People Watching on the Puig Major

As I was reminded frequently on a recent trip to Majorca, there are times when we cyclists exhibit the kind of behaviour which, for a committed people watcher, could rival a Parisian boulevard.

For example…

At the Monnaber tunnel at the top of the climb of Puig Major is a small car park and viewing area. It’s the natural spot for about 99% of all passing cyclists to rest the legs and admire the view, before pushing on. At 854 metres this is the highest climb on the island, and if conditions are anything like those I found (32C, humid, and still) it’s a bold move to push on and pass up the chance of a break.

As I pulled to a halt and perched myself on the wall overlooking the town of Soller a few hundred metres below, there was already a gaggle of around 20 cyclists mopping brows and comparing notes – the usual assortment of Spaniards, Germans, and Brits.

As I took it all in, a skinny and tanned lad approached up the climb on a smart matt black Canyon bike, with a matt black helmet, and decked out in head to toe Rapha kit – pink with a black stripe, black with a pink stripe, and smart looking climber’s shoes.

Don’t get the wrong idea; I’ve got nothing at all against Rapha kit – it’s smart looking stuff, and this lad was clearly no mug on a bike – but then he went and spoiled it.

He pulled up, leant his bike, removed his helmet, and whipped out a Rapha cap from his jersey pocket (black with a pink stripe). He then spent around 3 minutes posing majestically and looking every bit the biking hero, before tucking the cap back into his jersey, putting his helmet back on, and heading off down the road.

‘Whose benefit was that for?’ I wondered ‘was he expecting me to ask for an autograph?’

Either way, it was all a bit comical.

The humble cycling cap (or casquette) is a fine piece of kit when utilised properly, and as an antidote to the terminally un-stylish but unfortunately very necessary helmet (which is liable to make even the most stylish among us resemble the dreaded mushroom head).

You can pop a casquette on pre or post-ride to keep the chills off, in the café, or tucked snugly beneath the helmet to protect the head from rain, sweat, chills, or a combination of all three.

The only problem with the casquette is, in fact, the helmet.

Look at most pictures of pro-cyclists prior to the 1990’s, and if they are wearing something on their head it is a cotton cap; whether pulled down tight, peak upturned, or even backwards, this is always a good look. What cyclist wouldn’t, deep down, like to head out for every ride looking like Eddy Merckx, Roger De Vlaeminck, Tommy Simpson or Fausto Coppi.

But now, many of us wear helmets most of the time, and so to wear a casquette requires a little bit of imagination and creativity.

Unfortunately, the I’ve-spent-good-money-on-this-so-I’m-damn-well-gonna-wear-it method demonstrated by my friend on the Puig Major is, for my money, trying a bit too hard.