We are all fired up for week 2. Week 1 campers carry a litte fatigue in their legs but are excited about new adventures after a great first week. New campers arrive with nervous hesitations after hearing the stories but ready to see it first hand.

The first day of riding took us to San Salvador where Easter celebrations were still taking place (see pics of smokey bar b ques). It was a flat arrival to a ~ 5km climb made up of nice gradual switchbacks. Albeit a little bit of long day, ~120 km, for the new campers,  still one that provided all the material from the cycling stories they have heard and read prior to arrival.

Tuesday, brought the "Orient Express" and onto the Lluc Monestary. The riding up to the Orient climb is spectacular and grade and speed that everyone could take it all in and enjoy together. Once we hit the climb everyone had to climb at their own pace. It's another 5 km climb but winds through trees with almost zero traffic making it an intense drill or a nice social outing.

Lluc provided climbs to newer heights, more open road riding but the traffic is so respectful of riders that is is always 2 abreast and steady chit chat until the grades get to steep, then riders go t their own pace and meet at the top for pics.

The Coastal Classic, this provides the same lead up anxiety as an Ironman. Its a 140 km to 165 km ride with an enormous amount of climbing but the most beautiful scenery you'll find on the Island. Check out video of Chris McNeil through Deia and other pics along the coast. Also included is another stint on the infamous SaCalobra. I took a turn this go round making for a full self destructive day. As cycling fitness has declined to a certain degree over the past couple of years I pick my spots more for my turns working with group one. I told Chris Thursday that I would ride as hard as I could for as long as I could and then he would be on his own. Although he was detroying me km by km I managed to stay within striking distance until SaCalobra, for the 11 km cement snake climb. Coming out of the climb and heading into the final 45 km to home I died a slow death.

Plans were altered somewhat with the fatigue and a chance of rain on Saturday. We shortened our ride to ~90km to Sineu and had some fun on the velodrome track. It was a great time, after doing some teaching on the workings of the track, cyclists organized themselves into teams and we had a variety of team pursuit races. It made for a super fun day with soem disguised intervals. Because of the threat of rain for Saturday our Finale ride into Petra for the famous cakes was tacked on to todays Sineu  adventure. It worked out well as Petra provided te best it could with a Plaza full of cyclists from all over the world, what a spectacle.

Saturday, Day 6, and 5th day of big riding. Our plan was to hit Randa which meant a fairly straight forward ride to get there and then a nice gradual switchback of 6 km up to a fortress. Big stone walls surrounding buildings inside.  Early into our ride we leanred that even in Spain things are not perfect although still darn close. We got stuck in some hard rain in Sineu for about 10 to 15 minutes. The thing is here, versus at home is that the temperatures are so comfortable that outside of some soggy feet it is still quite comfortable to keep riding. The only hitch here in Spain in the rain is on climbs or up in the mountains where the roads get icy slick with moisture. If this happens then plans must be evaluated and possibly altered just for safety. Fortunately today the rain stopped in time for the Randa acsent to be safe so everyone was able to add another epic climb to their log books.

Sunday was a transition / and therefore rest day. The one week campers go home and the second week campers arrive. This always makes for a good excuse for an adventure outside the resort, and a break from buffets.

Check out a variety of pictures here on our site and facebook.   

Coming off of a well deserved rest day on Thursday where participants are encouraged to be tourists we were on route for another dynamite day and a ride to Betlam. It's a great ride in about 90 km with a hill, ~4 km long thats just about right for 100% effort but ends in just the right amount of time for the head to get around. After the ascent to the peak, riders drop down to a monestary that provides one of the most impressive lookouts over a small spanish village on the ocean. On the way back our particular group lead by a Geramn machine, Elmar, took it upon ourselves to sneak off the main highway into a small town, again on the ocean, to enjoy some delicious pizza. Opun getting back out onto the highway again we managed to run into the other groups on their route back to home base, where it was agreed to have the final wo of the day in the town of Can picafort where there is a place that has the most amazing strawberries and strawberry related treats, cake, sangreas (sp?), and coffee. See the pics of these treats.

Saturday its back to putting in some mileage with a steady 5 km climb in the middle of a 120 km to Randa.

Day 3 was the real thing, the reason everyone comes to Spain, well that and the sun. Todays options included 125 km to 165km ride with ~20 km of climbing up to 35km.. These come at you in 5 to 14 km portions so riders are climbing for upwards of ~75+ minutes for 1 climb. Todays highlights were ascents and descents up Col do Soller, Puig de Major and SaCalobra (check out the pictures of the cement snake).

WOW, We introduced everyone to Spain with our famous Petra ride, its a shorter ride, a good way to start everyones outdoor riding but it offers everything in a short ~65 km ride. Small europeon towns, rolling hills, stone wall lined roads and beautifully paved amazing  "time trial" style roads. Straight, and Fast!!

The group did really well, we had 3 solid groups, each group working really well together socially and cycling abilities. The groups regroup in Preta where we enjoy the europeon square (plaza) eating cake and drinking cafe con lattes. Dont worry this is not club med, on the bikes everyone works very hard and they did start their day with a 2500 to 3000m swim workout in a beautiful outdoor pool under the sun, or sunrise I guess at 7 am. Following the ride the group changed into their workout gear and went through a intensive 25 minute stretch session and then a 25 minute core workout, some felt it this morning.

Off to enjoy day 2......................