A rider describes a majestic view of Mallorca's Tramuntana Mountains descending to the Balearic Sea, with a ribbon of asphalt carving switchbacks used by muscular cyclists on expensive carbon-fiber bikes. Sa Calobra climbs a steady 7 percent gradient for 2,358 feet, features 26 hairpin turns and an iconic 270-degree "Knotted Tie" loop, and attracts professional training. The rider is inexperienced and chose an e-road bike, riding with a hardcore cyclist named Mark who provided detailed fit measurements. E-bikes are making difficult trails accessible to casual riders and may bridge the gap between rookies and road warriors. The trip began car-free from the cliff-top Jumeirah Mallorca hotel, which caters to cycling-focused guests.
The vista was so majestic that I had to hit the brakes: the jagged limestone peaks of Mallorca's Tramuntana Mountains tumbled down to the cobalt-blue waters of the Balearic Sea, like one of those hyperrealistic laptop wallpapers. Snaking its way across this UNESCO-protected valley was a ribbon of asphalt, forming perfect switchbacks for a steady trickle of muscular cyclists zipping by on their $10,000 carbon-fiber bikes.
I finally understood why Sa Calobra, a route that hugs Mallorca's northwest coast, is considered by serious cyclists to be one of the world's most epic rides. In addition to the sublime views, it climbs a steady 7 percent gradient up 2,358 feet, with 26 hairpin turns culminating in an iconic 270-degree loop known as the "Knotted Tie." No wonder professional cyclists train here.
But I am no pro. Sure, I bike to work in New York City, but I had never done a proper ride before-the kind people post about on Strava, the social network for cyclists and runners. So instead of a standard two-wheeler, I planned to tackle Sa Calobra with the assist of an e-road bike. Not only that, I was riding with my buddy Mark, a hardcore cyclist who logs around 150 miles a week
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