Category Archives: Great Rides

Moab mountain biking cheaper with us than on your own? What! Trip designer, guide, dirt lover and all round fine dresser, Greg Lyeki put it to the test. Here’s what he figures.

I’ve done a lot of travel in my day, especially with a bike in tow. I’ve always set off thinking I was doing it better, easier, and cheaper than renting a bike, or doing some type of tour. Certainly, in some places, I have gotten away with a pretty inexpensive cycling vacation, but it took some serious effort. In the back of my head I’ve always thought that there must be a better way. There has to be. Think about all the planning you have to do when you set off on your own adventure with a bike! Actually, I will do the thinking for you.

1. Where do you want to go? You’ve got to pick a location to ride, right?
2. What does this area have in store for you? What kind of riding can you do, and where? Are the roads safe? Are the trails easily accessible? Are the trails ride able this time of year?
3. How are you going to get there? Most likely, you are thinking of a destination further than just a few hours’ worth of driving. You’ll need to fly, so then what? Will you rent a car to your final location? Will you shuttle? Is your bike going to fit with the travel case or box?
4. How are you going to pack the bike? Will you take it to a shop or will you do it yourself? What kind of travel case are you going to use? Hard sided cases are cumbersome, and cardboard boxes can be damaged really easily (trust me, I’ve been the recipient of a dented downtube on an aluminum bike before).
5. You’ll need all of your accessories if you want to do it successfully – tire pump, tubes, patches, (no CO2 on airplanes!) small pump, bottles or hydration pack, tools, shoes, pedals, helmet, clothes, nutritional supplements, and more.
6. What happens if I break a spoke, shifter cable, or derailleur?

That’s just the beginning! I don’t think I need to go into more detail for the sake of saving space, and your eyesight while squinting at this page. You get the drift; it’s hard to travel with a bike(s).  There actually is an easier way though. It’s called Moab with Trek Travel.

We’ve done all the hard work that I listed above, and even more. You know what?  It’s CHEAPER too! We host a 5 day Moab Mountain Bike shred session for $1,299 greenbacks. I know you’re thinking “That’s amazing, especially when everything is included! But I bet I can do it cheaper…”

Take a look at these averages:

1. Guided tours can range from $100-$150 per person, per day for a small group of friends, more for solo riders.
2. Average hotel price per night (from expedia.com) $146.
3. Food costs per day (average, of course you could eat Ramen noodles) $30.
4. Trail Shuttles $15-$25 per person per day.

Total On Your Own: $100 (guided tour) + $146 (hotel) + $30 (food) + $15 (shuttle) = $291/day x 5 days = $1,455 per person!

Again, that is just the basic nuts and bolts of the trip at the low end, and it’s already $150 more expensive than Trek Travel not including the cost of bike shipping/airline charges, and transportation to and from the airport.

Simply put, we offer one heck of a package deal to get you out on a mountain bike in the most sought after location. A killer Trek Remedy or Lush mountain bike, meals, accommodations, transport to and from the trail, and transfers before and after the trip. Heck, we even throw some beers in the deal. No strenuous brain activity required…other than paying attention to the trail:)

Our sales manager Vaughan, reflected back recently on his Ride Camp experience last fall. Who wants upgrades for life? Read on to find out how…

Someone has to stay home and sell these trips.

This past November, I flew into Santa Barbara California to attend our Solvang Ride Camp. I was new here at Trek Travel and “needed to go experience the product that I was trying to sell.” I thought this sounded good and the boss took the bait.

The guides for my Ride Camp were Greg and Jacob. One a seasoned veteran who heads up all the ride camps and the other a newbie guide who looked just as excited as me to be in the Santa Ynez Valley on a warm day late in 2012.

I started my trip trying to help the two guides show our 8 guests a great time. It took me only a few minutes to realize that I was getting in their way. I switched into guest mode. Now I could ride as much as I wanted and experience the life of our ride camp guest.

