Hurdles she's now put in my way are - 'what if you get lost/we won't know where you are/don't want you riding alone'. Give me problems and I'll find solutions woman!
Sounds like justification for a new bike computer and Strava premium to me!
Cycling Holidays
- Thread starter Kimi
- Start date
Sounds like justification for a new bike computer and Strava premium to me!
I'm sure I heard that right.
Soldato
Palma,
from when I arrive to when I depart;
~17/18 dec, sunny, little breeze, no rain.
Can you tell im not doing any work?
from when I arrive to when I depart;
~17/18 dec, sunny, little breeze, no rain.
Can you tell im not doing any work?
You're going to "Work from Mallorca"?
I've considered doing that with cycling a few times as I can easily work away from office for a few days. I feel like properly abroad I wouldn't work much though
I might consider it in the summer to explore other areas of the UK in evening/early morning rides.
I've considered doing that with cycling a few times as I can easily work away from office for a few days. I feel like properly abroad I wouldn't work much though
I might consider it in the summer to explore other areas of the UK in evening/early morning rides.
Soldato
You're going to "Work from Mallorca"?
I've considered doing that with cycling a few times as I can easily work away from office for a few days. I feel like properly abroad I wouldn't work much though
I might consider it in the summer to explore other areas of the UK in evening/early morning rides.
Unfortunately im only allowed to WFH 1 day a week but I try not to blur the work/home/holiday boundaries too much anyway. I don't like to associate home with any kind of work.
You're going to "Work from Mallorca"?
I've considered doing that with cycling a few times as I can easily work away from office for a few days. I feel like properly abroad I wouldn't work much though
I might consider it in the summer to explore other areas of the UK in evening/early morning rides.
I've never even considered this, but now I am! I can wfh as often as I like really. You've made me think maybe I could have a week in Mallorca riding early in the morning and then working through from about lunchtime
I think the reality though is that I'd end up drinking by the pool and get fired 
Soldato
I've never even considered this, but now I am! I can wfh as often as I like really. You've made me think maybe I could have a week in Mallorca riding early in the morning and then working through from about lunchtime
I was thinking exactly the same!
Trying to figure out how I can fit in the time for riding and working and concluding that I'd definitely get fired
Soldato
Just returned from a 9-day trip to Andalusia with @Lethal` and @BennyC. Managed a total of 485mi/781km with 54,350ft/16261m of ascent!
I'd highly recommend the area for a cycling holiday if you like sunshine (Costa del Sol baby!), long climbs, quiet roads and generally nice surfaces. It's not unlike Majorca or the Canary Islands, but seemed to be quieter in terms of motor and cyclist traffic. This may have been due to it being very early season for both holiday-makers and cyclists. It was perhaps a touch windy at times too.
Pico del Veleta in the background...
Had to do a max effort, solo breakaway to get into position for this shot...
Spanish village at 1476m altitude...
Accidental gravel descent...
I'd highly recommend the area for a cycling holiday if you like sunshine (Costa del Sol baby!), long climbs, quiet roads and generally nice surfaces. It's not unlike Majorca or the Canary Islands, but seemed to be quieter in terms of motor and cyclist traffic. This may have been due to it being very early season for both holiday-makers and cyclists. It was perhaps a touch windy at times too.
Pico del Veleta in the background...
Had to do a max effort, solo breakaway to get into position for this shot...
Spanish village at 1476m altitude...
Accidental gravel descent...
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Some of my snaps.
There are some less flattering ones than the one of me above looking purposefully gormless, gobbling a banana, bent over etc.
Did enjoy but can't say I'll miss the climb to the villa at the end of every ride! a mile at 8% avg with a few sections at 20% to 'warm down' nicely...
There are some less flattering ones than the one of me above looking purposefully gormless, gobbling a banana, bent over etc.
Did enjoy but can't say I'll miss the climb to the villa at the end of every ride!
a mile at 8% avg with a few sections at 20% to 'warm down' nicely...Did enjoy but can't say I'll miss the climb to the villa at the end of every ride!
That was the same as when we were in the Alps - think it was even longer than that, lovely descent at the beginning of the day but 2.9 miles and 1500ft wasn't enjoyable at the end. Learn from experience though!
