Wild Rock Trips 2007-08
WILD ROCK TUSCANY ITALY CYCLING TRIP
WHEN: MAY 23rd to June 1st 2008
PRICE: $1499 + FLIGHT per person based on double occupancy
WHAT IS INCLUDED:
The price includes all your breakfasts, Italian airport shuttles, inter-city luggage shuttle, wine tasting, guides, support vehicle and your accommodations.
What is NOT included?
Transportation to the Toronto airport, lunch, dinners and drinks, Health/Travel/Medical insurance and any surcharges for overweight baggage and/or bike box charges.
What are we doing?
This is the quintessential Italian experience. From Tuscany, The Renaissance swept across Europe, changing the continent’s architecture, its perspective on painting and indeed life itself. Ancient homeland of the Etruscans, Tuscany is the land of Dante, da Vinci, Michelangelo and Botticelli. In addition to the culture and architecture Tuscany boasts some incredible roads that lend themselves well to cycling. The roads twist, turn, climb and descend as they join one small medieval village to another.
We fly to Florence (or in Italy "Firenze"). Several vans and a trailer will tote us and our baggage to the town on San Gimignano. This walled town has 14 medieval towers and is a bustling town with no car traffic. The cobbled streets are treaded by foot only. We are staying at Hotel Bel Soggiorno near the cities entrance. This hotel was erected in the 13th century! For 3 days we will explore the roads around San Gimignano.
On the 4th day we will send our luggage by shuttle to the town of Volterra. We will make this a short stiff day on the bike (the ride can be done in 50 to 80km depending on the route). The longer route takes in some great roads and fine lunch stop café. Settling into our new hotel, the Hotel Porta all Arco, we will rest up for a busy evening of wine tasting.
At 8:00pm we have reservations at a cellar in the center of Volterra called Enoelaiteca a Volterra da Pina! This is perhaps the coolest underground cellar, grotto, medieval dungeonesque place I have seen. A host of antipasto, soup and sampling of some of the over 500 wines will ensue.
The rest of the days will be spent riding south, east and north of Volterra. At least one day we will ride to the seaside town of Cecina.
What is the riding like?
The riding requires re-aligning your expectations. If you ride 50-80km a day you should feel happy having ridden 50km in Tuscany. The riding offers what seems like a never-ending series of climbs and descents that are 1-4km long occasionally punctuated with a 9km jaunt up the hill to Volterra. It seems those Romans built their towns on the highest points of land to give them the opportunity to pour boiling oil on their enemies! The climbing is relatively steep. I would recommend less bulletproof riders to have a triple chain ring or at least a 27 on the rear cassette. If you don’t have a triple crank on the front a lot of people will be more comfortable and happy with our mountain upgrade package (A Shimano Deore Mtn bike derailleur, cassette and chain) installed for $145. This will give you the gearing to climb most any hill. If your bike is super modern and has 10 speed we can discuss your alternatives.
This been said, the riding is legendary and well worth the effort. The roads are small, the pavement is smooth and the views are incredible.
What is there to do if you don’t ride or want a day off the bike?
Wine Tours are available right from the hotel. They are roughly 70 Euros and take small groups to several different vineyards. There are plenty of museums in both towns to keep you busy whether you like art, archeology, torture or other. There are many tourist-based farms to visit as well. The shopping is everything a diehard fan would want with the best Italian fashions available as well as alabaster carving, porcelain, hand bags and shoes. Check out www.sangimignano.com or www.volterratur.it for tourist information. This place is a hotspot of tourism so there is plenty to keep you busy for 1 day or 1 month.
For more information or booking please contact Scott Murison at Wild Rock 705-745-9133 or scott@wildrock.net
Important Dates: $500.00 deposit required to hold space by January 15th.
May 1st payment in full required.
Mallorca Spain Cycling/Training Holiday with Wild Rock
When: March 7-16th 2008
Cost:
Per Person Double: $1099CAN + taxes
Per Person Single: $1399CAN + taxes
Per Person Triple: $999CAN +taxes
Extra Day Accommodation per person: $79CAN + taxes (for folks arriving before or staying after the above dates)
NEW THIS YEAR: Breakfast and dinners are included in the price. Both are served at the hotel. Of course you can still hit the town for a fine meal and drinks if you wish. Including the meal makes it easier for folks on a budget.
What to expect:
The Riding
Mallorca has a road network of 1,250 kms, 675 of which are local and secondary roads with an average width of 6.50 m. approximately, and 20% of these are in the mountains.
