SECOND GUIDE DRIVES THE CHASE TRUCK . . .
WATERPROOF DUFFLE IS INCLUDED FOR YOUR USE . . .
WE WILL CARRY YOUR OVERFLOW LUGGAGE . . .
CAPABLE OF TOWING DISABLED BIKES TO REPAIR . . .
AVAILABLE FOR SPOUSES NOT WANTING TO RIDE IN RAIN (SEATING LIMITED) . . .
NO ADVERTISING ON TRUCK TO EMBARRASS YOU . . .
DRIVES AHEAD TO CHECK IN TO ACCOMMODATIONS FOR US . . .
The patented Stinger Folding trailer can easily accommodate your loaded bike at highway speeds. We keep this handy at all times in case of breakdown, so we can tow you to a repair facility.
Its axle is rated at 3500lbs, and it is stable when fully loaded. When not needed - it is kept neatly out of sight in the bed of the Chase Truck.
CHASE TRUCK DRIVER
We provide a driver to help with the haul back and forth to our starting city, to help with airport transfers if a shuttle isn't available, to bring you to the Bike Rental location if you're renting out there, and to follow us throughout the trip. This represents a 17-19 day work schedule for our driver.
On our trip, our driver helps us with luggage, errands, advance check-in, keeping our ice, drinks and snacks loaded, assists with our campfires, and drives the Chase Truck while we enjoy our ride.
There will be stretches of road where the truck and driver vears away from our route, taking a shortcut to our destination, or helping with emergency tows - the rig may not always be with us, but can be summoned back to our assistance if necessary. You should always be prepared to spend an overnight without the truck if it is helping a fellow rider get his/her bike repaired.
Be aware that any personal assistance this driver gives you on our trip, is a courtesy to you. We've invested heavily in this support vehicle, and our driver tries to make your trip memorable.
It is important to remember that our Chase Driver may also double as your guide on these rides. I will always be there, but potentially will be driving the Chase Truck so I can take care of business and other trip planning during the day. Our Driver may also be the one guiding you on your optional evening rides.
While I have traveled over a hundred thousand miles on my rides in the past without a chase truck, offering this as a business poses different demands. Where I could live with delays and breakdowns before, YOU shouldn't have to. So by providing a Chase Truck on our guided rides, we accomplish several things:
An opportunity to tow a disable bike to the nearest repair facility. We carry a Stinger folding bike trailer in our Chase Truck at all times. This lightweight trailer easily carries a fully loaded Dresser, with an axle rating of 3500lbs. If needed, we deploy the trailer, haul your bike for repair and determine how best to proceed from there, depending on the delay caused by your bike malfunction. There is no charge for this unless the detour goes well beyond our usul path, backtracking or causes overnight delays. Remember, the rest of the riders depend on the Truck for supplies and luggage. For this reason, all bikes are expected to have at least a full nights supply of clothing and essentials. The Chase is intended for surplus only.
Overflow luggage. There is no longer a need to overpack your bike with strapped on bags and coolers. We ask that each bike remain loaded with what they will need for that day and overnight needs, in case the Chase Truck is diverted with an emergency tow, but all overflow, laundry, souvenirs, extra food/drinks, etc., can easily be carried by this support vehicle. We'll even carry extra Linens, blankets and pillows, but you are expected to furnish your own for those KOA Kabin stops.
Ice Chest. We'll have a cooler on board with supplied ice for your personal stuff, but we'll also supply water and snacks along the way. We often try to enjoy a campfire cookout along the way, and you are welcome to use the cooler for your grocery shopping. There's nothing like a hearty steak cookout at the end of a great day's riding!
Coffee Essentials. There's nothing like waking up to the smell of fresh brewed French Press Coffee! In locations where coffee is not available at our accommodations, we'll make it. We'll have the mugs, creamer and sweeteners and even clean up the mess.
Butt Breaks. If your passenger chooses to sit out some bad weather, or just needs a butt break, they are welcome, at no charge, to ride in the truck as long as it is not needed for emergency towing. If you choose to sit out a strecth of road, with your bike on the trailer, there is an additional gas charge, you'd be expected to help with the loading and tie-down, and obviously we can accommodate only one at a time. We'll discuss this along the way.
Advance Check-in. Where possibly, our driver will go up ahead near our destinations, check into the accommodations we have planned, and have our room keys ready on our arrival. This often saves a half hour of checking in a group of 5 cabins or motel rooms. We have more important things to do - like campfires, evening rides and naps, right?
Optional Rides. After checking in - many of our evenings have optional (but recommended) evening or sunset rides. Our Chase Truck is available for your use on those rides if you choose. We'll ask a small fee to cover the additional gas and drivers time, but only enough to cover the cost.
Personal Gear Bags. We provide, for your use, a large waterproof gear bag for your personal items. This bag is loaned for the duration of the ride, to carry your overflow gear. Our driver will offload your gear bag at our destinations into your room so it is available when you arrive. These bags are rated waterproof down to 3 ft. submerged. (Class 5)
Computer Access. Keep your laptop at home if you wish - we'll always have a computer for your short-term use, with a Verizon Aircard. While not every location will have Broadband access, either through the Aircard or local wireless, we'll have it ready. Use is limited with such a big crowd, and we do have to run our business, but we'll have it on-hand and fired-up most of the time we are in camp or at hotels.
Video and Digital Cameras. Yes, you will be on camera during our trip. Both for promotional purposes, but mostly to document the ride for your friends to see, as well as your coffee table book of pictures that we provide on your return home. We'll be able to back up your own photos for protection, and should have spare chips should you need them.
... AND MOST IMPORTANT... My Chase Truck does NOT splash the fact that you are on a guided tour for all to see. It has no outward sign of it being anything but a plain ol' truck. I would hate to ride all over the west with a truck festooned with GUIDED RIDES all over it. I know you'd not like it either. I may lose some potential business, but YOU are my business while on these rides.
STANDARD GEAR ON CHASE TRUCK:
GPS
Cell Phone
CB Radio
Tow Trailer
Tow Straps
Extra Bungees
Tarp
96qt cooler w/ ice
Bottled Water
Snack Box
Waterproof Gear Bags
Tools
Emergency markers
Flashlights
Fix-a-Flat*
Air Compresser
Jumper cables
Engine Oils*
Funnels
Spare Gas*
Octane Boost*
Propane Campfire
Propane burner stove
Firewood
Coffee Essentials
Folding chairs
Extra Linens
Extra Pillows
Extra Blankets
Towels and rags
Wash Soap/Bucket
Garbage Bags
Sunscreen*
Bug Spray*
Misc. Drugstore Box*
First-Aid Kit
Spare Camera Chips
Still/Video Cameras
Laptop
Broadband Aircard
Duct Tape/Bailing Wire
Try bringing all THAT on your bike ride without a Chase Truck!
* Retail Fee if used. Provided for your convenience, or just bring your own.
Please be aware, if you require the use of the Chase Truck and trailer for an emergency tow to a repair facility, there may be fees associated with that service. Our driver, myself and you will get your bike loaded as part of our service, but if the repair shop is substantially off our route, you will be hindering our ability to serve the rest of the group with our Chase Truck. Details are explained on our FINE PRINT pages.
OUR CHASE TRUCK DOES NOT EMBARRASS YOU BY TELLING THE WORLD YOU ARE ON A GUIDED TOUR! IT HAS NO OUTWARD SIGN OF IT BEING PART OF YOUR RIDE.