Bike Arkansas by Arkansas Times

M A G A Z I N E

GRAVEL GRINDING GEAR TALK WITH PAUL ALEXANDER

PLUS: MUST-RIDE GUIDE EVENTS AMID COVID THE FOUR CORNERS RIDE

FEBRUARY 2021 ISSUE NO. 17 BIKEARKANSASMEDIA.COM

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BIKE ARKANSAS issue no. 17 | 3

IN THIS ISSUE

PAGE 28

BRAKING NEWS

The UCI names Fayetteville a Bike City and schedules another World Cup event there; plus, updates from the Arkansas Parks & Recreation Foundation.

NEW MTB TRAILS

A guide to essential new trails in Little Rock, Bella Vista and Fayetteville. By Bob Robinson

Paul Alexander’s custom-built bike serves him well on gravel, the road and in cyclocross races.

A group tour of all four corners of Arkansas. By Sam Taggart

MY KIT

RIDING AROUND ARKANSAS

Hot Springs Lakeside students design and build a mountain bike trail on school grounds. By Dwain Hebda

What to expect from this year’s cycling calendar. By Stephen Koch

TEACHING TRAILBUILDING

4 | BIKE ARKANSAS February 2021

EVENTS AMID COVID-19

EVERY ISSUE

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M A G A Z I N E

Come for cycling. Discover Arkansas history.

BIKEARKANSASMEDIA.COM FOLLOW US FOR MORE BIKE

BROOKE WALLACE Publisher

brookewallace@arktimes.com LINDSEY MILLAR Editor

lindseymillar@arktimes.com MANDY KEENER Creative Director

mandy@arktimes.com MIKE SPAIN Art Director LESA THOMAS Senior Account Executive LEE MAJOR Account Executive WELDON WILSON Production Manager/Controller ROLAND R. GLADDEN Advertising Traffic Manager KATIE HASSELL Graphic Design/Social Media

Explore the historic Cadron Settlement Park on your mountain bike. No matter what brings you to Conway, Arkansas, you’re bound to discover something else that makes you want to stay. Conway is a growing city with a thriving downtown, a flourishing arts scene, and awe-inspiring natural beauty. Its visible sense of community will make you feel right at home. Its hidden gems will leave you wanting to explore.

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Conway. Full of possibilities.

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Contributors

STEPHEN KOCH is an award-winning

journalist in both broadcasting and print. Author of the book “Louis Jordan: Son of Arkansas, Father of R&B,” he’s also writer/host of “Arkansongs,” heard on public radio stations all across Arkansas, in east Texas and Louisiana.

BOB ROBINSON enjoys all things

outdoors and is the author of three bicycle guidebooks, all of which can be purchased at spiritscreek.com

BRANDON MARKIN is a North Little Rock based photographer, who still feels giddy bombing a hill on his Schwinn.

BIKE ARKANSAS issue no. 17 | 7

BRAKING NEWS

FAYETTEVILLE DESIGNATED ‘BIKE CITY’

Fayetteville was recently designated a Bike City by Union Cycliste Internationale, the world governing body for cycling. It’s the first city in the United States to receive the label, joining 14 cities or communities, including Copenhagen and Paris. The UCI bestows the designation on communities that host major UCI events and have invested in cycling infrastructure and development. “The variety of cycling opportunities in and around our Fayetteville trails is one of the many reasons visitors come to Fayetteville year-round,” Molly Rawn, CEO of Experience Fayetteville, said in a statement. “I am tremendously proud of our city’s long-standing commitment to cycling and am excited about the impact this recognition will have.”

TRAIL UPDATES

A new system of mountain bike trails at Devil’s Den State Park is headed to a likely spring opening. It will mark the fourth Monument Trail, a series of multiuse trails specifically designed for mountain bikes. Arkansas State Parks and the Arkansas Parks & Recreation Foundation have worked together to create the Monument Trails, with the foundation funding their development through private donations, including from the Walton Family Foundation. The Fossil Flats Mountain Bike Trail in Devil’s Den is often described as the birthplace of mountain biking in Arkansas. The trail builder Rogue Trails rehabilitated the Fossil Flats. “We didn’t want to change the experience,” said Suzanne Grobmyer, executive director of the Parks and Recreation Foundation. “We kept that flavor, that old-school, single-track feel with enhanced features.” Rock Solid Trail Contracting of Michigan handled the new trail construction, which will feature “the beautiful bluff lines” Devil’s Den is known for, Grobmyer said. Meanwhile, the Monument Trail at Pinnacle Mountain State Park continues to get updated. Popular trails Jackfork and Coachwhip are being extended. State Parks is working on expanding parking for the trails; also in the works is a connection between the parking lot for the Arkansas Arboretum Trail with the Monument trails. Also in Little Rock, the foundation has partnered with the city of Little Rock to build mountain bike trails in River Mountain Park. “It’ll be Little Rock’s first in-city, professional purpose-built mountain bike trail system,” Grobmyer said, adding that she expects it to open this summer. There will be green- and blue-rated cross-country-style trails on the south side of River Mountain and green, blue and black downhill-only trails on the north side. “It will be very striking with views of the Arkansas River and downtown Little Rock,” Grobmyer said. “It’s a very unique vantage point for mountain biking in Arkansas — or really anywhere.” Design work is still underway on an introductory skills course for mountain bikers in nearby Two Rivers Park. 8 | BIKE ARKANSAS February 2021

FAYETTEVILLE LANDS WORLD CUP

Already slated to host the 2022 Union Cycliste Internationale Cyclocross World Championships, Fayetteville was recently selected by the UCI to host a cyclocross World Cup. The third annual FayetteCross and first-time World Cup event will be held Wednesday, Oct. 13, at Centennial Park on Millsap Mountain, which is also where the World Championships will be held in 2022. Cyclocross is a form of bicycle racing over a short course that traverses difficult terrain and obstacles that require riders to dismount and carry their bikes. “I can confidently say there is no other cyclocross course like this in the United States, perhaps anywhere,” Brook Watts, FayetteCross race director, said in a statement. “We have been building this course for the past 16 months, with each meter of the course dedicated to bringing the best out of this beautiful Fayetteville mountainside. “It has daredevil chutes, a lung-busting climb challenging off-camber sections, plus a 38-step climb that will test the racers,” she said. “And, to the delight of spectators, most of the course is accessible with ease, even the wooded sections.” The city of Fayetteville calls Centennial a “cycling-activated park with state-of-the-art cyclocross and mountain biking facilities.” Several mountain bike trails in the park opened in 2020. Phase 1 of the park development is expected to be completed by January 2022 in time for the world championship event. The Walton Family Foundation funded both the master plan for the park and the construction of the trails. The city is paying for park infrastructure and the road into the city through 2019 bond funds. Find more information at fayettecross.com.

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MY KIT PHOTOGRAPHY: RETT PEEK

10 | BIKE ARKANSAS February 2021

NAME: Paul Alexander FROM: Little Rock JOB: Stay-at-home dad after working for

Orbea USA from 2004-2012 and part time at HIA Velo soon after it opened.

I STARTED RIDING: As a kid, but never as a

cyclist. I kind of became what I would call a cyclist when my wife, Alice, and I started dating in college. She and her dad rode a lot when she was growing up. When we started dating, I got a road bike and mountain bike and we did all that together and haven’t really ever stopped.

