All-Inclusive Spring Training Camp - Santa Ynez
- Mar 13, 2026
- Cycling Climbing
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.
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 Includes:
- Daily training sessions with Carmichael Training Systems Coaches
- Daily use of a PowerTap Wireless Wheel System
- Professional Mechanics from the SRAM Race Support Team
- Training Presentations from CTS Coaches and outside professionals
- Complete Ride Support with nutrition and hydration products from Bonk Breaker and Carb Boom.
- CTS Cycling Jersey
- Massages from professional soigneurs
- 5 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 5 dinners
- 6 nights lodging at the ForFriends Inn or Santa Ynez Inn
- Entry into the Solvang Century
Eat. Sleep. Ride. Repeat.
At the All-Inclusive Spring Training Camp we’ll take care of you like you are on a pro team. All meals are included with this camp and you’ll be treated to fresh, nutritous ingredients and enjoy dinners from some of the best local restaurants. Since you’ll be riding many more hours than you normally do at home, we will also provide post-ride massages and access to recovery tools like Normatec compression boots. When you’re not on the bike we encourage you to relax as much as possible and learn about training, nutrition, and recovery during seminars led by our professional coaches.
Explore the Best Routes in Central California!
Santa Ynez is a small town located in Santa Barbara County, near the Los Padres National Forest and just inland from the coast of the Pacific Ocean. Quiet roads and beautiful scenery await the cyclist who is ready to get back out on the bike for the 2017 season. The area is not only famous for its abundant riding routes, but is well known for great restaurants, vineyards, country inns and exceptional wine tasting rooms.
The rides during this camp are a mixture of endurance rides, skills sessions, and structured workouts. This is a training camp, not just a bunch of guided group rides. Our goal is for you to go home tired and more skilled and confident on your bike. Our professional coaches will divide the camp into groups based on riders’ skill and fitness levels so everyone is challenged and no one is overwhelmed. If you’re worried you’re not fit enough for this camp, stop worrying. We have the staff and experience to make sure everyone has a great experience.
The weather during March can vary from 50-80 degrees with the occasional spring rain shower. Please come prepared to ride in all weather conditions.
Camp Itinerary
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
REGISTRATION/CANCELLATIONS
A non-refundable $800.00 deposit is due at time of registration. The remaining balance is due 30 days prior to the camp and will be billed automatically. The credit card information used for your deposit will be billed unless otherwise arranged with the CTS accounting department.
Cancellation:
Airports: Santa Barbara is approximately 35 minutes from Santa Ynez. LAX is approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes from Santa Ynez (allow more time during high traffic periods).
If you’re flying into the Santa Barbara airport on March 6th, we can arrange a shuttle service to your hotel/CTS in Santa Ynez.
Items to pack for any of our cycling camps:
- Bicycle: Clean, tuned and ready to ride
- Gearing: Your bike should have a 12-27 cassette and/or a compact crankset.
- Helmet
- Jerseys: at least 4 (short and or long sleeve)
- Shorts: at least 4 pair
- Wind Vest
- Baselayer : 1 or 2 lightweight
- Rain Jacket
- Arm Warmers
- Socks
- Cycling gloves: short finger
- Cycling Shoes/pedals (carry these with you if traveling by plane)
- Eyewear/sunglasses
- Chamois cream
- Small tote or backpack for anything you wish to keep in support vehicles.
- Heart Rate Monitor and/or Power Meter (Power Tap or SRM or other)
- Sunscreen
- Toiletries for clean up between rides.
Items to add just in case
- Light jacket
- Medium weight jacket
- Long sleeve and/or thermal jersey
- Long finger gloves
- Shoe covers/booties
- Leg or knee warmers or light tights
Other items to consider:
- 12-27 or 12-25 cassette – If you are not accustomed to climbing, are a beginner cyclists or are attending a climbing camp.
- Bottles/mix/food – if you will be arriving before a camp begins or remaining afterward, and wish to ride, please bring what food/drink supplies you will need for your riding.
We will have sport drinks, food, spare tubes/tires, etc in our follow vehicles. Each day we will prepare waterbottles for your bike using Bonk Breaker Nutrition and will provide you with sports nutrition products for use during the camp.
If you have any questions about what to pack or what to look for when purchasing cycling clothing or supplies, please contact us at 866-355-0645 or AthleteServices@trainright.com.
BIKE TRANSPORT AND ASSEMBLY
If you are shipping your bike, please make sure it arrives at CTS by Wednesday, March 5, 2017.
The mailing address for CTS Santa Ynez is:
3640 Sagunto Street, Suite 100
Santa Ynez, CA 93460
(805) 694-8651
If you plan to ship your bike, we recommend using BikeFlights.com.
(Please make sure your bike box/case is clearly labeled with your name)
Consider travel protection for:
- Trip Cancellation
- Trip Interruption
- Emergency Medical Expenses
- Emergency Evacuation/Repatriation of Remains
- Trip Delay
- Baggage & Personal Effects
- Baggage Delay and more.
TRAVEL ASSISTANCE & CONCIERGE SERVICES*: With a Travelex Travel Protection Plan, emergency assistance and travel services are just a phone call away from virtually anywhere in the world.
For more information on the recommended plans or to enroll, click here to enroll online or contact Travelex Insurance Services at 800-228-9792 and reference location number 06-0245.
Please Note: Trip Cancellation plans are only available to U.S. Residents and/or Citizens.
*Travel Assistance & Concierge Services are provided by the designated provider as listed in the Description of Coverage. This is a brief description of benefits. For a summary of plan details on benefits, coverages, limitations and exclusions, please refer to the applicable Description of Coverage. Travel Insurance is underwritten by Transamerica Casualty Insurance Company, Columbus, Ohio; NAIC #10952. 1308333