The Gay Cycling Training Camp
On the Spanish island of Mallorca
Springtime (April)
Report
The Gay Cycling Training Camp has taken place each spring for the last nine years. It is a joint event with the Gay Sunday Walking Group, who have a walks programme. The weather at this time of year is ideal for cycling, usually sunny but not hot. It has been known to rain and again it can start to get a bit hot in which case there is always the sea to cool off after a day's cycling.
We start the week with a ride along the coast to Portas Vells, for a beach side lunch, the return journey being a choice of more gentle undulating countryside or a more inland route taking in the first "Coll" of the week.
For the rest of the week we split into two groups, with people moving between them depending on the routes. This gives us the mix of rides for either the more serious touring cyclists or the recreational cyclists. Being based in Palma city we have access to the coastal routes, the central plain and the mountain range. The climb to the monastery of Cura at 500metres gives stunning view across the whole of the island. Calvia, through the administrative centre for the major tourist resorts in a word apart in its own valley and offers a number of mountain routes.
We have a number of routes that have shorter options so allowing participant to give themselves a challenge but not to turn the event into one long slog.
While cycling through the interior of the island we were greeted by fields of brightly coloured wild flowers, poppies, daises and marigolds. The orange trees were also in full flower so whenever we passed an orange grove the air would be full of the smell of the blossom.
As we explore the island further year by year it is very clear that this island offers routes that can include the mountains to give as challenging ride as anyone could wish but also rambling countryside that is so pleasant that it is a joy to amble through on a gentle ride.
Booking details for the next Training Camp
Following is a selection of photographs that have been taken during the Training Camps.
Click on the thumbnail to get a larger picture.
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