Mallorca 9-Day Cycling Holiday

Updated June 16, 2025

Your Road Book is a comprehensive guide outlining all the information you will need for your time in Mallorca. We are very excited to have you come with us and hope that you find the information helpful. If you have any questions prior to departure, please do not hesitate to contact me at stu.parvillatravel@yahoo.com

Stu and Christine   410-507-2274 (cell)

Your Trip Includes:

• 9 days/8 nights, daily full breakfast/dinner/pastry for lunch and full accommodations

• 4 Star Hotel/balcony/Free Internet

• Incredible daily buffet breakfast and dinner with a wide range of selection suitable for all

• Bike Rental

• Complimentary bag, sports drink, and bottle at sign in

• Exclusive Rompelberg jersey/ socks at sign in

• Experienced guides on all rides

• Centrally located hotel close to the beach

• Secure Bicycle Garage w/mechanic at hotel

• Prescheduled Airport transfers to and from the airport

 What is not Included:

• Airfare

• Daily guide vouchers (8 Euros/day)

• Coffee/cake at lunch stops.

• Wine and/or beverage at dinner

• Tips and gratuities

• Any accommodation booked for pre or post event dates.

— Passport

Check your passport expiry date right now. So, you don't get slowed down with immigration coming back into the US, it is best that your passport be valid until February 2026. If not, you should renew it immediately.

— Travel Insurance

Basic travel medical insurance is mandatory for all travelers on all Parvilla Travel trips, while a more comprehensive policy covering such things as baggage delay, flight cancellation, etc. is suggested, but optional.  First, check to see if you are covered under a plan from work or through a credit card.  If not, you can find more information on optional travel insurance plans here www.parvillatravel.com/insurance

— Group Dynamics

It is particularly enjoyable to be part of a group with something in common. Traveling with like-minded companions means there is always a story to share and the comradeship of shared experiences. Here are a few tips to ensure that group dynamics are positive. 

• Be tolerant. You share a common interest but accept that you may not necessarily like everyone in the group.

• Be punctual. Ensure that you are ready at the appointed time, so as not to keep others waiting at departure times.

• Be courteous. Hold the door, save the seat, take your turn on the front of the pace line; your understanding helps everyone have a great time.

• Ride Safely. Pay attention, ride within your limits. We want to ensure that you and the rest of us are in the same, if not better, condition when you head home.

 — Climate and Clothing

The weather on the Island can at times be challenging, so we have found the optimal solution is to take a mix of clothing that you can layer to suit the temperature. There is always a chance of a rainy day, it is always windy, and the mountains can be quite a bit cooler, so a lightweight jacket is good to have.

Suggested street clothes would include at least one pair of pants/jeans, T-Shirts/tops, sweater/sweatshirt, windbreaker, and a light jacket. The good thing is that your cycling clothes take up very little space when packing, and since you will be riding most of the time you will not need that many changes of clothes.

We suggest that you bring a minimum of 3 sets of cycling kits to allow for washing and drying. Bring laundry soap and a bit of rope (12 feet) to rig a clothesline as there is NO laundry service at either hotel or anywhere close by. Be prepared to wash your own clothes as there are no local laundromats.

Bring at least one set of arm warmers, base layers, wind vest and rain jacket. Include light weight long fingered gloves, knee warmers and even a second pair of cycling shoes. As mentioned, the mountains have their own unique weather system and can be quite different from the plains below and can change quickly so you need to be prepared for the altitude. Check our detailed clothing list on the last pages. 

— Health

If you are on any medication, check with your doctor before flying and ensure you have enough prescription medication with you for the duration of your time away. Please note that if you are on any medication or have a medical condition which may not hinder your riding, but which your daily guides should be aware of in the event of an emergency, please let us know. You should also consider looking into health insurance like Blue Cross for the time you are away.

We are fortunate that our hotel has a hospital directly beside it. However, let’s try not to have to use it, Ok? 

— Fitness

The basic requirement is to be in good health and fit enough to enjoy the experience and not endanger yourself or other riders in the group by reckless riding or fatigue. There are no less than 4 RBH groups to ride with, each having a specified level of riding ability, all offering plenty of amazing roads to ride; make sure that you are working on your fitness, so you can ride at the level you want. We can help determine which group you should ride in after Sunday's group ride if you are not sure.

As with any group, large or small, each rider’s ability will vary. So, on the daily ride, ensure that you ride within your own capability. Some riders will be faster on the uphill’s, others down. Stick to your game plan for the day and re-adjust for the following day as needed.  

— Training

Each day’s ride starts at 9:30-10am and ends around 4. It does not matter what group you are in; you are on the road for most of the day. Depending on the group, distances will vary from 30/45/60/75 miles. By the time you arrive in Mallorca you should be able to ride the appropriate distance comfortably.

