Bike Arkansas Fall 2023

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AUGUST 2023 ISSUE NO. 27 BIKEARKANSASMAGAZINE.COM A R K A N S A S MAGAZINE
HOW TO RANDONNEUR HOW TO GET MORE WOMEN ON BIKES HOW TO RIDE ALONE Our ‘How to’ issue:
ALFA REBORN Allied’s new road bike has landed.
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IN THIS ISSUE

8 BRAKING NEWS

New Respect Rural Roads signage goes up; YT Industries coming to Bentonville; Ronck claims national titles and more.

10 BIKE CHECK

Allied Cycle Works’ Sam Pickman introduces the all-new Allied ALFA.

14 A NEW ADVENTURE

Andrew Onermaa seeks to fill the gap between one-day gravel racing and ultra-endurance events with the Ozark Randonneur. By Kai Caddy

27

SOLO SUCCESS

Riding by yourself doesn’t have to be a miserable experience. By Bryce Ward

32

BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS

In its second year the Women of OZ Sunset Summit looks to continue its mission to make it easier for women to have success on two wheels. By Kai Caddy

EVERY ISSUE

40 EVENTS

46 SHOPS

ON THE COVER

Allied’s ALFA gets its first major update since 2017.

Photo by Andy Chasteen

4 | BIKE ARKANSAS august 2023
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BIKE ARKANSAS august 2023 | 5 Ready to Ride? Scan for Routes For an Authentic Gravel Cycling Experience in Northwest Arkansas, You Gotta
EXPLORE ROADS
ONE RIDE AND YOU’LL BE BIG ON LITTLE ROCK.
LESS TRAVELED.
RIVER MOUNTAIN PARK
6 | BIKE ARKANSAS august 2023 A R K A N S A S MAGAZINE BIKEARKANSASMEDIA.COM FOLLOW US FOR MORE BIKE BROOKE WALLACE Publisher brookewallace@arktimes.com KAI CADDY Editor kaicaddy@gmail.com MANDY KEENER Creative Director mandy@arktimes.com MIKE SPAIN Art Director LESA THOMAS Senior Account Executive LUIS GARCIAROSSI SOMMER THROGMORTON Account Executives WELDON WILSON Production Manager/Controller ROLAND R. GLADDEN Advertising Traffic Manager SARAH HOLDERFIELD Graphic Design/Social Media ROBERT CURFMAN IT Director CHARLOTTE KEY Accounting JACKSON GLADDEN Circulation Director ALAN LEVERITT President alan@arktimes.com Arkansas Times Limited Partnership 201 E. MARKHAM ST., SUITE 150 LITTLE ROCK, AR 72201 501-375-2985 All Contents © 2023 Bike Arkansas Magazine Discover Arkansas history. Come for cycling.

Contributors

BIKE ARKANSAS august 2023 | 7
MIKE SPAIN is a graphic designer and an art director with Arkansas Times . He’s also been an avid cyclist since 2004. “I don’t get dropped, I attack off the back.” BRYCE WARD is a copywriter and competitive road cyclist based in Fayetteville. KAI CADDY is a photographer, graphic designer and occasional mid-pack Cat 4 crit racer based in Conway.

RESPECT RURAL ROADS SIGNAGE DEBUTS

In July, Arkansas Rural Recreational Roads unveiled “Respect Rural Roads” signage in Bentonville.

Arkansas Rural Recreational Roads (R3) is an initiative to identify and designate rural roads as recreational opportunities across the state. The signs, which encourage visitors and locals to “Respect Rural Roads,” promote safety on rural and gravel roads for all users while driving awareness and respect between those recreating and living and working in rural communities.

Arkansas R3 was launched as a pilot program in Benton County by OZ brands, the Arkansas Farm Bureau, the University of Arkansas Division of Agricultural Research and Extension Office, 4H, Rule of 3, Visit Bentonville and others.

The group’s website, arkansasr3.com, provides a toolkit for other cities and counties interesting in joining the program.

For cyclists, there are several gravel ride routes available on the website for Bentonville, Gravette, Siloam Springs and Pea Ridge.

YT INDUSTRIES TO OPEN BENTONVILLE EXPERIENCE CENTER

YT Industries is set to open an immersive, two-floor showroom in the spring of 2024 on North Main Street in downtown Bentonville.

YT Mill Bentonville will showcase the entire range of YT mountain bikes, host community events and feature a unique rider’s lounge area with pre- and post-ride beverages and entertainment. The center will also feature a pro-level workshop.

“We are thrilled to welcome YT Industries as they open the newest YT Mill in Bentonville,” Aimee Ross of Runway Group said. “As more cycling-related businesses relocate to the Mountain Bike Capital of the World, it furthers our vision of Northwest Arkansas as a premier hub for cycling and cycling-related businesses in North America.”

YT is a fan favorite at mountain bike festivals with its Rolling Circus — YT’s bike demo tour. In 2019, the brand opened its first store in the U.S. in San Clemente, Calif.

“It has proven extremely successful in giving customers access to the brand and an understanding of our vision, and to see our bikes ‘in the flesh’ on a great trail network,” Matthew Wale, YT’s director of global retail, said.

Each YT showroom gives customers full access to the YT brand, bike demos, expert consultation, merchandise and events.

“OZ Trails is a world-class trail system that attracts world-class partners and businesses,” Runway’s Gary Vernon said. “The YT Mill will be a vital piece of our burgeoning cycling ecosystem and we are excited to welcome them to Northwest Arkansas.”

YT is working with Paul Esterer of Moses Tucker Partners and Wood Capital Group on developing the property and Buf Studios for local design and architecture.

TEENAGER RONCK SCORES THREE NATIONAL TITLES

Preston Ronck of Rogers, who races for OZ Development, claimed three U.S. national championships this summer.

In June, the 14-year-old Ronck soloed to victory in the junior road race national championship in Roanoke, Va. Then, just a few weekends later, Ronck won the junior men’s 11-14 short track and junior men’s 13-14 cross country titles at the U.S. Mountain Bike National Championships at Bear Creek Mountain Resort in Macungie, Pa.

Ronck wasn’t the only Arkansan to claim a national title at Mountain Bike Nationals. Bentonville’s Chris Drummond won the Masters 40+ short track title and finished third in the cross country race. Bella Vista’s Ashley Green, racing for BettySquad Elite Racing, took the top step on the Master’s Women 35-39 podium.

Nat Ross of Bentonville finished fourth in the eMTB Cross Country race.

8 | BIKE ARKANSAS august 2023 BRAKING NEWS
COURTESY RUNWAY GROUP COURTESY YT INDUSTRIES

OZ BRANDS LAUNCHES OZ GRAVEL

In May, OZ Brands announced the creation of OZ Gravel, a lifestyle brand dedicated to promoting the rapidly growing gravel cycling scene in Northwest Arkansas. The launch includes a website, OZGravelNWA. com, as well as social communities on Facebook, Instagram and Strava.

“Building off the amazing success of OZ Trails for mountain biking, OZ Gravel will provide a place for gravel riders to learn about new routes, build their skill sets and share their experiences,” said J.T. Geren, the deputy director of communications and marketing at Runway Group. Runway Group owns and operates OZ Brands.

The OZ Gravel website includes curated routes that take riders on beginner, intermediate and advanced courses throughout the area, with several routes crossing into Missouri and Oklahoma. The routes were hand-picked and tested by Runway Group’s Andy Chasteen.

“Gravel riding is appealing to all kinds of cyclists,” Chasteen says. “You can be a competitive rider, a recreational rider or a solo bikepacker. The gravel scene here is set to explode as we continue to discover these incredible scenic, rural roads.”

