Bike Arkansas Magazine Summer 2024

8

BRAKING NEWS

Hincapie Fondo launches in Bentonville, New trails in Benton, Jonesboro and Jasper, U.S. Pro Cup recap and Joe Martin postponed.

12

BIKE CHECK

David Martinous’ Canyon Grizl AL and meaningful kit.

16

DAUNTING TASK

Doom is a challenging, but spectacular ride through the Ozarks.

By Kai Caddy

26

TOP TIPS

Little Rock pro cyclist Tanner Ward shares advice on nutrition, training and more.

Little Rock’s Tanner Ward speeding around the course at Speed Week in April. Photo by Kit Karzen

BROOKE WALLACE Publisher brookewallace@arktimes.com

KAI CADDY Editor kaicaddy@gmail.com

BECCA BONA Managing Editor beccabona@arktimes.com

MANDY KEENER Creative Director mandy@arktimes.com

MIKE SPAIN Art Director

LESA THOMAS LUIS GARCIAROSSI Senior Account Executives

MADELINE CHOSICH Digital and Marketing Director Digital Circulation

MEGAN ANTHONY Digital and Marketing Specialist

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

Contributors

BRYCE WARD is a competitive road cyclist based in Fayetteville and the Northwest Arkansas General Manager of local paper shredding company Rock Solid Shredding.

KAI CADDY is a photographer, graphic designer and occasional mid-pack Cat 4 crit racer based in Conway.

is a

and an

director with Arkansas Times . He’s also been an avid cyclist since 2004. “I don’t get dropped, I attack off the back.”

MIKE SPAIN

graphic designer

art

HINCAPIE LAUNCHES NEW EVENT IN BENTONVILLE

Gran Fondo Hincapie recently announced the launch of its latest event taking place Sept. 6-8 in Bentonville.

Cyclists can choose to ride the paved roads of Northwest Arkansas on Saturday, Sunday or both days, with each day offering multiple distance options.

The Gran Fondo Hincapie offers scenic rides, live music and a family festival with free food and drinks. The rides are hosted by former American pro cyclist and Olympian George Hincapie.

“Bentonville is a must-visit cycling destination that not only has top-tier roads, gravel and trails to ride, but also a vibrant and fun city to explore, dine and unwind in after a long day on the bike,” Rich Hincapie, president of Hincapie Sports, said. “The best part will be waiting for you at the finish line in downtown Bentonville where friends, family and thousands of other cyclists will be waiting to cheer you on as you accomplish your riding goal. Grab a beverage and enjoy two days of food and friendship at our family fun festival. Our events are designed for participants of all skill levels, giving everyone a chance to connect with other cycling enthusiasts and indulge their passion for cycling.”

COURTESY HINCAPIE SPORTS

with the chefs and Hincapie team.

“We are excited to welcome the Gran Fondo participants to Bentonville in September,” Jamie Cathey, outdoor recreation events manager with Visit Bentonville, said. “Our incredible cycling culture combined with our vibrant downtown,

Before the riding kicks off, the Hincapie team will host participants for an evening under the stars sampling culinary creations from the country’s top chefs. Enjoy each course with a glass of wine selected by a master sommelier. Riders get a chance to mingle with one another as well as

amazing restaurants and world-class museums give our city a chance to offer a signature Bentonville experience to those joining us for the ride. We know they will find so many reasons to love our city while they are here.”

Hincapie also hosts events in Chattanooga, Tenn.; Lehigh Valley, Pa.; Bangor, Maine; Greenville, S.C.; and Merced, Calif.

BENTON BIKE PARK OPENS

MAY 24

A new mountain bike park in Benton is set for a grand opening celebration Friday, May 24, from 10 a.m. to noon.

The event will take place west of Ralph Bunche Park at the new Benton Bike Park at 1100 S. Market St.

Bike demos will be available for riders to try out the new trails, along with vendors, food trucks and giveaways.

The new park will feature roughly 1.3

miles of multiuse natural surface trail and 1.2 miles of bike park trail designed and built by Progressive Trail Design. The park will also be home to Benton Public Schools’ National Interscholastic Cycling Association team.

Other entities that worked on the park are the Arkansas Parks and Recreation Foundation and McClelland Consulting Engineers, Inc.

JACKSON, BLEVINS, AMOS WIN BIG IN FAYETTEVILLE

A Canadian dominated all three Elite Women’s events in April’s U.S. Pro Cup mountain bike races at Centennial Park, while on the men’s side a plan to secure valuable Olympic qualifying points for Americans played out.

Americans Christopher Blevins and Riley Amos aren’t on the same trade team, but the Durango, Colo., natives worked together at the U.S. Pro Cup to help ensure the U.S. would have the maximum spots available for the Paris Olympics this summer.

The eight highest ranking nations in the Union Cycliste International rankings each qualify two athletes for the summer games, while nations ranked 9-19 only get one Olympic qualifier.

