The 2024 event learnt from some of the issues of the previous year. Food stops were better provisioned, they even added in an additional water stop. The get away was also very smooth, I arrived abour 6:15 and was away by 6:45. Would echo what you say about preparation and planning, nutrition and hydration are criical and I know that in 2022 I messed these up and sufferred in the last third, in 2024 I got it right and was strong throughout. It is a great event and I highly recommend, am booked in for 2025 and looking to get my best performance yet. Great video and lots of excellent advice.
2023 ride was my first and loved every minute of it. I set a reminder on my Wahoo for drinks and food. Easy to forget about it in the event. I took my own nutrition and Electrolyte tabs. Fold up water bottle was handy for extra fluid. Watch out or the tramline in the approach to Soller, we saw a bad crash there.
The irony of the event is that even though it's a closed road event, the day of the 312 is actually the most dangerous day of the year to ride it. Those roads are mostly quiet with little road traffic for every other day of the year, but 8,000 riders, many with much more enthusiasm than talent are hurling themselves down descents and taking innocent bystanders out in the process. It's fun to be part of a big event, but ride it any other day and it will be safer, quieter and you'll have 100+ euros to spend on lunch.
100%. You have no idea who is descending with you. Or their ability level. This event is far too stressful for me. I go to Mallorca to enjoy the riding and so will now avoid booking up at the end of April for sure 😝
Thanks for the honest review. The entire point of these type of rides is the support and rest stops. This is not worth it. Might as well just do the same ride with mates at our own pace.
Very good. I've done it three times, the last time with my daughter who'd just turned 17. I really enjoy it and will be doing it again next year. Its a great atmosphere and coming at night with the music, drums and fire breathers is bonkers! However, you are spot on with your overview and tips. My biggest challenge was fuel. As a diabetic, I have to manage things carefully and the feed stops are pretty poor for me and not great in general so I just carry my own food. The other is water, although if you find a bar, they are pretty good at filling your bottles up.
Thanks. It must have been a great experience to ride this with your daughter. Overall, I did enjoy the event. But a little prior knowledge can make it even better. Enjoy 2024 👍
Having completed the 312 this year I agree with most things you have said especially about the feed stations. The sandwiches are awful, I didn't have any as they didn't look appetising. I had my own nutrition and my parents met me before the third feed station to replenish stocks. I could have done with getting something proper to eat through the event other than a few bananas from a shop as started to feel a bit sick towards the end. I missed the first stop as I took 3 bottles but the second stop was carnage and you had to fight to get water. I missed the third stop and 4th stops as met my parents before them. The stops after the turn off for the full 312 were better as not as many riders doing the full event. Route is good until you head back up from north west side of Palma where you are on small tracks most of the time and this doesn't get any better on the extra part for the 312 except the last part from Arta. Basically if you turn up with a bike that isn't maintained you are going to have problems. The riding skills of other cyclist is a problem especially on the descents. Preparation for the event has to include training and getting your bike prepped. I made the last cut off with 40 minutes to spare then finished the event with well over an hour in the time limit. The course is front loaded so the green polka dot jersey pacers will be slower after the cut off and will spend more time at the final couple of stops. My top tips If you can get out there 3 days before and get use to the roads and temperature, the day before take it easy. I met a few people in the hotel who all did rides on the Friday and failed the 312 the next day. Stay near the start. The start, get there early if you want to do the full event as you will lose time getting to the mountains and through the first and second feed stations if you are at the back. Get on a fast group from the start to the first climb you can make a lot of time. Ride the climbs at a good pace you can hold and recover from. Learn how to descend as you can make up time. Hydrate and eat often, more often that you think, it was 37 degrees at one point this year. When heading back up the island and after the turn off for the 312 get in a group as it can be a lonely hard ride on your own. Once you get to the final feed station at Arta the last part is fairly easy. Enjoy it
Thanks - glad it was helpful. It’s a great event, even though it’s a little hectic at times, still worth the experience. And with the 167 ride I reckon you still get to do the “best bits” of the route. Enjoy 👍
Nice video, I’ve done the 225km for the last few years. I totally agree the worst part of my experience is the stops….sometimes it felt like a fight just to get bidons filled up, the best part is the first 150km of riding Mallorca’s mountains. The amount of crashes is super scary to see.