METROPLAN ANNOUNCES REGIONAL GREENWAYS PLAN

In July, Metroplan announced its Regional Greenways plan, which aims to connect communities in Faulkner, Lonoke, Pulaski and Saline counties via multi-use pathways.

“The Regional Greenways will be a significant asset, providing better connected, more accessible communities,” Metroplan Transportation Planner Daniel Holland said. “Pedestrians and bike riders will have access to essential destinations and amenities while increasing their physical activity and enjoying our region’s natural beauty.”

The greenways will cover 222 miles and cost an estimated $279 million.

Six new routes and the existing Arkansas River Trail make up the planned pathway system.

The greenway network will integrate into local trail systems and transit routes to provide a cohesive, active transportation network. Eventually, each corridor will connect into the region’s core.

In 2020, Metroplan committed $55 million over 10 years to develop the greenways.

THE ARKANSAS DARK-SKY FESTIVAL

If taking a constellation tour and hanging out with Bee Branch native/NASA astrophysicist Amber Straughn sounds like a good time to you, get in on this. The Arkansas Dark-Sky Festival spans three days on Bear Creek, just south of the Buffalo National River, Sept. 14-16. It will feature “a guided naked-eye tour of the summer Milky Way,” the festival guide states, “and a ‘star party’ in which telescope volunteers from several states share views of the major planets and deep-sky objects — galaxies, open clusters, globular clusters, nebulas, stars that are dying and being born.”

Daytime programming is abundant. Lodging options (which you’ll need to secure for yourself) range from primitive campsites to log cabins and the Buffalo area’s more luxurious digs; you’ll find some options near the bottom of the festival’s website.

Stay a few days with your bike and check out the area’s great cycling options.

Or, make a day trip out of it and ride with the Arkansas Times crew on our bus trip from Little Rock out to Bear Creek and back on Saturday, Sept. 16. The bus departs at noon from the UAMS Parking Lot near the old Ray Winder Field, and includes a box lunch plus a chat with Darrell Heath of the Central Arkansas Astronomical Society. Grab a pass at centralarkansastickets.com.

BIKE ARKANSAS august 2023 | 9
© SRIPFOTOSTOCK.ADOBE.COM
the Arkansas Times bus!
COURTESY OZ GRAVEL
Ride
PHOTOGRAPHY: ANDY CHASTEEN BIKE CHECK

ALLIED ALFA

SAM PICKMAN, Allied Cycle Works director of product and engineering, showed off the all-new Allied ALFA on Saturday, July 29, to a crowd of local cycling enthusiasts at the Rapha Bentonville Clubhouse. The bike officially launched two days later. This is the first update to the ALFA since it launched the Allied brand in 2017. Below is what Pickman shared about the development of the Northwest Arkansas bike manufacturer’s latest offering:

THE CONCEPT: This one concept that I kept on going back to for all my favorite cars was the sort of daily driver supercar. The car that you can live with every day, but still has all the performance characteristics of a track car. And that’s when it kind of hit me, that’s what we want in a bike. We want a bike that you can live with every day that has balanced performance. That gives you the lightweight, handling and aerodynamics.

THE AESTHETIC: I think the classic road bike is the most beautiful.

THE WEIGHT: We prioritized aerodynamics but did not keep our eye off the weight. You can get this thing under 15 pounds.

AERODYNAMIC TESTING: We did in-field aerodynamic testing on this bike. With a little sensor on the bike, we measured wind speed and tilts. We were actually able to verify in the field that this bike is faster than its predecessor by close to one minute over 40k.

EVERYDAY DRIVER: All the little things the stem, the seatpost, the threaded bottom bracket — are all meant to be serviceable, reliable and durable.

THE PURPOSE: This is really meant for road riding, and will excel sort of on that performance side of road riding. So, fast group rides, road racing, road riding. It does have tire clearance up to 32, so you can ride on some sort of tame dirt, maybe not so much around here, but around most of the country you could probably get away with it.

BIKE ARKANSAS august 2023 | 11

THE CARBON LAYUP: On this bike, in particular, we paid a crazy amount of attention to how the inside of this bike looks. So that’s the carbon layup, the bladders we’re using, the tooling, etc. We’re doing something really unique in the front of this bike. Every single one of the ALFAs that we make, we are CNC-ing a piece of foam to the exact shape of the interior of the head tube. So there’s absolutely no wrinkles, a perfect shape, and that shape going into the tool. So that’s kind of our approach when we’re making a bike is to absolutely take no compromise, we’re trying to make the best bikes. So it ends up maybe being a little more expensive to make. But it’s always in that pursuit.

And in terms of the materials, we’re using the same materials that aerospace uses in the United States. The same people that are providing for Boeing, we’re buying the same exact stuff, we’re just sort of piggybacking off of their technology. When you buy a bike from overseas, they actually make their own material in-house. They do it to be vertically integrated, but making material is complicated. And they don’t have to pass any sort of regulatory standards or anything. They’re just sort of mixing it themselves. Ours has to pass the most rigorous tests and standards. So you’re basically getting the finest ingredients when you’re buying one of our bikes.

THE ALFA-SPECIFIC SEATPOST: I think any time we decide to make something ourselves, that decision is not taken lightly. Obviously, there’s a lot more complexity on our end. Making stuff is hard. But if we feel like we can really add value with that part, then we decide to do it. And if we feel like it helps us in our pursuit to make the best, then we do it. And that was true with the seatpost. Obviously the D-shape gives you aerodynamic benefits, it has that aero profile, but if you cut off the back you’re able to actually get flex out of the post. The head of the post is, I think, the best on the market. Most seatposts, when you loosen it, everything just kind of, like, comes apart and you don’t know where you started or where you were at with your saddle adjustment. On this one, you can plant the sides first and then adjust the tilt. You can adjust them independently. We also used a combination of titanium, aluminum and carbon. Again, just in that pursuit of trying to make the finest part.

The ranch is about five minutes south of Middle Buffalo access areas, Ozark Highlands Trail for hiking, and the Ozark Grinder Trail for biking, but guests of our cabins will also find miles and miles of trails right on the Bear Creek property for hiking, cycling or ATV use.

The spacious cabins feature native rock fireplaces, outdoor fire pits, charcoal grills, full kitchens, linens, flat-screen TVs with satellite reception (including SEC and ESPN channels), Wi-Fi and heat/air that will accommodate up to 52 guests.

Bear Creek is open year-round, offers hunting in season, and is pet-friendly. Special winter discount rates are available in January and February. Bear Creek Log Cabins will quickly become your go-to getaway destination.

BIKE ARKANSAS august 2023 | 13
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Backcountry Adventuring

Backcountry Adventuring

The Ozark Randonneur bridges the gap between one-day races and bikepacking endurance challenges.

ADVENTURE ON: The Ozark Randonneur route isn’t lacking scenery.

There’s no shortage of cycling events in The Natural State. A quick thumb through to the events section of this magazine will show you that. But, when faced with the challenge of coming up with a unique event, Andrew Onermaa of Ozark Gravel Cyclists found a missing link and started work on the Ozark Randonneur.

The rando will feature 120- and 200-mile routes. Onermaa expects the event to slot in nicely between one-day, fully supported gravel races (think Big Sugar, The Rule of 3 and the Chinkapin Hollow Gravel Grinder to name a few) and long-distance, self-supported bikepacking races (like Doom, another Onermaa creation, or the Arkansas High Country Race).

