† 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.
Ride Description – Salzburg to Grado
Come and enjoy the beauty of Salzburg Austria, the Dolomites, and the Adriatic coast in one ride. This is a ride from Salzburg Austria to Grado, Italy on the Adriatic. Overnights will be in accommodations ranging from nice family owned hotels to 3&4 star hotels. Arrival Day will be Friday August 30, 2019 (Day #1) in Salzburg City. Our departure date is Friday September 13, 2019 (Day #15) from Grado. We will spend day #1 and #2 in Salzburg to adjust to the new time zone and to visit the various historical sites such as Mozart Plaza, the Salzburg Fortress, or the Salzburg Cathedral. Day #3 we will ride out of the city into the country where we will experience all types of bicycle paths and roads on our way to the small town of St. Martin bei Lofer. Day #4 we continue heading south and ride beside Lake Zell am See to a beautiful four-star fitness resort for three nights. On our lay over days we have the opportunity to ride and hike to the Krimmi waterfalls and to explore other areas around Lake Zell am See. Day #7 will be an adventure, as we will be riding through a 1.5 km long tunnel on our way to Bad Gastein. Day #8 we will ride a short ways before we load our bikes on a train to be transported thru the mountains on our way to Spittal for two nights. Day #10 takes us along the Drau River to our first major town of Villach. Day #11 is a short day to Tarvisio, Italy with a possibility for a hike in the beautiful Dolomites. Day #12 will be longest day with a 66 ride to Udine, Italy, however, 60 miles of it is downhill! Day #13 we ride to Grado where we will stay at a four-star hotel near the Adriatic. Day #14 allows us to walk along the beaches of Grado with a farewell dinner before our departure on September 13, 2019.
RIDE RATING: The trip is rated a 2B with an average of 35 miles/day. Even though the average elevation gain is 1,250’, there are four days in the "2" category, and distances range from "A" to "D". The longest day #12 is 66 miles although 60 miles of it is downhill. Day #7 has a 1.5 km tunnel.
ROUTING EXPECTATIONS: Two Bikeline maps highlighting our bike routes will be mailed to each participant: Tauern Cycle Path and Alpe Adria Radweg, of which the Alpe Adria map is published only in German. Therefore participants are strongly encouraged to have smart phones with the Google Translate App in order to read the German map. Your smart phones will need an Austrian Sim cards for Austria and an Italian Sim cards for Italy. These cards are easily obtainable and cost ~€10-€15 each and provide phone, text, and data.
Each Bikeline map has a Product code inside it that will allow riders to download GPS tracks of the route. In addition, cue sheets will be available for riders to print. Due to the complexity of riding in foreign countries, all participants should have GPS units, know how to download the GPS files that will be provided, and be able to use their GPS units to follow the routes, or have smart phones that can work like GPS units.
Also riders are expected to be comfortable riding on a multitude of surfaces including cobblestones and compact dirt on bike paths and riding in city traffic such as Salzburg.
WEATHER: Riders should plan on cool to cold morning temperatures turning warm mid-day with the possible of rain. Temperatures can range from lows of 47F to highs of 80F when we reach Grado. Cold weather gear is recommended to have on hand just in case a cold front moves in.
SAG SUPPORT: The support vehicle is not a SAG vehicle. Riders are expected to ride on all ride days. Riders must carry basic bike repair equipment such as spare tubes, tube repair kit, and pump. All riders at a minimum should be able to repair a flat. If bike repairs are needed, you’ll need to call a cab or catch a train to the nearest town with a bike shop.
The van will be carrying our bike boxes with us as we travel and therefore luggage will be restricted to only two (2) carry-on sized pieces of luggage (see your airline carry-on measurements) – Luggage not to exceed 30 lbs. per piece. They will be weighed.
BICYCLES: Your bicycle should have tires 28mm or larger in size. For those who are thinking of renting bikes, please realize that the trip ends in Grado Italy.
LODGING & MEALS: Lodging will be in 3 and 4 star hotels. All breakfasts and a minimum of 2 group dinners are included in the cost of the tour. “Happy hours” will include a glass of house wine or a local beer from the hotel’s bar before each night’s dinner.
LOGISTICS: Riders can fly into Salzburg (SZG) or Munich (MUC) and take a train to Salzburg. North American riders will need to leave on Thursday August 29, 2019 to arrive in Salzburg for the first day - Friday August 30th. There will be a Happy Hour on August 30th, however we will have a formal meeting at 6:00 PM in the hotel lobby followed by our group dinner on August 31st.
The tour ends Sept 13th. Transportation options will include a train and bus to either Trieste – Friuli Venezia Giulia Airport (TRS) or Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE). Other options include a train back to Salzburg or Munich.
COST & ADMINISTRATION: The cost estimate is $2,800. Included in price are 14 days lodging, most breakfasts, 2 group dinners, happy hour drinks, and dinners where rooms with half pension can be obtained, commercially created maps, GPS files for downloading to your GPS devices, and transportation of bike boxes from the start to the finish of the ride. The route will be driven in September 2018. The estimated cost is based on an exchange rate of 1 Euro = $1.25. The initial deposit of $1,700 does not include the BAC registration fee of $100 and both will be due upon acceptance to the ride. The final payment of $1,100 is due on February 28, 2019. However, it might be adjusted up or down due to the fluctuation of the Euro.
SINGLES & SOLOS: Single and solo riders will be accepted. While we encourage singles to try to find their own roommate, we will assist singles who are looking for a roommate. If a roommate cannot be found by February 28, 2019, participants can cancel without penalty (except the BAC registration fee, payment processing fee, and the cost for any maps already provided) or singles can pay the solo supplement of $1,700. Solo supplement payments need to be sent to the BAC office. Checks should be made out to “BAC” with a notation of the tour name included on the check.
CANCELLATION POLICY: The BAC ride registration fee and payment processing 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 cancelling participant is replaced, a refund will be made at that time. If the cancelling 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.
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 cleanup. 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 might 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 ($100) and tour deposit ($1,700) by credit card. As soon as your deposit has been processed, your name(s) will be added to the Participant List. BAC members with questions may contact the Ride Director by "clicking" the name at the top of this Ride Description or call Warner at 775-843-3960.
Bicycle Adventure Club
PO BOX 23998 San Diego, CA 92193
Telephone (858) 715-9510 office@bicycleadventureclub.org