Cycling in Mallorca | Sa Calobra: to hell and back?

For our second day of the cycling holiday in Mallorca organised by Moloko Cycling we are going to climb Sa Battalla and Sa Calobra, the most famous route of the island.
We are staying in the beautiful Finca Son Tia, amazing location.
I'm wearing a kit courtesy of Siroko, if you wish to shop for cycling kit you can use my direct link to get a further 10% discount. No need for other codes, prices will be automatically adjusted on top of the existing discounts. Thank you.
srko.co/fede1275

[@user-cx2bk6pm2f]

@3:24... love seeing a Canyon Aeroad making the climb!

[@felixfelucci6955]

"I love the smell of chain lub' in the morning" would be a great slogan for Siroko next collection 😄 Amazing scenery and location, looking forward the coming videos!

[@user-cx2bk6pm2f]

Love it, thanks for sharing. I have to assume that many are not into racing and prefer to see non-competitive events like this.

[@charlesmansplaining]

Thanks for comments about rim brakes. We need all the support we can get to bring rim brake bikes back and make them a popular option again.

[@maxsievers8251]

Braking on an aluminium rim is much more assuring than breaking on carbon.

[@paulmcknight4137]

@@maxsievers8251 Carbon rims prompted manufacturers to go to disc brakes, to tell the truth! Then they had to go to through axles, so the wheel doesn't pop out of the dropouts. A sad demise of quick release wheels.

[@williamm3542]

Fantastic................I am lucky enough to have had the opportunity to ride both these climbs. Could be the most enjoyable climbs in the world.

[@fede1275]

Maybe the north west costal ride was even better!

[@fede1275]

Sorry, the West coast I mean

[@LarryGraham7]

Haha, I knew you were going to say that-I'm running wax now so I just pretend to smell the lube. Great ride, thanks for posting.

[@mirdix]

I spent last week in Mallorca cycling too. Such an amazing place for our breed :)

[@fede1275]

It is really cycling paradise!!

[@talibe801]

Ive been there such a beautifull place and climb.😊

[@ChetMcMillan]

I was watching while having my morning coffee in Toronto I caught the apocalypse now reference and I almost lost it. My wife could not figure out what was son funny.😂

[@fede1275]

😄😄

[@brandiantonio3618]

Ciao Federico I found you by chance on KZbin and I really like your videos. I was in Mallorca in March and it really a dream to ride a bike. If you are ever in Switzerland just get in touch with me. Tanti saluti da Zurigo

[@patrickparisienne1917]

Looks majestic! You are modest about your fitness, turning a 36/30!

[@UloPe]

No joke! I needed a 32/36 to do that climb...

[@GoLongWithJayLong]

Brilliant I’m off there next week can’t wait to attack the climbs

[@livibam]

I found Sa Calobra to be a very easy climb personally, it’s very mellow.

[@fede1275]

I'll try a new approach next time!

[@livibam]

@@fede1275 start slow, and ramp it up. That’s what I do. Keep power for that last stretch, make up a lot of time there.

[@goonzjav]

No thinking. Full send bro

[@lo-pan]

Yeah I got to admit, that descent feels like it’s never ending

[@fede1275]

Yes, it really put me off. Very busy and I approached the climb very nervous.

[@cyclingunboxed]

What a beast of a climb. Great job mate

[@davidwatson1089]

Awesome video thanks.🚴🏾😎

[@chriswarwick563]

Had to stop using rim brake carbon wheels on the continent after my rear wheel delaminated on the way down Mont Ventoux .So now I rent a bike with carbon disc wheels.Great video 🚴‍♂️😎

[@fede1275]

I was doing so well, today I was flying on the descends. Tomorrow back to slow and careful

[@JockyT1]

Great stuff Federico - I'm enjoying your Mallorca experience and Sa Calobra looked fantastic - well done.

[@leftywedge]

Amazing! Best wishes from Montreal. Sei Grande.