I much preferred the Villa climb to my 43 min experience chasing @Shamrock up "The Hill of the Gangs"... quite a colourful veloviewer graph. I had to throw my bike at the finish in the sprint to draw
I much preferred the Villa climb to my 43 min experience chasing @Shamrock up "The Hill of the Gangs"... quite a colourful veloviewer graph. I had to throw my bike at the finish in the sprint to draw
Looks like you guys had a fantastic trip, so jealous! Some epic rides and climbs in there, well done!
I'll just leave these here for Liam to fume over...
https://www.strava.com/segments/15422627/leaderboard?club_id=12099&filter=club
https://www.strava.com/segments/3451292/leaderboard?club_id=12099&filter=club
Soldato
Wait until the TdF route is announced and take it from there?
More thinking alternative areas outside of France to suggest. I've suggested Dolomites, but not entirely sure where to base, and I know @BennyC and few others have gone out to Austria and Germany, but once again exact places to stay would be good.
I've done Austria and Germany but just from a mate's place in Ulm and brief bit of camping in Austria to do Wendelsteinrundfahrt sportive so wouldn't really have a place to recommend to base there. Definitely, good fun and nice roads around there. I'd imagine Spitzingsee could make a good base.
Soldato
I've spent a week walking based in Corvara a few years back.
https://www.altabadia.org/en/italian-alps-dolomites/villages/corvara.html
Really nice place - had at least one bike shop, supermarket, bars / restaurant etc. Lots of passes on your doorstep- Gardena, Pordoi, Campolongo etc. Badia was just down the valley and also looked like it could be a good base.
Outside of the big Maratona sportive, IIRC, there are a number of other car free days in the summer.
Soldato
Just got back from a week in the Dolomites. Quick summary would be... great weather (apart from one hailstorm), scenic and challenging climbs (I was over-geared!) with lovely/technical descents, not the smoothest roads ever, dodgy Italian drivers/motorcyclists and of course good food.
I think the Mortirolo takes the award for hardest climb I've ever done but it is quite different in character to both Hardknott Pass (Lake District) and Valley of the Tears (Gran Canaria).
I would say a compact is definitely a requirement for the Dolomites. I had a semi-compact (52-36) and, despite weighing 58kg, found I was grinding a lot of the time or out of the saddle. I think I must've done about 75% of the Mortirolo standing!
Location wise, we spent 3 days riding at Alleghe before cycling to Bolzano. From Bolzano we rode to Bormio via the Stelvio. Bormio is the location that the Giro rolls through quite regularly to access both Passo Mortirolo and Passo Gavia.
Road surface quality was not great generally. Rather than potholes, there were lots of cracks, often tyre width and on the racing line, that made descending challenging.
I hate to generalise, but most of the drivers and motorcyclists were pretty aggressive and discourteous to cyclists. The sound of motorbikes speeding past every 30 seconds did spoil some of the serenity of the climbs too. Apparently they have a Strava-like app they use to record their times up climbs?
The Mortirolo was actually the best in this regard. It was steep enough and narrow enough that few cars opted to use it.
Passo Giau
Passo Stelvio
Passo Gavia
I think the Mortirolo takes the award for hardest climb I've ever done but it is quite different in character to both Hardknott Pass (Lake District) and Valley of the Tears (Gran Canaria).
I would say a compact is definitely a requirement for the Dolomites. I had a semi-compact (52-36) and, despite weighing 58kg, found I was grinding a lot of the time or out of the saddle. I think I must've done about 75% of the Mortirolo standing!
Location wise, we spent 3 days riding at Alleghe before cycling to Bolzano. From Bolzano we rode to Bormio via the Stelvio. Bormio is the location that the Giro rolls through quite regularly to access both Passo Mortirolo and Passo Gavia.
Road surface quality was not great generally. Rather than potholes, there were lots of cracks, often tyre width and on the racing line, that made descending challenging.
I hate to generalise, but most of the drivers and motorcyclists were pretty aggressive and discourteous to cyclists. The sound of motorbikes speeding past every 30 seconds did spoil some of the serenity of the climbs too. Apparently they have a Strava-like app they use to record their times up climbs?
The Mortirolo was actually the best in this regard. It was steep enough and narrow enough that few cars opted to use it.Passo Giau
Passo Stelvio
Passo Gavia
Soldato
Good job Bertie