“I started thinking if my interests are more on the long-distance and bikepacking end of the spectrum and then you’ve got all the one-day gravel races on the other end, maybe I will start working my way from this end of the spectrum and meet in the middle,” Onermaa said.

Inspiration came from Colorado’s Jeff Kerkove, who won last year’s Ouachita Triple Crown. Kerkove is a fan of 24-hour efforts. His Triple Crown time was 23 hours, 5 minutes. He told Onermaa of his love of the old 24-hour mountain bike races that were once popular.

“You can be a weekend warrior for those efforts,” Onermaa said. “You don’t have to take time off from work, you don’t have to commit a week of your life or whatever. And so it’s kind of that format, except launching out into the forest versus you’re going to do a bunch of laps in one area.”

Loosely, a randonneur is a long ride with time cut-offs all done in one push. Riders are self-sufficient but can ride in groups or solo, and every finisher receives equal recognition regardless of finishing order. To be listed as an official finisher, riders will have 15 hours to complete the 120-mile course and 25 hours to do the 200-mile loop.

QUICK TIPS

A group of eight riders previewed the 200-mile course in July. Here’s some gear advice from those who have seen the terrain.

JACOB LOOS of Bella Vista would opt for flat bars and a short-travel dropper seatpost “for getting speedy down the gnarly descents and through the corners.” Loos also wouldn’t ride the route on anything smaller than a 2-inch tire.

ALEX LAITAMAKI recommends riders train on the chonkiest single track they can find, especially steep ups and downs, on their fully loaded bikes.

Bentonville’s ZACH MCCOOL said he would carry less bags than he did on the preview of the route to save weight. He also recommends that riders doing the 200-mile route have the 120-mile route loaded in their bike computers just in case they realize they’ve bitten off more than they can chew.

SOMETHING NEW: Event creator Andrew Onermaa is looking to fill a gap in the events calendar.

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“It’s very much so this is about a challenge versus this is a race,” Onermaa said. “Everybody gets the same thing for showing up. Everybody gets the same thing for finishing. There’s not a podium, there’s no first, second, third prize. If someone goes out and just really drills the course, and has a fast time, we’ll be like, ‘Hey, this was awesome, look at this time,’ but it’s still, at the end of the day, here’s our list of finishers.”

Onermaa is excited to showcase some roads not utilized in many events to this point.

“It’s highlighting roads that a lot of people still haven’t seen,” he said. “We get to showcase a really cool section of the Arkansas High Country route and get to show more of Madison County, where if you’re just doing a day ride from Fayetteville, you’re not seeing as much of it.”

Both routes start and finish from Puritan Coffee & Beer on Dickson Street in Fayetteville. The routes are the same through Huntsville, Purdy and split at Kingston. The shorter route loops back to Fayetteville

from Kingston, while the 200-milers continue east to Ponca, Compton, Pruitt and, eventually, Jasper. Jasper serves as the halfway point and the last spot to properly resupply for the second half of the trip. Two wells are the only water options noted on the route map for the second 100 miles.

“I’d say the next 30 miles after Jasper will be the absolute slowest section of the whole thing,” Onermaa said. “It’s back-to-back 1,000-foot climbs, all packed in that small space, and it’s loose, and it’s steep, and it’s not at the beginning of the ride, so you’re already a little tired.”

Onermaa says both routes get interesting at their halfway points.

“So the 200, that’s going to get into the biggest of hills, the steepest climbs and descents, a little bit more of the chunky stuff where people want the bigger tires,” he said. “The 120 — they get into some stuff where it’s going to be steeper and longer at times, even some double track, which you don’t

18 | BIKE ARKANSAS august 2023
HALFWAY HOME: A view of the Buffalo River near Jasper will greet riders at just around the 100-mile mark of the 200-mile course.

really see a whole lot of double track if you’re riding just from out of town. They’ll go through some areas where cows may just be walking across the road. That’s something where people don’t even realize that exists in Arkansas, where you just might have a herd of cows in front of you, and how do I handle the fact that there’s all these cows blocking the road?”

Onermaa expects a wide range of riders to sign up for the event. At press time, 68 riders were already registered. The gamut ranges from experienced ultra-distance bikepackers, to one-day racers curious to try longer events, to the recreational rider who is bikepacking curious.

“We’ve got these people that have done these 1,000mile, multiday races. You got some people where this is gonna be the biggest ride they’ve ever done in their entire life,” Onermaa said. “I think a lot of people are gonna walk away from it and have a deeper respect for riding in Arkansas and what it takes.”

And Onermaa is not shy about helping riders make the most of their time in the Ozarks. He led a group of riders on a two-day preview of the 200mile course in July, communicates frequently with registered riders via email and is planning a packing clinic/route Q&A on Aug. 30.

Onermaa recommends riders see some of the roads as much as possible for the event so they can get a sense of the terrain.

“On long rides, practice continuous movement,” he said. “Make your gas station stops a little bit shorter, not going in and being in a hurry, but instead of sitting down in the AC and spending 35-55 minutes scrolling through your phone and getting your body template down, be used to being there for 10-15 minutes. I tell a lot of people, on your long ride day do as best you can to shrink that gap more and more and more. You want your moving time and your elapsed time to be pretty close.”

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AN EVENT FOR ALL: The Rando has gained interest from the most experienced riders to newbies looking for adventure.
Take the Path Less Traveled Mountain biking is more than a hobby. It’s a way of life. In Bentonville you can go with the flow or chase the adrenaline—with trails, jumps, and obstacles designed for all skill levels, it’s your ride, your way. VisitBentonville.com YOU HAVE TO SEE IT YOU HAVE TO SEE IT

He also recommends being familiar with your equipment. If you’re going to use a bag, start riding with the bag. Determine which way you want to carry water — bladder or bottles. Dial in your nutrition.

“Get your setup as close as you can to what you think you’re going to use and start riding with it all the time,” Onermaa said. “If you’re carrying a little bit of extra weight on the bike, just recalculating what your pace is going to be. If you’re carrying three liters of water, realize you’re not going to go up some of those hills as quick as you normally would. Maybe that helps you make the decision of dropping your

front chainring down by a couple teeth.”

Need some help from Onermaa? He’s down to respond to your questions via email. Don’t be shy: andrew@ozarkgravelcyclists.com. Register for the event at bikereg.com/the-ozark-randonneur.

“I think it’s gonna be eye-opening for a lot of people,” Onermaa said. “It’s a way to really showcase some backcountry riding in Arkansas. Coming back to the finish, it’ll be kind of the reality of this is what a bikepacking event is, you get to the finish and there’s not a crowd cheering for you, just people going about their normal life. People are gonna be out on Dickson, you’ll be rolling up on your bicycle and some drunk person is probably gonna yell at you. There’s not some super big party being thrown for finishers. This is kind of like, you know what you did and you’ll have at least one person that’s saying, ‘Hey, good job.’”

22 | BIKE ARKANSAS august 2023
“I think it’s gonna be eye-opening for a lot of people.”
DON’T GO IT ALONE: Rando riders are expected to be self-sufficient, but there are no rules against riding in groups.
BIKE ARKANSAS august 2023 | 23 BIG DAM BRIDGE 100 SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23RD ARKANSAS’ PREMIER CYCLING EVENT RIDES FROM 15 105 MILES Enjoy the natural beauty of Little Rock, North Little Rock, Pulaski and Perry Counties Full service aid stations, trafficcontrolled course Enjoy food, drink and music at the finish line in Riverfront Park, North Little Rock Register at: www.bigdambridge100.com This ad is paid for with a combination of state funds and regional Heart of Arkansas funds. ADVERTISEMENT

BDB remains Arkansas’s largest cycling tour.