Dartmoor classic? 100 miler. My son did the 312 this last 3 years and compared with last year he said the stops were much improved. Last years were terrible apparently. The wrist bands this year at least were distinguishable and no band only water. The guy with the puncture before it began that you saw did the 167 and apparently had 3 punctures in all that day! The atmosphere in the village was wonderful. My son every year has got better at his fueling strategy and getting it right is so important. Styrker? Bars (I've probably spelt that wrong) which have a one handed tap your handle bar opening helps.
Dartmoor sounds good will check it out - could do with a target, thanks ! Sounds like the 312 this year improved with lessons learnt. About styrkr bars - yes I tried them and they are tasty and a decent amount of carbs- big though ! Cheers.
Ring of kerry in Ireland 10k riders around some of the most beautiful roads in the country, and pretty good food stops particularly in kenmare before the big climb up Molls Gap
Thanks for the video, good to get another perspective. Out of curiosity, have you ridden sportives in the UK, e.g., ridelondon? Wondering whether mass participation events aren't your thing or whether it was just that mallorca 312 didn't do it for you?
I’ve never done anything as big as the 312 event. Entered the draw for ridelondon once but didn’t get a place. But, you are spot on. For me i prefer to ride for experiences, not necessarily challenges. I usually go to Mallorca at least once a year to ride, and will continue to do so. I love it there - but would rather ride with a few mates, under our own steam - with no 5am alarm. 😝
167 route is great would have liked and should have done the 225 route last time i did it funny riding to the start had a few riding behind me think i was the only one who remembered there lights 🤣🤣
Definitely. The 167 route was great (well, okay maybe not the last 10km but it’s the same for all distances. Really enjoyed the first half especially. Lights - good call, definitely needed first thing, depending on where you are riding to the start line from.
You must already have a really good foundation if you've only done 5000km in 7 months leading to the event. I've already done over 5000kms of riding this year already though 90% of that has probably been junk miles and not structured training 😅 For what it's worth, I find the best pacing strategy is going by the power values found on your power curve in Strava. My 20 to 30 minute power in the last 6 weeks is around 235 watts. So on long climbs that last over 30 minutes, pace your power at 235 watts and when your going fast on the flats try and stay/surge up to 235 watts. 312km is long so save your legs.
I probably had a reasonable foundation beforehand but my training was so unstructured up till the point i started to focus on training for the M312 event. Good advice on power and pacing - i tended to go on HR for pacing strategy. But - as i bought a power meter it would be good make use of that and focus on power. I will try it out and see how it goes. Thanks :)
💯 I'm hoping to head back to Mallorca in 2024 with a couple of friends, but for sure we will be skipping the dates around the 312. And .... will also be doing Sa Calobra 🙂
Captive audience… just like the shop at the bottom of Sa Calobra! The Repsol garage at Lluc is much better value for a short detour off Femenia or if you come up via Col de Sa Battilla (I think that’s the right spelling?!)
Its quite a shame how the cyclists throw rubbish everywhere, I was picking up rubbish in the mountains for the next 2 days straight with locals while hiking. Just comes to show the type of people coming to do these events :(
I get where you're coming from. It's frustrating to see some cyclists focus only on their performance and not care about the environment they leave behind. I always tuck my used wrappers in my jersey pocket. Thanks for helping to clean up.
@@PEDALLERS Its not all cyclist but a small number can give us a bad name I just cant remember it being this bad a couple years back, also event organizers should also take more accountability, but enough with my useless waffle, thank you for not littering...
Good and Bad, but overall I’ll pass next time (famous last words!). I didn’t like the early 5am start and queuing up with 8k others. Rolling out and hitting the first climb was pretty cool but then the number of riders descending around you wasn’t so enjoyable. Food stops (including local stores) was carnage.
