Our Team
Carol Paaske – Hiking Guide
Having been born and raised in Solvang I love sharing the area with people. My great grandparents came to Solvang in 1911, so my Danish roots go way back.
I love hiking in the local mountains with our Women’s Hiking Club, which just celebrated its 40th anniversary, hiking every Wednesday. The friendships found on the trails are priceless.
Corey Evans – Owner and Co-Founder
Corey is an avid cyclist and mountain biker, and has been riding bikes since he was a kid. With a background in marketing and advertising, running a cycling tour company is a natural fit for his creativity and flair for adventure. Native to the area, Corey & another local cyclist started Santa Barbara Wine Country Cycling Tours in 2005, combining their experiences from cycling in Europe, love of wine and local knowledge of the area. Corey has toured the Provence region of France, the American Southwest, the Colorado Rockies and throughout California.
Neal Abello – Cycling Tour Guide
Neal Abello. Age 75. I have enjoyed being a Tour Guide since Santa Barbara Wine Country Cycling Tours started in 2005.
I retired in 2002 after teaching High School Biology for 31 years. I have always enjoyed cycling and one of my most memorable cycling experiences was riding from Newport Beach, CA. to Boston in 32 days in 2004. I have been racing in the Senior Games since 2011. I love meeting people from all over the world to show them our beautiful Santa Ynez Valley and teach them something of its history, biology and agriculture.
In addition to cycling, I enjoy nature photography and world travel with my wife.
Nils H. Hendrix – Cycling Tour Guide
I’m a second generation Santa Barbaran a former United States Marine and retired Fire Captain for the County of Santa Barbara. I moved to the Valley in 1976. Besides riding as a child I took up Triathlons in 1983 competing up to half Ironman distance. From 2002 I raced road and mountain bike in the California Firefighters Summer Olympics, So Cal Mountain Bike Championships series, US Cup Series and rode many century rides including the Markleeville Death Ride.
Chris Sherman – Cycling Tour Guide
Retired from Santa Barbara Police Dept. 1999
Currently employed by Santa Ynez High School as a Special Education Instructor
Amateur USCF bike racer from 1977-1990
Member of winning team, 1985 Race Across America ( National Record)
Certified UCI Media/Officiating Motorcycle driver
Santa Barbara Wine Country Cycle Touring Guide since 2011
Scott Love – Cycling Tour Guide
Hi. My name is Scott Love. I have been an avid cyclist for over twenty years and have been leading tours for Santa Barbara Wine Country Cycling Tours for more than two years. I have had the opportunity to cycle in several foreign countries as well as many states. But no destination compares to the beauty of the Santa Ynez Valley. Come see the Valley the way it was meant to be seen… on two wheels.
Ashley Gheno – Owner & Chef, Dolce Catering
Chef and Owner Ashley Gheno is DOLCE Catering. With a passion for family, food and authenticity, she approaches all guests with an eye for quality, taste and detail. Her Los Olivos catering business sources amazing produce from local organic farms with an emphasis on farm to table and seasonal menus. Inspired by her Grandmother’s cooking and Italian family gathered around a table, Ashley is in love with bringing people together to eat, laugh and enjoy the little moments
Jo Ann Reck – Hiking Guide
I fell in love with the Santa Barbara backcountry during my four years at UCSB. There was a group of us who went backpacking as often as we could all over the mountains around here. After college, I continued hiking all over the world: Mount Kilimanjaro (Africa), Mt. Fuji (Japan), Ayers Rock (Australia), the Great Wall (China), Machu Picchu (Peru), Mt. Bromo (Indonesia), Tyrol Alps (Austria), the Himalayas (India), Cape Breton (Nova Scotia), Mt. Whitney (CA), and several of the National Parks in the USA. Presently, as a member of the SYV Women’s Hiking Club, I get to continue my passion with some other great ladies.
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