Throughout the winter, the leading European teams visit the Island because they appreciate its ideal conditions for training. Professional cyclists who have visited Mallorca have a highly favourable opinion of the Island. Stephen Roche (winner of the Tour de France, the Tour of Italy and the World Championship) came to Mallorca on the advice of the great Miguel Indurain. As Roche says "Mallorca is quite fascinating! It has a great climate and great scenery and it offers unbeatable conditions for both holiday cyclists and professionals."
From February to March, amateur teams spend their well-deserved holidays enjoying their favourite sport on local lanes, traveling through lovely countryside around the small villages in the interior, where they can also find the real cuisine and culture of the Island.
We will base ourselves in the seaside town of Porte D’Alcudia on the North east coast. The riding can be as easy or hard as you wish. The cars are very courteous of bikes as they are very conditioned to bicycles on the roads. We usually break into 2 or 3 groups to keep like-minded and able folks together. The rides can be used for scenic beauty or hard riding. Extra water and snacks can be purchased in the many small villages. Lunches are easily found in the same villages.
Triathlon Training
There is a 25m pool within 5 minutes walk of our hotel. All you need is your cap, goggles and suit. The ocean is available but is quite cool so a wetsuit would be necessary. You can run right from the hotel. In the past most folks have focused on the cycling but there is no reason you can’t do a little of everything. There is a 1/2 marathon on March 16th, 2008 in Palma. If you stay a day or two later this could be a nice addition to your trip. For details http://www.marathonmallorca.com/ini.htm
What if my partner is not an avid rider?
You don’t have to be a hard-core rider in Mallorca. There is a multitude of short, flat easy routes. There are free cruiser bikes at the hotel for exploring the town. For non-cyclists there are 2 very good golf courses within 15 minutes of the hotel (Approx $95.00 for 18 holes). Rental cars or scooters are available at the hotel to explore monasteries, caves, lighthouses, windmills and old cities. There is a walled city built by the James II in 1298 within 15 minutes walk. In general there is plenty to see and do to keep someone busy for a week if they choose not to ride their bikes like mad folk around the island.
The Hotel
We stay at Aparthotel Estrella de Mar a Four Star Hotel in the seaside town of Port D’Alcudia. Each room has a bedroom with two beds, a separate living room and full kitchen and bathroom. If you are on a budget and wish to cook your own lunch and dinners you may. You receive 10% off groceries in the small market in the hotel or there is a grocery store within 5 minutes walk. The beach is a 5-minute stroll. The hotel has a locked bike garage for our use.
Weather Averages for Mallorca
Generally it is cool and clear in the morning and warms up in the afternoon. We usually ride in knee warmers and arm warmers in the morning. When the sun hits noon or you are climbing you are right down to a jersey and shorts. For cold days bring long fingered gloves, jacket, skull cap/hat, booties and knee warmers.
The Average High Temperature is 65 F. There is a 87% chance of a Warm Day (temperature over 60°F). 118 days out of 135 in historical record. It is mostly sunny. There is a 16% chance of a Cloudy Day. (21 days out of 134 in historical record) It is not hot but these are very comfortable conditions for training.
What is included?
The price includes all your breakfasts and dinners, airport shuttle (both ways), 1 shuttle rides (you get dropped off by a bus and ride back home), and your hotel.
What is not included?
Transportation to the Toronto Airport, lunches and drinks while in Mallorca and Health/Travel/Medical insurance. Any surcharges for overweight baggage and/or bike box charges. Air Fare is arranged for you through Merit Ostrander Travel (705-743.1635) and paid directly to them. If you are arranging your own airfare you fly to Palma Mallorca and I will need your airline, flight numbers and arrival departure times.
I will be sending information on Tuscany Italy (mid-May 2008) and Provence, France (late May) by November 1st.
For more information or booking please contact Scott Murison at Wild Rock 705-745-9133 or scott@wildrock.net
Important Dates: $500.00 deposit required to hold space by January 15th.
March 1st payment in full required.
WILD ROCK PROVENCE FRANCE CYCLING TRIP
WHEN: MAY 11th to 21st 2008PRICE: $2499 + FLIGHT per person based on double occupancy
WHAT IS INCLUDED:
The price includes all your breakfasts, TGV and Train tickets, inter-city luggage shuttle, 2 meals with drinks in a Chateau, guides, support vehicle and your accommodations.What is NOT included?
