We offer trips for every traveler and choosing your perfect style means you can enjoy the trip of a lifetime. Trek Travel Ride Camp is designed to take you beyond your typical day, to push your limits, to accomplish your training goals. Follow the chart below to find out if Ride Camp is right for you.
Prove to Dad you’re his favorite and give him a gift he’ll remember forever. Here are our favorite gifts for Father’s Day this year.
Classic Climbs of the Dolomites – from $3799
For the dad who loves the mountains, the Classic Climbs of the Dolomites cycling trip offers the very best of the dramatic Dolomites and Italian Alps. The landscape of the famed Dolomite mountain range offers epic riding: as you climb the jagged peaks and legendary roads made famous by the Giro d’Italia. Experience the passion of Italian cycling beneath clear blue skies, as you ride past proud pale mountains and through lush green alpine pastures.
Solvang Ride Camp – from $999
Few destinations in the U.S. offer mountains, sea, and wine country with the luxury, hospitality and small-town intimacy and friendliness you discover in this captivating area. This trip has it all. On our 4 day Solvang Ride Camp, combine your full days of cycling with sightseeing, dining, hiking, and relaxing along the Central Coast. With a home base in the wine country north of Santa Barbara you’ll be just miles from the chance to tackle some of the classic climbs which extend beyond the valley.
Moab Mountain Bike Trip – from $1399
Believe the hype: Moab is the mountain bike Mecca that all fat-tire lovers dream of. Its trails offer astounding views of snow-capped mountains and valleys that redefine words like “epic” “awesome”, “sick” and “killer”. Trek Travel takes you into the belly of the beast, through a network of fireroads, singletrack and doubletrack that drop you between boulders, along cliffs, and up over the ever-so-grippy slickrock terraces and ledges. Each day is jaw-droppingly better than the last, with expansive vistas, the red hue of Utah’s ancient soil, and a small-town Wild-West feel. Moab isn’t just another mountain bike trip. It’s the birthplace of the mountain bike.
Trek Emonda upgrade – $300
Give Dad the best of the best on his bike trip and upgrade to the new Trek Émonda SLR. Trek Travel’s fleet of world-class bikes just got a little lighter with the race-ready, Project-One designed bike. It’s Trek’s lightest production road bike ever. Perfect for climbing in the Alps or just cruising the back roads of wine country.
Carbon Wheels upgrade – $200
Upgrade his bike with a pair of Bontrager Aeolus D3 Clincher carbon wheels. These wheels are lighter and ready to roll. A wider rim profile and extreme rotating weight savings means extra speed where it counts. Give Dad the opportunity to train like the pros with his bike all suited up.
Writing about cycling vacations in the world’s premier travel destinations involves taking the reader away from their desk and transporting them to a winding road under the Tuscan sun. It means recounting stories of epic rides. Telling the tales of travelers. Describing luxury hotels and Michelin-starred meals. Meet Jordan Sher, the voice of Trek Travel and the man who so eloquently describes the experiences that speak for themselves.
Tell us your story.
I took the long way to bikes. A fat kid in high school, I hit the drama club hard and ditched gym class daily (note: Trek Travel does not endorse the skipping of gym class).
In college I dropped way more than the freshman 15; in fact I lost about 75 pounds. After graduating from college, my dad invited me to ride the MS 150 with him. I didn’t ride bikes, but I gave it a try. I’ll never forget my first kit: I wore a cotton T-shirt, cheap bike shorts and rode a mountain bike with slicks. But I did it. How awesome was I? That was the true beginning of the beginning.
About 15 years ago, I joined a cycling team on a dare. I was waaaayyyy out of my element, but something about the challenge kept me motivated. I decided to adopt the mantle of a bike racer and do whatever it was bike racers do—that includes investing in expensive bikes, dieting to cut weight and riding all the time.
At the same time I was in graduate school for copywriting and decided a life of freelance writing in advertising was for me. It’s the perfect mix of everything I love – advertising (give me a commercial and I’ll tell you who made it), writing and the time to ride my bike 300 miles a week.
I’ve been riding big ever since, and have kept racing for the past 10 years. When I discovered the awesome crew at Trek Travel, it was a match made in heaven. Writing about ride camps? Race trips? Classic climbs? Yes, please. I couldn’t have asked for a better, dreamier opportunity.
What inspired you to become a writer?
It’s more about what inspired me to go into marketing. I have loved advertising since I was a toddler, shushing my mom during her daytime television to watch the commercials. To this day, I am more obsessed by commercials than by regular TV. I know. So sad.
How long have you been riding bikes?
I’ve been racing for 15 years. I kind of think I was riding a bicycle in the womb. Is that too much information?
