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Girona and Mallorca in 2 weeks - tri training

powder1538

Apr 12, 12 14:41

Post #1 of 18 (1261 views)

Girona and Mallorca in 2 weeks - tri training	Quote \| Reply

I'm planning a trip to Spain for 2 weeks starting in a couple of weeks. From what I've read, Mallorca and Girona are great places to train. I saw that Girona has a few good lap pools but does anyone know of lap pools in Mallorca? I will probably stay at http://www.clubpollentia.com on the north coast (in Alcudia) since it has good reviews (although I think you have to wear a wetsuit since the pool isn't heated?). I have no set plans other than flying in and out of Barcelona. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Cheers,
Jason

M Ernst

Apr 12, 12 16:44

Post #2 of 18 (1234 views)

Re: Girona and Mallorca in 2 weeks - tri training [powder1538] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

This sounds like a dream trip and I'm very jealous. To allow me to live vicariously through your adventures, please post reports often.

YaHey

Apr 12, 12 17:52

Post #3 of 18 (1228 views)

Re: Girona and Mallorca in 2 weeks - tri training [powder1538] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

I've been to Mallorca five times and never swam once (or ran), except for the dip in the hotel pool. It is a cycling paradise. By the time you finish a 200 km day on the bike, the last thing you'll want to do is go for a run or swim - although I have seen people running. It is the place where people go to put in a solid 1000 KM on the bike in a short period of time to get their season kick started. Take a road bike, some great hills to climb.

Driven in Girona, never road my bike in the area.

doug_steel

Apr 13, 12 0:40

Post #4 of 18 (1203 views)

Re: Girona and Mallorca in 2 weeks - tri training [powder1538] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

I've stayed at Club Pollentia a couple of times and although the pool was cool, it wasn't cold enough to warrant a wetsuit (I've been there in May and October). The club is out of town, so a bit of a hike for restaurants, shops, etc., but the on site buffet is good. There's lots of good cycling around with a choice of hilly or flat routes.

Staer

Apr 13, 12 3:58

Post #5 of 18 (1183 views)

Re: Girona and Mallorca in 2 weeks - tri training [powder1538] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

Currently in Mallorca at Blue Bay Resort on a two week camp. It's just a few kms south of Club Pollentia, about 6km from Alcudia. Plenty of triathletes here, everyone swimming, biking and running. There is a nice 25m heated outdoor pool (you can book training times in the reception) and several good running trails starting just outside of the hotel. And of course the cycling is incredible. Really beautiful. And Frank Schleck is on the island right now - saw him Wednesday!

powder1538

Apr 13, 12 11:56

Post #6 of 18 (1141 views)

Re: Girona and Mallorca in 2 weeks - tri training [doug_steel] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

I emailed Club Pollentia and they said the pool is 73 degrees right now and they stop heating after April 31st. If I stay there, I'll be bringing my wetsuit! Maybe I should bring a wetsuit anyways if I plan to do any open water swims. Also, I'm a bit hesitant about staying at Club Pollentia since it sounds like you have to take a bus to eat at any restaurants other than the hotel. Is that true?

powder1538

Apr 13, 12 12:19

Post #7 of 18 (1136 views)

Re: Girona and Mallorca in 2 weeks - tri training [Staer] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

Staer wrote:

Are you staying at the Valentin Blue Bay Resort? If so, it looks really nice but unfortunately out of my price range. The beach in that area looks awesome though (a lot better than Club Pollentia) and maybe closer to other restaurants?. I'm traveling solo so I'm trying to stick to about $60/nt and stay at a place that I can meet some people to train with.

That's awesome you saw Frank. I hope to see him too if he's still there.

powder1538

Apr 13, 12 12:34

Post #8 of 18 (1127 views)

Re: Girona and Mallorca in 2 weeks - tri training [YaHey] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

What do you think is the best way to travel from the mainland of Spain to Mallorca and then to the north coast of Mallorca? A ferry followed by a bus? I'll have my bike with me.

doug_steel

Apr 13, 12 14:12

Post #9 of 18 (1104 views)

Re: Girona and Mallorca in 2 weeks - tri training [powder1538] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

I had a car both times I went, but did run into Pollenca a couple of times - its about 2miles, Alcudia is abut the same distance in the other direction. You could cycle it easily though if you take lights and don't overdo el vino colapso.

