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Pandemic plays havoc with training camps, bike travel

Published March 17, 2020

BOULDER, Colo. (BRAIN) — With travel restrictions increasing and social distancing the norm, it's no surprise cycling training camps and two-wheeled travel excursions are being called off because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Peaks Coaching Group, Carmichael Training Systems and Trek Travel all have had to postpone or cancel spring events.

Hunter Allen, CEO and founder of Peaks Coach Group, said the Epic Appalachian Gravel Grinder Bike Camp on April 1-5 in Bedford, Virginia, has been rescheduled for May 20-24. Campers already registered who can't attend can request a full refund or have their registration transferred to the Fall Appalachian Gravel Grinder Camp on Sept. 30-Oct. 4 or to any other camp. Peaks' other events, including the sold-out Spring Blue Ridge Power Camp on April 19-24 in Bedford, are on schedule as of now.

On the Carmichael Training Systems website, founder Chris Carmichael announced all camps and Bucket List Events are suspended until April 15. All camps and events will be rescheduled if possible and everything after that date is still planned. Those registered for any camp or event who cannot reschedule will receive a credit toward any future camp or event.

Carmichael said all CTS coaches and staff are working remotely for the time being.

Trek Travel's president, Tania Burke, announced on its website that all European trips through April 12 are cancelled. Participants can opt for a full refund, switch to another date or destination with no fees or keep the balance on file for any future trip, no expiration.

All North American trips through March 29 are canceled with the same options available as the European trips. For all 2020 trips and future bookings, Trek Travel has modified its cancellation policy to provide guests with more flexibility up until 48 hours before the trip. Go to Trek Travel's website for complete details.

"We are monitoring all trips on a rolling 30-day basis prior to trip start date — or sooner if necessary — and making adjustments," Burke wrote. "This is an evolving situation, and we are dedicated to making sure all Trek Travel guests have options when considering traveling with us."

Western Spirit, a mountain bike tour company based in Moab, Utah, is canceling all trips for a month, starting Tuesday, owner Mark Sevenoff told BRAIN.

"We just made decision to canel for next month," Sevenoff said. "We’ve run a bunch of trips in Arizona in the last month, we have a Maze trip out now in Canyonlands. For a lot of people canyon lands is Canyonlands is one of safest places you can be ... this is our 30th anniversary year and one of our mottos is getting people away from the crowds and we thought we might be able to get through this, but things have racheted up recently."

Sevenoff said the company will continue paying its guides during the closure.

"They might be painting tables or working on trucks, or tuning bikes but they'll have work," he said. 

Topics associated with this article: Coronavirus

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