FAVORITE RIDES: I still do lots of road miles,

but I do more gravel than anything else now. Alice and I probably do one big ride a week together, and it’s usually gravel these days. The gravel roads out near Paron are amazing. There’s probably 60-80 miles of really good dirt and gravel roads out that way. It’s real fast, and it’s got some good medium-sized climbs but nothing crazy. These pictures were taken at the Camp Robinson Wildlife Management Area near Mayflower. There are about 8 miles of gravel there and almost no cars ever. My wife and I take our kids there and ride gravel with them. My 5-year-old is on a trailer bike behind me. My 9-year-old daughter has a cyclocross bike with 24-inch wheels and disc brakes. She can go forever on that bike.

BIKE: It’s from Galaxy Gearworks, a custom

steel shop run by Ryan Johnson. He’s been in the bike industry in Arkansas forever. When I was at Orbea, he was at Competitive Cyclist and then he came over to Orbea to work with us and later helped us out at Allied. Then he started his own steel brand. Everything he does is pure custom. It’s exactly the bike you want for your purpose. I’ve spent almost 20 years in the bike industry, so I’ve had I don’t even know how many bikes. I’ve always had an ideal geometry in my head and never got it because I was always riding whatever brand I was working for at the time. This bike is a little heavier than carbon or aluminum, but it gives you a little better ride feel. It’s a little bit plusher.

BIKE ARKANSAS issue no. 17 | 11

REAR DROPOUT: It’s the neatest part

of my frame, I think. It’s a sliding system from Paragon Machine Works. What it does is gives me the option to run a really, really long chain stay for gravel riding, so I have plenty of tire clearance and plenty of rear end stability. I have one bike and two sets of wheels. When I run road wheels, I tuck the chain stay all the way to the front and have a much livelier roadbike handling on the same frame. I don’t ever have to adjust my position. When I run cyclocross setup I drop it to a 1x instead of a 2x, which gives me more clearance for a bigger tire, so I can run a really aggressive, nimble chain-stay length for cyclocross.

HELMET: Lazer Bullet. It’s a good

helmet. I found it on a discount site and it looks cool (laughs).

JERSEY: I race and ride for Sham,

which is mostly based out of Hot Springs. We put on a gravel event every January called the Ouachita Gravel Grind. It’s normally a big group ride/race, but this year we did it as a time trial for social distance purposes. We also put on a cyclocross series every fall. It’s usually two weekends of two races — one weekend in Hot Springs and one in Little Rock. I put the course together in Little Rock. We’re the only people in Central Arkansas who are putting together cross races, and that’s been true for a few years now.

12 | BIKE ARKANSAS February 2021

HUBS AND HEADSET: That’s just me being a nerd. Ryan built my road wheels, and I had him install matching Chris King hubs and bottom bracket headset on the frame. If it can’t be black or blue, it has to be pink.

WATER BOTTLE: It’s this year’s Little

Rock Gran Fondo bottle that all the participants will be getting. I’m the course director for the fondo. I plan out our route and do all the course markings.

FRAME PUMP: It’s a Silca Tattico. I pretty

much don’t go anywhere without that. I don’t like using CO2 canisters because they always feel wasteful. That thing pumps up my gravel tires for what I need pretty quick.

TIRES: I’ve always ridden Kenda. SEAT POST BAG: It’s Silca. It’s kinda big,

but I carry a lot of random tools and stuff, especially since I’m out on gravel so much where there’s no cell service. It’s a little more “choose your own adventure” in terms of getting home if you break something.

GPS: Lezyne Mega XL. It’s pink, because why not? The battery life is wicked rad. I don’t ever charge it. I ride with it, put it in my truck, leave it and then pull it out and ride with it. I can do that for six weeks.

SHOES: They’re Giro Empire. I have

a really narrow foot, so I’ve always preferred a lace-up shoe on the bike because it lets me dial up my foot a little bit better into the shoe. BIKE ARKANSAS issue no. 17 | 13

14 | BIKE ARKANSAS February 2021

WORKING WITH STUDENTS: Lakeside teacher Paul Blissit founded and sponsors the school’s cycling club.

PLOTTING THEIR OWN TRAIL Hot Springs students design, build mountain bike loop. By Dwain Hebda photography by Brandon Markin

AN ENTHUSIAST: Student Hannah Hugentobler loves to mountain bike.

ven though they’ve just entered their teen years, seventh-graders Hannah Hugentobler and David Orme are both leaving an indelible mark on their school community. They, along with classmates and fellow mountain biking enthusiasts at Lakeside Middle School in Hot Springs, recently began the physical work of bringing to reality a multiuse trail on school property, dubbed Ram Ridge. “When I heard about the project being proposed, I had never properly mountain biked before and I thought it would be really fun to properly learn,” David said. “I decided to try and help the project to learn how to mountain bike.” Hannah added, “When I heard that they were making this trail, I was excited because I love to mountain bike with my dad. I really wanted them to finish it so that I could ride it.” Both of the youths participated in a January workday tackling the 1-mile loop that forms the base of the course, to eventually include multiple spurs for additional riding areas. “To my knowledge, this is the first of its kind in the state on school property like this,” said Paul Blissit, an Education Accelerated by Service and Technology (EAST) facilitator who also teaches Arkansas history at Lakeside Middle School. BIKE ARKANSAS issue no. 17 | 15

TESTING IT OUT: Lakeside students Hannah Hubentobler (left) and Huck Thornton ride Ram Ridge.

The trail is designed for easy biking, but it won’t be boring, Blissit said. “It’s going to be all green. We’re not going to have any black downhill trails or anything like that, but we want to include features that will make it interesting and challenging enough that students and people in the community can use it to improve their skills.” Blissit, who also founded and sponsors the middle school cycling club, got the idea when he discovered many students couldn’t ride the trails around Hot Springs unless a parent could drive them to and from. He approached Lakeside High’s EAST Facilitator, John Stokes, about constructing a trail that was easily accessible to students. “We started the planning process over a year ago, back in October or November,” he said. “We had Jeff Gannon from Affordable Trail Solutions [of Van Buren County] come down and give us a rough draft on what he thought was possible. And then this year, students at the middle school and the high school took that rough draft that he gave us 16 | BIKE ARKANSAS February 2021

HELPED PLOT THE TRAIL’S COURSE: Lakeside student David Orme.

and began to map it out.” Students from the two EAST classes and the cycling club weighed in on trail design from the start. David was one of the students who helped plot the course. “Designing the trail, I used GPS to plot the points on a map so that we could follow that,” he said. “We had to follow restrictions on where we could plot the points. We couldn’t go over some lines. So, we had to learn map skills.” Students also helped present the final proposal to the school board, lent physical labor and came up with resourceful solutions to construction needs. Each of these steps

The trail is designed for easy biking, but it won‚t be boring.

was not only critical in moving the project forward, but educational in its own right. “EAST is a different kind of course compared to everything else in school,” Blissit said. “It involves solving problems using community partners, so that’s what we’ve done. We had a student whose father had a skid-steer for clearing land and he was nice enough to offer it to us for the day. His son, a ninth-grader, drove it. “The next phase is to bring out community groups to help us shape up the trail into something that can be ridden on bikes or walked and run on more easily. So far, we’ve spent very little money on this, at all.” One of the community groups that has shown an interest in helping out on the project is Trail Advocacy Coalition of the Ouachitas (TACO). “I was certainly impressed by the kids,” said Bucky Monreal, TACO co-founder and president. “Just the excitement that they’ve shown and the interest they’ve shown to get outside and do this trail work and understanding that

