April - getting the hang of it

Month 2 – April:

I write this at the dining table. Its 21:20 and I’ve just eaten. The windows are open to the balcony and I’m listening to the live music playing outside for the benefit of the outdoor areas of the restaurants below. Its acoustic Simon & Garfunkel ‘Homeward Bound’ which is following some Springsteen, U2 and Oasis – the usual ‘please everyone’ stuff – which pleases me – so that’s all good then.

What a change from last month – the place has come alive – as predicted at about Easter and the volume of business in the shop has risen to match.

Lots of overtime. 60-70 bikes to prepare for the following day is not unusual. We have nearly 300 bikes and they are pretty-much all out. Frequently, a bike needed for tomorrow is out today – so as the sorrowful customers bring them back we are on them to get them turned around for the following day. I’m well and truly stuck in. What this means is that I have got fast – really fast. Stem, Cassette, saddle changes. New cables, chains, brake pads, brake discs all come off and get replaced in a jiffy. This is where getting all the bikes from a single brand (Trek) really pays off. The worst one on a road bike though is ‘UK Brakes’. This means pulling the rear long cable out and connecting it to the front brake and taking out the short front brake cable to route through a new rear brake cable – in the full knowledge that when the bike comes back it will have to be put back as it was. On most hydraulic systems its easier – as the pipes can be detached from the levers and swapped over. Do it fast enough and they don’t need bleeding either. Mix in with this some time out in the vans / minibuses, setting customers up on the bikes and generally helping them with route suggestions etc and by the end of the shift I’m fit to drop. I’ve never come home so tired before – but its good.

It was the final round of the ‘6 Days’ cycling competition in Palma this month so 4 of us from the shop went along – almost a ‘works do’!!

The Mallorca 312 Sportive passed through Soller earlier this month and we are the only bike shop in the area. Throughout the day various competitors with bike problems came in – 2 broken cables, 1 broken chain and 1 exploded tyre (after the 14km descent into Soller – overheating carbon rims maybe??). Its probably the nearest I’ve come to being a one man F1 pit crew – but the tips were good!

I get Wednesdays off and they are becoming precious. We do guided walking tours so I try to tag along on one if there’s one running. They will stop when the weather gets too hot so now is a good opportunity. It’s a fantastic way to see parts of this island you just can’t get to on a bike. It never fails to take the breath away. This is an amazing place.

Time on the bike has been minimal. Its areal effort to get out but I must push myself more as the rewards are worth the effort.

Family and friends have been out to stay. Its great to have others in the flat. Family have been here before, but some friends have not. To show them this place for the first time is a privilege. I’m lucky to have a cracking view from my tiny balcony. Visitors are drawn to it like moths to a flame. Saying good-bye had been tough each time. Its suddenly very quiet again when they go.

The flat has access to a communal pool in the garden and Gaspar my landlord has set up now and tidied the garden up. I’ve been in once – it was freezing!! Hopefully the sun we are getting will sort that out. Gaspar also has a small farm near-by. To date he has left me 2 carrier bags of Oranges and Lemons. The area is famous for its citrus fruits and the freshly squeezed orange juice can’t be beaten – mind you – the Gin isn’t bad either!

Next month I have more friends and family coming out which will be great and should push me out on the bike a bit. I also have my appointment in Palma to get my ‘Residencia’ Its needed to stay more than 6 months but is frankly overkill for an 8 month stay like mine – but – it lasts 5 years and mat be a lot harder to get if / when Brexit hits. Meanwhile works shows no sign of easing up – May is the busiest month of the year!

“Vamos Swabes Vamos!!!”

He’s on ‘Dancing In The Dark’ outside – sing along – I am!!