Col du Soller Mallorca | Paris 5+ w/kg climb

[@stevedouglas3975]

Watched this again as I love the banter from Paris. I could watch an hour of her ragging on you, it's hilarious.

[@thewattlife]

Does seem to make her feel better

[@stevedouglas3975]

@thewattlife 😄

[@ChrisSpriggs-rj2ys]

Great to see Paris again 😊 Not so great to hear 😅

[@thewattlife]

🫠🫠🫠🫠 😬 haha not PG

[@jamesbancroft2418]

Love the friendly banter! Great video and series, Max!

[@thewattlife]

Thanks- I mean, she could be a little nicer to me… 🫠🫠🫠

[@gavinsmith1176]

I love the consistent awkwardness of this video, 4/10 haha. Its very human to see peeps behaving oddly and watch Watty try to accommodate the silliness and self obsession.

[@thewattlife]

Just two awkward, slightly anxious people hanging out together

[@gavinsmith1176]

@@thewattlife Its part of the charm of your vids - more please

[@fede1275]

I agree, ride by feel it's what I like as well

[@thewattlife]

I do love seeing my power- I don’t think I could go back to not having a power meter

[@LeeWright]

I have really enjoyed this Mallorca series Max, fantastic.

[@thewattlife]

Thank you, perhaps I need to go back asap

[@darrenjshiels1]

Awesome week cycling and videos. I was out last weekend for a short trip staying in Can Pastilla and 3 days was enough for the legs and that didn’t include a 312. Fair play!

[@mwjp1977]

Strong work both of you - what a great trip you had, Max 🎉

[@thewattlife]

Honestly it was awesome

[@CG-99]

As a Mallorcan local, I can tell you the negative sentiment towards tourists is very real - hopefully you didn't feel the sentiment though, because its not meant to make people visiting uncomfortable - but there is a very strong view that some major rebalancing is needed in the islands economy. Far too many tourists, too many rental cars, too many foreigners buying second homes, overcrowded towns, villages and beaches - we are not saying no tourists - rather saying there needs to be a very real reduction in the impact it has on locals and inevitably that also means less tourists. Watch this space - big pressure currently on the local government to make meaningful changes quickly.

[@thewattlife]

Yes I can imagine there’s a lot which upsets people. And from staying in a ‘party’ area I can certainly understand. It may not be perfect, but my experience was great and has been great every time I’ve been.

[@007arney]

Stopped going to majorca years ago and Spain in general. Used to love taking my family there. Then started to notice a definite change in attitude towards visitors, and some locals becoming rude. Now we go to Greece where we are welcome.

[@thewattlife]

@007arney Where in Greece do you go? Ive done one cycle trip there but it was an island and it was great

[@psxdadz]

@@thewattlifeI

[@Darthshearer]

@CG-99 That's very interesting and sad to read. How would the island rebalance when it relies so much on tourism? Limit sales of second homes?

[@paxundpeace9970]

Great road to ride and a lot of fun.

[@thewattlife]

Was a good day out and one I’m missing as I sit in England in the rain

[@fwschnaar3179]

As always Max… Super Awesome video… Keep them coming 👍💪🍻🚴‍♀️🚴‍♂️🚴‍♀️🚴‍♂️

[@thewattlife]

Planning on it. Thanks for watching

[@paxundpeace9970]

Paris broke the power meter!!! Col de Soller Palma side is a great ride

[@thewattlife]

Just too many watts!!!!

[@TBATTIECYCLING]

Go on lad great effort ❤

[@thewattlife]

I almost died!!!

[@Jarek.]

Loved your Mallorca series❤❤❤

[@thewattlife]

Thank you, trust me. I’m incredibly sad it’s over 🫠🥲

[@pauldyerdyer2731]

Great video Max, maybe you should tell Paris a lady never asks which hole (7:29)! 🤣🤣🤣

[@phenderson68]

Great VLOG. Paris is a great foil to you.