How did you end up at Trek Travel?
I started working with these crazies in 2013 when they redesigned their website. I was just lucky enough that we clicked. Oh, I wanted us to click in the worst way.
Tell us about your best day on a bicycle.
There are so many. Riding the Haleakelah in Maui. Grinding up Magnolia Road in Boulder, one of the steepest roads in the country. My bachelor party was a group ride. Ironman Lake Placid. But I think the most memorable was the day we rode Puig Major and Sa Colobra in Mallorca on Trek Travel ride camp. I had no idea roads like this could exist. It’s 10K of the craziest climb I have ever seen. Have you been? If not, you need to.
Tell us about your favorite ride in Colorado.
Mt. Evans is the highest paved road in North America. It’s your only opportunity to ride to the top of a fourteener. At 10,000 feet, the weather changes. At 12,000 feet, there are no trees. At 14,000 feet, the bighorn sheep look at you funny. And at 14,600 feet you reach the observatory. I have been up several times, but the air is so thin I only remember a few.
What is your favorite travel destination and what excites you most about this part of the world?
The races of Europe are where it’s at. If I were 12, I’d have posters of all cycling heroes on my walls. Before I leave this planet, I will go to the Spring Classics. I will watch a stage on the Mortirolo in Italy. And I will run like a drunk idiot next to some racer on Alpe d’Huez. Mark my words.
Tell us about your best travel adventure.
This sounds so sad, but most all my great travel adventures are by bicycle. I once road-tripped to Couer d’Alene from Denver in one day (16 hours) in a Mini Cooper with three bikes on the roof. I once raced Ironman Galveston on a broken foot and had a personal best. I think my favorite, though, is still the big city. I went to college in New York City and still love to go back as a tourist. Mostly because I know I don’t have to search for an apartment while I’m there.
In the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains lies Greenville, South Carolina. What was once the best-kept secret of pro cyclists is now a trending destination due to epic climbs, stunning views, and pristine country roads.
But it is more than just gorgeous terrain that lands Greenville a spot on almost every list of best cities and top destinations. Visitors can make it their mission to find all nine Mice on Main while they choose from more than 100 delicious restaurants, or escape to the Reedy River after taking in all the delightful shops and art attractions in town. Although you’re likely to be tired after riding the roads that the pros train on, we recommend taking an evening to discover the Southern charm that has everyone talking about Greenville, South Carolina.
Where To Go For Social Hour: Sip Rooftop Bar
Located just two blocks from the Westin Poinsett Hotel in downtown Greenville, Sip Tasting Room and Rooftop Lounge is the perfect venue to enjoy a post-ride beverage with new friends. Enjoy fresh air and views of the twinkling lights on Greenville’s iconic Main Street as you choose from more than 40 wines by the glass. Indulge in a cheese board to complement your cocktail, lounge on a comfortable outdoor sofa and toast an incredible day of exploration by bike. In a city that loves the outdoors, there’s no better place to savor the beauty than Sip’s relaxing rooftop bar.
Where To Go For Dinner: Larkin’s on the River
Following an enjoyable tasting at Sip, head south on Main Street toward the rushing waters of Reedy River as you make your way to Larkin’s on the River for tonight’s meal. With his keen sense for flavors, colors and composition, the plates prepared by Chef Alex are sure to captivate your palate. Start with the local favorite She Crab Soup before splurging on Southern shrimp and grits or spoiling yourself with an aged bone in filet mignon. Whether you choose to dine inside, with exposed brick walls and an open ceiling, or opt for outdoor seating on a patio overlooking the river, you simply cannot beat this venue.
What To Do After Dinner: NOMA Square
Voted as one of America’s best downtown’s by Forbes magazine, you can’t leave Greenville without enjoying any of the free community events during your time in town. And if you happen to be in Greenville between the months of May and September, there is none better than Greenville Heritage Main Street Fridays. Hosted in NOMA square, a cornerstone of downtown, unwind from your week of exercise while you listen to a variety of live music, including jazz, blues, oldies and soul. And if you’d rather not dance, still make your way to Greenville’s largest plaza for a delicious slice of homemade Mackinac Island Fudge at Kilwins.
About Guest Choice:
You will often hear us say, “It’s your day, you decide,” because our smaller group size allows the flexibility for you to decide how your day unfolds. In addition to multiple daily ride options and shuttle flexibility, this also means that we offer ‘guest choice’ nights designed for you to indulge at a local restaurant of your choosing, or explore the local sites. Whether you want to order take-out while relaxing by the hotel pool or get dressed up for a fancy dinner in town, guest choice nights let you craft your own perfect evening.
