Mallorca Training Camp Day 1The Wheelsucker Report

With everyone still feeling the jetlag, today was a day to warm up, get some miles, but not get crazy. The Wheelsucker was very happy with that. But an overall plan does not necessarily translate into which way to turn at the next intersection, and the large ABRT group experimented with collective decision making regarding which way to go, resulting in lots of short stops to check maps, and to fix two flats.

After a mostly flat but very windy ride east along the south coast of Mallorca, the group stopped for coffee and croissants, at a cafe next to the beach. Then it was over to the start of the Randa climb, and then up. The Wheelsucker was hanging back with another rider who was being gapped on the rollers in the lead up to the climb and did not start the climb with the main group. This was ideal for the Wheelsucker, as he did not feel compelled to go hard, fight like hell to hold a wheel, and then go off the back of the lead group and have to come up with some excuse to explain his performance. After being sick for the better part of three weeks with limited riding and zero intensity, the Wheelsucker is happy to be riding his bike in Mallorca and not sitting at a desk at work coughing.

So riding up Randa at his own pace was fine. The view from the top of Randa is spectacular, with at least two of the other islands in the Balearic Islands archipelago in view.

There was another cafe stop back at the bottom of the Randa climb, and then a fast slightly downhill ride back to the hotel area, with the Wheelsucker sneaking into a late breakaway with some strong riders and holding on; not hard to do on a shallow downhill into the wind!

Most of the group went straight to the cyclist bar -- La Terraza: http://www.la-terraza.eu/, owned by Frank and Carmen -- and watched the last few riders in the Paris-Nice Time Trial and then the end of the Tirreno-Adriatico stage.

After a shower and LOTS of dinner -- a well stocked buffet -- staff from the Fred Rompelberg organization went over plans for the week; tomorrow the group does the San Salvador route.

To no one's surprise, Scott Giles was strong and fast. Nick Vita tried to stay with John Howard on the Randa descent,lost him, and then caught him when John was held up by a car. Nick reports being terrified on this descent at times. Only being able to brake hard with his left hand (the cast came off the right wrist just in time to get on the airplane) would have limited the speed he could carry into a corner.

Wheelsucker Data:

Ride time: 4:03:16
Distance: 67.05 miles (107.91 kilometers)
Average power: 146 watts, max power 776 watts
Hear Rate: 126 bpm, max 184 (above normal max)
Cadence: 72 rpm
Speed: 16.54 mph
Temperature: 70 (according to the Joule; the Wheelsucker believes it was actually more like 60)