[@Panos_Sfa_Gr]

Great Video & Trip ..cheers

[@Markelton883]

Well done federico, great video as always

[@BLITZKRIEG1]

omg same thing happened to me on a busy street in Sydney. First time ever in my cycling career couldn't clip out and BANG onto the side of the road right outside a busy restaurant strip 😅😅😂😂

[@fede1275]

Happens to all of us 😂😂

[@mikeprytherch8875]

I’m going in 2 weeks and can’t wait, absolutely loved your Mallorca vlogs thank you for sharing

[@17cream]

Great video my friend ❤

[@danielesavi1969]

Wonderful places (and the company too: greetings to Laura from your fan base). And since you eat climbs for breakfast, for your next biking vacation we expect you in the Dolomites.

[@NeilLavitt]

Once again beautifully shot. We demand Italy next. Well done!

[@grantmcalpine6364]

Great video. I have some friends out there too. Looks beautiful.

[@tinniswood2577]

Beautiful place.

[@1000750]

If you are going to do a long climb it sure helps to have those amazing views to take the mind off the struggle. Enjoy the rest of the trip, Aloha 🤙

[@cccycling5835]

One of my dream climbs! IMO the perfect climb gradient and length.

[@jgogl9791]

Looks great Fede. I was there a week ago, loved it. I found my Ultimate (rental, really impressed with the machine) to be undergeared with the same set-up (52/36, 11-30). Once you start grinding a little you burn too many matches, I'm weak and have to make up for it with high cadence! PS top tip: climb to Orient from Bunyola

[@Flint_Westwood]

Hey Federico, glad you enjoyed Sa Calobra. I agree with your advice that pacing is key. I learned a lot about my riding on that climb. I experienced extreme pain through being seated for so long, also numbness in my feet! I think next time I might try and change position a bit more.

[@rheadonabike]

Another great video pal 👌🚴🏻 apologising to your rim breaks … brilliant 😂

[@garysladek9110]

Federico, I was converted to disk brakes after I took a trip to Wyoming and felt I was in danger from the steepness and unfamiliarity with the decent of the climb I was on. I am 100 kg, and the speed I achieved so quickly frightened me. I'm now 61, and I used to bomb down hills with centerpullbrakes back in. the 1980s. Cheers, and have a great rest of the trip.

[@paulmcknight4137]

The trick is to not ride the brakes. Instead use the brakes only to slow down before a turn. I learned this from car driving. Riding the brakes, they'd fade. Strongly braking several seconds in widely dispersed intervals lets the rims cool down. Anybody remember Beloki[sp] losing his front tubular tire in a switchback coming down a mountain?

[@rowerazzzzzeee]

@@paulmcknight4137 try to do your way on 15% gradient with 180 degrees bend if you are 90kg . You are talking bollocks. Even on dry is hard , on wet you are out of the road down the Cliff.

[@user-oy2xy8gg5l]

@@rowerazzzzzeee you will not overheat in ther wet though with water cooling on the rims :P

[@paulmcknight4137]

@@rowerazzzzzeee Yes, some grades along the Potomac River are full braking all the way down! But in the mountains, if a horse can pull a wagon up the grade, a guy on a bicycle will, too. Descending, the air always keep me from going over 45 mph, as much as I try! Ss slowing down is not that difficult. I can definitely see disc brakes would be superior slowing down from 45 to 20 mph for the switchbacks. In the terrain around Washington, DC, there aren't many switchbacks to practice on. So the maintenance tradeoff isn't worth it.

[@fucktheworld1207]

bravo federico sei una bestia in bicicletta 🇮🇹 👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻

[@dsonyay]

I stopped using my brakes on downhills after learning they can overheat and blowout the tire. .. so now I only use my feet.. and a parachute for emergency stops. Ciao frattelo. I loved Mallorca. Great video!!

[@fede1275]

Will try that!