FAYETTEVILLE TO HOST 2021 OZ TRAILS U.S. PRO CUP

PRESENTED BY

Qualifier for Tokyo Olympic Games Fayetteville will be the home to the inaugural OZ Trails U.S. Pro Cup presented by Experience Fayetteville. Over back-to-back race weekends April 9-11 and 16-18, prominent professional cross-country mountain bikers will have their skills on display at Centennial Park in Fayetteville! Dreaming of gold, Olympic hopefuls will be vying for critical qualifying points ahead of this summer’s Tokyo Games while select junior level athletes compete for a chance to represent Team

A rider descends one of the new trails at Centennial Park in Fayetteville (Photo: Casey Crocker)

USA at the 2021 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Italy. With racecourses purpose-built to meet international race specifications, Centennial Park is positioned to become the country’s premier destination for world-caliber cycling events. In 2021, the trail to Tokyo goes through OZ at Centennial Park in

Fayetteville! Start making your plans to attend this once-in-a-lifetime event here in Arkansas. Go to experiencefayetteville.com for event details and to find out where to stay and what to do while you are in Fayetteville!

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THE LAKESIDE TRAIL: It’s likely Arkansas’s first student-designed mountain bike trail on school property.

“I really like to see the initiative to encourage youth to not only participate, but to also be a part of the solution for the problems they encounter with cycling (not enough trails or no trails, more girls in cycling, more minority groups, etc). — Erik Leamon, The Ride STORY SPONSORED BY

it could bring some value to them and to their campus. I was certainly impressed that they were looking to go in this direction. “I’ve heard about different things that they were incorporating, such as lots of engineering skills, to try to plan and coordinate where the trail needed to go. It certainly seemed like they were coming up with lots of different ways to make it educational, while at the end of the day just trying to make a trail to ride bikes on.” Blissit said the trail was envisioned with other community members in mind and will serve additional duty as a walking path and practice course for Lakeside’s cross-country teams. “The administration has been very supportive. They’re all about teachers sharing what they’re interested in and what they’re passionate about with the students,” he said. “They’re trying to make education different in a good way. It’s less about sitting in a 18 | BIKE ARKANSAS February 2021

2100 Meadowlake Road, Conway (501) 764-4500

classroom and more about what’s possible outside of the classroom. “When you go from teaching a student in a classroom in a normal student environment and you take them out and you show them different features of the land and the terrain and what’s possible, you see their eyes light up and they get excited about it. It’s different than just learning from a smartboard or a textbook. You’re taking them out there and you’re showing them how to apply what they’ve been learning. They really do enjoy it.” Asked what advice they had for another

school interested in taking on a similar project, the two seventh-graders said to keep end goals in sight while following the necessary process. “First, you’ve got to find an area to have a mountain biking trail,” Orme said. “After that, you have to make sure that once you’ve chosen an area, you have to figure out the rules and if there are any guidelines you have to follow. You have to make it as safe as possible.” Hugentobler added, “But also make it fun.” Blissit also had advice for other school districts wanting to tackle trail-building. “If you have administrators who are hesitant, show the interest that the students have for it,” he said. “[Administrators] may be surprised how enthusiastic their students will be to get out there and help and get dirty and get a shovel and a rake and get after it. There’s hardly any way that they can say no if they know that the students and the parents are on board and want to complete something like this.”

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BIKE ARKANSAS issue no. 17 | 19

MUST-

20 | BIKE ARKANSAS February 2021

-RIDE GUIDE

Add three new mountain bike trails to your list. story and photography By Bob Robinson

ust when I thought mountain biking in Arkansas could not get any better, I’m glad to report I’ve been proven wrong.

The following is a list of recently constructed must-ride trails.

A NEW MONUMENT TRAIL

On Sept. 17, 2020, through the joint effort of the Arkansas Parks & Recreation Foundation and Arkansas State Parks, the state’s third Monument Trail system opened at Pinnacle Mountain State Park. I was fortunate to have Joe Jacobs, Arkansas State Parks marketing and revenue manager, as my guide over this new trail. Jacobs, in a volunteer capacity, led the design and construction at the park for the original Jackfork mountain bike trail completed in 2010. These new trails were constructed by the professional trail crews of Rogue Trails and Jagged Axe. Jacobs said designers tried to retain some of the “old school” flavor of the original. Several time-tested favorite features, including the sharp turn at the rock, live on in the new design. Jacobs and I began our tour at the visitor center parking lot, one of three lots with access to the trails. Immediately, the new Jackfork Trail reminded me of the sweet trademark well-groomed flow that Rogue Trails is known for creating, like the Monument Trail system they constructed at Hobbs State Park.

AT PINNACLE: Aaron Stone enjoying a rocky ride.

BIKE ARKANSAS issue no. 17 | 21

Shortly into the ride we veered onto a connecting side loop trail called Dynamite, which routes cyclists past interesting boulder fields and craters, remnants from the area’s quarry era. The loop also exposes riders to many scenic rock formations and steep bluffs that border the trail, along with extensive views of the Arkansas and Maumelle rivers flowing past the base of the mountain. Jackfork then passes a hub, giving riders the option of jumping onto one of two more technically constructed trails, 22 | BIKE ARKANSAS February 2021

built by Jagged Axe, or continuing to circumnavigate the mountain. All routes reconnect later at the start of a series of trails that makes up the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) loop. This loop was designed to provide a fun, safe and high-quality mountain biking environment to host the popular NICA-sponsored events tailored for students in grades 6-12. In total, the system includes 14 miles of singletrack, rated from beginner to expert, guaranteeing a positive experience for every member of the family.

ON THE NICA LOOP: Miles and Sullivan Dockery cranking it out on Coachwhip.

DISCOVER THE TRAILS of THE DIAMOND LAKES REGION

The Diamond Lakes Region has 240 miles of trails plus three IMBA EPIC trails.* NORTHWOODS TRAILS HOT SPRINGS

Beginner to Advanced 27 miles Trailheads: Waterworks: 300 Pineland Drive, Downtown Hot Springs: 800 Pullman Avenue, Cedar Glades: 461 Wildcat Road, Bull Bayou: 1124 Cedar Glades Park Near: Downtown Hot Springs

IRON MOUNTAIN TRAIL Beginner to Intermediate 32 Miles Near: DeGray Lake

LAKE OUACHITA VISTA TRAIL (LOViT)*

Intermediate 38 Miles Trailheads: Avery Park, Brady Mtn. Rd., Crystal Springs, Joplin, and Denby Point Near: Mount Ida • Crystal Springs

OUACHITA NATIONAL RECREATION TRAIL* OUACHITA NATIONAL RECREATION TRAIL OUACH RIVER

WOMBLE TRAIL

ITA

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27 26

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IRON MOUNTAIN TRAIL

arkadelphia OUA

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WOMBLE TRAIL*

Intermediate 35 Miles Trailheads: Fishing Village in Story, Hwy 298, and Northfork Lake Near: Mount Ida • Story

CHIT IVE R

Go to BIKEHOTSPRINGS.COM for details

I LE R TT OU LI ISS R M IVE R

Intermediate to Advanced 108 Miles Added Bonus: Camping Shelters every 10 miles Trailheads: Hwy 7 past Jessieville, Story Near: Hot Springs Village • Story

Visit diamondlakes.org to request a free Hot Springs/Diamond Lakes Vacation Guide.