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!
We asked one of our new guides, Sam Clark, to give us a run down of his experience during new guide training this past April. Here’s his story below…
As a class of candidates, our applications were whittled from the hundreds to less than fifty. Via Skype interviews we were pared to twenty-two. After a day-long gauntlet of tests and mind-bending in Madison, the final twelve received break-of-dawn notes under our doors telling us to meet in Room 1: We were selected for training.
To last the process meant reaching deeply into one’s bag of tricks. What’s your best animal call? Can you open a guest’s beer without a bottle opener? How about toasting two strangers on their 20th wedding anniversary? Know what local pickled vegetable pairs best with cheese curds? We had to prove ourselves as equally adept with sprigs of garnish as we were with a fully loaded trailer; as comfortable with cable cutters as we were with salad forks. To become the best in the business, we were painstakingly vetted, tested, tried, and trained.
There were also the challenges you’d expect. We spent the wee hours of too many nights rooting through dark trailers together, troubleshooting troublesome derailleurs, and glaring at uncooperative GPS software. During training I saw the wrong side of 5:30 a.m. more times than I have in the last year. I re-learned the art of the two-minute shower, and how to speed-iron khakis before social hour.
Most memorable were moments with my head thrown back in laughter. If you’re lucky enough to have a new guide on your trip, maybe you’ll find out who does a great impression of Jerry Seinfeld, or you’ll learn whose grandfather changed his full name to Dickie Ray Ray. As a group, we’re a collection of raconteurs, poets, quick wits, and comics; of athletes and polymaths. Each new guide possesses the requisite determination that brought us through collective adventures across Nevadan deserts and over interminable Yukon climbs. Most importantly, each new guide has an ease and joy for good company, and a predilection for great conversation.
This spring eight of us begin our careers riding sweet bikes in the world’s loveliest locales. We get to spend our summer with guests from all over the world, from a spectrum of generations, with shared passion for bicycles and new places. We’re the luckiest people you know.
Here at Trek Travel, we pride ourselves on the training of our guides. They are truly our best asset and at the end of the day, make Trek Travel who we are. So it’s always great to hear past guests tell us their favorite guide story or have them share their pictures with us. One of our guests, Susan, took it a step further and wrote a poem about her guides from her Solvang Ride Camp in October. Greg and Matt are awesome guys and both super fit on the bike. They always make sure their guests are having the best time on their bike tours.
RIDE CAMP (for Matt Lyon and Greg Lyeki)
That cold foggy morn’
onto Mission we did roll.
Has it been just six days
since Big Fig* was our goal?
That fog hung low,
the temperature, too.
Some wore jackets,
arm warmers, and packed extra GU.
Matt led the pack,
and away they did fly.
Greg drove the truck,
and yelled “Good work!” as he passed me by.
The weather turned hot,
“a record,” they said.
Still, we rode Foxen, Alisos, Cat,
Drum, and Happy Canyons before bed.
Matt and Greg, Greg and Matt
switched roles each day to help us through
those steep, steep climbs. “It’s nothing,”
they said, “We love what we do.”
“We’re here for you,”
Your wish is our command.
They brought us lunch and cold drinks,
even sagged us to flatter ground.
It’s been a great week,
Ride. Eat. Sleep. Repeat.
But YOU are who made it
The Experience That Can’t Be Beat.
H. Susan Freireich
10/14/2011
*Mt. Figueroa
Want to go on a Ride Camp? Check out our Mallorca, Solvang or Greenville Ride Camps on our website today!
This is a great video showcasing how a Trek Madone 6 series is built in Waterloo, WI. This is the same bike that we are able to supply on our trips as an upgrade option. If someone wants to ride a bike that has seen the likes of Lance Armstrong, Levi Leipheimer, Chris Horner, the Schlecks, and Fabian Cancellara ridden to countless victories, they can do so on a Trek Travel bike trip.
I’ve ridden this bike up and down numerous mountain passes in places like the French Alps and Solvang, CA. I’m always happy that I don’t have to worry about the bike weighing me down, just my own lack of fitness;) Plus anytime some of us guides head out for a little cycling banter, it’s always nice to have the stiffness to stay on guys wheels like Matty, Lyeki, or Big Wave. (Ok, maybe not Big Waves!)
A few years ago I was heading out for a ride and ran into my neighbor. He asked if Trek Travel had trips in Mallorca (we did not at that time) and went on to rave about his own trip to Mallorca that he did earlier that spring with his local cycling team. They rode for 6 days to build their early season base miles in what sounded like ideal terrain and a climate that was significantly better than Madison, Wisconsin! He suggested Trek Travel do a trip there and after his glowing review of the area I was convinced.
