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Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Penticton Bike Tour/Wine Camp Day 1

There are two ride categories from which you can choose each day: Rad (shorter ride) and Awesome-Rad (longer ride). But before we get into the Day One rides, let’s cover the insurance hullabaloo.

If you don’t have riding insurance, click here and scroll to the bottom of the page to pay. The cost to you is $35, and you can’t ride with us unless you have it. If you are a member of the Speed Theory Cycling Team, the Alberta Bicycling Association OR a member of another Provincial CYCLING association (i.e., BC, Sask, etc...) you already have the insurance coverage and don’t need to purchase this additional insurance. If you are not a member of at least one of those organizations listed above and want to ride with us in May, then you need to purchase the insurance. Click here to get the insurance.

Day One Awesome-Rad category: Anarchist; approx. 180-200kms. This route will take us south through Oliver and then we hang a west at Osoyoos. The climb from here is long but moderate and fairly gradual. Jared and I did this climb last year and we were able to chat it up pretty good without being too winded. Where you turn around to come back down (deer, eagle, sasquatch, etc…) will determine the distance.

Day One Rad category: Area 51 loop; 75kms. Both groups will start out together, but at “Okay” Falls, the Rad category ride will split off and head up Green Lake Road. The ride highlight is definitely the “The Wall”. It includes a short but steep, winding climb that leads you to the See Ya Later Ranch winery. The scenery is also pretty cool just past the winery and once you get back to the Astrophysical Observatory. Mmmmmm...astrophysics.

While we’re mentioning the See Ya Later Ranch winery, make sure to head back there for some tastings. It’s a great place to stalk up on your whites for summer drinking. They’ve got a great Pinot Gris; a wine called Pinot 3, which is made up of Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir; and one called Jimmy My Pal, which is a Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Semillon blend. All three a super fun and super yummy, plus the view of the valley from the winery is pretty cool.

Next Penticton Bike Tour/Wine Camp update will include Day Two rides and a couple more things I haven’t thought of yet.

3 comments:

Simon F said...

I mentioned this a couple days ago in the comments for the Cat 5 rides post, but I thought I'd mention it again in case people missed it...

My wife booked us at the Tiki Shores and told them that we were with SpeedTheory. The nice lady on the phone said that if at least 4 other people book and say they're with the team, we all get a 10% discount.

Simon F.

Anonymous said...

Damn, I made the mistake of booking my wedding for May long - talk about poor planning! I am going to miss the epic rides this year - have fun guys...

Ryan said...

All is not lost Chris. You say your wedding is on the long weekend? That means you can get at least five days of riding in prior to your big day. We'll make it work.

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