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BIKE ARKANSAS issue no. 17 | 23

IN BELLA VISTA: Jane Hetzel pausing to enjoy a view on Little Sugar.

ONE SWEET RIDE

IN THE WILD: Jane Hetzel with Sasquatch hot on her wheels. 24 | BIKE ARKANSAS February 2021

The final pieces of Bella Vista’s Little Sugar Trail system were completed in 2020. With the 25-mile Tunnel Vision Trail loop, along with several other shorter trails added last year, the Little Sugar system now tops out at more than 50 miles of inviting singletrack. Also included in these final stashes are three adrenaline-pumping downhill runs. Combine this trail system with the mileage of adjoining trails, including Back 40, Blowing Springs, Slaughter Pen and Coler Preserve, and it makes Northwest Arkansas a very worthwhile vacation destination for mountain bikers from locations across the U.S. Little Sugar follows the familiar style of the Back 40, with trails flowing in and out of the numerous hollows and ravines. With these trails spreading over longer distances at the floors of the hollow, I did not feel there were as many steep climbs up hillsides to cross neighborhood streets as Back 40, which in my opinion is a good thing. But I must have been having so much fun that I was zoning out, because I later discovered Little Sugar actually has more climbing per mile than Back 40. These trails also provide access for both cyclists and hikers to explore the natural beauty of the area. The Tunnel Vision Trail is lush with green vegetation and beautiful waterfalls flowing over bordering bluffs during wet seasons. It also includes a great photo op with Tanyard Creek Falls as a backdrop. Riders should pause occasionally to appreciate a moment of bliss among the serene setting. Then crank up the fun meter to 11 and showboat your style by grabbing air on the many kickers and drops that are scattered throughout this trail system.

BIKE ARKANSAS issue no. 17 | 25

ON MILLSAP MOUNTAIN: Michele Jackson, Randy Jackson and Chris Hopper circling Stonehenge.

CHASING GOLD

Hold onto your handlebar grips! Fayetteville’s own Centennial Park at Millsap Mountain is on track to become the country’s premier destination for world-class cycling events. As I am writing, crews are putting the finishing touches on multiple world-class courses designed to host both cyclocross and mountain bike competitions. We won’t have to wait long for an opportunity to witness, up close and personal, the biggest names in professional mountain biking battle it out in heated contests. On the back-to-back weekends of April 8-10 and 16-18 the park will host the inaugural Oz Trails U.S. Pro Cup. This will be followed with FayetteCross serving as a UCI World Cup event on Oct. 13, and then Jan. 29-30, 2022, by the UCI Cyclocross World Championships. Both the latter events will be held on Centennial Park’s very own permanent cyclocross course, appropriately named Chasing Gold. The best part is we get to ride our bikes (or carry them) up the infamous 38 steps of the cyclocross course anytime we want to. Most of the mountain bike trails are finished and open to the public. The trail map posted at a temporary trailhead located at the north end of Centennial Park shows about 12 miles of mountain bike trails. With a good mix of green, blue and black, all riders are sure to discover their new “favorite ride.” There are even several radical gnarly jumps to please the big-air junkies. The trail designers also merit massive style points for incorporating an old abandoned pickup into a unique feature. They heaped on even more points with the totally original Stonehenge rock structure that is literally the cherry atop Millsap Mountain. Proving once again, this is a great time to be a cyclist in The Natural State. IN CENTENNIAL PARK: Chris Hopper, Michele Jackson, and Randy Jackson rolling the truck feature. 26 | BIKE ARKANSAS February 2021

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BIKE ARKANSAS issue no. 17 | 27

The Four Corne

28 | BIKE ARKANSAS February 2021

ers Bicycle Ride of

Arkansas Traveling the roads less traveled. story and photos By Sam Taggart

ON THE ROAD: In South Arkansas.

BIKE ARKANSAS issue no. 17 | 29

THE GROUP AT REST: In Bentonville.

IN RANDOLPH COUNTY: A view of the Eleven Point River.

o paraphrase Robert Prisig in “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance”: On a bicycle, you are no longer in a walled compartment passively watching the world go by. You are in the scene; the sense of presence is overwhelming. You are no longer watching television. The Four Corners Ride was conceived as a physical challenge of endurance and morphed its way into an intellectual, emotional and spiritual journey. Little did we know that when we took the roads less traveled, we would be re-exploring our lives as we went. The stated intent of our bicycle ride was to explore the four corners of Arkansas. Back in the 1960s, Charles Kuralt created a series of reports for CBS called “On the Road,” where he explored rural America in an RV. In one of his early shows, he remarked that it was hard to get a real-life view of America from the freeway; he spent his time on small backroads and out-of-the-way places, and that is what we set out to do. In planning our trip, The Four we used the major roads on Corners Ride the edges of the state as our starting point: Highway 71 was conceived in the west, Highway 412/62 in the north, Highway 1 in as a physical the east and Highway 82 challenge of across the south. We seldom rode these endurance and major highways and instead made wide serpentine loops morphed its off into the country in all way into an directions. The lion’s share of our time was spent on intellectual, beautiful, solitary, country roads that carried us through emotional and small villages like Caddo Gap, spiritual journey. Pencil Bluff, Hackett, South Lead Hill, Ravenden, Cherry Valley, Cypress Corner, Montrose, Horatio and Kirby. These excursions into the countryside provided many of the major highlights of the trip. The course was all paved with generally good riding surfaces. The riding was challenging because of mountains and distance and the weather gods threw two hurricanes in our path. Despite these challenges, the ride fulfilled all our expectations. We started planning our next ride the night we finished this ride.

ur crew consisted of 10 riders, the oldest was 78 and the youngest was 64. We set out in September 2020, traveling with a van and trailer for SAG (support and gear) that provided a food-and-water stop every 10 miles. The biking gear varied from standard road bikes with 25mm tires to gravel bikes with 38-plus mm tires; two riders carried an e-bike as an extra bike. We planned our trip so that we stayed in small motels, bed and breakfasts, VRBOs and state parks. The daily rides averaged 52 miles; in the mountains the rides tended to be slightly shorter and, in the Delta, slightly longer. Each day we began our riding between 7:30 and 8 a.m. and tried to get two-thirds of our ride done before our lunch break. In the afternoon, we tried to get off the road by about 3 p.m. The total distance for the trip was approximately 1,200 miles; we had 23 riding days with one rest day in Bentonville. (Next time, I would

30 | BIKE ARKANSAS February 2021

KNOW THE PERFECT PLACE THAT COULD USE A SIDEWALK, OR MAYBE A TRAIL THAT NEEDS SOME TLC? Your ideas may qualify for funding through the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) or the Recreational Trails Program (RTP). Visit www.ardot.gov and search for “TAP” to learn more about these grant programs administered by the Arkansas Department of Transportation.

eligible examples include, but are not limited to:

• Conversion of abandoned railroad corridors • Sidewalk improvements • Development & rehabilitation of trailside and trailhead facilities To apply, download an application from our website. Completed applications can be emailed to LFPA@ardot.gov or mailed to the address below. Applications must be received by June 1. Arkansas Department of Transportation c/o Program Management Division 10324 Interstate 30 Little Rock, AR 72209

north little rock river trail BIKE ARKANSAS issue no. 17 | 31

ON THE BACKROADS: An old barn near Horseshoe Bend.