Transportation to the Toronto airport, lunch, dinners and drinks, Health/Travel/Medical insurance and any surcharges for overweight baggage and/or bike box charges.What are we doing?
Why do people love Provence? Provence has at its southern edge the famed Cote d’Azur with its wonderful coastline along the Mediterranean Sea. Generally Provence is considered the area east of the Rhone River with the Alps being the eastern border. Provence enjoys a southern sun that shines 320 days yearly, giving the region blue skies and mild temperatures year round.
We spend out first 3 nights in Avignon. AVIGNON is "one of the great art cities of France". The old walled city we stay in is home to the Papal Palace, seat of Popes 1309-1377, street musicians, and many museums in Place du Palais. Once the religious, political and financial capital, Avignon is today a cultural capital. It has some of the best example of Gothic architecture in Europe.
We will stay in the Bristol Hotel This three star hotel was chosen because it is close enough to the square to near the "action" but has bike storage and easy access to the railway station. Instead of fighting French traffic each morning and evening we will hop aboard the train and get out of the city before we start riding. This 20-minute trip is well worth it.
While staying in Avignon our rides will takes us to Baux. Baux, which gives its name to the bauxite deposits found here, sits on the top of a plateau surrounded on all sides by a 200 metre vertical drop. This spur of rock looks across a gorge to the rest of the Alpilles hills, and it's pretty clear what an effective fortress this once was.
This village nearly blew my head clean off from it’s beauty! We will have lunch in the town of St. Remy. Not only does it offer great cafes but it was also home to Van Gogh. In May 1889 he was voluntarily confined in the Asylum of Saint-Paul-de-Mausole beside Saint-Rémy. During this period of his life he painted two of his most notable works: Starry Night and Self-Portrait.
The other days will be spent exploring the hill top villages like Bonnieux and Menerbes. The village of Bonnieux is perched on a narrow, steep ridge, rising up from a flat plain to the 12th-century "Eglise Haute " church at the top with its high, pointed steeple. Menerbes is one of the famous 'perched villages' of Provence. Typical of these villages you will find narrow streets passing carefully restored medieval houses, interspersed with attractive shady squares and cafes. The mairie is at the top of the town and you can have fabulous views across the countryside and vineyards. While you are there don't forget to admire the unusual and ornate ironwork 17th century campanile on top of the tower.
On day 4 we will ride from Avignon to Mazan while our luggage is shuttled. This ride takes us passed famous sites like Fontaine-de-Vaucluse. At the base of high, rocky cliffs, a deep pool of seemingly still water is actually a full-fledged river gushing up out of the depths.
In Mazan we stay 5 nights at Le Chateau de Mazan. http://www.chateaudemazan.com/uk/navigation.htm In this elegant 18th century building, former residence of the famous Marquis de Sade, we will make ourselves quite at home. It is located at the foothills of Mt. Ventoux. We will enjoy 2 great meals prepared by their chefs. The meals include a half bottle of wine each. The other dinners can be had in the small town of Mazan. From here we will ride the Gorges of the Nesque, one of the loveliest canyons in the south. A grandiose, wild canyon with amazing rocks, to be seen from the road that overhangs the precipice with a succession of tunnels and sheer cliffs that we ride along. Upon reaching the top we will lunch is Sault where we will have great views of Mt. Ventoux. Other days riding we will circumnavigate Mt. Ventoux, ride to the summit of Mt. Ventoux and visit the Dentilles range.
The final day we will be shuttled to the train that will take us to Paris so we can go home.
What is the riding like?
Most of the riding is of medium difficulty. The shortest days are in the 50-60km ranges with most days being close to 100km at a moderate pace. Circumnavigating Mt. Ventoux and climbing Mt. Ventoux will appeal to only the strongest or most stubborn in the group. I would recommend less bulletproof riders to have a triple chain ring or at least a 27 on the rear cassette. If you don’t have a triple crank on the front a lot of people will be more comfortable and happy with our mountain upgrade package (A Shimano Deore Mtn bike derailleur, cassette and chain) installed for $145. This will give you the gearing to climb most any hill. If your bike is super modern and has 10 speed we can discuss your alternatives.
This been said, the riding is legendary and well worth the effort. The roads are small, the pavement is smooth and the views are incredible.What is there to do if you don’t ride or want a day off the bike?
There is no end to the site seeing, history, wine tasting or culture. Check out for some ideas.
