Despite a fair bit of experience getting lost, the ABRT group and Jeroen were game to go out on their own, and it turned out to be a great day. Everyone wanted an easier day. There was no pressure to be back by a specific time, so the group stopped several times for coffee, and there was no "we make speed now" suggestions as on earlier days, from our guides Thomas and Johan, who were probably under pressure from the Fred Rompelberg organization to have the group back by a specified time.
While still windy, there was less wind than earlier in the week, so the group did not do rotating pacelines, but just put a strong rider on the front and let them drive the pace as long as they wanted to. This worked well for everyone else, except for one or two of Katy’s monster pulls that had a few riders wondering if they were about to be dropped. Scott spent most of the day on the front, but was careful to keep the pace to something that would not destroy the weaker riders. Put a Giles on the front and hold a wheel if you can!
The Wheelsucker's idea of an "easier day" was no climbing, several coffee stop shops, and no hard efforts. But somehow that view did not seem to be factored into route decisions! There were several climbs, the first starting as they rode north out of Palma, rather more climbing than a tired Wheelsucker wanted. But the descents were spectacular – more open sweepers rather than the tight S curves – and after the climbing was done it was mostly downhill and fast back to Playa di Palma and the hotel, with a stop in Santa Maria for coffee and fabulous pastry.
Matt and Nikki. The Wheelsucker was also quite tired by this time
Laura and Matt
The first round of pastry. These were so good more were ordered.
Michelle and Sue
The chocolate-covered croissants were fabulous. Maybe not quite worth dying for, but probably worth killing to get! :-)
What a week! What a GREAT group of people to ride with! While some rode with the B group early most of these came back to A after a day or two in B. And the other Rompelberg clients in A dissappeared over the first few days, with only Jeroen -- who arrived part way through our stay -- consistently riding with us. Apart from doing a huge amount of steady pulling at the front, Scott Giles was very helpful to several of the riders, coaching on descending technique, and pulling people who were gapped back up to the group. It was a privilege to ride with John Howard, who besides riding very strongly was a wealth of knowledge. Watch for his upcoming article on www.pezcyclingnews.com/. And watching Laura van Gilder ride in the group was enlightening, lessons in how to ride smooth and stay out of trouble on a group ride or race. She easily offset behind a strong rider near the front in crosswinds, and was clearly very experienced in riding in pacelines and similar.
Stuff
For whatever reason, the term "Fred" or "nuFred" has become common for a less experienced rider. The term may have been popularized by the http://bikesnobnyc.blogspot.com BikeSnob NYC blog. So riders on Fred Rompelberg bicycles were -- tongue-in-cheek -- called "Freds". The Wheelsucker tries hard to NOT be a Fred, and rode his very lightweight steel Ritchey BreakAway on this trip. The BreakAway case is almost legal size for checked luggage, and the Wheelsucker has never been charged extra for the case on his travels, so bringing the bike instead of renting a Fred bike was an easy decision.
However the Fred bikes are an excellent choice. They are aluminum with carbon forks, and Ultegra build, with triple chain rings. They are probably about a CAAD8 level bicycle, with the slightly tall head tube. They are not light. The guides -- typically neo pros -- all ride their own bikes.
Last year all Fred Rompelberg clients stayed and ate at the Taurus, with the bikes kept across the street in a large garage of an adjacent hotel. This year the Hotel Taurus was under reconstruction, so Fred clients were spread amongst several hotels, with at least one other providing all you can eat breakfast and dinner buffets. All the ABRTers were in the Jade hotel and ate together nearby at the Hotel Playa Golf, but John Howard and Denise were a few blocks away at the Orient hotel.
While cooler and windier than last year, Mallorca in March beats Annapolis weather wise, but then adds gorgeous scenery, great food, and cyclist friendly roads and drivers. Playa di Palma is a great area to stay, but is some distance from the serious climbs, which are mostly to the north and northwest. A typical day's ride starts with about an hour on the flat or very slight uphill, to get to the climbs.
While flying to Europe has become more expensive in the last few years, a key advantage of cycling camps there is the costs are very reasonable once there. For something like US $600, food, accomodation, and airport transportation are taken care of. Bike rental -- if needed -- costs a little more, and the guides for the group rides cost another E 20. But the point is that once air fare and the basic fee are covered, other costs are minor and incidental. And then there is the bit about Mallorca being typically rather warmer than anywhere else in Europe (or anywhere near Annapolis), with fabulous views. And the drivers are rather more tolerant of cyclists, and there are roads so narrow that cars avoid them, leaving them to cyclists.
Oh, and the buffet food is very good, and the restaurant food excellent. Wine is quite inexpensive, and a cafe con leche is about one Euro.... life is good.
Wheelsucker Summary Data:
521.05 miles, (837.941 kilomoters), 26,256 feet climbed, 31:16:38 ride time.
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