Memories beyond the Bike
CREATING COMMUNITY WITH 2 WHEELS
Wheeltales is a low cost way to enjoy the experience of travelling by bike. Comradery through a shared experience through wonderful landscapes and camping.
CELBRATING OVER 10 YEARS AND 20 TOURS!
Here is a video to relive some of the wonderful places and faces!!!
INTERVIEW WITH MARK
NEW FORMAT FOR 2022
Well 2021 continues the challenges of 2020 when it comes to Wheeltales tours. Some went great and most people showed but a few, well were a financial disaster. I had the most last minute cancellations ever and most wanted full refunds, which didn't help the cash situation. I've come to realize my limitations when it comes to cancellations and refunds, I have no boundaries and with that recognition, I needed to mitigated some of my financial risk.
A new format will be instituted for 2022 to limited my outlay and create an actual commitment by riders. Here is the basic premises:
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Get a group (10-15) together of committed participants.
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Decide on area and total days of tour.
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Once a group/tour is established, Wheeltales will develop a preliminary route and accommodations.
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Upon route and accommodations approval, total costs estimated, half the total will be needed for to finalize it on the calendar and reserve accommodations.
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Full payment will be needed 30 days prior to start. The group will be on the hook for all 10 planned riders, regardless if all do not show.
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If you are in need of more riders, Wheeltales will send 3 emails a month to members, where we can announce openings in other groups. There will also be social media posts (Facebook, Instagram).
If you have a group or questions, contact Mark at markfriis1@gmail.com or 909-800-4322
And So it Goes....
September 19, 2020
Been sitting with this for nearly 2 weeks. When the fires started erupting, I held up just to see where this would all lead only to have a historic firestorm hi the entire West. So I'll be cancelling the Gold Country Adventure. It was a hard decision but it's the only option at this point of time.
In the meantime, I've had time to start thinking how 2021 may shakedown. For those that don't know, I currently work for San Bernardino County Public Health as the Safe Routes to School project manager. As schools have been moved to online, I had been reassigned to supervise some COVID testing events. Now I'm left wondering what happens to my position at Public Health and funding for my position. With so much up in the air, I've decided to embrace the madness and see what I make happen in 2021 with Wheeltales.
In a few weeks you will see a survey from Wheeltales where I hope to ask some simple questions about what YOU would like to do in 2021. I'm open for it all. I want to see if dedicating a full year to touring might lead to a direction I should move towards. But that really depends on YOU. I need you to get the word about these tours and I'm thinking with this current year keeping many people cooped up there is pent up demand for all the cancelled plans and vacations.
There is another feature I'd like to bring to Wheeltales next year, a scholarship/sponsored riders. Even though these tours are more than reasonable, biking tours can be financially limited for many in the community. There is a younger demographic that we have not be able to to get onboard till this year. I will say having younger folks really added a new level of fun and I'd like to continue exploring new folks with different vision. How thins all shapes up is still being rough drafted but by the start of the year I should have the blueprints. So if you know candidates for such an opportunity, send then to Wheeltales.
That's enough for now. Please be safe and looking forward to seeing many of you next year!!
Peace and Love,
Mark Friis
2020 UPDATED CALENDAR
May 07, 2020
Well it's been a hellava ride so far and who knows where this all takes us. One thing for sure we could use a bit of a break from the madness and a bike ride is just what the spirit could use. With all the personal and societal changes that have embedded itself into daily life, Wheeltales will make some adjustments to accommodate safety concerns. With that we have had to adjust the calendar for current tours but also adding a few shorter events. Please sign up for the news above so you don't miss any updates. Thanks and now here are the revised 2020 Wheeltales tours.
June 21-27 Lassen Adventure $550
July 12-18 Oregon Gravel Adventure $650
Aug 16-22 Central Oregon Coast and Mountains$650
*NEW Oct 9-12 CA Gold Country $350
*NEW Nov 6-9 Santa Cruz $400
2020 WHEELTALES ADVENTURES
January 01, 2020
LOTS OF GREAT OPTIONS. LINK HERE FOR DETAILS AND MORE
March14- CA Central Coast (Paso Robles, Cambria)-5 days $175
May 16- Lassen (Redding)- 7 days $550
June 14- Oregon Gravel Adventure (Central OR)- 7 days $650
July 4 – Lost Coast (Eureka, Humboldt)- 8 days $700
Aug 16 - Central OR Coast (Eugene)- 7 days $650
Oct- New England Fall (CT, MA, VT, NY)- 7 days IN HOUSES $1375
WE HAVE OUR OWN VAN!
January 01, 2020
WE MADE THE JUMP TO ADD MORE TO THE TOURS AND EVENTUALLY LOWER COSTS. THE PURCHASE OF THE VAN WILL ALLOW US MORE FLEXIBILITY AND OPPORTUNITY FOR MORE TOURS AND OTHER ADVENTURES.
If you have ideas of for some new adventures that a van might service better, let's talk. Right now, along with road tours, we are planning more MTB trips and a week long gravel ride for NorCal or Southern Oregon. Plus there is talk of some hiking/backpacking trips to Utah. And as always, it will be, pitch in, low cost adventures.
