Blue Skies and Desert Blooms – 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

Overview:

This is a semi-roaming tour that starts and ends in beautiful downtown Palm Springs.  It also includes three nights mid-week in La Quinta, located 20 miles south in the Coachella Valley.  February is the most popular time to go to Palm Springs with nearly perfect weather and this is a great opportunity to escape the winter and kick off your bicycling season. We'll ride through beautifully landscaped residential communities during the tour and explore the desert landscape. While the tour is rated 1B, most days allow for either a longer or shorter route. 

RIDE RATING: 1B

The average daily ride is 45 miles and roughly 1,300 feet of elevation gain.  As this is a semi-roaming tour there are only two mandatory ride days.  There will be options provided most days for a shorter ride and it is easy to make any day longer for those that wish to.  There is a required ride that exceeds the elevation for a B rating (1500’) at 1885’.   Routes have not yet been scouted but will be scouted before the tour.

RideWithGPS files will be furnished. To receive the voice turn-by-turn directions, participants must have downloaded (at minimum) the free version of the RideWithGPS app.  Note: Before the trip begins, it is up to the rider to know how to use his or her GPS device and/or RWGPS on your smartphone. 

DESTINATION RIDES:

The tour includes four destination rides to local attractions:

·       Tour of Sunnylands:  The ride from Palm Springs to La Quinta will take us by the Sunnylands Center and Gardens, and the historic Sunnylands estate.  The Center and Gardens are free to wander and well placed on the route for a break.   For those who are interested, there are guided tours of the adjacent estate.  Tours sell out quickly and tickets are only available online the month prior.  Ride leaders will send a reminder and provide more information closer to the date.  https://sunnylands.org/

·       Box Canyon:  Riders and their bikes will be transported to the start of the ride and the ride will end at our hotel in La Quinta.  

·       Thousand Palms Oasis:  Ride into the Coachella Valley Preserve - Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve, an 880-acre natural oasis and wildlife preserve. 

·       Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge:  At 227 feet below sea level, the refuge sees some of the hottest temperatures in the nation. Until 2021, the refuge had the distinction of having the most diverse bird species of any national wildlife refuge in the West. Now the Salton Sea tells a story of a growing ecological crisis.

OTHER ROUTES:

On Friday and Saturday back in Palm Springs, riders will have a fantastic opportunity to explore the local attractions while enjoying a scenic ride. Options will be provided for several routes that cater to different preferences, ranging from leisurely rides to challenging climbs or a local hike. You'll get to experience the breathtaking landscapes, discover hidden gems, and soak up the vibrant culture of this beautiful city.

Tahquitz Canyon – a short ride from our hotel, Tahquitz Canyon is one of the most beautiful and culturally sensitive areas of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. It is home to rock art, ancient irrigation systems, native wildlife, plants and offers a challenging hike to a spectacular seasonal 60-foot waterfall

The Indian Canyons Trading Post - Lock your bikes here then enjoy short or long easy ( good walking surface) hikes in these beautiful oases and desert mountain hillsides. Various canyons to explore - possible water esp. in Murray Canyon. https://www.indian-canyons.com/

Palm Spring Aerial Tramway -  The short but challenging 7.5-mile one-way ride to the Tramway has a maximum grade of 12%.  The road heads straight up from Palm Springs to the bottom of the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway.  There is a bike lock area near the security gate for those who would like to take the tram up.  Only a small portion of tickets are available as pre-booked reservations and tickets can be purchased upon arrival at the Tram’s Valley Station. https://pstramway.com/

WEATHER: 

February is a wonderful month to visit Palm Springs. The average morning temperature is 47 degrees Fahrenheit. Mid-day the temperature hits a high of 75 degrees Fahrenheit.  Rainfall is expected only a couple of days in the month and averages much less than an inch throughout the month.

Some rides are in the desert away from any services so carry the essentials: water, food, sunscreen, tools, ample tubes (Goat Head thorns here) and a patch kit on your bicycle. A small bike bag will be necessary to carry a lunch sandwich on two rides.

LODGING & MEALS

Palm Springs is a resort community with a defined ‘high season’ that is reflected in the hotel rates. Daily breakfast is included and Happy Hours will include a glass of wine, beer, soft drink, juice or water with a small snack.  There will be 2 group dinners and 2 lunch sandwiches provided.  We will use Preferences in your Profile to try and accommodate your dietary needs.  There will be no shortage of local gastronomic delights to explore.  Restaurants are available within walking distance from both hotels and coffee and lunch stops are available along most of the routes.