While riding for five to six hours a day, we built up major calorie deficits; so, we were always hungry.

add a rest day at the other three corners.) While riding for five to six hours a day, we built up major calorie deficits; so, we were always hungry. In the planning of the trip, we spotted cafes along the way that matched our riding schedule. The day before, we called the cafe for the following day and let them know we would be passing through with a group of 10. This worked very well and most of the restaurants were accommodating and pleased to have a group of 10 for lunch. As for the ride itself, starting as early as the first day, it became apparent that the choice of lightly traveled, country roads was a good one. Despite the fact that it was raining, Amity Road, west out of Hot Springs, with good riding surfaces and almost no traffic, gave the riders a good break-in day. To the south of the road is a ridge of mountains that separate the Ouachita and Caddo River valleys. After making our way to Y City and Waldron, we rode one of our first backcountry loops on Highway 45 that carried us almost over into Oklahoma through the towns of Mansfield, Hartford, Hackett and Enterprise. We had lunch at the Main Street Cafe in Hackett. The cheeseburgers were excellent. 32 | BIKE ARKANSAS February 2021

The next day we were fogged out of our ride but the route from Van Buren north on Highway 59 through Natural Dam and Evansville to Fayetteville would have been a great mountain ride. With a two-day stop in the Northwest Arkansas metropolitan area, the riders got a chance to ride the Greenway Trail from Fayetteville to Bentonville. If you like craft breweries, this is the place to be. After a day of rest we headed east on Highway 412 and then north toward Eureka Springs. Since the first ride, we had changed the course to follow Highway 45 at Hindsville to Highway 12 to Highway 23 into Eureka Springs; parts of this ride were breathtaking. One of my favorite rides was the course from Eureka Springs to Harrison. We had lunch in Alpena at the Top of the Rock Cafe. It was a great stop. What made the day was the loop off Highway 62 onto Highway 392 through Batavia to Harrison. This was a wonderful ride for a photographic eye; there were iconic shots around every corner. After Harrison, we headed north on Highway 7 to South Lead Hill and then south on Highway 14 to Yellville. For the first time we

were truly lost in Ozark backroads, valleys and ridges. The Carlton Marion Motel, on a bluff overlooking Crooked Creek, is a small motor court in Yellville and was a delightful place. Laura’s Mexican Kitchen, just across the street, serves good food in large portions and, importantly, was open both for supper in the evening and an early breakfast in the morning.

fter Yellville, we headed east on Highway 202 to Flippin, then north on 178 to Bull Shoals. The area around Bull Shoals has a number of challenging hills for bicycle riders. Connie’s Cafe in Bull Shoals served a good breakfast. After Bull Shoals we followed Highway 178 and then Highway 5 back south to Mountain Home. That night we stayed at Henderson on Norfork Lake and motored in our van out to the Grill At Whispering Woods near Norfork Dam. The food, service and scenery were good, the only drawback for bicyclists was the distance from the lodging in Mountain Home and Henderson. The last two days in the Ozarks began in Henderson on Norfork Lake but soon we left the main highway and made a major loop south toward Horseshoe Bend. In the process we passed through the communities of Elizabeth, Mitchell, Bexar and Oxford.

IN CORNING: Big Daddy’s Pigaliscious BBQ food truck.

Most of the day was spent riding in rolling hills. As with several of the other loops, there were many dramatic photo opportunities. The next morning we headed out of Horseshoe Bend, further into the heart of the Ozarks on Highway 354 and 58 before heading east toward Ravenden. From Ravenden we took a northern loop that carried us through Ravenden Springs and ended in Pocahontas. We crossed several beautiful rivers on this day including the Spring, the Eleven Point and the Black rivers. After descending from the foothills of the Ozarks, we headed west toward Corning and eventually Crowley’s Ridge and Piggott. There is a distinct and different beauty to this part of the country, especially during harvest. We arrived in this part of the Delta as they were harvesting rice and corn. In Corning, we ate our noon meal at Big Daddy’s Pigalicious BBQ food truck. We pulled in late morning and Big Daddy himself was at the food truck. As we rode up, he began to laugh. One of our crew had called the day before and said we were a group of 10 bikers and would be there the next day. He told his wife that night that he had a motorcycle gang coming that morning. This was the second time we were identified as a gang. The next morning we left Piggott and rode

He told his wife that night that he had a motorcycle gang coming that morning. This was the second time we were identified as a gang.

south on a variety of small roads to Jonesboro, following the St. Francis River as it formed the border of the Missouri Bootheel. It was a beautiful day and this is an entirely different beauty. After Jonesboro, we headed south on Crowley’s Ridge. There was almost no traffic and delightful riding. We had a great mid-day meal at The Nest in Cherry Valley. Whatever you do, don’t miss this place! I had the best fried bologna sandwich I have ever had. We spent the night at Village Creek State Park on Crowley’s Ridge and had take-out from Pop’s Diner in Wynne. The state park and the cabins at Village Creek are a hidden gem. The next day we rode south on Crowley’s Ridge to Forrest City, then descended onto Highway 1 through Marianna to Cypress Corner. The crew stopped for a sandwich at Cypress Corner BBQ. Be warned, there is no sign, and the place is right out of “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” but the barbecue sandwiches were good. From Cypress Corner, we continued south to Lexa Junction and then east to Helena-West Helena. It was a bit of a drive,

but the Helena Tavern on Cherry Street in downtown Helena was a fun place for an evening meal and blues music. This was the one place in the ride where you could stand on the levee in downtown Helena and say you were on the banks of the Mississippi River. From Helena, we set out for Dumas and the longest ride of our trip (81 miles). I only changed gears twice all day and that was going over the White and Arkansas River bridges. We stopped and had lunch at Kelly’s on The Square in Dewitt and had enjoyable food and service. We ate supper in Dumas at Sheps Farmhouse Restaurant. Part of the crew ate at the El Toro Mexican cafe next door and it was also good.

n the last full day in the Delta we ended up at Lake Chicot State Park just out of Lake Village. As with Village Creek, the state park was a wonderful place to spend the night. The riding surfaces on the course from Dumas to the park were not as good as we would have liked but they seemed to be making repairs. Two popular eating spots in Lake Village were Rhoda’s Famous Tamales and, my favorite, LJ’s Cafe and Bait Shop on Lake Chicot. BIKE ARKANSAS issue no. 17 | 33

The next two days from Lake Village to Crossett and Crossett to El Dorado were all on Highway 82. There were no options for us to get on roads off the highway because of the river crossings and Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge. Luckily, the traffic was moderate and there were good wide shoulders. The Beech Street Bistro in Crossett was a jumping place for supper after a long day on the road. The downtown square in El Dorado and Off the Rail Cafe was a good place for breakfast. Leaving El Dorado, we had one and a half days of country road loops. First on Shuler Road south out of El Dorado, ending in Magnolia. Java Primo was an early place for breakfast in Magnolia. The next morning, we took Highway 371 west toward Lake Columbia, and just passed Lake Luckily, the Columbia, we took a series of traffic was small backroads to Buckner, then proceeded west on Highway 82 moderate and through Stamps and Lewisville to Texarkana. Burge’s Meats was an there were excellent place to stop for lunch good wide in Lewisville. That night we had barbeque at Namann’s on Stateline shoulders. Road in Texarkana; it was tasty and near motels. The next day we headed north on Highway 71 to Ashdown, then west on Highway 32 to Foreman, and then north on Highway 41 to De Queen. We had a good meal at the Wooden Spoon in Foreman and ended the day in De Queen. On our next to last day of our ride, we left De Queen on Highway 70/71 through Dierks toward Lake Gresson for the night. We stayed at the fantastic Self Creek Recreation Cabins on the shore of the lake. Next morning, we had breakfast at the Kirby Cafe a few miles up the road on the course. We then retraced our first day’s course.

