Christmas In Mallorca

Jan 16, 2025 | Fitness

As a keen cyclist, I was aware of Mallorca’s massive appeal. I was lucky enough to explore some of the island a couple of years ago with friends. We went to the south, and despite the gorgeous beaches, it’s not the place to go if you want to enjoy cycling; the mountains are all in the north. After learning this, I told myself I’d definitely return and use the same cycle hire company we used.

When I returned from my big adventure in the French Alps in September 2024, I was exhausted. I genuinely thought I’d never want to spend a week on the bike again! An eight-day challenge that clocked up 20,000 metres of elevation from Geneva to Cannes left me drained. But cycling trips have a funny way of calling my name. I was getting very fed up with the British weather. I also knew, like the rest of us, that Christmas was approaching. This is a time when most people follow tradition and convention, but it was clear to me that this was the perfect opportunity to escape the chaos. I think there is a lot of pressure during this time to perform in a certain way, and often, it can bring up feelings of burnout. Here was me, trying to escape the absolute excess of the festive period through embracing the excess of riding my bike.

After speaking on the phone with a good friend and fellow cyclist, I learnt of her plans to go to Mallorca with some mutual friends and enjoy an unconventional Christmas too. I booked a ticket the next day. 

After the positive but logistically taxing task of taking my bike to the Alps last year, I knew I wanted to rent one this time. I also knew the bikes available for rent in Mallorca are much better than the very mid-range workhorse I ride at home. The bike rental process was easy, and after some back-and-forth WhatsApp messages, I’d secured a seven-day rental. The drop-off guy ran into a spot of bother when he realised the address I sent him was unclear. Me, being a tourist, didn’t know this, and it took a few low-key assertive calls to Booking.com to finally get the correct address of the apartment. It was all very last minute: I was 20 minutes away from the apartment on the bus and still none the wiser in knowing how to check in. This small amount of stress that comes with travelling alone is nothing I’m not used to, and I knew it would dissipate the moment I clipped in and began pedalling.

Initial impressions of the bike: beautiful. It was a maroon Scott Addict SE Disc 12sp Ultegra Di2. Initial impressions of the apartment? Erm, basic. I thought I’d prioritise the bike hire over a nice apartment. I also knew my friends were staying in Pollença, a nearby town, and I’d be spending a lot of time there. When I got the bike inside and marvelled at its beauty, I noticed the width of the saddle and how different it was from my one at home. It was a fleeting thought, soon to be overridden by other, more important ones such as, where is the nearest supermarket? I was starving.

As an avid cyclist and user of the app Strava, I was familiar with the festive annual challenge Rapha puts on. Last year, during my regular Strava scroll, I spent a moment in awe of the people who completed it. I was inspired to do the same, not least because I was spending seven days on one of the cycling meccas. The Rapha500 is a challenge where you complete 500km between the 24th of December and the 31st. I wasn’t firmly set on the task, but I wondered if it was possible while also wanting to spend some time with friends around Christmas and, well, try to relax a little bit too.
I started planning routes on my phone and got an early night, knowing a big day of cycling lay ahead. First up, on Christmas Eve, I’d find a bike shop to pick up some things for my bike. I knew I needed bike lights (I didn’t know at the time just how much I needed these) for Formentor, a popular climb to a lighthouse on the far east of the island. It was on this ride, approximately 10km in, that I realised how uncomfortable the saddle was. A good saddle, yes, but a man’s saddle nonetheless. I ride 168mm at home, and this must have been 140mm. Despite this, I carried on and enjoyed the 630m elevation and the 64km to and from the lighthouse. I caught up with friends after the ride. We ate and discussed our upcoming routes. It was approaching 18:00, and I noticed it was getting quite dark. Alcudia, the town I was staying in, was 13km away, a distance I didn’t give much thought to when I booked the apartment. What’s that, like from Portslade to Rottingdean? Fine. Well, not fine in the dead of night, which is what it might as well have been at 20:00 when I decided to leave.
As I set off to ride for 40 minutes through dark country roads using Google Maps to guide me, I was reminded of a similar situation I had found myself in on this day last year, when I was visiting some friends in Burgess Hill on Boxing Day. I couldn’t believe I was in the same heart-racing situation. Bizarrely, I felt safer in Spain than I did in the downs. I was in two minds: wear AirPods to block out the fear or is that foolhardy not to be able to hear? Decisions, decisions… I endured this night ride twice, once on Boxing Day and again on Christmas Day. On the first ride, I did have music; on the second, I went without. When I inspected my pace on Strava a few days later, it was clear my pace dropped massively the moment streetlights were in view.

It was Christmas Day. I cycled back to my friends along the same country roads I was on just 10 hours before, grateful for the morning sun and my visibility. I dropped off some supplies for dinner and had my first coffee of the day with Chloe, Becky, Catherine, and Georgia.