After two great days of riding around the surrounding valley that is covered with wineries and mountains we took on the challenge of climbing “The Fig.” The Fig is a legendary climb (9 miles at 9%) in the area that has been a training route for many pro cyclists. My goal was to climb it in one hour. With good fitness for this time of year, I set off under good power thinking that I could hit the mark. Halfway up reality set in and my power and pace dropped. With two miles left I was doing about 3 mph on an 11% grade. I was going to miss the 1 hour and it was not going to be close. After my summit others started to arrive, each new arrival cheering on the one that was finishing behind them. It was a great climb and a fun descent. Our group ended the day at a local winery splitting a few bottles of red wine.

In 4 days, I had covered about 180 miles, met some great people and accomplished nothing else of any worth. It was all that I hoped for. The goal for this year is to get to Greenville South Carolina for our Ride Camp in the Blue Ridge Mountains. I hope to see you there.

Who is going to be the first person to do all five ride camps (Solvang, Greenville, Moab, Boulder and Mallorca)? I hope it is me! If you beat me too all of them, you will have a standing free upgrade with Trek Travel for the rest of your life.

Cheers,
Vaughan O’Brien
Sales Manager

Photo Credit: Greg Lyeki

We have finally produced a Trek Travel Ride Camp video. It highlights what we think are the great aspects of these unique bike tours. Based around one hotel and offerring the independant cyclist a week long vacation to ride their bike, it's a model of bike trips not typically seen in the US. In Europe this model is all over the place, from Mallorca to Italy. 

For this video, we worked with Justin Bomberg from Story Me This, who has produced videos for the likes of the Rolling Stones and major television networks. He has been a breeze to work with and we think has a nack for cycling videos;)

Enjoy and let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

After months and months of dedicated training 17 brave souls are poised to set out this Saturday on an epic quest to cycle from sea to shining sea. They’ll start at the edge of the Pacific in Santa Barbara, CA and bike the 3000+ miles across the USA all the way to Charleston, South Carolina and the edge of the Atlantic. Riders are coming from all over the US and abroad to meet this challenge including California, Texas, Delaware, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Arizona, Florida and overseas from as far away as Australia, Germany and the UK. Riders range in age from a spry 31 to a rugged 67 for a challenge who’s strength comes from a devoted commitment to training and strong mental fortitude that will be tested across the long road stretching out before them. They’ll set out with a common goal: to go the distance on this ambitious cycling challenge and see if they have what it takes to secure their bragging rights for life by making it all the way to the other side of the continent.

Their seasoned guide team of Big Wave Dave, Marquette, and Rustin have been busy working and preparing Trek Travel’s legendary top shelf rider support and planning all the details so the riders can just focus on each day’s challenge, and every pedal stroke from start to finish. These guides’ commitment to uncompromising support for each and every rider means they’ll be there whenever needed with energy snacks and water in hand or positive words of encouragement at just the right moment to inspire riders to dig deep and keep pushing. No matter how remote the road, riders will always have whatever support they need from their dedicated guide team to get them to the end of their day to enjoy a warm meal and much deserved rest after a rewarding day in the saddle.

Our Cross Country riders will meet their well-seasoned guides tomorrow for a meet and greet picnic, bike fit and casual spin around Santa Barbara, as a light warm up ride for the more intense days ahead. After the day’s ride, guides and guests alike will all meet over dinner to fuel up and chat in anticipation of their exciting journey that kicks off the next day.

Also heading out with our Cross Country USA riders will be another determined group of 12 who’ll clock the distance of the first full leg of the Cross Country trip from Santa Barbara to Taos. Arguably the most challenging leg of the trip, these hearty souls will brave the high desert heat and elements including the epic ride of Day 16–the almost completely uphill climb of 142 miles from Pogosa Springs to Taos. Once in Taos these champions will hang up their riding cleats and bid farewell and good luck to the Cross Country riders who’ll continue on to the distant shores of the Atlantic.
As all riders set out to converge on Santa Barbara for their trips starts, all of us at Trek Travel wish them safe travels and best of luck on your upcoming cycling vacation challenge of a lifetime!