[@jimboalien]

Nice video Federico 👌👌👌👍

[@NikolaCruss]

Great video :)

[@paulmcquillan8308]

Anthoer great video Fred, Mallorca is a magical place something for everyone even more so for cyclists, I take it you may have an easier day for day 3 enjoy your rides.

[@user-cx2bk6pm2f]

Alex is a lovely lady. She is pure class.

[@gw4550]

Una bella vita ❤

[@evilstars]

Nice Federico! I see you riding with small bottle, all about the weight! I'm native from the islands and always riding there with 2x750ml and longer with an extra camelback of 1500ml.

[@rowerazzzzzeee]

Exactly . 1l or 1kg is about -3- 5watts power difference. So drinking in sunny weather is must. On that kind of ride u loose 3-4l of water any way through sweat.

[@barryherron5351]

7m8s I've got those wheels, glad you survived the descents on them. Up to now I think they're a great wheelset although I am conscious of holding the brake for sustained periods of descending. That sound though when you break is good though, just to let everyone else know that you've got Carbon rim brake set up 😂

[@stuarthazell2024]

Should have been topless & wearing 9th air cav helmet for the lt Kilgore quote. Great vid.

[@fede1275]

😂😂

[@davidabbs4459]

So I've done some nasty climbs before in Wales, that are roughly what you have done there so I feal your pain! Would love to have a go at that one, I know the sense of achievement when you complete one of these big climbs is amazing!

[@3dstate]

Great video! I've been rock climbing here and yes its an amazing place to climb, you'll have ridden past quite a few sectors in the woods going up Coll de sa Batalla. Also apparently has some of the best deep water soloing in the world, mainly on the SE coast. On another note I'm heading out there on Friday to cycle and also paranoid about melting my carbon brake tracks so its good to know yours were fine down Sa Calobra. I've already had the front rim replaced, cooked it on a 25% hill in Yorkshire!!

[@fede1275]

Yes, it looks an amazing place to climb. Going to Cap Formentor there were perfect places for deep water soloing. I can see my pads wearing out, but not at the alarming rate I was expecting. I don't drag the brakes and don't brake mid corner

[@user-cx2bk6pm2f]

@2:32... awesome, I wonder how many get this cultural reference? (hint: Apocalypse Now 😆)

[@grahamethomson4396]

Great advert for Majorca. The best advice for Sa Colabra is to get there as early as possible so as to avoid the cars and buses which can really spoil both the descent and ascent.

[@fede1275]

Indeed, it was so busy. I'll use it as an excuse

[@nik29th]

Epic climb, thanks for sharing your experience, rim brakes are my main concerns as well :) Do you remember, by any chance, how was experience of the guy on a white Canyon Aeroad on the descend and climb?

[@fede1275]

Yes, the Aeroad was ridden by Paul of Moloko Cycling, I believe he enjoyed the Aeroad a lot on that occasion.

[@shenstarwing8372]

Your voice and editing is beautiful

[@fede1275]

Thank you!!

[@malz3836]

Setting your own comfortable tempo on the climbs is the key to conquering them. You’re to used to riding on the flat around London. Apply the rim brakes on and off rapidly, it tends to work better, giving a crude form of anti-lock braking.🤔☀️🥖🥖🥖🥖

[@fede1275]

Yes, I am doing exactly that. It works

[@Chrisb286]

Classic quote I love the smell of chain lube in the morning, T shirts to follow 😂 great video

[@fede1275]

😂😂

[@fake__plastic9209]

Daje Fé t’aspettamo a Rocca Massima e Guadagnolo per le stesse emozioni proprio 😂

[@paulmcknight4137]

Having learned to climb a road bike on 42-22, I'd be interested in knowing your gears, cadence, and speeds on the upgrades. Lots of your mates seemed to be doing upwards of 70-80 rpm in gears they could handle. They were spinning the cranks smoothy, not bobbing up and down on the saddle. How fast were they going? Climbing in 42-22, the bike would stall out slower than 5 mph. So if you made it, you'd be going 9 or 10 mph struggling to maintain 60 rpm cadence. The key of course is as you say, "staying on top of the gear," apportioning energy without losing "form." Kudos. Bernard Hinault pointed out good form carries over into high gear efforts on the flats.