A LAKE COLUMBIA: Outside Magnolia.

LIFE ON THE ROAD: The crew having lunch at Taco Bell in Hunstville. 34 | BIKE ARKANSAS February 2021

fter completing the ride, we spent several weeks perfecting the course. The initial route and turn-by-turn maps were designed for bikers traveling with a van and SAG. That was how we did it in 2020. There were several 5-to-8-mile shuttles around difficult areas; most of the shuttles were because of heavy traffic and no shoulders. We decided that we wanted the route to be suitable either for SAG supported or fully self-contained riders. In the most recent version of the turn-by-turns, we eliminated the need for shuttles. To do this we had to add at least a couple of days riding to the full trip, including a day into Heavener and Poteau, Okla. There is one 6-mile stretch on Highway 412 just east of Williford (Horseshoe Bend to Pocahontas) that could not be eliminated. It should be taken with caution. It is doable but the shoulder is variable and the traffic is heavy. We rode out and examined the riding potential of the roads both north and south of Highway 412 in this segment. Only experienced gravel riders will be able to manage these side-roads because the paved roads quickly fade off into gravel for several miles. Since the first ride in September 2020, we have now completed the map of the full periphery of Arkansas. The turn-by-turn instructions are available to anyone at no cost who wants them. The only thing we ask is that you help us in perfecting this ride. If you live in a community that is close to the course and know of other options that might be better, please let us know. If you want the turn-by-turns, I can be reached at samtaggart@att.net.

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BIKE ARKANSAS issue no. 17 | 35

BIG DAM BRIDGE 100: Organizers promise a return in 2021.

PHONING IT IN Pandemic points races to virtual and time-trial options while waiting for normalcy. But is this the new normal? By Stephen Koch

ast spring, amid pandemic concerns, organizers in the cycling community put the brakes on competitive bike racing and other gatherings. A year later, virus precautions remain. Racers are back in action, though, navigating through the pandemic’s rough terrain by competing against each other virtually. In lieu of hordes of droplet-spreading riders all racing together, groups like Fayetteville Parks and Recreation have encouraged competitive solo rides. Last summer’s Square 2 Square Bike Ride Challenge, which runs from the town square in Fayetteville to Bentonville’s town square, got retrofitted for solo bikers. Participants used apps to mark

36 | BIKE ARKANSAS February 2021

their routes and to safely engage with others. Other races have followed these general protocols as well in an attempt to minimize contact and spread. The virtual options were so popular with bikers last year that they might stick beyond the COVID emergency, according to Tiffany Hoover with Fayetteville Parks and Recreation. “We see it as something we will continue to offer beyond the pandemic,” she said. Hoover said the plans for this spring’s Square 2 Square ride are similar to last year, which she described as “a modified/ limited capacity in-person event, as well as a virtual option.” While planning for all safety contingencies, Hoover said she has hopes that by this fall, the ride “can start to resemble

COURTESY ARKANSAS DEPT OF PARKS HERITAGE AND TOURISM

a ‘normal’ Square 2 Square Bike Ride experience.” And Hoover’s optimistic outlook seems to be the rule. All Sports Productions, based in Fayetteville, usually puts on several of the state’s biggest races, but through the entirety of 2020 held only seven in-person events. “We’re a for-profit company with five employees,” Bruce Dunn, owner and race director at All Sports, said. “We have to try and make things work.” It was a shaky year of event cancellations, race postponements and general uncertainty. “Everything from March to September was canceled or virtual,” he said. “We have a lot of constituent groups, a lot of stakeholders, and everyone was really supportive.” Like Hoover, Dunn is bullish on the future: “We’re better prepared now. Looking back now, could I have done the Ozark Valley Triathlon, or rescheduled a nonpack racing-type event? Yes. We didn’t know enough in the summer. And sanctioning bodies were not ready to issue permits, [nor were] municipalities.” All Sports’ 2020 Ozark Valley Triathlon, usually held in the beautiful Ozark-St. Francis National Forest in August, went virtual. So did the following month’s Big Dam Bridge 100, Arkansas’s largest cycling

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BIKE ARKANSAS issue no. 17 | 37

KAI CADDY

PUSHING FORWARD: Northwoods’ Trails Coordinator Traci Berry.

“I think we have all learned ... we have to be flexible with our

a vaccine now. It all comes down to public perception or reality about the vaccine. We did seven in-person events last year, and it was a much worse situation without having a vaccine.” Dunn said getting athletes back to competitions is a lower hurdle than getting the public back to attending events. “Triathletes and mountain bikers accept more risks, naturally. If they think good safety protocols are in place, they’ll come back.” As for spectators, he wonders if they’re ready. It’s just another unknown in an era full of them. Still, Dunn sees an upside in what he’s learned about his own business and the industry over the past year. “I literally did not know what Zoom was,” he said. “I’ve taken so many professional development courses,” he laughed. “Having to navigate all this has improved our communication among staff, among athletes, and among stakeholders. We’re just better prepared now.” With even the locally beloved monthly Full Moon Rides canceled, the Hot Springs area’s biking and racing scene was relatively quiet last spring. But by fall, the biggest biking event in the area was back on. November 2020’s viking-themed Gudrun: Northwoods MTB Festival and running/cycling expo went really well, according to Traci Berry, Northwoods Trails Coordinator at Visit Hot Springs. “We didn’t necessarily implement any restrictions [for Gudrun],” Berry said. “Registration was online only. We did have signage with social distancing messaging posted throughout the venue. We had marked mandatory face covering areas. [We] required all attendees to wear face

planning. I have no way to predict where we will be by November.”