The goal today was to attempt Sa Calobra, a well-known climb in the north of the island. Some of the gang had already left to achieve this goal. It was approaching 11am, and I hadn’t even left Pollença, so I was starting to worry the day would run away with me. I reached the top of Col de Femenia and decided to give Sa Calobra a miss and continue on a 100km loop that would take me back to my pals. No doubt I would revisit, and that climb will be first on my list.

I was approaching the descent of another climb, three-quarters of my way into the ride, and was getting approached by another cyclist; he looked the part—they all do here. Blacked-out lycra and bike, friendly smile, but a look of determination. He passed me with a “Hola” and continued to approach the top of the climb. It’s always surprising to me how much juice I have left in the legs when someone overtakes me. I stuck to his back wheel, and we approached the top together. “Is this your first time?” he asked. “Yes,” through heavy breathing, “it is.” “Great, we can descend together, and I’ll draft you back to Pollença.” I was very happy to hear this. The headwind was strong, and by this point, I’d run out of food and water, not ideal on Christmas Day when nothing is open. The thought of drafting behind a strong cyclist appealed very much.

The descent was fantastic, like they always are. The well-dressed man from Berlin kept glancing back and preparing me for sharp hairpin corners, and I followed his path with confidence. It was a really lovely moment we both shared. “Strong on the descent!” he yelled out, and we parted ways in Pollença. We said he’d catch up on Strava, and just like that, my solitude ride became one marked by dual enjoyment, even if it was for only 20 minutes of a four-hour outing. All on a very uncomfortable saddle, still.
It was Friday, and coming off the back of a rest day, I was ready to hit more mountains. A solo effort to Soller was on my hit list, finishing in Palma and staying the night in a nice hotel before joining a group ride on Saturday morning at Pas Normal Studios. I’d learnt of this group ride on Monday when I popped in to relish the cycling attire they had in store. After learning that December in Spain warrants a long-sleeve base layer, I saw this as a perfect opportunity to suss out the cycling shops in Palma. I was not disappointed. In the process, I got chatting to a friendly guy who works in PNS. I asked about the group rides, and he mentioned one happening on Saturday morning. I was keen and said I’d join, despite being apprehensive about the pace and experience of these riders. Turning up alone and trying to keep up with the very avid cyclists of Palma is a daunting prospect and reminded me how important it is to feel and embrace that intimidation sometimes.

Let’s rewind a bit. It’s Friday, one day before the group ride. I clipped in and began my ride to Soller. By this point on the trip, the discomfort caused by a narrow saddle had gone from a mild 4 to a robust 8. This would just not do: comfort is everything when it comes to long distances, and by this point, I fancied my chances of actually completing the Rapha500. I rang the bike hire company, explaining my situation. He kindly said he’d change it if I cycled to Port Pollença. Relief and worry in equal measure took hold—thrilled to be changing the saddle but concerned the detour would eat into valuable cycling time. The saddle was changed to a wider saddle with a gap in the middle of it -game changer. For the first time on the trip, my sit bones could finally do their job and take the pressure off. Anytime on the bike I worried I’d wasted getting this new seat was strongly made up for, simply because I was riding so much better now. Soller was nice, the descent was very fun, despite me getting stuck behind a car halfway down. I stopped in the centre and enjoyed two full plates of carbohydrates before heading to Palma before the night started drawing in – I’d had enough of night riding by this stage of the trip.

I needn’t have worried about getting dropped. The group ride was terrific, and the pace was very manageable on the Scott Addict. Riding with others has a big impact on your relative perceived effort. If I was riding the 120km distance alone, I’d have felt more fatigued. Having others around made it more enjoyable and secured me a 100km personal best on Strava. It also confirmed to me how good it would be to meet other local riding groups in my home city, especially during the winter months when motivation dwindles.

We finished the ride, stayed for an alcohol-free beer, and I started to think about how I’d get back to the east of the island. Luckily, the bus services in Palma are very good, even better once I learnt that you could put your bike in the luggage hold. I discovered, as I sat on the busy bus tallying up my Strava activities, that I was well on my way to completing the Festive500. Tired satisfaction all the way back to Alcudia.

I did, in fact, complete the challenge, on a very mediocre ride back in Blighty on Tuesday the 31st. I’d run out of time in Spain; the bike was getting collected at 16:30, and I had 0.6km to finish in order to complete it. I’m certain this had already been completed, as I’m often slack with starting my Garmin at the very start of the ride.

This trip to Mallorca reminded me of the satisfaction that comes from honouring your love for a hobby. In a season filled with expectations, taking a week for solitude on a sunny Spanish island, with a good bike, was exactly how I wanted to spend Christmas. And I’m so glad I did. The fitness scene often discusses stepping out of comfort zones, and while it can be exhausting to hear, it’s so important.

Whether it’s cycling in the dark on unfamiliar roads, joining a group ride alone, or simply going against what is expected, these moments are invaluable. Starting the new year with the fresh energy of a cycling holiday might just become my new annual tradition.