BIG DAM BRIDGE 100

BIG DAM BRIDGE 100

RIDES FROM 15 105 MILES

THE BIG DAM BRIDGE 100 IS BIG, ALL RIGHT.

The 18th edition of the BDB 100 is set for Sept. 23. At press time, in early August, more than 2,100 riders were already registered to tackle one of the event’s numerous route options.

THE ROUTES

The BDB 100 offers five route options: 15, 26, 50, 75 or 105 miles.

Every route starts from Riverfront Drive in North Little Rock and crosses over the event’s namesake bridge. Motivation to get to the finish line is strong for the free food at the finish fest at Riverfront Park. Speaking of nourishment, the BDB aid stations (10 of them if you’re doing the 105-mile loop!) are fully stocked with nutrition, sports drinks and water.

Every route takes riders over the Broadway Bridge into Little Rock, down

Cantrell, onto Riverfront Drive and then Rebsamen Park Road headed toward the Big Dam Bridge.

Riders on the 15-mile route will turn right onto the bridge from Rebsamen Park Road. They’ll then head through Burns Park on the Arkansas River Trail on into the finish, which is the same finishing stretch for all the routes.

The rest of the routes will continue straight past the Big Dam Bridge on into Two Rivers Park via the Arkansas River Trail.

The 26-mile route turns around at the end of Country Farm Road to head back to cross the BDB to head to the finish.

The remaining three routes continue on to Pinnacle Mountain State Park.

At the end of Pinnacle Valley Road the 50-mile route hangs a right and continues up to Roland where it loops and heads back toward the BDB and the finish.

The 75- and 105-mile routes head left

Mountain State Park. Both routes continue along Lake Maumelle. The 75-mile route turns at Highway 113 to head toward Wye, Little Italy and Roland before heading back toward the BDB.

The 100-mile route continues on to Williams Junction before turning north to Thornburg on Highway 9. The route then passes through Antioch, Houston and Bigelow before connecting back up to the 75-mile route at Wye.

23RD

The BDB 100 also offers options for riders who can’t attend on event day. Through the RaceJoy app, riders can elect to tackle any of the courses solo or choose the Driveway Challenge and create your own route if you’re unable to make it down to Central Arkansas.

TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL RIDE

Begin the ride well-hydrated. The

24 | BIKE ARKANSAS august 2023
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER
Enjoy the natural beauty of Little Rock, North Little Rock, Pulaski and Perry Counties Full service aid stations, trafficcontrolled course Enjoy food, drink and music at the finish line in Riverfront Park, North Little Rock Register at: www.bigdambridge100.com This ad is paid for with a combination of state funds and regional Heart of Arkansas funds. ADVERTISEMENT
ROLLING STRONG
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23RD
ARKANSAS’ PREMIER CYCLING EVENT
Enjoy the natural beauty of Little Rock, North Little Rock, Pulaski and Perry Counties Full service aid stations, trafficcontrolled course Enjoy food, drink and music at the finish line in Riverfront Park, North Little Rock Register at: www.bigdambridge100.com This ad is paid for with a combination of state funds and regional Heart of Arkansas funds.

BIG DAM BRIDGE 100

EVENT SCHEDULE 2023

Friday 09.22

Saturday 09.23

11:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Big Dam Bridge 100 Expo - On-site registration and packet pick-up at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock.

5:30 AM

Staging for all distance rides opens. Remember to go to your designated corral.

7:00 AM

Rider groups start.

Riverfront Drive at Willow in North Little Rock

• Tandems/Charter - 6:55 am • Blue Corral - 7:00 am

• Yellow Corral - 7:00 am • Green Coral - 7:00 am

This will be a continuous start. All corrals will be started at 6:55 am. No late starts are allowed.

8:30 AM

BDB 100 Finale Fest area opens - Inside North Little Rock Riverfront Park. At the south end of Willow Street in North Little Rock.

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Gears and Beers Athlete Reception. Appetizers, beverages and music will be available. This is not a meal...

Free to all athletes. Music, drink, fellowship and more!

In the River Market Pavilions.

3:30 PM

Two Rivers Park, Aid Station #9, (mile 90) closes. All riders must depart this station by 3:30 pm or they will be provided a trolley ride back to the finish.

4:00 PM

Burns Park, Aid Station #10, (mile 95) closes. All riders must depart this station by 4:00 pm or they will be provided a trolley ride back to the finish.

4:30 PM

Finish Line Closes

26 | BIKE ARKANSAS august 2023
ADVERTISEMENT
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23RD ARKANSAS’ PREMIER CYCLING EVENT
the natural beauty of Little Rock, North Little Rock, Pulaski and Perry Counties
service aid stations, trafficcontrolled course
food, drink and music at the finish line in Riverfront Park, North Little Rock Register at: www.bigdambridge100.com
ad is paid for with a combination of state funds and regional Heart of Arkansas funds.
RIDES FROM 15 105 MILES Enjoy
Full
Enjoy
This

HOW TO RIDE A BIKE

The joy of riding in solitary.

Over the years I’ve met many cyclists who have told me, in one way or another, that they don’t enjoy riding alone — some even dread it and struggle to find the motivation to ride without the company of others. As someone who once shared this sentiment but has since learned to appreciate the solitary form of cycling, I want to share the approach that has worked for me. It is by no means the only way, but if you give it a try, I have a feeling it will work for you, too.

BIKE ARKANSAS august 2023 | 27
(alone)
FIND HARMONY: Riding alone is a good time to pay attention to your position on the bike.

First things first: Leave the ear buds at home. Music, podcasts and interruptions from Siri won’t do you any good with this approach. If you use a bike computer, turn it to “Do Not Disturb” and hide as many numbers from the front screen as you can — power, heart rate, speed, time, etc. Switch to the map view, or even better, place the computer in your back pocket, right next to the phone you won’t need. Then pick a direction and push off toward quiet, familiar roads.

Pay close attention to how your body is positioned on the bike. Are you centered on the saddle? Move around until it feels like you are. Do you feel your sit bones? If not, engage your glutes and roll your hips back until you find them. Push down on the pedals from your hips, not your quads. Activate your core and try to exert equal effort through each leg.

When you feel stable and centered, move your attention farther up your body. Is your back hunched? Raise your ribcage and pull back your shoulders — posture matters on the bike, too. Do you feel pressure through your arms? Allocate more of your weight to the saddle. Grip the bars firmly with your hands, but let your arms relax. If your neck is tight, drop your shoulders down slightly.

When you finally feel that your body is in harmony with the bicycle, direct your focus toward your breath. If you can, breathe in and out through your nose. If you can’t, dial down your pace until your breath is under your control.

If you encounter a hill, do not fight it. Crawl up it if gravity wants you to. Every once in a while, lift your body off the saddle, shift your weight over the crankset, and let the handlebars sway freely beneath you.

Look at the landscape. Really stare at it, like a film director scouting a location for an important scene, or a writer searching for metaphors.

Listen to the air rush past your face. Feel the wind colliding with your arms. Notice the beads of sweat rolling across your skin and watch as they fall to the earth.

Inevitably and often, your mind will wander from your senses. Despite your best efforts, you will suddenly find yourself thinking. Whenever this happens, redirect your focus as quickly as you can to something outside your head. Use your breath as an anchor to reality and resist the urge to float away in reverie — the road to hell is cobbled with thoughts. When you hear a neurotic scream from the window of a passing automobile, let the wind carry it away. Misery is a virus that spreads through thoughts, and it cannot survive without a host. For the full duration of your ride, remain stubbornly fixed to your senses.

