures, fewer crowds, and better cycling conditions.
2. Fuel and Hydrate: Carry energy bars, water and jells, we only found one petrol station and an orange seller on the way out.
3. Gearing Matters: We hired bikes, but you’ll need good gear ratios, some who took their own bikes we’re in all sorts of bother – hire local bikes, they know the score – and it’s probably cheaper #grannygear
4. Laugh at the Bumps: From punctures to snapped levers, roll with the punches (and the hills). Mallorca has a way of balancing tough climbs with even better rewards, and take jungle strength insect repellent, there were clouds of mozzies/horse flies in some areas – keep peddling!

Aching legs, breath-taking views, and the shared sense of victory at the top of every climb.

So get Mallorca in your cycling calendar – trust me, just do it. And don’t forget to pack a spare tyre lever or two—you never know when the road will throw a laughable challenge your way!