AdventureCORPS is pleased to present
Velo & Vino Solvang , a Wine Country Cycling Camp
An amazing cycling retreat with wine tasting and winery visits based in California’s Solvang and Santa Ynez Valley
Friday-Tuesday, April 5-9, 2024
We welcome you join us in Solvang, the “Danish Capital of America” nestled in Southern California’s world renowned Santa Ynez Valley wine region equally famous for its scenic and quiet roads for cycling.
Participants will enjoy vehicle-supported world-class cycling in the Santa Ynez Valley. Each day’s ride will start and finish at our host hotel in Solvang, with multiple distances offered each day, offering something for everyone. This camp is suitable for most any eager cyclist, whether gearing up for a first-ever century or gran fondo, or for a long season of triathlon, bike racing, bike adventuring. It is also suitable for “bike-curious” runners who want to discover and learn more about this sport. Best of all, this cycling retreat offers the pure enjoyment of exploring a fantastic cycling region.
Besides incredible cycling, we will also enjoy wineries, wine tasting, and fabulous food. The riding, camaraderie, and setting are so fabulous that we believe this camp will become an annual pilgrimage for all who attend. (We will also modify routes and feature different wineries and restaurants each year so that it’s a new adventure every year.) Register here!
Located just a 40-minute drive from Santa Barbara (or two hours from LAX), Solvang is known as both the “Danish Capital of America” and the “Most Christmasy Town in America.” Solvang and the Santa Ynez Valley are also legendary for providing some of the finest cycling in North America, and several pro cycling teams host their winter training camps here.
Truly, you will love the cycling, and you will love the town and the valley. Non-riding spouses and family members will have plenty to do, too, including horseback riding, shopping, touristing, hiking, visiting secluded beaches, even glider rides and more – and, of course, plenty of wine tasting! (There are also local breweries!) Read and learn more about Solvang, and about the Santa Ynez Valley.
Velo & Vino is designed as a multi-day lifestyle adventure – six days of fantastic cycling and outdoor adventure in a really fun, interesting, and beautiful area – and the experience is only as difficult as YOU want it to be. Each day, participants can make their daily mileage any number they want! Every activity is optional; participants are free to “check out any time you like” for a break, extra rest, or private time. If you love cycling and want to get away from it all and enjoy the company of fellow cyclists in an incredible area, then you will enjoy Velo & Vino with AdventureCORPS! Please join us!
Registration & What’s Included
Register here! Your Velo & Vino entry fee includes:
- Five days of awesome cycling: Printed Route Slips + Downloadable GPS Files & Strava & RideWithGPS Routes
- Support vehicle with snacks, drinks, and energy foods on the road each day
- Friay Evening: Welcome Banquet in Solvang at Osteria Grappolo in Solvang
- Saturday Afternoon: Wine / Drinks + Charcuterie at Clean Slate in Solvang
- Sunday Mid-Day (during ride): Catered picnic with wine at Koehler Winery
- Monday Evening: Grand Finale Banquet at Petros Winery & Restaurant
- Tuesday Morning (at ride finish): Aebleskiver + Coffee at Solvang Restaurant
- Pre-Ride Dynamic Warm-Up each morning
- Coaching and/or Bike Fitting, if desired
- Velo & Vino commemorative Items
- Photography (always free at our events!)
Registration is limited to 30 riders: First come, first served. The registration fees go up $100 on January 1, 2024. Please plan ahead and register ASAP!
Refunds: Registration fees are non-transferable. Registration fees are refundable, less 25%, until 30 days prior to the camp. After that, no refunds or other forms of credit will be given. (See all other Registration & Participation Policies below.)
Bring your non-cycling Spouses and Friends! For up to 10 non-riders, we offer a registration option which includes participation in all of the food and drink activities, but not the cycling. This fee is refundable, less 25%, until 30 days prior to the camp. After that, no refunds or other forms of credit will be given. (See all other Registration & Participation Policies below.)
Where and Host Hotel
The official host hotel for Velo & Vino Solvang is the Royal Copenhagen Inn, located in the heart of Solvang, surrounded by its finest shops, restaurants and bakeries. The Royal Copenhagen will have you believing you have traveled to Denmark. The Inn was built in the traditional style of a village, or neighborhood, with the outside of the buildings being exact duplicates of the buildings found on a street in Copenhagen. Continental breakfast is included. Official Check-In time is 400pm and Check-Out is by 1100am. A limited number of pet-friendly rooms are available with a $25 per night surcharge. (Participants are responsible for making their own reservations. Staying at the Royal Copenhagen is not required, but it is a nice hotel, a great location, and very reasonable priced, with special pricing for our riders.)
Daily Destinations and Schedule
Each day’s ride will start and finish at the Royal Copenhagen in Solvang. All distances listed below are round-trip. Velo & Vino isn’t only for those who want to ride big miles every day! Each day offers different distance options which are all lovely rides, long on beauty, photo op’s, sightseeing, cafés, bakeries, wineries, and more!
NOTE: Sunrise is at approximately 700am and Sunset is approximately 720pm each day. It is usually foggy in the morning, with the sun burning through between 900 and 1000am.