28 | BIKE ARKANSAS august 2023
NO THOUGHTS: Focus on your senses.
First things first: Leave the ear buds at home.

REVEL IN NATURE: Don’t miss the beauty of your surroundings.

When the contours of hills no longer interest you, listen to the love songs of chirping crickets. When you forget about your breath, notice the pressure beneath your feet. When you slip into another thought, reach for your bottle and savor the taste of replenishment. When the pastures lose their luster, welcome the strange scents of the earth into your nose. Cycle from one sensation to the next while your legs push you ever forward into the present moment.

The bicycle, though a simple machine, has an uncanny ability to turn our attention toward the thing we spend so much time and energy trying to ignore: plain, unadulterated existence. It demands our eyes and ears to stay latched onto our surroundings. It urges our hands to stay wrapped around its reins. And even if, in an act of bold defiance, we reach back for that small rectangular portal, we are unable to linger in its trance for long.

The bicycle, more effectively than any machine I know, deprives us of our most comfortable distractions and leaves us stranded with the sensations of the natural world. If we retreat from this mundane reality, we will never find the peace we unknowingly search for. But if we can learn to be as content with it as the grazing cattle and soaring birds, then we at least have a chance. We forget that we too are animals. We don’t need much to be happy. The only thing that separates us from them is an addiction to thoughts. If you think less and notice more, you will eventually discover that you don’t mind riding alone — you may even start looking forward to it.

The bicycle deprives us of our most comfortable distractions.

30 | BIKE ARKANSAS august 2023

OFF-ROAD

ON THE BEATEN PATH

BIKE ARKANSAS august 2023 | 31 Adventure Subaru, Fayetteville | adventuresubaru.com | 479-442-8200 THE ALL-NEW 2024 CROSSTREK WILDERNESS. READY TO TAKE YOU INTO UNCHARTED TERRITORY.
Right off the trails in the heart of downtown Bentonville, 21c Museum Hotel merges art and nature for a cycling getaway that is anything but ordinary. Enjoy complimentary bike valet and storage. 21cBentonville.com | TheHiveBentonville.com Follow us @21cBentonville and @TheHiveBentonville
ADVENTURE,
TAMING THE GNAR: The Women of OZ Sunset Summit aims to improve riders’ confidence levels. (PHOTO KAI CADDY)

Inspiring Confidence

The Women of Oz Sunset Summit looks to break down barriers.

OVERCOMING HURDLES: Naidu says riders’ psychological technique is more important than the physical.

It’sno secret that mountain biking can be very intimidating.

Gnarly descents down jagged, rocky single track and flying through the air off sick jumps make the sport amazing but also take time to master. And then, the sport is dominated by men.

The Women of Oz are looking to calm that intimidation and break down barriers and provide more opportunities for women to shred with events like its annual Sunset Summit taking place Sept. 15-17 in Bentonville.

The group is bringing in 32 women coaches for skills sessions, talks and more.

“A sport like mountain biking can be so intimidating to try,” two-time Olympian Lea

Davidson said. “It’s very important to have events like the Sunset Summit to break down the barriers that exist in a sport like cycling to get more women riding bikes.”

Davidson is no stranger to mentoring; she is the founder of Little Bellas — which gives girls opportunities to mountain bike — and will be on hand at the Summit as one of Saturday’s keynote speakers.

Anita Naidu is no stranger to breaking down barriers; she was the first professional mountain biker of East Indian heritage more than 10 years ago. She’ll be hosting a fireside chat at the Summit about anti-racism, diversity and inclusion.

34 | BIKE ARKANSAS august 2023
T“A sport like mountain biking can be so intimidating to try.”
COURTESY SUNSET SUMMIT
BIKE ARKANSAS august 2023 | 35 DO YOU HAVE BIKE NEWS? WANT TO ADVERTISE? INTERESTED IN SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES? CONTACT BROOKE WALLACE AT: BROOKE@ARKTIMES.COM @BIKEARMAG 301 SE Walton Blvd, Bentonville (479) 845-7770 BOOK YOUR STAY TODAY! OUR FIVE-MILE SHUTTLE SERVICE COVERS • The Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art • Scott Family Amazeum • Shopping at Pinnacle Hills Promenade. We have an indoor pool, free parking, room service, and breakfast and dinner at our restaurant. Enjoy a warm chocolate chip cookie on arrival and WiFi on us. BENTONVILLE off the beaten path, but worth the find beer music art tacos coffee 409 W Van Buren, Eureka Springs www gotahold beer After the ride... USE OF BICYCLES OR ANIMALS Every person riding a bicycle or an animal, or driving any animal drawing a vehicle upon a highway, shall have all the rights and all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle, except those provisions of this act which by their nature can have no applicability. OVERTAKING A BICYCLE The driver of a motor vehicle overtaking a bicycle proceeding in the same direction on a roadway shall exercise due care and pass to the left at a safe distance of not less than three feet (3’) and shall not again drive to the right side of the roadway until safely clear of the overtaken bicycle. DRIVERS PLEASE BE AWARE, IT’S ARKANSAS STATE LAW: AND CYCLISTS, PLEASE REMEMBER... Your bike is a vehicle on the road just like any other vehicle and you must also obey traffic laws as applicable — use turning and slowing hand signals, ride on right and yield to traffic as if driving. Be sure to establish eye contact with drivers. Remain visible and predictable at all times. Beginning in 2019 with the “Idaho Stop” law, cyclists may treat stop signs as yield signs and red lights as stop signs.

“I’mlooking forward to the opportunity to educate fellow outdoor enthusiasts on strategies for breaking down barriers, promoting equity and combating discrimination with cycling, sports and society,” Naidu said. “By unpacking such topics as allyship, recognizing and addressing biases and barriers along with their root causes, and advocating for equitable opportunities, we can work together to cultivate a culture of inclusivity in mountain biking, outdoor recreation and beyond.”

And those intimidating downhills and

jumps? Naidu will help participants conquer those fears as well.

“My favorite skills to teach are freeride skills because so many people doubt their ability to master these skills,” she said. “I’m excited to teach not just the technical aspects, but the psychological technique that’s needed because the latter is the most important. People’s perception of themselves changes once they have the mental ability to tackle that which they never believed possible and it overflows into every other avenue of their life.

36 | BIKE ARKANSAS august 2023
O“we can work together to cultivate a culture of inclusivity in mountain biking.”
KAI
SKILLS FOR LIFE: Learning skills to tackle obstacles on the trail can help you overcome obstacles in everyday life.
CADDY

With the Ozark Mountains to the north and the Ouachita Mountains to the south, Russellville and its’ diverse trail systems are ideally nestled in the Arkansas River Valley. From the paths running through the wetland ecosystem of Bona Dea Trails to the rocky outcrops and pine-scented hilltops of Old Post Mountain Bike Trail to the stroll-worthy stretches of paved walkways along the shores of Lake Dardanelle. Russellvilles’ delicious dining, thriving downtown, and breathtaking views are just what you’re looking for...and it’s right around the corner.

BIKE ARKANSAS august 2023 | 37
www.discoverrussellville.org | 479.967.1762 TOURISM & VISITORS CENTER PAID FOR WITH A COMBINATION OF STATE FUNDS AND PRIVATE REGIONAL ASSOCIATION FUNDS.
Be sure to visit MONUMENT TRAIL at Mt. Nebo State Park, and the newly opened PINE KNOB TRAIL in Russellville!

“Events

this Summit can be an absolute game changer when it comes to getting more women on two wheels and boosting their confidence while creating space in this industry where people can talk and learn about racism because that’s just not happening right now.”