YaHey

Apr 14, 12 18:28

Post #10 of 18 (1069 views)

Re: Girona and Mallorca in 2 weeks - tri training [powder1538] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

powder1538 wrote:

What do you think is the best way to travel from the mainland of Spain to Mallorca and then to the north coast of Mallorca? A ferry followed by a bus? I'll have my bike with me.

I've only ever flown into Mallorca. A ferry would be convenient. I've never taken a bus to the north coast, but I a would assume that there are, but I couldn't tell you for sure if there are any. The north side is beautiful, but I've only ever stayed in Palma. Is your bike going to be boxed or are you going to assemble it on the mainland? The hotel you are staying at might have some form of transportion from the port.

jdirrrty

Apr 14, 12 20:51

Post #11 of 18 (1057 views)

Re: Girona and Mallorca in 2 weeks - tri training [YaHey] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

Lance is that you?

YaHey

Apr 15, 12 6:13

Post #12 of 18 (1016 views)

Re: Girona and Mallorca in 2 weeks - tri training [jdirrrty] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

jdirrrty wrote:

Lance is that you?

Only if Lance hasn't seiorusly trained in at least 5 years.

Robert

Apr 15, 12 12:35

Post #13 of 18 (977 views)

Re: Girona and Mallorca in 2 weeks - tri training [powder1538] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

Swimming out of alcudia harbor is a joy with a wetsuit in march to may. Biking is awesome.
"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world." ~Anne Frank

powder1538

Apr 15, 12 19:05

Post #14 of 18 (947 views)

Re: Girona and Mallorca in 2 weeks - tri training [YaHey] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

YaHey wrote:

powder1538 wrote:

What do you think is the best way to travel from the mainland of Spain to Mallorca and then to the north coast of Mallorca? A ferry followed by a bus? I'll have my bike with me.

I'm traveling with my bike using a travel case. Otherwise I would probably just fly into Mallorca. American Airlines is charging me $150 each way but it will be worth it to have my road bike with me on the trip.

powder1538

Apr 15, 12 19:06

Post #15 of 18 (945 views)

Re: Girona and Mallorca in 2 weeks - tri training [jdirrrty] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

jdirrrty wrote:

Lance is that you?

I would be flying in my private jet with my massage therapist and bike mechanic if I was!

powder1538

Apr 15, 12 19:08

Post #16 of 18 (944 views)

Re: Girona and Mallorca in 2 weeks - tri training [Robert] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

Robert wrote:

Swimming out of alcudia harbor is a joy with a wetsuit in march to may. Biking is awesome.

Nice! I may be staying right there and I'm bringing my wetsuit.

powder1538

Apr 25, 12 13:21

Post #17 of 18 (822 views)

Re: Girona and Mallorca in 2 weeks - tri training [powder1538] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

Update: I arrived in Girona 2 days ago and rode twice. Epic cycling here! Road surfaces are very smooth, very little traffic in the hils/mountains, lots of routes and the drivers are kind.

Rode up Mt Rocacorba today which is a nice 11km ascent with great views for a total of 50mi. Here is the map:
http://www.strava.com/...alunya-spain-2878759

I would highly recommend renting a bike from Dave at Bike Breaks Girona Cycling Center. Very nice guy and knows all the pros that live in Girona. He also sells kits of pro riders that live in Girona. Dave is a pro mountain biker and owner of the bike shop. I was going to bring my own bike but American Airlines charges $300 and you have to pay more to fly with it to Mallorca (I believe that�s an additional 100 euros).

I fly to Mallorca for 6 nights on Thursday but now wish I was staying in Girona longer. The Jewish quarter (a historic area of Girona) is really cool... very old stone buildings with very narrow streets.

undies

Apr 25, 12 13:43

Post #18 of 18 (813 views)

Re: Girona and Mallorca in 2 weeks - tri training [powder1538] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

for bike hire in Mallorca, try Sport Bequi in Port d'Alcudia, they used to drop off and collect bikes included within their (then) reasonable prices. Been to Mallorca many times (in snow this year, over Puig Major in freezing sleet, the week after the stage was cancelled), but only hired once, normally take my own.
Unlike most of mainland Spain, Mallorca has a massive and brilliant network of tiny roads with mostly great surfaces - have fun out there, i'm envious :)
'to give anything less than the best is to sacrifice the gift'...Pre