Team Sheeper Tours and Camps 2013

Menlo Swim and Sport

In 2013 we are offering tours to three great destinations: Russian River Tour, Lake Tahoe Camp, and Santa Barbara Tour.  Tours and camps have given variety and focus to our training calendar for over 10 years. They offer shared experiences, great food, long rewarding days and stunning landscapes, all packaged in a compact, active, long weekends that works well for busy athletes.


Lake Tahoe Photo


Plainly stated, here are our goals:

  • Trips for endurance oriented cyclists and multisport athletes
  • Led by professional and knowledgeable guides and coaches, assisted by attentive support staff
  • Well planned and coordinated logistics with comprehensive communications
  • Value priced, without compromising the quality of the athlete’s experience
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2013 Blue Sky Tours

In 2013 we are offering tours to some great destinations: Russian River, Lake Tahoe and Santa Barbara. Tours offer shared experiences, great food, long rewarding days and stunning landscapes, all packaged in a compact, active, long weekends that works well for busy athletes.

Russian River Tour May 25-27, 2013 (2 or 3 days)

From our base hotel along the lush, redwood lined, Russian River, we’ll explore quiet roads in Sonoma and Napa counties connecting the interior Coast Range and the windswept Pacific Coast. Each day begins with miles of famed vineyards and ends with dinner prepared by our tour chef. Choose 2 or 3 days and various daily mileage options from 70-100 miles.

Lake Tahoe Bike Camp, August 23-25, 2013 (2-3 days)

Swim in ultra clear water, ride in the Sierra Mountains and run along the Truckee River and lakefront as you prepare for Lake Tahoe IM or other late season triathlons (or preview the course for 2014).  This high altitude camp will give you coach-supported race practice on the Ironman course.  IM Camp is based at King’s Beach near the race start.

Palo Alto to Santa Barbara Tour, September 27-29, 2013 (3 days)

We’ve been doing this tour the longest because it showcases gorgeous terrain along iconic Highway 1. From the San Francisco peninsula, we cross the Santa Cruz Mountains and then sweep down the coast to Carmel and Big Sur, where rugged cliffs plunge to the Pacific. The route continues through the Central Coast’s vegetable farms, ranches and vineyards before returning to the sun-warmed coast of Santa Barbara. Cyclist return by car from Santa Barbara.

Levels are defined in our Tours and Camp FAQ

Tours and Camp FAQ

Team Sheeper has offered 25 trips over the past 10 years, primarily to our triathlon team members with qualified guests always welcome. We’ve developed cycling, running and multisport trips but they all have some common themes: endurance-oriented, awesome destinations and just enough planning to have an adventure. In 2012, we decided to expand our offerings and open up tours and camps to more people, specifically seeking out other triathletes and multisport athletes who love to get places under their own power.

Who comes on tours and camps?

Cyclists and multisport athletes who like our tours also like endurance adventures, are comfortable riding at a touring/recreational pace for 4-6 hours, can read maps and route sheets and who have a spirit of self reliance. Some tours and camps are designed for emerging athletes, so we’ll have more coaching/trip leader to support varying abilities. 

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What types of accommodations are provided on the trips?

Team Sheeper does not include lodging as part of the trip. Athletes are provided with hotel suggestions and book their own arrangements. We found that this was the best way to give athletes budget choices and flexibility. Team Sheeper seeks moderately priced hotels that offer convenience to our route and basic amenities. They are Holiday Inn to Best Western price range and quality.

Camping trips have other arrangements, so please find out more in that case.

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What types of meals are provided on the trips?

If a trip says ‘Chef-prepared’ meals then you’ll enjoy some of the tastiest, healthiest and most heart-warming food on the planet. Tamara Frey, also known as Mimi, is a professional chef for Tours and Camps. Frey Winery, started more than 30 years ago by Mimi’s parents, was the first organic winery in Mendocino. She is the chef behind many of the community events and private functions held at the winery. She graduated 2nd in her class from the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco. Mimi ran the kitchen garden and taught spa cuisine cooking classes at the famous health spa Rancho La Puerta. More about Mimi and her remarkable ranch at www.freywine.com

If a trip says ‘restaurant meals’ then we’ve selected local restaurants that can best meet our needs. In remote areas there may only be a few options, and that’s one of the fun things about touring.

Finally, if you have dietary restrictions, please let us know when you register so we can adjust the meal offerings to suit you. View a sample menu plan.

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What is included in the price?

  • Breakfast and dinner while on the tour/camp, including post-ride Team Lounge snacks and refreshments.
  • Most lunches are included. Occasionally when we are traveling through an area with ample and unique food opportunities lunch will not be included, this will be clear in the trip description.
  • Expertise and services of trip leaders & coaches
  • Comprehensive pre-tour information to registered athletes
  • Van transfer for your luggage

What is NOT included in the price?