The psychological aspect of mountain biking is an important factor that both coaches emphasized.

“I would love for women to ride away from the Summit with a new sense of confidence in themselves and their ability to ride a bike, no matter what their level is,” Davidson said. “Bikes are such a great way to get outside, meet people and have fun. Mountain biking is also a great way to learn how to overcome challenges. The same skill set you need to ride over an obstacle on the trail is the same skill set that can be used to surmount an obstacle in life.”

Davidson credits her massive “support village” for her brilliant 20-year mountain biking career that, along with her two Olympic appearances, came with a pair of World Championship medals. Her parents, coach Andy Bishop, wife Frazier Blair and her sponsors are among the most important members of her village.

“My wife may be the mayor of my support village,” Davidson said. “She lives with me so she truly understands the level of commitment that it takes to be the best in the world. Really, our family centered around my goals and training schedule and she was wholeheartedly supportive every pedal stroke of the way.”

And that village has turned influential as Davidson turns to coaching.

“I’ve learned so much from everyone that I’ve worked with over my 20-year career that I definitely try and pass on that knowledge,” she said. “ It’s really a wild experience to have

things come full circle, and now I’m the one doing the coaching instead of being the athlete. I am really enjoying being in that role and giving back to the sport that has given me so much.”

Tickets for the Summit start at $299, and more information is available at wozsunsetsummit.com.

“I want women to leave the Summit feeling like an unstoppable force, ready to tear up not just the trails, but also the barriers that hold them and others back,” Naidu said. “Ultimately the hope is that participants walk away from the Summit with a renewed sense of purpose, equipped with the tools to make positive change within the cycling world and their broader communities. And through their actions, they will inspire others and pave the way not just for more inclusive and anti-racist future in sport, but the world at large.”

38 | BIKE ARKANSAS august 2023
like
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The psychological aspect of mountain biking is an important factor that both coaches emphasized.
LEARN FROM THE GREATS: Davidson is happy to give back to the sport that’s given her so much. ANDY CHASTEEN
BIKE ARKANSAS august 2023 | 39 Visit onlyinark.com FOR THE BEST of OUR HOME STATE. Presented by Member FDIC We’re committed to Arkansas and to the people who live here. That’s why we created an entire site dedicated to our home state. Visit OnlyInArk.com for everything from great bike trails to local culture and more. When your bank is only in Arkansas, you know it’s all about you.

EVENTS HAVE AN EVENT YOU’D LIKE TO INCLUDE IN A FUTURE BIKE ARKANSAS? EMAIL EDITOR

ARKANSAS STATE TIME TRIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

AUG. 20

$15-$25

Mountainburg

A 6.66-mile uphill time trial to determine the state champions. Visit bikereg.com/ ar-tt-champs-2023 to register.

COLER ROLLER

AUG. 25-27

$20

Bentonville

A campout and mountain bike party at the Coler MTB Preserve organized by Friends of Arkansas Singletrack. FAST members can enjoy a group ride, dual slalom racing and a pizza party on Friday. The event opens to the public on Saturday and features enduro racing, games for kids and adults, breakfast, lunch and dinner, and more.Visit fasttrails.org/ for more information.

NICA TIME TRIAL

AUG. 27

Harrison

The opening event for the 2023 Arkansas NICA season, a time trial at North Arkansas College to set the starting grid for upcoming races. Visit arkansasmtb.com for more information.

TOUR DE SALVATION

SEPT. 3

$15-$60

Hot Springs

A family-friendly, multi-bike ride. Riders have the option to ride road bike only, mountain bike only or both. Several route options, including ones that include both road and mountain. Shuttle for bikes is provided at the exchange location. Visit bikereg.com/tour-de-salvation for more information.

TOUR DE TACOS

SEPT. 9

$45-$75

Bentonville

Features 7-, 30- and 60-mile bike rides with taco stops on the Razorback Greenway. Tour de Tacos benefits Dress for Success NWA, a nonprofit that empowers women toward economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire and programs to help them thrive in work and in life. Register at tourdenwa.com

NICA RACE 1

SEPT. 10

Barling

Race one of the NICA season at Springhill Park. Visit arkansasmtb.com for more information.

THE OZARK RANDONNEUR

SEPT. 16-17

$50 Fayetteville

The inaugural Ozark Randonneur offers two distance options: 120 miles and 200 miles. In order to be an official finisher, riders must make the time cut-offs. Randonneuring is long-distance unsupported endurance cycling. This style of riding is noncompetitive in nature, and self-sufficiency is paramount. Visit bikereg.com/the-ozark-randonneur for more information.

CONWAY FALL CLASSIC

SEPT. 16

$35-$45

Conway

Three route options (20, 40 and 62 miles) benefiting the Boys and Girls Club of Faulkner County and Conway Advocates for Bicycling’s Bike Share and Repair program serving the disadvantaged citizens of Conway with refurbished bikes. Visit cycleconway.com for more information.

THE RIVER CLASSIC

SEPT. 16

$45-$600

Little Rock

Four route options (20, 40, 55 and 64 miles) benefiting YoungLife’s Little Rock Southside ministry. All registration fees go directly toward sending a student to summer camp. Visit theriverclassic.com for more information.

NORTHWEST ARKANSAS MOUNTAIN BIKE CHAMPIONSHIPS

SEPT. 16

$20-$45

West Fork

Part of the Arkansas Mountain Bike Championship Series, cross-country racing at Devil’s Den State Park. Register at bikereg.com/nw-arkansas-mountain-bikechampionships.

40 | BIKE ARKANSAS august 2023
KAI CADDY
KAI CADDY AT KAICADDY@GMAIL.COM.

BIG DAM BRIDGE 100

SEPT. 23

$35-$110 Little Rock

Arkansas’s largest cycling tour offers several routes between 15 and 105 miles, with beautiful mountain and river scenery as well as a few challenging hills on the longer routes. Visit thebigdambridge100.com for more information.

ARKANSAS ENDURO SERIES

RACE 1

SEPT. 24

Northwest Arkansas

The first race in the fall season of the Arkansas Enduro Series. Race venues and registration were unavailable at press time. Visit arkansasenduroseries.com for more information.

NICA RACE 2

SEPT. 24

Mountain Home

Race two of the NICA season at Clysta Willett Park. Visit arkansasmtb.com for more information.

OUACHITA GRAN FONDO FOR FAMILIES

SEPT. 30

$40

Hot Springs

The Ouachita Gran Fondo for Families is a fun ride to benefit Ouachita Children, Youth & Family Services starting and ending in downtown Hot Springs. There are two route options: 22 and 50 miles. More information is available at ouachitagranfondoforfamilies.com

THE SANDTOWN SHUFFLE

SEPT. 30

$35

Batesville

The Sandtown Shuffle is a no-frills gravel ride. Three route options (17, 30 and 55 miles) all depart from Pool’s Chapel Church. The routes have a mix of sandy, rock, smooth and raunchy gravel. Courses aren’t marked, and riders should be prepared to be fully self-supported. Learn more at bikereg.com/the-sandtown-shuffle

KESSLER MOUNTAIN JAM

OCT. 1

$25-$45

Fayetteville

A cross-country mountain bike race, part of the Arkansas Mountain Bike Championship Series. Visit kesslermountainjam.com for more information.

PEDALS FOR COMPASSION

GRAVEL GRINDER

OCT. 1

$65

Magnolia

A gravel ride with route options of 45, 70 and 100 miles benefiting the Compassion’s Foundation domestic violence shelter in Magnolia. More information is available at facebook.com/Pedals4Compassion.

