Event Description

The Wine Country Bike Trek is a unique and well-established cycling event that takes place in the beautiful Santa Ynez Valley wine country and benefits People Helping People. Riders will have a choice of signing up for one, two and three day rides. Our goal is a minimum of 50 riders. Riders will be given an opportunity to collect pledges for a chance to win a variety of great prizes.

Each day, riders choose from a 30- or 50-mile ride. Volunteers will greet you every ten miles with fully catered rest stops. The Spirit of the Wine Country Bike Trek is community, family, and friends. We guarantee you’ll walk away with new friends and fantastic memories of your weekend in the Santa Ynez Valley. Best of all, the proceeds from the Bike Trek make a difference in the lives of those in need.

Three Day Option, June 14th-16th

Begin at Solvang Elementary School in Solvang on Friday, June 14th. We’ll transport your camping gear to our campsite as you begin your scenic tour of the Santa Ynez Valley. Saturday, you will tour around the Santa Ynez Valley and end back at our campsite. On Sunday, your ride begins at our campsite and ends back at the park at Zaca Creek Golf Course in Buellton (223 Shadow Mountain Dr) with a BBQ lunch donated by Buellton Rotary.

Two Day Option, June 15th-16th

Begin your ride at Midland School up Figueroa Mountain Road. Tour in and around the Santa Ynez Valley on Saturday, June 15th and Sunday, June 16th. On Sunday, your ride begins at our campsite and ends back at the park at Zaca Creek Golf Course in Buellton (223 Shadow Mountain Dr) with a BBQ lunch donated by Buellton Rotary.

One Day Option, June 15th

One-day-riders begin and end at our campsite in Los Olivos on Saturday, June 15th. Join us for fun and festivities including a barbecue compliments of the Kiwanis Club of the South Coast - a donation they have made for 30+ years!

This is a fundraising event for People Helpling People and while fundraising is not required, we hope you will raise funds a qualify for some great prizes. Money raised from the Wine Country Bike Trek will help support People Helping People’s emergency and basic needs programs, including a Food Program, which provides groceries to over 1,100 people bi-weekly, health care access for adults and children that are underinsured and uninsured, and programs such as counseling for children and teens and an after school youth program offering homework assistance, tutorials, and arts and crafts activities.

Fees

ADULTS: $200 for 3-day, $150 for 2-day and $75 for 1-day

YOUTH (8-14): $100 for 3-day, $75 for 2-day and $37.50 for 1-day

Children under 8 are free, but pledge collecting is encouraged.

Event details and schedule

Before the Wine Country Bike Trek

When to be in Solvang and Midland School:

Plan your travel so you arrive at check-in at Solvang Elementary School Gym Parking Lot in Solvang no later than 8:30am on your registration day Friday, June 14th, for three-day trekkers. One and Two-day trekkers will meet at 8:30am on Saturday, June 15th at Midland School. Directions are listed on www.winecountrybiketrek.com

First Stop: Check-in/Registration

This is the important first day of your adventure, the launching pad from which everything begins. When you check in, a volunteer will give you your Bib Number and verify you have signed your medical waiver. If you haven’t, you’ll be directed to do so on-site. The Bib Number should remain on your bike for the duration of the event as it will help us to easily identify Trekkers and their equipment.

Next Stop: Loading Your Gear (3 day riders only)

Now that you have completed the check-in process, double check all your bags and load them directly onto the Wine Country Bike Trek gear truck. Please load gear as far to the back of the truck as possible.

Next Stop: Safety and Orientation

There is nothing on the Wine Country Bike Trek more important to us than your safety. One of the ways we help make the event safe is through the Safety and Orientation talk. It is informative, inspiring, and sets the tone for the days to come. The talk lets you know exactly how things will work on the event and reminds you what you can do to have the best event possible—through safety, and through basic human kindness.

Last but not Least: Other Things to Do

1. Meet your fellow participants.
2. Have your bike tuned up one last time.
3. Answer those last-minute questions.

Please allow plenty of time to get everything done.

On the Road

The Route

Each day, trekkers can choose from 30 or 50 miles routes (marked with yellow and orange arrows). Support and Gear (SAG) stops are offered every ten miles.

SAG (Support and Gear) Stops

SAG stops will be staffed by volunteers every ten miles along the trek routes. Fill up your water bottles and drink as much as you need. Snacks, fruit, and sports drinks will also be available to keep you fueled for your journey. Medical supplies will be available as well.

If You Are Unable to Continue

If you get injured or are too exhausted to finish the day’s mileage, there will be vehicles—what we call “rovers”—to pick you up and take you to the next pit stop, where you can get medical attention if you need it. If you are still unable to ride, we will take you to camp. As the day comes to a close, rovers will pick up any trekkers who are still on the road, so they are not on the road after dark. At the bottom of each map is the name and phone number of our head rover. Call him if you need help while out on the road.

Medical Emergencies

As with any emergency, dial 911 first! Immediately report any medical emergencies to People Helping People staff or crew. Again, at the bottom of your map is the name and phone number of our head rover. Call him right away! We have a full crew of volunteers to assist you, as well as access to local emergency facilities for more serious injuries.

Weather

Dressing in layers is the best approach to staying comfortable. We also suggest you bring sunblock. Highs are in the 80’s - 90’s and lows in the upper 40’s. Afternoon highs rarely exceed 100 degrees.