For more information or booking please contact Scott Murison at Wild Rock 705-745-9133 or scott@wildrock.net
Important Dates: $500.00 deposit required to hold space by January 15th.
May 1st payment in full required.
Terlingua Texas Mountainbike TripWhen: February 23rd - March 1st, 2008Cost:
$1999Can + taxes
Flight not included - Flights starting at $649 (Available for purchase through Kathy Phillips at Merit Ostrander Travel)What to Expect:The Riding:
Enjoy solitary singletrack and jeep roads surrounded by breathtaking mountain scenery. The area has almost 1000 miles of dirt and Jeep roads to explore and excellent single-track, especially in Lajitas and on the east side of Big Bend Ranch State Park . These two areas are close together and riding in them both can be combined for truly epic single-track days. Daily distances will be between 25 and 30 miles of off road riding through challenging terrain. The group will be limited to 9 riders. Some of the days will be long and strenuous but you will be greatly rewarded with some beautiful scenery and fantastic single-track riding. The Big Bend area of Texas is one of the greatest kept secrets in mountain biking. The Itenerary:Feb 23, Day 1: Depart Toronto, fly to El Paso, Texas and drive to Terlingua , overnight lodging at Terlingua House , all meals on your own.Feb 24, Day 2: Hearty and healthy breakfast served at Terlingua House.
Day ride on the famous Mas O Menos Race Course, 35-40 miles of riding with some time for messing about in the Terlingua Mining District with lunch provided at the end. Lodging at Terlingua House, dinner on your own with several restaraunts to choose from in Terlingua.Feb 25th to 28th, Days 3-6: A hearty and healthy breakfast will be served at Terlingua House before departing on a 4 day and 3 night riding tour of Big Bend Ranch State Park with our friendly and knowledgeable, experienced and qualified guides from Desert Sports . For these three nights we will be camping in remote areas of the park. There will be 30-50 miles of riding each day (one day with short ride and awesome hike) in some of the most remote and challenging terrain in the Big Bend area. Support vehicle, meals from lunch on the 1st day to lunch on the last day and all the camp gear except sleeping bags and pads (available to rent) will be provided. Evening meal on Feb 28th on your own, back in Terlingua. Lodging at Terlingua House on the 28th.
2/29/08, Day 7: Hearty and healthy breakfast served at Terlingua House. Open Day with possibilities for a rafting day trip on the Rio Grande, another day ride in the area or a tour into Big Bend National Park as options. Optional river day trip is $120 per person. Overnight lodging at Terlingua house, meals on your own in Terlingua.3/1/08, Day 8: Hearty and healthy breakfast served at Terlingua House. Pack up and prepare to leave. Depart Terlingua early afternoon. Lunch and dinner on your own. Overnight lodging at the Radison Hotel in El Paso.3/2/08, Day 9: Depart El Paso at 9:30 am and arrive in Toronto at 5:30 pm. Lunch and dinner on your own.
Weather Averages for Terlingua
Generally it is cool and clear in the morning and warms up in the afternoon. We usually ride in knee warmers and arm warmers in the morning. When the sun hits noon or you are climbing you are right down to a jersey and shorts. For cold days bring long fingered gloves, jacket, skull cap/hat and knee warmers.
The Average High Temperature is 60 F with highs averaging 75 F. It is mostly sunny with almost zero chance of rain. It is not hot but these are very comfortable conditions for riding. Evenings can be cool so bring a sweater and warm sleeping bag for the camping portion of the trip.What is Included:
All of your lodgings in Terlingua while staying at Terlingua House including breakfast each morning. Bedding and towels are provided. All the guides, travel expenses, rental cars and related expenses. Meals while on supported 4-day bike trip.What is NOT Included:
Transportation to the Toronto airport. Lunches and drinks while in Terlingua and Health/Travel/Medical insurance. Any surcharges for overweight baggage and/or bike box charges. Air Fare is arranged for you through Merit Ostrander Travel (705-743.1635) and paid directly to them. If you are arranging your own airfare you fly to El Paso Texas and I will need your airline, flight numbers, arrival and departure times.
Sleeping bag and sleeping pad while on 4-day supported bike trip. These are available for rent at a cost of $15usd from Desert Sports for the duration of the trip. All lunch and dinners that are not part of guided trips.
For more information or booking please contact Zac Wheeler at Wild Rock 705-745-9133 or
zac@wildrock.net
Important Dates: $500.00 deposit required to hold space by December 31st.
February 9th payment in full required.