There are challenging climbs in Mallorca, so build hill climbing into your training (if you ride on Zwift, either Watopia’s Alp de Zwift or Powerline Climb should be done weekly). Climbing is all about finding your rhythm. Too often riders go out too hard, chasing to keep up with other riders and find themselves short of energy towards the end of the climbs. It is better to pace yourself vs. blowing up.

Likewise, there are many good descents. If you are not experienced, take your time to get the feel of descending, watch those better than you and emulate their “line.” The main thing is not to go faster than you feel comfortable with so that you negotiate the hairpins safely, watching for any traffic coming the other way. You will gain confidence soon enough and thoroughly enjoy the thrill of a long, winding downhill stretch. Generally, a cyclist will be quicker than a car downhill, but let the vehicle pass if you know you are holding it up.

We want to remind everyone that the daily rides are not a race and to be mindful and aware of everyone in your group. Watch out for each other!

Remember that this is a holiday – of sorts. If you do not feel up to riding every day, you can take a day off or move down a group for a recovery day. You will see that there are several optional days off from riding which are typically toward the end of the trip but will adjust for weather. Plan for one day of sightseeing, shopping or to just relax! 

— Fueling

Never ride without water, snack bar, and remember to eat them. A basic snack is available in the bike room every day, take advantage of it. Stay well hydrated and fed – you will burn huge calories on the ride and still have a monstrous appetite for dinner!

You will get warm riding, especially if it is a warm day, so make sure you are eating and drinking while in the saddle. Remember, do not wait until you are hungry or thirsty, by then it is too late. This is particularly important as you are tackling the more difficult mountainous days. You will use a surprising number of calories when the terrain points skyward, so make sure you eat something every 45-60 minutes.

The group will have a daily scheduled lunch break in the early afternoon at a predetermined café. Take a moment to have a coffee, eat your sandwich, get a piece of almond cake, and refill your bottles for the second half of the ride.

— Morning Coffee

If you are a morning coffee drinker and are particular about your coffee, bring a small portable drip coffee maker and coffee/cup with you so you can brew as much as you want in your room before or after breakfast. The coffee at breakfast in the dining room is machine made and is just average. If you just need caffeine and are not particular, the morning dining room coffee will suffice.

NOW, coffee on the road at any of the rest stops is AMAZING!  Café Con Leche, Americano, Cappuccino… all are fantastic. Be sure to order one when you stop. Just understand that LARGE cups of coffee that we are used to in the US do not exist in Europe so do not expect ‘mugs” of black gold.

— CELL PHONE and INTERNET

Ensure that your cell phone is set for international roaming by contacting your phone provider BEFORE you leave the US. Taking or making calls in Europe can be expensive, but text messaging and data plans are cheap and efficient. Ensure that you have my cell phone number and the hotel (including country codes) entered in your phone. Remember, text or email – do not call!

There is excellent free Wi-Fi at the hotel.

If you need to communicate with me other than by email, please use the “WhatsApp” app. My contact info is “Stu Waring,” cell number is 1 410 507-2274. It will only work when I have Wi-Fi connections. Below is the QR code that you can scan with your phone that will automatically load me in your app. (you must download the app before scanning)

 — Road Rules and Riding Etiquette

The drivers in Spain drive on the right-hand side of the road, the same as we do in the USA. (Whew) The roads will not be closed to vehicles, but local drivers are very courteous, tourists are not. Most drivers are going to be bike aware but common courtesy is of course expected. Move over accordingly, especially on the mountain climbs. Be sure to wave and thank them when they give right of way!

Most of us have ridden in groups before, so as per your local rides, point/call out any obstacles or potholes for you fellow riders.

When with a guide, please show respect for their authority and help keep the group together. 2x2 pacelines will be used the majority of the time. Ride with the group, do not ride off the back or the front. Conserving your energy by drafting with the group is essential.

Road rules and signs are the same or similar to those in the United States.

 — Money

US Dollars are not accepted in Spain. If you want to use cash, you must use Euro’s. If you try to get them from your bank you will have to order the amount you want about two weeks before you leave. The bank does not have any Euro at the branch. BUT there is an easier way to do it… here is how.

Call the number on the back of your credit card a couple of days BEFORE you leave for Spain and let them know where you are going and use your credit card to withdraw from an ATM in Spain. If you do not call, your card will work once and then be frozen until you get home, or you will spend hours on the phone getting it working again. Once you get to Spain you use your credit card at an ATM to withdraw money as you need it and there is an ATM right in front of the hotel you are staying at.

If you don’t get money from your bank, when you get to the airport, buy about 40 Euro worth of money at the currency exchange so you can purchase food in the airports on your trip over. Do not exchange too much, the rates at the airport are terrible.