Rider Safety Information

1. Carry a spare tube, pump, water, sunscreen, money, ID, cell phone, emergency phone numbers and critical medical information.
2. Helmets MUST be worn.
3. All riders must sign the release form before starting the ride. Registration is null and void if release form is not signed.
4. Minors (under 18 years) must be accompanied by an adult, and a parent or guardian must sign the release form. No Exceptions.
5. Bicyclists must obey all California Vehicle Code laws, including all stop signs and signals.

Daily Directions

Each morning, route descriptions will be available in the breakfast area or at check-in. In addition, the route will be clearly marked each day with yellow (30 miles) and orange (50 miles) arrows that will show you the way. Following other trekkers is helpful as well.

Life at Camp

You will be living in an amazing camping area. Think of it as a great big slumber party for the Wine Country Bike Trek community. Midland School is very gracious to allow us to use its campus. Please leave the campsite cleaner than when we arrived.

Meals

The Wine Country Bike Trek has a great menu set up for the entire event. The following meals are included with your registration:

• Dinner on Friday and Saturday night from 5pm to 6pm at Midland School
• Breakfast on Saturday and Sunday morning from 7am to 8:30am at Midand School
• Lunch on Sunday afternoon from 12pm to 1pm at Riverview Park in Buellton.

Vegetarian options are available at every meal.

Showers, Sinks, and Toilet Facilities

Midland School has three sets of showers that it graciously allows us to use for our Wine Country Bike Trek weekend. Please respect the school grounds and keep these shower rooms clean. Don’t forget to bring your own towel. Each shower room is equipped with toilets. Portable toilets will be set up at two of the SAG stops along the routes on certain days. Other restroom facilities are available as porta-potties along the Wine Country Bike Trek routes.

Other Camp Services

Ride information, beverages, chips, and salsa will be located in the Mess Hall along with general information about People Helping People.

Evening Entertainment

Each evening, you can gather at the Mess Hall to hear news about the route, fundraising, prizes, music, and more. Don’t forget to bring a folding chair!

Safety Policies

Our first priority is your safety. Make it your priority, too. The motto for the Wine Country Bike Trek is “Stay Alert! Stay Alive!” Please follow all directions on safety. It’s of the utmost importance to everyone on the event—trekkers, crew, and staff alike.

1. Safety Rules

• You have a responsibility, not only for your own safety, but also for the safety of everyone on the Wine Country Bike Trek.
• Remember that riding in a group is different from riding by yourself. Your behavior affects others’ lives, as well as your own. Please ride single file whenever possible. We’d like our ride to enjoy the support of local motorists!
• The road is not closed to traffic during the Wine Country Bike Trek. Please use caution and ride single file line when riding near other vehicles.
• Unsafe behavior is cause for immediate expulsion from the Wine Country Bike Trek. If you are at all unsure about what unsafe behavior is, please ask.
• Cooperate with Wine Country Bike Trek officials at all time. Highway officers and local law enforcement will be monitoring the event—so please obey their instructions and signals.

2. Earphones/Cell Phones/Radios - Participants are not permitted to wear earphones or use radios or cellular phones while riding. However, we do recommend that you carry a cell phone with you in case of emergency.

3. Laws - Participants are not to engage in any activity in violation of any criminal or statutory laws.

4. Inappropriate Behavior - Participants should never engage in inappropriate behavior, including fighting, use of abusive language, or harassment of others.

5. Directions/Instructions - Participants must always follow directions and instructions given to them by People Helping People. All trekkers must stay on the official Wine Country Bike Trek route.

6. Rules of the Road - Participants must follow the rules of the road at all times. Use common courtesy.

Event Policies

The following policies exist to keep the Wine Country Bike Trek running smoothly and to ensure a positive experience for everyone.

1. Refunds - Donations are non-refundable and non-transferable.

2. Medical Matters - You will be required to sign a medical waiver before participating. We ask that you carry your medical insurance card on you or in a fanny pack while riding.

3. Identification - All bikes must clearly display the ROAD ID signs during the Wine Country Bike Trek.

4. Daily Check-in - Please check in with our event staff at the Mess Hall each night and each morning as you enter/exit the course for the day. SAG volunteers will also be checking your numbers off as you stop at each stop.

5. Route Hours - Riders may begin riding on the routes as early as 7:30am and may ride until 5:00pm. At 5:00 pm, rovers will drive the routes and pick up all riders remaining on the road and take them into camp.

6. Vehicles - No vehicles are allowed to drive past the Mess Hall at Midland School. This means that any vehicles on school grounds are to remain near the entrance. There will be barricades set up as a reminder for you. We ask that all vehicles associated with the ride prominently display our dashboard sign, in either the front or back window of the vehicle.

7. Campsite Courtesy - We will be guests at our campsite, Midland School, and at all of our SAG stops. We want our hosts, as well as out participants and volunteers, to have a positive experience on the Wine Country Bike Trek, so please follow these rules:

• Show respect and don’t litter at camp, at SAG stops, or on the road.
• Use the portable and regular toilets provided.
• No noise or radios after 10:00 p.m. We all want to get a good night’s sleep.
• Camp only in designated tent or vehicle areas.
• Be respectful of all staff, fellow participants, and volunteers, as well as the various staff members
• Please do not wander around the campus, as some of the faculty will still be in their homes.
• And of course, “No Smoking” anywhere on the Midland property.

8. Guests - If you would to invite guests, the fee is $20 per meal.

9. If You Have to Leave the Event - Participants who wish to leave the Wine Country Bike Trek need to notify Erica Valdes or another PHP staff person prior to leaving.