— Traci Berry event. Using an app, registered riders could complete the actual course solo in-person — or, registrants who would have had to travel could complete the equivalent mileage course in what Dunn called the “driveway challenge.” Dunn said he also realized that for virtual competitions, “you had to add value. You had to make the swag more enticing. We did embroidered patches and beach towels and a lot of other stuff in addition to Big Dam Bridge 100 T-shirts.” Utilizing a time-trial start for the swim portion of the DeGray Lake Triathlon, where each competitor gets his or her own start time, was a breakthrough for Dunn. The system worked well at keeping competitors safely distanced from each other, and Dunn thinks this same system will work in other sports, too. “We’re going to have an in-person event for the Big Dam Bridge 100 in September 2021,” Dunn vowed. “We have a timeline on the website on how this will go.” With ridership spread out to keep groups small, “it could be three days, it could be two days — if we’re under the same protocols. But I don’t see us being under the same protocols. There’s 38 | BIKE ARKANSAS February 2021

coverings when social distancing was not able to be achieved. We had hand sanitizer set out in multiple locations. We required our volunteers to check in each day, having their temperature taken and filling out a COVID questionnaire.” What does she see as the future of bike racing and events for athletes and fans? “Until we are able to get a handle on COVID-19 — and hopefully the vaccines will bring this about soon, as more and more people are able to receive it — I believe we will continue to see many virtual options, as well as many races moving toward a time-trial type format in order to allow for distancing of participants. As far as fans and spectators go, they will need to be prepared to continue to adhere to social distancing protocols while at live events for the foreseeable future.” Gudrun 2021 is scheduled for Nov. 12-14. For all we know about this fall’s infection rates, vaccination levels and the country’s general demeanor, autumn might as well be a world away. There’s no way to know if restrictions will be loosened by then. “I think we have all learned ... we have to be flexible with our planning. I have no way to predict where we will be by November,” Berry said. “What I do know is that we will adhere to any CDC recommendations and Arkansas Department of Health requirements as they pertain to large outdoor recreation event gatherings. We will do all we can in order to put on a safe and fun event for our participants and spectators.” And while the virus is causing large competitive races to evolve, most agree it’s causing regular trail usage by individuals and small groups to expand — meeting or exceeding ridership levels even from last spring, when a national bicycle shortage was in the headlines. “The trails are staying busy with users,” Berry confirms. “We are still seeing a high daily use, and we still have several out-of-town riders from various states coming through to enjoy our trails.” “Some bike shops doubled their sales because of the pandemic,” Dunn said. “There’s a lot of new customers now.” Especially as a bicyclist’s thoughts turn to spring, Berry feels the frustration all riders, racers and race organizers are feeling in 2021. “We all want to be able to get out and compete as well as socialize with other riders,” she said. “Wearing face coverings and keeping our distance in order to do so is a small price to pay to take part in something that we love.”

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BIKE ARKANSAS issue no. 17 | 39

EVENTS OUACHITA CHALLENGE MARCH 20-21 Oden Schools, Oden (Montgomery County) $60-$130 Race on gravel March 20 for 62 miles or on mountain bikes March 21 on a 60-mile course on parts of the Ouachita and Womble trails. Winners will receive cash, trophies and medals. See ouachitachallenge.com for more information. BICYCLE RIDE AROUND ARKANSAS (BRAA) MARCH 28-APRIL 2 A six-day self-supported ride around south Arkansas that departs from the Camden Walmart. There will be tent camping and some cooking in camp. Riders must be members of the Arkansas Bicycle Club. Register at arkansasbicycleclub.org.

BECAUSE OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, DATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. CHECK ONLINE BEFORE MAKING PLANS. Have an event you’d like to be included in a future Bike Arkansas? Email editor Lindsey Millar at lindseymillar@arktimes.com.

ARK-LA-TEX CHALLENGE APRIL 3 2901 Leopard Drive, Texarkana $20-$45 Ride through three states with 35-mile or 70-mile routes. Other routes travel only through Arkansas and Texas. See arklatexchallenge.com for more information. OZ TRAILS U.S. PRO CUP APRIL 9-11, 16-18 Centennial Park at Millsap Mountain, Fayetteville $50-$85 One of the highlights of this year’s cycling calendar, the U.C.I.’s XO Elite and Junior XCO Series will bring U.S. and international pro racers to Fayetteville in back-to-back weekends. The USA Cycling sanctioned events also offer

amateurs a chance to qualify for U.S. Cross Country nationals. Register and find more information at uscupmtb.com. DIRTSURFERZ ONEWHEEL ENDURO APRIL 10 $60-$85 935 Passion Play Road, Eureka Springs Part of the Southern Enduro Tour, the six-stage race offers a dozen categories for riders of various skill levels. Register and find more info at bikereg.com/dirtsurferz. REDEMPTION ENDURO APRIL 11 $60-$100 935 Passion Play Road, Eureka Springs Part of the Southern Enduro Tour, the seven-stage race offers a dozen categories for riders of various skill levels. Register

WAMPOO ROADEO JULY 17

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$15 All Souls Church, Scott A flat road ride with 28-, 40- and 62-mile routes to benefit the Marilyn Fulper Fund.

40 | BIKE ARKANSAS February 2021

and find more info at bikereg.com/ redemptionenduro. BUFFALO HEADWATERS CHALLENGE APRIL 23-25 $20 (for IMBA members)-$80 139 Madison 3605, Pettigrew A three-day, all-inclusive mountain bike festival. Food, libations and live music included. Tent and RV camping available. The “Challenge” is a 40-mile, semisupported backcountry bike ride. Register at bikereg.com/ buffaloheadwaterschallenge2021. BIKE-A-THON APRIL 24 1101 Spring Street, Mountain Home A 35-mile ride that supports the Mountain Home Senior Center. Find more information at arkansasbicycleclub.org

DATE TO BE ANNOUNCED! CHECK OUR WEBSITE FOR UPDATES! WWW.CENTRALARVELO.ORG

TACO SUMMER FUN SERIES: FREEMAN TIME TRIAL MAY 1 $25 Northwoods, Hot Springs A time-trial race around the Freeman Loop at Northwoods with categories for men, women and e-bikes. Register at bikereg.com/ taco-summer-fun-series. SQUARE 2 SQUARE BIKE RIDE MAY 1 Downtown Fayetteville A ride from Fayetteville to Bentonville on the Razorback Greenway. A virtual option is also available. Register and find more info at app.regwiz.io/register/ square2squarebike/850 THE UGLY GNOME MAY 15-16 $5-$35 Woolly Hollow State Park, Greenbrier The first race in the Arkansas Mountain Bike Championship Series with time trials and cross country races for various ages and categories. Find more information and register at bikereg.com/the-ugly-gnome. LITTLE ROCK DIRTY FONDO MAY 16 Historic Marlsgate Plantation, Scott With routes ranging from 15-50 miles and plenty of gravel. The ride supports Recycle Bikes for Kids.

DO YOU HAVE BIKE NEWS? WANT TO ADVERTISE? INTERESTED IN SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES? CONTACT BROOKE WALLACE AT: BROOKE@ARKTIMES.COM @BIKEARMAG BIKE ARKANSAS issue no. 17 | 41

TACO SUMMER FUN SERIES: LOOPED XC RACE AT CEDAR GLADES MAY 22 $25 Cedar Glades, Hot Springs A race four times around a two-mile loop at Cedar Glades with categories for men, women and e-bikes. Register at bikereg. com/taco-summer-fun-series. TOUR DE TOMATO JUNE 5 $35 175 Highway 189 Bypass, Warren A ride through Bradley County with 16-, 40- and 62-mile courses. Part of the Bradley County Pink Tomato Festival. Register at runsignup.com/race/ar/waren/ tourdetomatobicycleride.

BENTONVILLE BIKE FEST JUNE 18-20 Bentonville Annual event includes group rides, workshops, bike shows, an enduro race, U.S. Trials nationals, a Guiness World Record attempt and more. Find more info at bentonvillebikefest.com. TRUE GRIT RIDE JUNE 18-19 $40-$50 7313 Terry Street, Fort Smith A 25-mile guided mountain bike ride happens June 18. A road ride with 10-, 30 and 45-mile routes.

