16-22°C, light S breeze, 0 cloud.
Four big climbs kept the average speed low but felt quite different from last summer. Back then I had empty legs and felt awful to the point I was worried. Back then, the ride was half the difference and still a struggle.
33°C, still in strong sunshine.
7am start and back in Deiá at 4. Limestone makes for hard slow surfaces to walk on. There are broken areas of Kärst topography often in classic forms but usually quite broken. We were on approach shoes which meant we felt every pebble through the soles. Beefier walking shoes would be better. I didn’t miss the boots though.
This part of the island is mainly limestone and I was surprised to pass a layer of chalk on the way up. On top were the Clints and grykes of limestone pavements. (Grykes are the cuts between those slabs).
The descent was long slow and awkward. We had troubles routefinding in the woods. There were waymarkers but they were in the habit of running out. Surfaces were slippery on layers of olive leaves. They remain quite waxy when dead and dried. This is not a desperately popular route. The biggest problem was water. We both packed 4 litres each but that was nowhere near enough in full sun (at 33°C).
I rode with MapMyRide+! Distance: 44.30km, time: 01:23:58, pace: 1:54min/km, speed: 31.65km/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1638591188
The road is painted with the names of riders who raced here. It started warm and became hot very soon.
Eventually, I arrived at the reservoir which that we saw from the plane a few days ago. The water is the same sale turquoise seen from the air. It’s one of two drinking water dammed lakes.
Since I climbed all morning, obviously the return is mostly descent. I decided to return by the same route because is should be quicker and less hot.
However, some stretches really were very hot. Still air trapped by small cliffs cooked up to temperature which must have been well into the 40s. Some cyclists were still heading up to those ovens. Oh dear, have they any idea what’s to come?
31°C, no cloud and light NW wind.
I rode Focus hire bike with MapMyRide+! Distance: 27.03km, time: 01:35:10, pace: 3:31min/km, speed: 17.04km/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1636292948
This photo was taken on the first of two rides on this day. Even though it was hot, I was desperate to try out the new hire-bike. It comes with a light frame and Ultegra groupset. The gearshift is silky-smooth and has ideal gear ratios for this terrain. Here in Mallorca, there are long long climbs of up to 1:12.
Later, I rode west into the mountains towards Col De Femenia.
31.59 km Bike Ride with MapMyRide; Duration: 1:29:36; Pace: 2.8 min/km
http://www.mapmyride.com/workout/1636978520
I turned back not long before the col because of time. The ride back would only be 40 minutes long and this is when the bike really showed what it could do. The stiff frame was very accurate on corners and banking over was confident.
The only negative I could think of was the wheel-set. A pair of Mavic Aksuim might have been better.
Micycle 