Faultless Big Wheel Bike Tours in Palm Springs
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Aaaah! This is the life. Lazing by the pool, tummy bursting from the gourmet fine dining; entrancing cumulus clouds floating overhead. Not lifting a finger nor burning a single calorie for days upon end……naaaah!
Scratch that!
Let’s kick this thing up several notches and check out what else southern California can do for you.
Nope, I don’t wanna see Palm Springs by car, taxi guide, or big air-conditioned bus with groups of people. That ain’t a-happenin’. Let’s see here... how to experience this area? Hmm...
“We’ll have your mountain bikes delivered to your resort in a few minutes,” announces Evan Trubee, owner of the six-year-old Big Wheel Bike Tours. He is thrilled that I agree that there’s no better way to see the world than by hiking and biking.
Two gleaming high performance mountain bikes are waiting as promised, along with a Palm Springs bike map detailing big, wide stone paths and rugged, crafted-by-nature-only trails. BWBike Tours uses Trek 700 Hybrid bikes available in men's and women's sizes on the smorgasbord of bike routes to choose.
Nice ride, awesome in-town stuff but it’s time to crank up the adrenaline and do the real deal! I call Evan and tell him to show me a little bit of everything. “Okay, Box Canyon Express it is!” he exclaims without a moment to waste.
We climb into the SUV and Evan’s tour guide, Heidi, who has the accent to match the name. kicks into excitement with full details of her home territory with knowledge and pride. On our drive to the bike and hike expedition trailhead, I get an insider’s scoop of the location, making this more than just a tour but something dear to heart.
Palm Springs’ original name was Seche; in 1893 the area received twelve days of solid rain and then shriveled up from SEVEN YEARS of drought. You must love the land like Heidi to know this kind of info. She provides a dramatic visual story as we proceed through Palm Springs and the surrounding areas.
My setup is all set up and I have no worries but to strap on the helmet, grab the water bottle provided, and load up on nutritious snacks. Oh yeah, and the several cookies that Heidi baked earlier!
Evan, with his incredible cycling skills, leads the way and Heidi follows in the SUV. This is so awesome—food, drinks, and safety trailing behind me and all I have to do is set a pace that’s superb for impromtu exploring of the desert discoveries around me. Hot, dry desert frames snow-capped mountain... where else but in California! This is a sensory natural experience on a two-wheel steed and not through the windows of a car. It’s also an excellent way to fend off those extra calories from Palm Springs ’ fine dining experience.
We make a gradual descend and I’m unaware of the 3000 foot decline until, well, until I start doing the research for this feature. I know Evan is a speed demon and a little more hardcore, belonging to some extreme cycling group, but he adjusts his speed to canter to mine. I know his heart rate isn’t elevated, but mine is and the adrenaline is pumping as I grip the handlebars tightly.
The tranquil beauty of the expansive desert is a sharp contrast with the many-hued mountain background that calms my mind, rejuvenating my spirit. The scenery is exhilarating, balancing out the serenity with energy and aliveness.
We stop any time I want to explore and the chlorophyll green of a plant growing in dessicated solid hardpan is amazing. Heidi plucks a leaf here and there and tells me to feel it, smell it, or crush it. She announces the name and medicinal uses for each herb; I picture the Indians who used to live here.
Read this entire feature FREE with photos at:
http://www.jetsettersmagazine.com/archive/jetezine/sports02/bike/bigwheel/bigwheel.html
By Lena Hunt Mabra, Cozumel Correspondent, Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com
About the Author
Lena Hunt Mabra,Jetsetters Magazine Correspondent. Join the Travel Writers Network in the logo at www.jetsettersmagazine.com