In Palm Springs we will be staying at the Best Western Plus Las Brisas hotel located in the heart of downtown Palm Springs with a 5/5 rating on Trip Advisor for location.  For those driving to Palm Springs, parking is free at the hotel.    

Near the hotel, there are a variety of restaurants and attractions, including the Palm Springs Art Museum, the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum, the Palm Springs Air Museum, and the Walk of Stars.  Every Thursday night, the main road near the hotel is closed for VillageFest, a street market that spans over six city blocks. This event is a longstanding tradition that has been taking place for more than twenty years.

We will spend three nights in La Quinta at the Embassy Suites.  The hotel is a five-minute walk from Old Town La Quinta near many shops and restaurants.

LOGISTICS

The tour starts with Happy Hour on Saturday, February 22, 2025 at 4pm and ends with check-out on Sunday March 2, 2025.  Palm Springs can be reached by car or air and the Las Brisas hotel is a short  (less than 10 minutes) taxi ride from PSP airport.

For those interested in renting; there are several bike rental options in the area including Big Wheels https://bwbtours.com/palm-springs-bike-rentals/ and Bike Palm Springs https://www.bikepsrentals.com/.   All participants renting a bike will need to arrange and pay for their bike rentals. Tandems and e-bikes are welcome. Those wishing to bring tandems or e-bikes, please contact the Ride Leader before submitting a request to be put on the ride.  For those bringing their own bikes, bike boxes will be stored until we return to Palm Springs.

Health and Safety

Vaccinations for Covid are recommended, but not required. 

Participants are expected to come to the tour in good health and ready to ride. Should someone's health become compromised and the group’s health and safety placed in jeopardy, a plan will be developed by the ride leader(s) and communicated to all individuals. The expectation is for the group to work together to mitigate any spread of infection or illness as a means to ensure the tour can continue as planned.

COST & ADMINISTRATION

The tour cost of $2350 per person covers hotel costs (double occupancy), breakfast daily, 2 dinners, eight Happy Hours, two lunch sandwiches, bike box storage and transportation of riders and their bikes to the remote start at Box Canyon.

Tour cost excludes alcohol (except at Happy Hours), entry charges to local attractions, and other incidentals. 

An initial deposit of $1350 is required and is due upon acceptance on the tour.  The second payment of $1000 is due October 30, 2024. The cost of a solo supplement is $1375. 

SINGLES & SOLOS POLICY

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 October 1, 2024, to find a roommate. If they are unable to find a roommate, they will have the option to receive a full refund (minus the BAC Ride Registration Fee and Payment Processing Fee) or pay the $1375 Solo 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.

Solos (those riders who do not want a roommate and wish to pay the solo supplement) are welcome. 

The solo supplement payment needs to be received by September 1, 2024. BAC is now able to receive solo supplement payments via the Zelle payment transfer system, if it's more convenient and if your bank supports it. Checks can still be sent to the BAC office, made out to “BAC” with a notation of the tour name included on the check, and mailed to: Bicycle Adventure Club, PO Box 23998, San Diego, CA 92193. To pay your solo supplement by  Zelle :

1) In your bank's website, add Bicycle Adventure Club as a new recipient with the email address treasurer@bicycleadventureclub.org.

2) Initiate a payment.

3) In the message block, enter the name of the ride.

CANCELLATION POLICY

The BAC Ride Registration Fee and Payment Processing Fees are not refundable unless the entire tour is cancelled because the number of participants registered is less than the minimum established for the tour. 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 canceling roommate may also be liable for the solo 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 the 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.

Insurance:

Before participating in any BAC tour, you should assess whether your medical and travel insurance coverage is sufficient. BAC maintains insurance that covers expenses related to accidents. This coverage applies when touring inside the US, regardless of your nationality. It’s assumed that members’ personal insurance will cover medical emergencies such as sudden and unexpected sickness, so these have not been included in the BAC policy. Coverage is subject to a $1000 deductible. You may want to consider personal coverage for emergency evacuation, as this is not included. The costs of treatment or quarantine for Covid and other unexpected illnesses are not covered. You should ensure that your vaccinations are up to date.

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 terms of the Release of Liability (ROL), and pay the Tour Deposit and the non-refundable BAC Ride Registration Fee 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.