WHEEL A’ MENA

OCT. 7

$65

Mena

A ride around scenic Mena with route options of 30, 50 and 70 miles. Visit bikereg.com/wheelamena for more information.

ARKANSAS HIGH COUNTRY RACE

OCT. 7

$100

Hot Springs

Arkansas’s premiere adventure bikepacking race returns for another year, starting and finishing in Hot Springs. Race options include the full 1,000-mile route, the 500-mile south loop and the single track 185-mile Ouachita Triple Crown. Visit arkansashighcountry.com for more information.

TOUR DA DELTA

OCT. 7

$70

Helena-West Helena

Multiple gravel and road ride options from 12 to 55 miles in the Delta. Registration comes with a one-day pass to the King Biscuit Blues Festival and a BBQ lunch. Visit bikereg.com/tourdadelta to register.

JOE AND HELEN WEBER

ARKY 100

OCT. 8

$20-$40

Sheridan

The 52nd annual Joe and Helen Weber Arky 100 features four ride options, a 25-, 50-, 62- or 100-mile course. All routes are on low traffic roads through Grant and Dallas counties. Proceeds from the event will be donated to the McGehee Boys and Girls Club, Big Dam Bridge Foundation, Recycle Bikes for Kids, Bicycle Advocacy of Central Arkansas, Bike League, Adventure Cycling Association, Ukrainian relief and others. Visit bikereg.com/joe-weberarky-100 for more information and to register.

NICA RACE 3

OCT. 8

Hot Springs

Race three of the NICA season at Cedar Glades Park. Visit arkansasmtb.com for more information.

ARKANSAS ENDURO SERIES

RACE 2

OCT. 15

Central Arkansas

The second race in the fall season of the Arkansas Enduro Series. Race venues and

BIKE ARKANSAS august 2023 | 41
ARKANSAS DEPT OF PARKS HERITAGE AND TOURISM

BIG SUGAR

OCT. 21

Bentonville

The final race of the Lifetime Grand Prix. Big Sugar is a 107-mile course that follows Sugar Creek and through the bluffs and hollows of Northwest Arkansas and Southwest Missouri. Visit bigsugargravel.com for more information.

registration were unavailable at press time. Visit arkansasenduroseries.com for more information.

ARKANSAS BICYCLE CLUB

FALL TOUR

OCT. 16-20

Malvern

A five-day, 170-mile tour from JJ’s Truck Stop outside of Malvern. Stops on the tour include DeGray Lake State Park, Alpine Ridge campground in Amity, Glenwood, another stop at DeGray before returning to Malvern. Visit arkansasbicycleclub.org/ event-4994753 for more information and to register.

PEDESTAL ROCK ROAD RIDE AND LICK FORK GRAVEL GRIND

OCT. 21

$45

Witt Springs

A ride with road and gravel options benefiting Community Voices. Breakfast and lunch is provided, and the food has become legendary in Arkansas’s cycling circles. Visit wittssprings.org/prlfwelcome-page for more information.

CHINKAPIN HOLLOW

GRAVEL GRINDER

OCT. 28

$55-$75

Fayetteville

Three route options of 42, 63 and 109 miles starting and finishing at the Lake Wedington Recreation Area west of Fayetteville. The 63- and 109-mile routes will also dip into Oklahoma. Payouts are five deep for men and women in the 109mile race. Food and drink will be available at the finish. Visit chinkapinhollow.com to register and for more information.

TOUR DE QUEEN

NOV. 4

$40

De Queen

Tour de Queen is celebrating its 12th annual event. Riders can choose from routes of 14, 25, 36 and 47 miles. The routes traverse scenic areas around De Queen, including Chapel Hill, Johnson’s Bridge and De Queen Lake. Register at bikereg.com/tourdequeen

ARKANSAS ENDURO SERIES

RACE 3

NOV. 3-5

Northwest Arkansas

The third race weekend in the fall season

42 | BIKE ARKANSAS august 2023
KAI CADDY

TAKE THE PATH UNPAVED IN FAYETTEVILLE.

Cyclists from all over the world come to Fayetteville, Arkansas to experience some of the best gravel cycling trails you can explore on two wheels.

Situated in the foothills of the Boston Mountains and the Ozark National Forest, Fayetteville’s landscape and terrain make it a gateway to authentic gravel adventures big and small.

The Fayetteville area boasts one of the largest county road systems in Arkansas, including more than 500 miles of gravel roads.

Accessible from Fayetteville is an unspoiled area of the Boston Mountain range of the Ozark Mountains. For cyclists, the region is rich with remote gravel road riding opportunities where hardwood tree canopies cover the roads and rolling ridgelines tower over the rivers and farmlands that dot the countryside below.

Courses range in difficulty and distance, so there is something for every skill level.

After your ride, you’ll find an abundance of bicycle-friendly restaurants, coffee shops, and breweries rich with local flavor and area hotels prepared to welcome cyclists to Fayetteville.

Fayetteville also hosts premiere gravel cycling events. The region’s best gravel-focused event, Chinkapin Hollow Gravel Grinder, is returning to Fayetteville on October 28! The race features three route options – 42, 63 and 109-mile courses –and travels into Oklahoma for a two-state adventure.

For more information, including gravel cycling routes and event information, visit experiencefayetteville.com or scan the QR code

BIKE ARKANSAS august 2023 | 43
Ready to Ride? Scan for Routes ADVERTISEMENT
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of the Arkansas Enduro Series, featuring practice and dual slalom racing on Friday, followed by two days of enduro on Saturday and Sunday. Race venues and registration were unavailable at press time. Visit arkansasenduroseries.com for more information.

OLD POST CHALLENGE

NOV. 5

$25-$50

Russellville

After a 16-year hiatus and a postponement this spring, the Old Post Challenge XC race returns. The race is part of the Arkansas Mountain Bike Championship Series. Visit bikereg.com/old-post-challenge to register.

GÜDRUN MTB FESTIVAL

NOV. 10-12

Hot Springs

The fifth annual three-day Northwoods Mountain Bike Festival. Events include a downtown slow roll, full and mini enduros,

a jump jam and the Atilla the Hun XC race. Visit northwoodstrails.org for more information.

TAO PUMP TRACK CHAMPIONSHIPS

NOV. 11

$20

Springdale

The Runway Bike Park at the Jones Center hosts the Texas-Arkansas-Oklahoma TriState Pump Track Championships. Age groups from strider to 50+ are scheduled to compete. More information is available at thejonescenter.net/tao

THE PIE RIDE

DEC. 2

$20

Keo

A 35-mile ride finishing at Charlotte’s Eats and Sweets for cake or pie and coffee, part of the Arkansas Pecan Festival. Visit bikereg.com/the-pie-ride to register.

