This ride is a fixed-base or semi-fixed-base ride, please read the ride description for more details.
† Explanation of BAC Ride Fee – This fee is not included in the Estimated Cost and is non-refundable once submitted. The Ride Fee for US and Canada is $50 and $100 for all other countries, both are per participant.
OVERVIEW: This will be a fixed base ride staying at The Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort in Nathrop, Colorado. This resort is located about 3 hours southwest of Denver in the Upper Arkansas River Valley at an elevation of 8,250 feet. The scenery is spectacular with several 14000'+ mountain peaks in the area.
Each day there will be 2 rides with one easy ride and one more difficult ride. This trip will have something for everyone, including easy to moderate rides to the historic towns of Buena Vista and Salida, a mostly uphill ride to the ghost town of Saint Elmo, and optional hiking and river rafting excursions. For strong cycling climbers, a ride to the Continental Divide at 12,126 feet Cottonwood Pass will be offered on a paved road which will be closed to through traffic due to road construction on the other side of the pass. For those who prefer less strenuous activities, your admission to the Hot Springs is included with your lodging, as are yoga and fitness classes. Spa treatments are also available for an extra charge. The ride includes a breakfast buffet each morning, and 4 out of 5 buffet dinners.
RIDE RATING: I have listed the ride rating at 2B, which translates to a distance of 35 to 50 miles per day with 1500 to 2500 feet of climbing. However, some of the rides will be easier than 2B, and some will be more difficult than 2B, with the Cottonwood Pass ride having over 4,000 feet of climbing. A detailed itinerary with daily distances and climbing will be provided no later than 60 days prior to commencement of the ride. We will be riding mostly on back country roads with very little traffic.
WEATHER: The average high temperature for the month of August is 76 degrees and the average low is 49 degrees, with average rainfall of 1.4 inches for the month.
LODGING & MEALS: We will stay 5 nights at the Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort in Nathrop, Colorado. You can check out the resort website at mtprinceton.com. We will check in on Sunday, August 27, 2017, and check out on Friday September 1, 2017. The rooms will have 2 queen sized beds each. We will have 5 buffet breakfasts and 4 buffet dinners included, and vegetarian options will be available. The 5th dinner will be on your own, and will give you a chance to try a restaurant in nearby Salida or Buena Vista. You will be able to purchase lunches on the road most days, and fresh 'grab and go' food items can be purchased from the resort at the newly remodeled Princeton Market as well. The Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort has been awarded a Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor.
LOGISTICS: The Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort is located about 3 hours southwest of Denver International Airport, between the towns of Salida and Buena Vista in the Upper Arkansas River Valley. The easiest way to get there will be to drive, or to fly into Denver and rent a car. There is a bus that can take you to Salida, but then you will have to take about a 25 minute taxi ride to the resort.
COST & ADMINISTRATION: The cost of the ride is $1100, based on double occupancy, and includes 5 nights lodging, 5 breakfasts and 4 dinners. Also included are cue sheets, route maps, gps files, and evening BAC happy hours including drinks and appetizers each evening. The minimum number of riders is 20, and the maximum is 30. A deposit of $500 will be due when you sign up, and the remaining $600 will be due on April 1, 2017. Single supplements will be available for $500.
SINGLES & SOLOS: It is recommended that singles who want a roommate try to find their own. However, after receipt of the initial deposit, a single without a roommate will be placed on the ride and given until April 1, 2017 to find a roommate. If they are unable to find a roommate, they will have the option to receive a full refund (minus the $50 BAC fee) or pay the $500 single supplement and stay on the ride. If a single pays the supplement, they may continue to seek a roommate, but must plan to participate without a roommate if necessary. The Ride Leader will assist by attempting to match singles who apply for the ride.
CANCELLATION POLICY: The BAC $50 ride registration fee is not refundable unless the entire tour is cancelled. Refunds of tour payments will depend upon whether a replacement rider signs up, and on costs that can be recouped. The amount refunded will be based on the principle that the tour’s remaining participants will not incur any additional cost as a result of cancellations. If the canceling participant is replaced, a refund will be made at that time. If the canceling participant can't be replaced, any refund will be determined after the ride and final expense report are completed. If a single participant cancels and another roommate cannot be found, in addition to other costs that cannot be recouped the cancelling roommate may also be liable for the single supplement fee of the roommate remaining on the tour. BAC encourages members to purchase trip cancellation insurance.
RIDE PARTICIPANT RESPONSIBILITY: Please remember that BAC Ride Leaders are volunteers, and that successful tours depend on participants providing much of their own support. Participants are expected to come to the ride well trained, in good health and ready to accomplish the required daily riding using well-maintained bicycles. All participants should accept responsibility for a safe and enjoyable tour. We encourage you to read the ride description carefully and respond to requests from Ride Leader. While on the ride, support your Ride Leader with offers to help with various tasks such as happy hour preparation and clean-up. Please do not interfere with the ride by inviting non-participants onto any portion of the ride or tour. Please keep the Ride Leader informed of any special request you may have and respect the Ride Leader’s decisions.
SIGN-UP: To submit a request to join this ride use the "links" displayed above this Ride Description. When you are accepted, the Ride Leader will move you from the Waitlist to the Pending List. At this time you will receive an email notification to login to the BAC website to sign the release of liability form and pay the non-refundable BAC ride registration fee online. Once those steps have been completed, the initial deposit of $500 will be due. To contact the Ride Leader, "click" the name at the top of this Ride Description.
Bicycle Adventure Club
PO BOX 23998 San Diego, CA 92193
Telephone (858) 715-9510 office@bicycleadventureclub.org