[@fede1275]

I should collect more data, I haven't got it right now

[@paulmcknight4137]

@@fede1275 Well, I could appreciate being in Mallorca would relegate performance data largely irrelevant! :)

[@piotrvv]

I wonder what bike case have you got to transport bike safely on the plane.

[@fede1275]

I rented a classic Bike Box Alan, it's perfect if you have a simple rim brake bike like mine. With discs and integrated handlebars you might want the newer ones where you can leave the bars attached.

[@piotrvv]

@@fede1275 That make sense, Thank you for your answer :)

[@nb9797]

Which gear did you have to use at the steepest

[@fede1275]

I was in my 36 front and 30 back. I can't deny I tried to shift further when I was tired and did not have any more gears 😅

[@lanceblack888]

Can you please post details of the tour organisation. I want to do this. Thanks, L

[@fede1275]

Yes, check Moloko Cycling on the web or Instagram, they arranged the lovely trip.

[@lanceblack888]

@@fede1275 thanks 😊

[@talibe801]

Rim brakes ❤

[@fede1275]

👍👍

[@talibe801]

@@fede1275 nice videos you have,fitness all the way💪👍

[@thomaskuhn6541]

So what was your time coming up Sa Calobra?

[@fede1275]

41 something, not good. The descent put me off quite a bit, there were rescue teams searching for someone who fell off the road. Not in the right mindset.

[@reflectionsdetail]

Where can I find the files for your rides? I'm headed over in about a month

[@fede1275]

Check my Strava or contact Moloko on Instagram

[@petraweizal]

Enjoy this Mallorca series I'm going in 4 days!

[@nihalhirani4105]

I love the smell of chain lube in the morning haha

[@DanTuber]

if you're smelling your lube, you're using the wrong stuff. Time to go wax. And thanks for the video experience.

[@TheRickysee]

I love the smell of chain lube in the morning😂

[@fede1275]

If I say it's safe to ride this road, it's safe to ride this road!

[@user-cx2bk6pm2f]

Sa Colabra segment in Strava has been flagged as hazardous!! What kind of wussy would do this?!?! Sorry Federico, I'm ranting.

[@fede1275]

Really?? Maybe the descend, can't be the climb

[@user-cx2bk6pm2f]

@@fede1275 Yes, the climb... I think it's the main Sa Colabra segment... 6.2 miles at 6.8%... Tom Pidcock with the KOM

[@rowerazzzzzeee]

Wello done. Drink more you look dehydrated!

[@fede1275]

Indeed!

[@oobahy]

I really don't understand why rim breaks are better. The few grams you save with rim brakes are worth it? Just take a piss before the ride or take less water. Now tell us when you will buy a new disc brake bike :)

[@fede1275]

Price vs performance (weight) you can't beat rim brakes. Money no object it's a different thing, but for around £2500 to get to 7.3Kg with pedals it's only achievable with rims. Bike is so responsive, 500g cost a lot of money in biking world.

[@richardseverin8707]

One word fede Fantastico 👍🏽👍🏽

[@fede1275]

@@richardseverin8707 thank you mate!

[@Gianniz27]

Few gramms are 1 kg or more in total bike weight. Rimbrakes stop excellent on good alloy rims, in the dry better then discs.

[@govermentsoundsystemrootik8887]

Absolutely brilliant bro.., the views, the people & your video content are top shelve as always & definitely a pleasure to follow your growth in your cycling endeavours..., keep it up Frederico & always strive to be the best you can be....., 🙏🏾👊🏾👍🏾