FAT TIRE FESTIVAL JUNE 23-27 Eureka Springs A five-day festival with downhill, super-d, short track and cross country racing. More info at bikeeurekasprings.com. TACO SUMMER FUN SERIES: 6 HOUR RACE AT CEDAR GLADES JULY 10 $25 Cedar Glades, Hot Springs A six-hour race to determine how many laps riders can complete with various categories for entrants. Register at bikereg. com/taco-summer-fun-series. EUREKA SPRINGS MULTISPORT FESTIVAL JULY 16-18 A three-day festival with a sprint-distance triathlon Friday afternoon, Gran Fondos Saturday and running races Sunday. Or compete in the Full Eureka: the triathlon, 100-mile bike ride and 10K run. Find more information at allsportsproductionsinc. com.

COURTESY JOE MARTIN STAGE RACE

OZARK VALLEY TRIATHLON JUNE 6 Fayetteville An international or sprint triathlon, duathlon, aquabike event. Find more info at allsportsproductionsinc.com.

TACO SUMMER FUN SERIES: BIKE/RUN/BIKE DUATHLON JUNE 12 $25 Northwoods, Hot Springs A race with two 3-mile rides separated by a 5-mile trail run for solo men and women, or find a teammate and one person will do the two 3-mile rides while the other is running 5 miles. Register at bikereg.com/ taco-summer-fun-series.

JOE MARTIN STAGE RACE AUG. 26-29

Fayetteville A four-day, four-stage professional men’s and women’s race that’s part of both the USA Cycling Pro Racing Tour and the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) America Tour. Cyclists from all around the world are expected. For racers and spectators, it’s a chance to potentially see cyclists who might go on to race in the Olympics or big European races. The event also includes a two-day, three-stage amateur race.

42 | BIKE ARKANSAS February 2021

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BIKE ARKANSAS issue no. 17 | 43

A few tips to keep us all safe while enjoying the Arkansas River Trail! When preparing to pass others, speak an audible warning in advance. Always pass on the left side, while leaving two feet of clearance. Cyclists and skaters should travel at safe and appropriate speeds. Keep an eye on your children at all times. Keep pets on a short leash and under control at all times. Always clean up after your pets. Pay attention to all trail markings, signs and other alerts or warnings.

CRYSTAL BRIDGES ENDURANCE GRINDURO AUG. 7 Siloam Springs A gravel race with timed stages and 25and 50-mile routes. More info at bikereg. com/crystal-bridges-endurance-gravelgrinder. DEGRAY LAKE TRIATHLON SEPT. 12 $30-$90 DeGray Lake A variety of distance levels and options to run, race and swim in and around DeGray Lake, including a duathlon for those who don’t want to swim. Register at runsignup.com/Race/AR/Arkadelphia/ DegrayLakeTriathlon. ARKANSAS RIVER VALLEY BIKE FESTIVAL OCT. 8 Details TBD. TOUR DA DELTA OCT. 9 $20-$65 409 Porter St., Helena-West Helena A range of rides for road, gravel and family cyclists. Registration includes a one-day

ticket to the King Biscuit Blues Festival and a barbecue lunch. Find more info and register at bikereg.com/tourdadelta. 50TH JOE WEBER ARKY 100 OCT. 10 Sheridan Details TBD. Registration likely to open around June 15 at bikereg.com. FAYETTECROSS OCT. 13 Centennial Park at Millsap Mountain, Fayetteville The third annual event has been designated a World Cup event by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI). The same site will host the World Championships Jan. 29-30, 2022. More info at FayetteCross.com. CHINKAPIN HOLLOW GRAVEL GRINDER OCT. 24 $40-$60 Lake Wedington Recreation Area, Fayetteville A gravel race that travels into Western Oklahoma. Register, beginning April 1, at runsignup.com/Race/AR/Fayetteville/ ChinkapinHollowGravelGrinder.

Do not smoke while on the trails. Motorized vehicles are not allowed (with the exception of motorized wheelchairs, certain classes of e-bikes, and emergency vehicles). Keep to the right side of the pathways, except when passing others. COURTESY ARKANSAS DEPT OF PARKS HERITAGE AND TOURISM

Pedestrians always have the right of way. Groups should travel single-file to insure that cyclists are able to pass. When stopping, move off of the pavement so as not to impede passersby on the Arkansas trails.

s Cy cli st s a lwa yet wea r th e ir h e lm s!

BIG DAM BRIDGE 100 Look for more etiquette and safety tips at arkansasrivertrail.org 44 | BIKE ARKANSAS February 2021

SEPT. 25

Arkansas’s largest cycling tour will resume as a mass-start, in-person event this year. Stay tuned for details or visit thebigdambridge100.com.

BRAKE HERE Fuel up and wind down at 21c Bentonville, right off the trails in the heart of downtown.

#thisis21c 21cBentonville.com New cleanliness protocols in place to ensure the safety and wellness of our guests and teammates.

#A RS tate Pa rks

L l A a T t N n E e M m U u N n M mOo

PINNACLE MOUNTAIN STATE PARK

adventure

HOB BS STAT E PAR K

Monument Trails are a collection of world-class mountain biking destinations in Arkansas State Parks. These multi-use trails are open at Devil’s Den State Park, Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area, Mount Nebo State Park and Pinnacle Mountain State Park, offering enduring outdoor experiences to trail riders of all skill levels. Visit MonumentTrails.com for more information.

BIKE ARKANSAS issue no. 17 | 45

Bike Shops

LITTLE ROCK Arkansas Cycling & Fitness 315 N. Bowman, 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 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 Holy Roller United 108 N. East St. 501-672-4110

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 46 | BIKE ARKANSAS February 2021

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

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 West 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

Carr’s Chain Reaction 506 N. Arkansas Ave. 479-968-5305 Carrsrussellville.com

Beaver Lake Outdoor Center (Rentals) 14434 E. State Hwy. 12 479-877-4984 beaverlakeoutdoorcenter.com

Jackalope Cycling 103 N. Commerce Ave. 479-890-4950 facebook.com/jackalopecycling

Lewis & Clark Outfitters 2530 Pinnacle Hills Parkway 479-845-1344 lewisandclarkoutfitters.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 1907 Cavanaugh Road 479-974-1235 rollonbmx.business.site

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 W., 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 meteorbikes.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

BELLA VISTA Johan’s Bicycle Repair & Bike Rentals 3 Allendale Drive 479-308-1497 facebook.com/ bellavistabikeshop 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.com Revolution Mobile Bike Repair 512-968-7600 revrepair.com

NEW TRAILS. NEW VIEWS.

Don’t miss the newly opened Monument Trail at Mt. Nebo State Park

479-967-1762 www.discoverrussellville.org Paid for with a combination of state funds and private regional association funds. BIKE ARKANSAS issue no. 17 | 47

T O G ET HER FOR Better. Arkansans appreciate community. We work and raise families. Care for our neighbors. And come together in good times and bad. At First Security, that local strength is what we love best about our home state. There is commitment here. And heart. And hope. Thank you to everyone who is standing together, learning from one another, and making Arkansas a place we all love to call home.

Member FDIC 48 | BIKE ARKANSAS February 2021

We’re proud to be your community bank.