Your first cycling experience in Mallorca
Feeling nervous? There's really no need.
Your first bike ride in Mallorca? That can definitely feel a bit nerve-wracking. An unfamiliar bike, longer distances, and maybe the idea that Mallorca is mostly high mountains and hardcore road cyclists, but that image isn't accurate.
In fact, Mallorca is one of the nicest places to start cycling. The island is easy to navigate, the roads are good, and outside the busy towns you'll find plenty of quiet routes. And perhaps best of all: you decide how far you go.
Start where Mallorca is at its best
For your first ride, there's no need to seek out the highest mountain. Just get on the bike and disappear into Mallorca's interior. Around Llucmajor, small country lanes wind between the fields, with old stone walls along the road and, here and there, a little village where time seems to stand still.
You really only need to follow the road. Toward Cala Pi, for example, where after a lovely ride you suddenly find yourself back on the coast. Slowly, you get into the rhythm. Shifting gears becomes easier, the kilometers start passing by on their own, and you notice that cycling really isn't that complicated after all. Before you know it, you've ridden your first 40 kilometers and you're sitting on a terrace discussing tomorrow's route. Maybe a little climb?
Your first mountain: Puig de Randa
A perfect first introduction to climbing is Puig de Randa. The climb to the monastery of Cura is about 5 kilometers long, with an average gradient of around 5%. On paper, that might sound pretty intense, but once you're on your way, you'll find the kilometers fly by.
Along the way, you'll also encounter your first hairpin bends. You'll see the road winding upward ahead of you, and with every bend, you're a little closer to the top. Keep pedaling steadily, find your own pace, and before you know it, you've taken the final turn.
At the top, the monastery of Cura awaits. From here, you look out over a large part of Mallorca. Set the bike down for a moment, take in the view, and realize you've just climbed your very first real mountain. And maybe that's the moment you discover: climbing is actually pretty fun.
Mallorca makes cycling easy
That's exactly why Mallorca is so well suited to beginner cyclists. You don't need to be a road cyclist right away. You can start out easy, choose routes that suit you, and discover a little more each day, from relaxed kilometers through the interior to your first climb.
So get on the bike. The rest will come naturally.
