Another Week in Sunny Palm Springs!

† 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 $85 and $100 for all other countries, both are per participant.

Ride Description

RIDE OVERVIEW

The Ride Leaders are two Canadian ‘snowbirds’ making their home in the Palm Springs area during the winters. The Ride Leaders have previously run a tour in British Columbia in 2014 (the ‘West Kootenay Hot Springs Tour’) and will be leading their third BAC tour in Nova Scotia in September 2017.

This is a fixed base tour with limited climbing (only two rides in Category 2 and one ride in Category 3). Distances cycled can range from as little as 20 miles to a maximum of 100 miles. The tour starts with check-in on Saturday, February 24th and ends with check-out on Sunday, March 4th. There may be opportunities for individual riders to extend their stays at the same room rates we have negotiated, space permitting.

The Greater Palm Springs area is, for the most part, a bicycle-friendly environment. Being in the desert, the terrain is almost always flat. Climbs are a rare exception. Riders will have 7-8 basic rides on city streets to choose from, along with five ‘destination’ rides to local attractions (including the Living Desert, Thousand Palms Oasis, Joshua Tree National Park, Box Canyon and Sunnylands). Certain of our other rides follow the same routes as laid out for the Tour de Palm Springs, held prior to our ride in late January. 

RIDE RATING

Most of the rides are either 1A or 1B. The opportunity exists to combine rides, enabling distances covered to range up to 100 miles.

Only two of the five ‘destination’ rides exceed the 1B rating, these being the rides through Joshua Tree National Park (3B) and from Box Canyon (1D). For Joshua Tree, the climbing occurs at the start of the day and there are breathtaking descents on the way back. As for Box Canyon, the ride is just over 65 miles in length, but the first 18 miles is all downhill through the Canyon itself. There are no climbs.

There are two optional rides that exceed the IB classification, these being the Tour de Palm Springs Long Route (2D) and the ride to the Aerial Tramway (2A). The latter is the only ride with grades in excess of eight per cent.

WEATHER

The average daily high in Palm Springs in February is 75 degrees, with the average daily low being 47 degrees. Rainfall averages only 1.15 inches throughout the month.

Being at a higher elevation, temperatures in Joshua Tree are lower. Average daily highs in February are 64 degrees, so some layering would be recommended. Rainfall averages only a paltry 0.83 inches in February.

LODGING

While the option existed to stage this ride from a Budget hotel in an outlying area, we have chosen instead to maximize the ‘Palm Springs Experience’ by securing lodging at one of the premier hotels in downtown Palm Springs (the Hyatt), at group discounted rates. All rooms in the hotel are suites, exceptionally well appointed and spacious, with a separate living room and private balcony. Bikes can be kept in the rooms without extra charge. Hi-Speed internet access is available throughout the hotel.

Close by are a plethora of restaurants and other attractions, including the Palm Springs Art Museum and the Walk of Stars. On Thursday night, the main road in front of the hotel is closed off for VillageFest, a street market that extends for six or more city blocks. This event has been going on for over twenty years.

The hotel offers complimentary shuttle service to and from Palm Springs Airport and to other destinations in the Palm Springs area. The hotel boosts a state-of-the-art Fitness Centre, as well as its own heated swimming pool. There are complimentary appetizers served in the lounge every day at 4:00 pm (just before our Happy Hour!).

LOGISTICS

Palm Springs can best be reached by either motor vehicle or air. The Palm Springs Airport is served by United, Alaska Air, American Airlines, Delta, Virgin America, Allegiant Air, and, for our Canadian friends, Westjet and Air Canada.

Tour cost of $1,695 (US) per person (exclusive of the non-refundable BAC ride registration fee) covers base hotel costs (double occupancy), Welcoming Dinner, eight Happy Hours, entry fee for the Living Desert, picnic lunch at Thousand Palms Oasis, transportation to the remote starts at Joshua Tree and Box Canyon, picnic lunch at Joshua Tree, transportation from Joshua Tree and Farewell Dinner.

Cue sheets, maps and GPS files will be available.

Tour cost excludes alcohol (except at Happy Hours), entry charges to local attractions, entry charges to Joshua Tree (if you do not already have a National Park pass), hotel parking charges and other incidentals. Note that free parking is available near to the hotel.

For those who wish to rent bikes rather than bringing their own, we can recommend a company in Palm Springs for this purpose.

SINGLES POLICY

Singles are welcome on this tour. We will make every effort to link up those singles willing to share.

For singles seeking accommodation on their own, the single supplement is $1,100, also due October 31, 2017. 

CANCELLATIONS:

The BAC ride registration fee and payment processing fees are 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.  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 register for this ride, use the sign-up links just above the Ride Description. After preliminary acceptance, you will be moved to the pending list and receive an email requesting you to go back to the BAC site to digitally accept the Release of Liability (ROL), and pay the non-refundable BAC fee ($50) and tour deposit of $500 by credit card. As soon as your deposit has been processed, your name(s) will be added to the Participant List. Final payment of $1,150 ($2,250 for single supplement) is due no later than October 31, 2017. BAC members with questions may contact the Ride Director by "clicking" the name at the top of this Ride Description.