All-Inclusive Spring Training Camp - Santa Ynez

  • Apr 26, 2024
  • Climbing Cycling

Is this camp right for me?

Is this camp right for me?

Come to ride your bike and we’ll take care of everything else.

Start your cycling year just like the pros with our flagship Spring Training Camp!  We’ve designed this camp to provide the miles, instruction and motivation to launch you into your best possible year of cycling.  We ride many of the roads that pro teams have used for decades in their own training camps, and you’ll be treated like a pro in every way: from daily massage, to professional mechanical support, to individual power file analysis with our coaches.

This All-Inclusive Spring Training Camp includes 6 nights of luxurious accommodations at the Santa Ynez Inn or For Friends Inn and most meals.  Also included is an entry into the Solvang Century which is one of California’s oldest and most popular century rides.    Throughout the week you will ride the Santa Ynez Valley’s finest roads, described by Chris Carmichael as “spectacular” and “some of the best riding in North America.”   Join us as we ride through beautiful valleys, climb steep mountains, pedal through vineyards and horse farms, and conclude the week by completing the Solvang Century.  The camp is open to riders of all ability levels.

Camp Itinerary

  • Day 1 – Check-In

    This arrival and check in day at CTS Santa Ynez. After dropping of your bike and a brief check-in process, you’ll join the CTS coaching staff and fellow riders for a gourmet dinner and a preview of the week ahead. If you’d like to add any lab testing or a bike fit to your camp, it’s best to arrive before 2 pm on this day. Registration is from 2 to 5:30 pm at our office in Santa Ynez. If you’re flying into the Santa Barbara airport today, we can arrange a shuttle service to your hotel/CTS in Santa Ynez.

  • Day 2 – Skills

    We start camp with a bike handling skills session and the CTS Field Test. Even the best pros spend time working on their skills and there is plenty to learn from the coaches leading and demonstrating the drills. The CTS field test you’ll tackle next will allow you to establish training ranges for the rest of camp. Alumni riders have a Gran Settimana option of extra endurance miles instead of the skills and Field Test. After lunch at a local restaurant, you’ll sit down with a CTS coach to review your Field Test data and discuss power training ranges for the week of riding ahead. The afternoon is free time and we’ll meet again for a group dinner at a local restaurant.

  • Day 3 – Jalama Beach

    Today’s endurance ride focuses on group riding skills as we head towards Jalama Beach. Many consider the ride to Jalama to be the most beautiful in the area, and the views as you crest the final rise to the coast are amazing. This is a technically challenging route with a deceptive amount of climbing, but we know how to customize the day for any ability level. Experienced riders will complete the 85 mile ride, while several shorter options exist for the athletes who need to save their legs for the rest of the week. There is lots of riding to come!Lunch and power data review is at CTS, and each athlete receives a daily sports massage starting today. We’ll have a guest presentation in the evening followed by dinner on your own.

  • Day 4 – Figueroa Mountain

    At most camps we save Figueroa Mountain for the last day, but we’ll be tackling it today! The technique fundamentals, pacing strategies and nutritional tips you’ve learned this far will all help you conquer this extremely challenging “hors catégorie” climb. It’s a mountain that has tested some of the world’s best cyclists, but our coaches and support staff will help you conquer it too. In the words of CTS coach Julia Gieschen: “The only people who don’t make it up Figueroa are the ones that don’t really want to.” And while this mountain will challenge your legs and resolve, you will also enjoy a spectacular ride through the vineyards, ranchland and mountains of California’s Central Coast.Lunch, data recall and massages are scheduled for the afternoon. We’ll meet for a group dinner in the evening.

  • Day 5 – Valley Ride

    Today will be an easier day with the goal of resting the legs ahead of the Solvang Century. Enjoy an easy cruise through the valley on some of our favorite local roads. After lunch we’ll discuss nutrition and pacing for tomorrow’s century ride. We’ll meet for dinner after picking up our registration packets for the Solvang Century.

  • Day 6 – Solvang Century

    We start the day early as we join 4500 of our cycling comrades on a scenic spin through the Santa Ynez and Santa Maria valleys. For over 30 years this popular century has drawn all types of cyclists to one of the best cycling areas in the country. It isn’t the toughest 100 mile route, but after a week of training camp your legs won’t be fresh. We’ll split the camp into appropriate pacing groups that can work together to conquer the century. This ride caps off a great week of big spring miles and our last dinner is a chance to celebrate the camp with new and old cycling friends.

Additional Details & FAQs

All-Inclusive Spring Training Camp – Santa Ynez
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