Pre-Ride: Before each ride, we will do a five minute off-the-bike Dynamic Warm-Up. (This is done while standing, so no towels or props are needed.)
Friday, April 5: Welcome to Velo & Vino!
East Santa Ynez Valley Loop through Los Olivos and over Ballard Canyon
300-500pm: Welcome Ride to roll out your legs, test your bike, and see a few sights!
Route VVS#1 (20.3 miles with 1000′ of elevation gain) View route on RideWithGPS.com.
400-600pm: Check into hotel; check in for Velo & Vino
600pm: Welcome Dinner (nearby, walking distance)
Saturday, April 6: 900am Start
Buellton – Santa Rosa Road – Lompoc – Harris Grade – Los Alamos – Drum Canyon – Buellton
Route VVS#2A (61.5 miles with 3400′ of elevation gain) View on RideWithGPS.com.
Route VVS#2B (46 miles miles with 2100′ of gain) View on RideWithGPS.com.
400-500pm: Wine / Drinks + Charcuterie at Clean Slate in Solvang
Sunday, April 7: 900am Start
Drum Canyon – Los Alamos – Cat Canyon – Sisquoc – Foxen Canyon – picnic with wine at Koehler Winery during ride
Route VVS#4A (59 miles with 3600′ of gain) View Route on RideWithGPS.com.
Route VVS#4B (44.7 miles with 2800′ of gain) View Route on RideWithGPS.com.
About Koehler Winery: For almost 25 years, the Koehler family has dedicated its collective heart and soul to Koehler Winery with a focus on Rhône and Bordeaux-style wines. Acclaimed for its pleasant hospitality and welcoming atmosphere, our winery invites families and friends to relax and enjoy your tasting or wines by the glass and bottle at one of our picturesque outdoor settings. Be sure to stop and say hello to our four-legged friends and emus who hang out daily.
Monday, April 8: 900am Start
Buellton – Santa Rosa Road – Jalama Beach – and back
Route VVS#5A (75.6 miles with 5000′ of elevation gain) View Route on RideWithGPS.com.
Route VVS#5B (41.3 miles with 2100′ of gain) View Route on RideWithGPS.com.
530pm: Depart to Petros Restaurant on Foxen Canyon Road for catered dinner
About Petros: Our menu is a combination of the best ingredients that Greece and California cuisine have to offer. We import olive oil, feta, honey, oregano and wines from Greece, the freshest organic vegetables from our farms in Los Olivos and wineries of our great state. Quality, simplicity, healthy and tasty food is the creation of that combination.
Tuesday, April 9: 830am Start
Nojoqui Falls Park and Back, followed by Arnie’s Aebleskiver + Coffee at Solvang Restaurant
Route VVS#6 (14 miles with 900 feet of gain) View Route on RideWithGPS.com.
Weather & What to Bring
Solvang is located just behind Santa Barbara, California (on the inland side of the coastal mountain range) at just 500 feet (150m) of elevation. In late March we can generally expect cool but nice weather. It is nearly always foggy in the mornings – due to the marine layer which travels down the Santa Ynez River basin from the ocean overnight – and that generally burns off to bring blue skies and sunshine by 1000am. In late March the average high is 70F (21C) with an overnight low of 42F (6C.) Rain is possible, but not likely. Click here for current weather.
Bringing various layers to wear is important. Besides shorts and jersey, wear or carry arm and leg warmers, a thin wool t-shirt base layer, cycling vest, and a windbreaker.
Riders should come prepared for any type of weather and typical mechanical issues. At the very least, all riders should carry a spare tube, tire, pump, patch kit, basic tools, water bottles, money, personal and medical identification, cell phone (it will work most of the time, but not always), money, credit card, and a good attitude. There is a bike shop in Solvang, if needed, and bikes can be rented locally as well.
Add to that the necessary fuel and fluid for your each day’s adventure (but our support vehicle will stop at various locations along the route to provide drinks, snacks, and energy foods). (We will send all participants a detailed suggested packing list.)
Registration and Participation Policies
- All entrants are required to sign the Accident Waiver during registration AND at check-in (before beginning the event). The waiver may not be modified in any manner.
- We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone.
- Velo & Vino will take place rain or shine.
- If the event is canceled due to pandemic, extreme weather, community disaster, or other force majeure – at least 30 days prior to the event – a 50% refund or 50% credit will be offered to participants. If canceled less than 30 days prior to the event, there will be no refunds or credits.
- All routes are subject to change due to weather, road work, or other factors.
- Some food and drink venues and details may be subject to change.
- All riders must be friendly and always display a good attitude.
- All riders must carry proper personal identification and personal emergency contact phone number at all times while cycling.
- All riders must wear a properly fitted and fastened helmet while cycling.
- All riders must obey all laws and all relevant aspects of the California Motor Vehicle Code.
- All riders must follow the basic rules for safe cycling, including, but not limited to: Ride to the right, single file at all times. Stop at all stop signs and red signals. Protect and warn one another about road hazards and traffic. Don’t overlap wheels. Practice safe paceline and group riding etiquette. Be courteous to and cognizant of motorists and other road users.
- No personal support vehicles, but if you have a spouse who wants to support all the riders, drop us a note and maybe we can use their help.