[@thewattlife]

Just need to convince her to do more

[@Gary-still-cycling]

Another great video Max! Love the vibe of the music track running at the end. Can I ask what it is please?

[@thewattlife]

Thanks- i use Artlist. This is Notize - Come Closer. Glad the music is making a difference

[@cmcollett2]

This guy is putting in the work.

[@thewattlife]

He really is

[@ariffau]

10:37 serious question here. How do you people descend on the hoods? Personally, it’s just so sketchy and I just can’t. I feel like my tyres are just going to wash up and slide to oblivion. Every time there’s a turn, I go down in the drops.

[@thewattlife]

Well I was actually struggling as my rear brake needed bleeding. I had swapped components a month or so ago and didn’t bleed the brakes- so I was descending on one brake. But normally I’m not fussed- I’m trash a descending anyway

[@stevevarga8621]

@@ariffau Funny, we’re all different. I feel more comfortable on the hoods and almost never use the drops. It makes me feel too far forward. In the end it doesn’t matter where you are as long as you’re comfortable. Contrary to what so many people say both hand positions are good. Many people insist that you have to be in the drops but it’s not true. I happen to be a great descender because I practice like crazy for years. The key skill is to apply maximum weight on your outside pedal. That forces your tires into the pavement and makes the bike perform very confident inspiring carving turns.

[@thewattlife]

Exactly Steve- once you understand how important keeping pressure through the outside foot is then you can focus on a lower centre of gravity

[@stevevarga8621]

@@thewattlife Oh another hot tip. Increase your descending speed by improving your skills, not by being brave and riding on the edge. So many people throw caution to the wind and descend at 99% which leaves no room for error. With that method you will eventually die. Learn the proper skills and practice until you’ve nailed it and then descending becomes both fun and safe. With great resistance on her part I taught my wife how to descend and now she’s super confident and dropping lots of men. She even has a QOM on a descent. Ok I helped her but still she’s truly fast now. Skills are the key to fast and safe descending.

[@dennisbaron5680]

you should try the climbs in my part of sicily, longest 38kmb higher than ben nevis, where we live is in what uswd to be called the triangle of death

[@thewattlife]

What part is that? Next year im thinking to go somewhere different.

[@dennisbaron5680]

@@thewattlife I live near san Nicola , in the Palermo district

[@ariffau]

Paris’s Bianchis are so nice

[@ariffau]

Her “entry level” Oltre means it’s got normal round 31.8mm handlebars which enables the freedom to choose any handlebars on the market. But if you get the Ultegra and up, you’re locked to Bianchi’s handlebars and stem system (somewhat similar to Cervelo S5)

[@thewattlife]

That’s true- but, it’s a heavier frame and components. I do love her Aria, I’m not quite so into the Oltre with the top tube and funny stem system.

[@lewisA76]

Another great vid, Max. Im counting down the days until Majorca in April. Staying in Playa de Muro, Alcudia. Have planned the obvious Cap Formetor, Sa Calobra, Puig Major but also doing a coastal to Cala D'or. You can beat Majorca

[@thewattlife]

Thank you man, I was a bit sad to not get to do Cap Formetor and especially the old lighthouse that no one rides up to.

[@hbuk2439]

Was wondering why you wear those earphones? Is it just for music or do they deflect the wind noise? Great videos from Mallorca

[@thewattlife]

I took them to Mallorca and didn’t use them once but wore them quite a lot. They are bone conductors for music, I just never ended up using them

[@stevevarga8621]

As a long time visitor to Majorca, may I suggest a better location for your stay. The Ponent Mar hotel is a proper cycling hotel that accommodates all cyclists needs so you don’t need be taking your bike to your room or cycling through Palma for your rides. The best roads start 1 km from the their front door!

