Today on GoNOMAD, we dive into the exciting new sport of Salty Cycling, where e-bikes ride atop the waves. Set against the stunning backdrop of Mallorca, Spain, we explore this innovative way to exercise on the water, introduced by Salty Cycling Alcudia. While the learning curve can be steep, our hosts attempt to master the art of balancing and pedaling on water, alongside seasoned instructors. We'll hear firsthand about the Manta 5 electric bikes, which provide power just like traditional e-bikes but are designed for aquatic adventures. Join us for a thrilling ride as we uncover the joys and challenges of salty cycling in this picturesque island setting.

Salty Cycling is ebiking on top of the waves. It's a new way to exercise on the water and we learned how to do it at Salty Cycling Alcudia, where they offer lessons, competitions, and sales of the Manta 5 electric water bikes. Take a ride on the waves or try to, with us on GoNOMAD today in the Third episode of our four-part series about the island of Mallorca, produced in association with Visit Spain Chicago.

The episode vividly captures the essence of Mallorca as more than just a beach destination. While many travelers flock to the island for its stunning coastlines and delectable cuisine, the host reveals a desire for a more vigorous experience. The discovery of salty cycling introduces a unique blend of adventure and fitness, as participants are encouraged to pedal their way across the water.

The narrative discusses the physical and mental aspects of learning the sport, from the exhilaration of trying to ride the waves to the camaraderie shared among those struggling to balance on their bikes. With captivating anecdotes and humor, the host reflects on the collective experience of the group as they face the challenges of salty cycling, drawing listeners into the adventure and the joy of trying something completely new.

Companies mentioned in this episode:

• Salty Cycling Alcudia
• Manta 5

Today on Go Nomad, we venture out into the water to try the new sport of salty cycling in the fourth of our series about Mallorca, Spain.

When I was researching a fall visit to Mallorca, it appeared what most people do when they visit this scenic island is eat, drink and sit on a beach.

While these are indeed very nice beaches, I wanted to add some vigor to my visit.

I scanned the different activities that people do on the ocean and it was then that I discovered salty cycling, a new sport taking hold in a small harbor in the eastern coast of Majorca.

We drove from the capital city of Palma one morning to the seaside town of Canpica Fort and met the folks behind the new sport of cycling on the water they call salty Cycling.

Antonio Catala is the owner and Bruno is the training manager.

Bruno explained that the sport originated 10 years ago in New Zealand, the world's capital of exuberant sports.

Today, this location in Majorca is one of 10 distributors.

But Bruno said they're not only selling the $14,000 bikes, they're offering training and rentals to help newbies over the steep learning curve.

It takes between two and three hour long lessons to master the trick of being able to balance the bike and gain speed and pedal on top the waves.

And I can attest to this.

Spoiler alert.

None of the five people, including me, who tried out salty Cycling was able to get up and ride like Bruno or Pedro.

Instead, we kept tipping over when we tried to gun the throttle and get up on top of the handlebars as they told us until it gained speed and got straight above the water.

This is a sport with a longer than average learning curve and but once you start riding the waves, you'll see it's pretty easy to stay up.

Salty cycling originated from biking the island.

Mallorca is already well known as a biking destination with thousands of Europeans climbing these hills on the Sierra Detramonte mountains and along the golden and mostly untrammeled shoreline routes.

The company is called Salty Cycling Alcudia and the people behind it are all in for the sport after our outing trying in vain to get up and ride like a bunch of newbie surfers who can't hang 10.

We were picked up in our wetsuits by a motorboat and then the pilot gunned the engine and we began whizzing around in a big circle.

The two guys on the salty cycles took full advantage to ride the motorboats wake jumping around on the bikes, it was a joy to watch.

It made us all realize that we were just that far from being able to master the art of salty cycling.

Maybe next time.

The brand name of the e bikes is Manta 5.

They have sealed electric motors that propel the bike in the same manner as a regular E bike on land.

So the more you pedal, the more power is provided.

So you can definitely get up ahead of steam.

I'm not sure this steep learning curve would be able to be met by most travelers, but if you wanted to settle in with a very interesting way of cruising around the harbor, a Manta 5 bike might just be for you.

Here, Bruno explains the difference between the speed ranges that allow different types of riders to ride together when they're doing their salty cycling adventure.

So that's for the pros.

So, for instance, Ruan here, Ruen, say hi.

Ruen is a professional cyclist, and he can go for a few kilometers in a power zero, which I can do like 10 meters, right?

So if you really want to, you can.

You can train.

But then also if you're lazy like us, you can just cruise.

So that is the.

That is the cool thing about it, because if you have a very varied group, right, you can have a Tour de France person in the group.

You can have someone that is very lazy.

They can all go to the same speed but train different, right?

Tour de France guy can go outputting 600 watts.

So if you ever find yourself in Mallorca with a little bit of extra time and a lot of extra energy, try out salty Cycling at can Pickafort on the island of Mallorca.