In 2009 we added a Classic Climbs of Mallorca and a Luxury Mallorca trip to the roster. Similar to my neighbor, the guests give glowing reviews. The more I thought about the conversation I had with my neighbor the more I realized that we needed a trip that focused even more on the riding. A trip that, like my neighbor mentioned, focused on building base miles, and one that was also at a price point that was affordable for even young teams. I knew Mallorca was known as Europe’s biking destination but did not realize how many people go there to train. It is a cyclist’s paradise! You can go during the winter, have great weather and awesome riding in a beautiful place. I looked at a bunch of companies that offer a wide variety of trips and thought we can do this better. A lot of the companies offer trips at a low price but don’t include the use of a bike and have a lot of additional costs once you are on the trip. Most importantly, they don’t have the customer service for which TT is known. Mallorca was an obvious choice in Europe.
I know a lot of people in the U.S. who would love to go on a trip like this but heading across the pond is not an option. We need to have a place like this in the U.S.! Solvang jumped to the top of the list. This is the place American pros like to go in early spring to get in some miles and big climbs. The riding is spectacular and the weather is perfect for training from late winter into late spring. Even the Amgen Tour of California has held the Individual Time Trial in Solvang 3 times and is featuring Solvang again in 2011. Solvang was the winner.
I am really excited about our new Ride Camps, they give a big group of cyclists exactly what they are looking for—great riding in an awesome place without the hassles of planning on your own. I think the best two things about our trips are the free use of a Trek 5.2 Madone and the fact that like all of our trips, Trek Travel takes care of all of the details so all you have to do is ride!
One of the sweet roads in Mallorca!
If a date is marked as Private, it is reserved for a private group.
Don’t see exactly what you are looking for or looking for a custom date?
Call our trip consultants at 866-464-8735
Savor some of the most spectacular, 5-star properties in the world. Exuding luxury and elegance, these one-of-a-kind accommodations offer the chance to rejuvenate at award-winning spas, dine at Michelin-starred restaurants, and more.
Enjoy luxurious accommodations handpicked for a refined experience. From signature spa treatments to delicious local cuisine, you’ll be more than provided for; you’ll be pampered.
These handpicked hotels provide relaxation and fun in a casual and comfortable environment. Delicious cuisine and great service mix perfectly for a memorable stay.
On select cycling vacations, you’ll stay at a mix of Explorer and Luxury hotels. Rest assured, no matter which hotel level you’re at, our trip designers carefully select every accommodation.
Road: 1-3 hours of riding. Up to 25 mi (40 km). Up to 1,000 ft (300 m).
Gravel: 1-3 hours of riding. Up to 20 mi (35 km). Up to 1,000 ft (300 m).
Hiking: 1-3 hours of hiking. Up to 5 mi (8 km). Up to 1,000 ft (300 m).
Road: 2-4 hours of riding. 20-35 mi (35-60 km). Up to 2,500 ft (750 m).
Gravel: 2-4 hours of riding. 15-30 mi (25-45 km). Up to 2,000 ft (300 m).
Hiking: 2-4 hours of hiking. 4-8 mi (6-12 km). Up to 1,500 ft (450 m).
Road: 3-5 hours of riding. 25-55 mi (40-85 km). Up to 4,500 ft (1,500 m).
Gravel: 3-5 hours of riding. 20-40 mi (35-60 km). Up to 3,000 ft (900 m).
Hiking: 3-5 hours of hiking. 6-10 mi (9-16 km). Up to 2,000 ft (600 m).
Road: 4+ hours of riding. 40-70 mi (60-110 km). Up to 8,000 ft (2,400 m).
Gravel: 4+ hours of riding. 30-50 mi (45-80 km). Up to 4,000 ft (1,200 m).
Hiking: 4+ hours of hiking. 7-15 mi (11-24 km). Up to 4,000 ft (1,200 m).
Savor the finer things as you relax in luxurious 5-star accommodations and wine, dine, and ride in some of the most unforgettable destinations around the world.
Explore beautiful destinations by bike, enjoy extra inclusions, savor delicious local cuisine, and enjoy the perfect mix of accommodations.
Enjoy a casual cycling vacation with fantastic routes and comfortable accommodations.
Train like the pros in some of their favorite riding destinations.
See the pros in action at the biggest cycling events of the year.
Tackle an epic adventure that takes you point-to-point across mountains, countryside, and more.
Enjoy a bike tour on your schedule with just your chosen travel companions.
Sometimes it’s more convenient and comfortable to have your own room while on vacation. We understand and that’s why we offer a Single Occupancy option. The additional price guarantees a private room all to yourself