  • All lodging
  • Bicycle and all bicycle related gear and accessories
  • Transportation to the start and finish of the camp/tour
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How fit do I need to be to enjoy a Tour or Camp?

It depends. We try to rate our tours by ‘level’, sometimes a tour offers multiple routes to accommodate riders who want to do different distances based on their fitness or interests.

Here is how we define ‘Levels’ in road cycling, which are used to match athletes with our tours and camps (we will add running benchmarks later). If you have a question about whether you are ready to do a tour or camp, send us email at info@teamsheeper.com

Level Ride Time Road Bike Average Daily Benchmarks (Local to Bay Area Peninsula)
Level 1 3-4 hours 30-50 miles Old La Honda Climb, under 38 min (3 miles, 1300’)
Confident with 40m ride to San Gregorio and back
45 miles, 3500’ climbing
Level 2 3-6 hours 40-80 miles Old La Honda Climb, under 32 min
Confident with 60m ride to Pescadero and back
60 miles, 5000’ climbing
Level 3 5-10 hours 60-120 miles Old La Honda Climb, under 24 min
Confident with 105m Bonny Doon loop (Epic Ride)
105 miles, 9,000’ climbing

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How do you accommodate people of varying ability?

For point to point tours (cycling to a different destination each evening), you’ll need to be close to the suggested level. For base hotel trips (cycling from the same destination each day) offering various routes, you can mix and match distances each day to put together the trip that is just right. For training camps, there is nearly always the option to adjust distance and effort within a progressive, but realistic, workload range. At camps the emphasis will be on the time we allocate to each sport; so each athlete will adjust the distance and the intensity to their level of fitness and fatigue. Our coaches will help you tune the camp so you get the most out of your time.

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How do your leaders/coaches support the routes?

There is a coach leader and at least one assistant coach on every tour. For tours with multiple distance options and camps we have additional coaches to help support athletes, usually having one coach ride towards the front and another ride towards the back.

We place a great emphasis on safety and will do our very best to see that each athlete completes each segment of the camp safely. Since the roving support vehicle and our coaches need to check in with athletes of different paces on our bike courses you’ll need to navigate and make good decisions on your own some of the time. We’ll make sure that you have good route sheets, maps, supplemental nutrition and fluids and that your gear is in the right place.

How is my luggage transported?

Our support vehicle will transport your gear and can often carry some special needs supplies that you can get during the day at designated stops or the lunch stop<back to top>br />

How large are the groups?

Typically 20-35

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What information will I receive prior to the trip?

  • Two weeks before the trip you will receive a pre-trip letter which includes the following?
  • Detailed trip itinerary
  • Directions to the trip start
  • Addresses, phone, web address of each night’s accommodations
  • Suggested list of items to bring, assuming a standard list
  • General information about the route and expected conditions
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How do I register?

Tour and camp registration is via the Team Sheeper and Menlo Swim and Sport registration system. Please note that this includes a click through ‘Release of Liability, Assumptions of All Risks and Arbitration Agreement” and some personal information that will help us serve you on the trip.

We use the Menlo Swim and Sport registration system for camps and tours. If you have registered for a camp in the past under Menlo Swim and Sport, not Team Sheeper, you will need to call the Service Center at 650-330-2232 for a new password, otherwise register as a new account by following these steps

When you click on the Register Today link, it will take you to the Menlo Swim and Sport - Swim School Registration page. Click on the Register button under New User.

  • Fill out the details requested on the next page, then click Continue
  • On the next page, click on the Register New Student button.
  • Select Add Me as a Student, and fill out your date of birth, then click Save.
  • On the next page, select Browse Classes.
  • Select Camps & Clinics, and the tour/camp of your choice which will appear as an option. Deselect all other options and select Find Classes. Note: registration may not be open for all camps, check back 8 weeks before the tour/camp start date.
  • On the next page, Available Classes will have the camp listed, and select Book Class, then Confirm Classes
  • To finalize the booking select Confirm.
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What is the cancellation and refund policy?

  • If you cancel your registration, here is the policy
  • Registered participants are entitled to a refund minus a $50 processing fee with cancellation 30 days before the start of the tour.
  • Registered participants are entitled to a refund minus a $100 fee with cancellation 14 days before the start of the tour.
  • Refunds will not be given to registered participants with a cancellation 14 days or less before the start of the tour.
  • You may opt for a 100% business credit to be held on your account (no Administrative Fee is deducted).
  • Credit does not expire.
  • Credits are transferable to other family members, under the same account.
  • Credits may be used for other programming at Menlo Swim and Sport.
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