8- 18 April 2022 Inzain arranged a gravel camp in Mallorca. We were 12 people who went and we had a great time. The weather was ideal, 23 degrees, sun and not much wind.
We stayed in Alaró, a centrally located village far from the tourist trail at the foot of the Orient. To make it as pleasant as possible, we had rented a Mansion of just over 1,000 square meters. In addition to the pool and yoga room (!) the house also has its own wine cellar. The house is an old olive factory that our hostess has tastefully renovated into an apartment hotel.
After everyone arrived and was picked up by our private transfer to the house, the bikes were assembled. We have a mech stand, digital torque wrench, pump and all other tools that may be needed on site.
We mixed cooking ourselves, going out and getting catering for the house. One of the days we get a wine tasting and homemade Tapas. Yum
Checkout Ride, after assembly we drove a shorter ride (55km) with a mix of asphalt and gravel, partly to feel the surface and partly to check that everything is ok with the bikes. In the evening, welcome cava and Mexican dinner were offered in the house.
April 9 we drove an approx. 10-mile long tour that starts directly from the House, it winds around the plains with coffee at an agro-hotel and then lunch in Sineu, before we, via an old Ruin and incredible roads, find our way back to Alaró.
April 10 time for the first tour with our local Guide, the eminent Martin. We are taken by bus up to the top of Randa, to start the day with a real descent. We then spend the rest of the day on incredibly nice dirt roads, eat a good lunch and cycle through Felantix to Petra. There some took the train and others the bicycle on to Alaró.
April 11 Mountain day! Depending on interest and fitness, MA10 was cycled, an absolutely fantastic road along Mallorca's east coast. Finest asphalt road in Mallorca, in our opinion.
April 12 First part of Fire to fire on gravel. We have our bus that takes us to Formentor to cycle nice roads to Sineu. Unfortunately Formentor was closed but we got a day just as well for it. We drove e.g. through Albufera, the beautiful natural park. At Sienu you can take the train back to Alaró or cycle.
April 13 Rest day. Hang out by the pool. Excursion to Palma, mountain climbing or a trip to Palma. Everyone found their best way to rest their legs.
April 14 A ride right out of the door with some adventures like a broken chain and a forgotten SRAM battery. We cycle down towards Alcudia, have an ice cream on the beach and then through the nature park and on gravel roads back to Alaro.
15 April Part 2 of the four to four tour. We start in Sineu, some cycled there others took the train, an easy way to get around the island. Bicycles are of course welcome. This day was also very successful. Paths, dirt roads and a couple of serious hills led us via a horse polo! track down to the lighthouse at ses Salines. We enjoyed the sea before our bus picked us up for the trip back to Alaró. The strongest chose to cycle all the way back to Alaró, a real pass!
April 16 A slightly gentler pass on the dirt roads on the plain outside Alaró. This was a really hot day. Nice to have a cold beer in the square when we got home.
17 April Parc L’levant Sista cykeldagen för denna gång och vilket avslut! Vår buss hämtar oss för färd till Artá. Där cyklar vi upp till Parc L’levant. En helt otrolig tur, med vyer som tar andan ut en. Rätt brant och rätt tufft men så värt det. Lunch i Arta och sedan cykling åter till Alaró. En del på banvallen som går från Arta till Manacor. Helt ny men nu med spåren borta. Man cyklar in i stationerna som ofta har café med glass att bjuda på.
A few words from the participants.
“I thought the tours were good. Very varied. It is very good to alternate between gravel and asphalt so that you strain different parts of the body. Gravel requires a lot of focus on the surface, and then it's nice to be able to rest your head every now and then."
“I think the arrangement itself was great. The house was REALLY good with a fantastic setting and a generous and nice hostess. I especially like that you don't make the arrangement too big. When you land in large sports hotels with corridors, you lose the sense of the group of friends."
"I thought the company was nice and the tours were great, so all in all very successful. The location and accommodation perfect, nice with organized transfer and experienced people to ask about everything, and get perfect customized route suggestions.”
We will run next time during Easter 2023, 7-16 April.