44 | BIKE ARKANSAS august 2023
NICA RACE 4 OCT. 29
Fayetteville
information. KAI CADDY CELEBRATE THE RAZORBACK GREENWAY OCTOBER 7, 2023 BENTONVILLE 2 FAYETTEVILLE REGISTER AT SQUARE2SQUARE.COM ADULT RIDER $35 YOUTH RIDER $20 SHUTTLES $10 Jason McClure Realtor® 479-283-3336 JMcClure@WeichertGriffin.com 5100 S Thompson St, Springdale, AR 72764 479-756-1003 www.WeichertGriffin.com Coming Soon New Construction in Bella Vista! Easy access to all bike trails and gorgeous scenery. Call for more information: Jason McClure Realtor® 479-283-3336 JMcClure@WeichertGriffin.com 5100 S Thompson St, Springdale, AR 72764 479-756-1003 | WeichertGriffin.com FOR ALL YOUR NORTHWEST ARKANSAS REAL ESTATE NEEDS, CONTACT JASON TODAY!
NICA season finale at Centennial Park. Visit arkansasmtb.com for more
BIKE ARKANSAS august 2023 | 45 REPLENISH RECOVER REFUEL BioTechPharmacal.com

LITTLE ROCK

ARKANSAS CYCLING & FITNESS

315 N. Bowman Road, Suites 6-9

501-221-BIKE (2453) arkansascycling.com

THE COMMUNITY BICYCLIST

7509 Cantrell Road, Suite 118 501-663-7300 thecommunitybicyclist.com

PEDEGO ELECTRIC BIKES

2017 Kavanaugh Blvd. 501-747-1633 pedegoelectricbikes.com

ROCK TOWN RIVER

OUTFITTERS (RENTAL)

Little Maumelle River Boat

Launch

501-831-0548 rocktownriveroutfitters.com

SHIFT MODERN CYCLERY

1101 W. Markham St. 501-683-8400 shiftmoderncyclery.com

SOUTHWEST BIKE SHOP

7121 Baseline Road 501-562-1866

SPOKES GIANT LITTLE ROCK

11525 Cantrell Road, Suite 607 501-508-5566 spokesgiant.com

TREK BICYCLE OF LITTLE ROCK

10300 Rodney Parham Road 501-224-7651 trekbikes.com

NORTH LITTLE ROCK

ANGRY DAVE’S BICYCLES

3217 John F. Kennedy Blvd. 501-753-4990 angrydavesbicycles.com

RECYCLE BIKES FOR KIDS

717 E. 10th St. 501-563-8264 recyclebikesforkids.org

BENTON

MASTERLINK BIKE SHOP

108 N. East St. 501-672-4110 hollyrollerunited.com

SHERWOOD

ARKANSAS CYCLING & FITNESS

3010 E. Kiehl Ave. 501-834-5787 arkansascycling.com

J&P BIKE SHOP

7910 Hwy. 107 501-835-4814 jandpbikeshop.com

CONWAY

THE RIDE

2100 Meadowlake Road, No. 2 501-764-4500 therideonline.net

HOT SPRINGS

HOT SPRINGS BICYCLE

TOURING COMPANY

436 Broadway St. 501-276-2175

facebook.com/hotspringsbicycletouringcompany

PARKSIDE CYCLE

719 Whittington Ave. 501-623-6188 parksidecycle.com

SPA CITY CYCLING

873 Park Ave. 501-463-9364 spacitycycling.com

SEARCY

THE BIKE LANE

2116 W. Beebe-Capps Expressway 501-305-3915 thebikelane.cc

HEBER SPRINGS

SULPHUR CREEK OUTFITTERS 1520 Highway 25B 501-691-0138 screekoutfitters.com

BATESVILLE

LYON COLLEGE BIKE SHOP 301 23rd St. 870-307-7529 lyon.edu/bikes

JONESBORO

GEARHEAD CYCLE HOUSE 231 S. Main St. 870-336-2453 facebook.com/gearheadcycling

RUSSELLVILLE

JACKALOPE CYCLING

103 N. Commerce Ave. 479-890-4950 jackalopecycling.com

FORT SMITH

CHAMPION CYCLING & FITNESS

5500 Massard Road 479-484-7500

championcycling.com

PHAT TIRE BIKE SHOP

1700 Rogers Ave. 479-222-6796

phattirebikeshop.com

ROLL ON BMX AND SKATE

1400 Towson Ave. 479-974-1235 rollonbmx.business.site

THE WOODSMAN COMPANY

5609 Rogers Ave, Suite D 479-452-3-559 thewoodsmancompany.com

SILOAM SPRINGS

DOGWOOD JUNCTION

4650 Hwy. 412 East 479-524-6605 dogwoodjunction.biz

PHAT TIRE BIKE SHOP

101 S. Broadway St. 479-373-1458 phattirebikeshop.com

EUREKA SPRINGS

ADVENTURE MOUNTAIN OUTFITTERS

152 W. Van Buren St. 479-253-0900

FAYETTEVILLE

PHAT TIRE BIKE SHOP

3775 N. Mall Ave. 479-966-4308 phattirebikeshop.com

THE BIKE ROUTE

3660 N. Front St., Suite 2 479-966-4050 facebook.com/thebikeroute

THE HIGHROLLER CYCLERY

322 W. Spring St. 479-442-9311 highrollercyclery.com

SPRINGDALE

LEWIS & CLARK OUTFITTERS

4915 S. Thompson St. 479-756-1344 gooutandplay.com

PHAT TIRE BIKE SHOP

101 W. Johnson Ave., Suite B 479-717-2073 phattirebikeshop.com

ROGERS

BEAVER LAKE OUTDOOR CENTER (RENTALS)

14434 E. State Hwy. 12 479-877-4984 beaverlakeoutdoorcenter.com

MAGNOLIA CYCLES

216 E. Chestnut St. 479-278-2249 magnoliacycles.com

PHAT TIRE BIKE SHOP

321 S. Arkansas St. 479-899-6188 phattirebikeshop.com

THE HIGHROLLER CYCLERY 402 S. Metro Parkway 479-254-9800 highrollercyclery.com

BENTONVILLE

BENTONVILLE BICYCLE CO. 813 W. Central Ave. 479-268-3870 bentonvillebicyclecompany.com

BIKE SHOP JOE’S

1206 SE Moberly Lane, Suite 6 479-709-2242 bikeshopjoes.com

BUDDY PEGS FAMILY BICYCLE HQ

3605 NW Wishing Springs Road 479-268-4030 buggypegs.com

CUSTOM CRUZERS PREMIUM

E-BIKES 10636 Hwy. 72 West, Suite 102 479-367-4694 facebook.com/customcruzersnwa

THE HUB BIKE LOUNGE 410 SW A St., Suite 2 479-364-0394

thehubbikelounge.com

THE METEOR 401 SE D St. 479-268-4747

espressochampagnechainlube. com

MOOSEJAW 111 S. Main St. 479-265-9245 moosejaw.com

MOJO CYCLING

1100 N. Walton Blvd. 479-271-7201 mojocycling.com

PHAT TIRE BIKE SHOP 125 W. Central Ave. 479-715-6170

phattirebikeshop.com

PLUG POWER BICYCLES 3905 NW Wishing Spring Road 479-273-9229 facebook.com/plugpowerbikes

RAPHA CLUBHOUSE 117 W. Central Ave. 479-339-2366

content.rapha.cc/us/en/clubhouse/bentonville

SPECIALIZED BENTONVILLE

EXPERIENCE CENTER 240 S. Main St., Suite 170 479-410-0450

specializedbentonville.com

STRIDER BIKES 109 N. Main St. 479-367-2335

facebook.com/StriderStoreBentonville

BELLA VISTA

PHAT TIRE BIKE SHOP 3803 NW Wishing Springs Drive 479-268-3800

phattirebikeshop.com

BICYCLE REPAIR & SERVICE ONLY

OZARK BICYCLE SERVICE W. Deane St., Fayetteville 479-715-1496

ozarkbicycleservice.business.site

REVOLUTION MOBILE BIKE

REPAIR 512-968-7600 revrepair.com

GUIDES/SHUTTLE SERVICES

OZARK BIKE GUIDES, LLC 479-644-8893

ozarkbikeguides.com

CUSTOM JERSEYS

FLO BIKEWEAR 901-896-5979

46 | BIKE ARKANSAS august 2023
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