[@thewattlife]

Thank you for the suggestion- I don’t have much of a clue for best places to stay as I just goggled somewhere and booked it

[@stevedouglas3975]

Regarding riding out there, I think it's better to at least plan a few routes prior to going(have I said this before?). Anyway, the mistake I made the first time was just trying to wing it and I ended up stopping a load of times checking google maps etc to find where to go. By all means alter on the fly but definitely worth having a set route to refer to if possible. Just my thinking anyway. I plot route on RWGPS and use that on my Wahoo. As it happens I'm off to Menorca on Friday for a week, been a few times before but not ridden but intend to this time. If any of your viewers have been and care to share any tips they'll be gladly received.

[@thewattlife]

@stevedouglas3975 I agree Steve- i have Komoot files in the description of the last 5 videos with GPX's you can use for your routes. You can change them slightly so they start from your location. The first video out there i talk about downloading 5 routes and then jumping from one to another. What side of the island are you staying on?

[@stevedouglas3975]

​@@thewattlife We're staying at Cala Galdana(Menorca not Mallorca this time). Just a holiday with wife but I'm taking all my cycling kit and pedals and hotel has dedicated cycle centre so will hire bike there. Menorca nowhere near cycling Mecca that Mallorca is but hopefully be good enough.

[@CyclespeedTours]

I live in Mallorca (also have a small YT channel) and have cycled in Menorca - it's good for gravel and MTB, not so good for road, as there is one big main road E to West, and spurs off it, that you can only go up and down. Hard to build a loop ride there and only one decent climb.

[@stevedouglas3975]

@@CyclespeedTours Thanks for that. Yes, it's how it looks from maps I've been checking, everything basically spurs off the main roads. Anyway, I'll give it a go. Plan for one ride is up El Toro which I think is climb you refer to.

[@CyclespeedTours]

@@stevedouglas3975 Cool, yes indeed, el toro, watch out, it has some very steep parts!

[@Gixer750pilot]

To be fair to Paris , there is something nice about a Bianchi

[@thewattlife]

Its a lovely bike and she looks great riding it. Its the Oltre Comp, they really should be giving her a better model with better components given how damn good she is at riding it.

[@harryvanrijn6366]

She's 7 minutes faster up Soller then I ever did. I was 58 then.

[@thewattlife]

She even stopped before the end of the QOM to wait for me...

[@TBATTIECYCLING]

😂​@@thewattlife

[@ZwiftDude]

She's good.. Mentioning you're 79kg that's like a light heavyweight and she's probably a featherweight. Don't beat yourself. 😉

[@thewattlife]

I need to train harder. I was fooooked that day

[@CyclespeedTours]

Strava says your Col de Soller was 17+ and hers was 15+ ?

[@thewattlife]

@CyclespeedTours Yup, i used a lap counter on my GPS, which i think i started late ie: after the Strava segment started. I dont have the strava segment linked up to my bike comp so it was always going to be impossible to share the exact time without ending the ride and then checking in the app. Im not trying to strava dope lol i just lapped my bike comp for start/finish!!

[@paxundpeace9970]

​@@thewattlifepretty sure it starts within 100m of leaving the main road

[@paxundpeace9970]

15:26 minutes feel a bit fast for you that had been struggling that climb . Did it in 15:02 last spring starting just below the sign.

[@CyclespeedTours]

@@thewattlife yeah well if you start your timer when you're already 750m into the climb, it will tend to show a faster time......

[@thewattlife]

@paxundpeace9970 Yeah I’m sure it probably does

[@georgedonnelly569]

Paris got a bit hangry towards the end and took a right grump ffs😂

[@thewattlife]

I was flirting with danger at that point. It was pizza or death

[@georgedonnelly569]

@@thewattlife you are defo her straight man 🤣

[@man314sea9]

No good legs Chris Miller!

[@CG-99]

its pronounced Soyer NOT Soller!!!

[@thewattlife]

I know man, kept confusing myself

[@jonphotos8631]

She has the attitude of an American girl.

[@thewattlife]

You mean x10 American girls

[@jonphotos8631]

@@thewattlife u can do better!