Majorca training camp/bike hire

Over for 4 days from the 17th of April. Anyone else there then and fancy meeting up for a ride?

Someone (not sure who) thinks he was motor paced for that lap!

Sean Yates seemed to be alluding to something on the Twatter

Meh. He's a pro and people are surprised he's a bit rapid?

https://twitter.com/Jakey_Cakey/status/436063263001149440

Apparently he couldn't ride a bike 6 years ago.

He's come a long way since going from the gun in every cat B distance race at HH track league.

Although that does seem to be his favorite tactic still! It seems at the Hillingdon Winter Series he just hammered it at the front till everyone got dropped and soloed most of the race, he was doing the same at the Cyclopark at the end of last year lapping the field most weeks

Thats why he's got his own hash tag, #jakeaway.... though he started it himself and no one else uses it. Apparently he's a nice guy and doesn't take himself too seriously. I doubt he would bother to get someone to pace him and lie about it.

There's no 'apparently' about it, he is a nice guy.

Apparently he couldn't ride a bike 6 years ago.

After 6 years I'd hope he'd at least nailed some basics.

Flying out to Palma on the 19th and the bike hire shop I've booked with have gone strangely dark to emails.
Ironic as they called www.rentmarch.com

Doubly worried as checking my emails they've show the wrong date.
Hoping as its still early in the season and I need a standard 54 size, it won't be impossible to find somewhere else.

Any recommendations from current experience?

Can anyone reccomend a hire car place, i'm worried that the silly cheap rates i'm getting quoted via travel supermarket etc mean i'm gonna get screwed for other things.

They're usually fine.

Avoid any "return empty" deals - always go full-to-full.

Photograph any damage in detail, always sign the rental agreement as "unchecked".

Do not buy the rental agencies insurance - Buy a global car rental excess insurance policy from a third party - this usually costs £30 per year, compared to £5 - £10 per day.

Always pay with a credit card.

If they claim that you caused any damage, or take any further payments from your credit card, charge it back to your credit card company. Do not take no for an answer, and deal only with the credit card company.

All rental agencies will try and fuck you over in some way.

All that? I just make sure I leave at least one human body part in the boot.

For snacks?

Flying out to Palma on the 19th and the bike hire shop I've booked with have gone strangely dark to emails.
Ironic as they called www.rentmarch.com

Doubly worried as checking my emails they've show the wrong date.
Hoping as its still early in the season and I need a standard 54 size, it won't be impossible to find somewhere else.

Any recommendations from current experience?

Rentmarch responded, all is okay
Will review how good the bike turns out to be for everyone when im back.

For snacks?

After snacking. Like the angel's share, but for car rental agencies.

okay next problem.
Just got an email from easyjet asking to 'checkin' online...
Which I've done successfully, but happened to notice my passport expires, tomorrow.

I flyout in ten days, I imagine this might cause a raised eyebrow or two.
What are my options?

Get a new passport. You can get one in 24 hours, but have to pay extra for it.

See here.

Went to my 'interview' this morning..
My photo was rejected because I was alot skinner and had less scars when it was taken.

Thankfully the woman took pity on me and let me popoff to take some fresh ones..
I pick it up tonight

Majorca here i come

The place I usually hire a bike from seems to have gone out of business. Can anyone recommend somewhere around the Palma area?

http://www.bikerental-mallorca.com/index.php

Looks decent.

Going out for 3 days at end of April! Could not be more excited!

hope you like it just the right temperature! ;)

Doeas anyone have GPXs for decent routes? We are staying in Pollenca (not Port De)

Good looking GPX here that goes through Pollenca. Many more on the site too.

4000m climbing. 168km.

http://mallorcacycling.co.uk/mallorca-cycle-routes/east-tramuntana-epic/