Saturday’s cross country race was rated an Hors Categorie, the highest ranking of any UCI race, which comes with a higher number of available points.

Blevins and Amos had to team up to fend off Canadian national champion Carter Woods, who had two teammates helping, and another Canadian, Cole Punchard, who found himself in the front group with a teammate helping.

The front group of six: Blevins, Amos, Woods, Punchard, Zorak Paille and Jens Schuermans stayed together for the majority of the race after gapping the rest of the field a couple of laps in.

By the fifth lap, Amos started to string the race out. He led heading into the climb, with Blevins and Woods not far behind.

Heading into the final stretch of that lap, though, Amos’ lead had grown. He came into the Fayetteville stonehenge feature, a twisting climb that drops riders into the finishing straight, alone. Woods and Punchard followed as Blevins started to falter.

By the final lap Amos had put enough of a gap on the rest of the field that he was able to celebrate solo as soon as he hit the pavement on the finishing stretch. He defeated Woods by 33 seconds. Punchard came in 50 seconds behind, and Paille and Schermans rounded out the five-man podium. Amos, and the U.S., claimed maximum UCI points.

It was the icing on the cake for Amos, who won Friday’s men’s under-23 cross country race — a race which was added to the schedule in hopes for more American UCI points.

In Wednesday’s cross country race, it was Blevins who took the top step, followed closely by Amos. The two worked together to stave off Woods again.

Blevins, a former short track world champion, out-sprinted Woods to claim Friday’s short track victory.

Canadian cross country national champion Jennifer Jackson took home convincing victories in the Olympic cross country races Wednesday and Saturday and short track on Friday.

She left little doubt in Wednesday’s race, leading wire-to-wire after taking the hole shot, eventually crossing the line a whopping 4 minutes ahead of fellow Canadian Ella MacPhee.

Jackson rode within the front group for the majority of Friday’s short track race conserving energy, before breaking away up the course’s power-line climb on the final lap.

In Saturday’s HC cross country race, Jackson somehow looked more dominant than she had all weekend despite not riding off the front until after the start lap. Once she broke away she stayed away again and finished 2:21 ahead of MacPhee.

ELATION: Riley Amos celebrates winning the HC-rated XCO race at the U.S. Pro Cup.

DOMINANT: Jennifer Jackson won every elite women’s event at the U.S. Pro Cup.

KAI CADDY

KAI CADDY

TRAILS, BIKE RENTALS NOW AVAILABLE AT HORSESHOE CANYON RANCH

Horseshoe Canyon Ranch near Jasper, long known for its world-class rock climbing and a popular zip-line, now offers 10 miles of singletrack trails with more in the works.

The trails are being constructed by Rock Solid Trail Contractors, and plans include about 21 miles of trail once construction is complete.

Trails are mostly hand-cut and there is something for every skill level from beginners to experts. There are flowy green trails and blue trails with engaging technical features.

Future phases will included downhill runs, technical backcountry black trails and a skills park.

Riders can bring their own bikes, but a fleet of Specialized Turo Levo e-bikes are available for rent at $50 for a half-day and $90 for a full day. A day pass for the ranch is $10. Newton County residents can get a day pass for free.

The ranch also offers cabins and campsites. There’s a full-service restaurant on the grounds offering breakfast, lunch and dinner five days a week and a Trading Company store with snacks, drinks and more.

JONESBORO TRAILS OPEN

In April the city of Jonesboro held a ribbon cutting to officially open a new system of 13 miles of mountain bike trails at Craighead Forest Park.

“As Arkansas is known as The Natural State it is fitting for Jonesboro to have its own soft surface trails for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy,” Mayor Harold Copenhaver said. “The trails provide growth in Jonesboro’s quality of place as well as creating more opportunities for tourism to Jonesboro, a beacon within Northeast Arkansas.”

The city invested $500,000 for the project and received a grant for an additional $301,000.

“The soft surface trail usage has created a great increase in out-of-state license plates in addition to increasing trail usage as a whole,” Jonesboro Director of Parks and Recreation Danny Kapales said. “We are looking forward to hosting more out-oftown guests as they discover the trails in Craighead Forest Park.”

The trail system soft opened in the fall and offers trails for all skill levels.

JOE MARTIN STAGE RACE POSTPONED UNTIL 2025

All Sports Productions announced in March that the 47th edition of the Joe Martin Stage Race has been postponed until 2025.

“After 46 years of amateur stage racing, 21 years on the USA cycling professional calendar and nine years on the UCI calendar we’ve had to make the very difficult decision to cancel the 2024 event due to the rising costs of producing a multiday stage race coupled with limited corporate and stakeholder sponsorship and funding,” race director Bruce Dunn said.

Joe Martin has been the springboard for many American cyclists to compete on the world stage, including the Olympics, world championships and international races, including 2016

winner Neilson Powless, who wore the prestigious polka dot jersey for 12 stages of the 2023 Tour de France as the best climber.

“We are committed to finding future sponsors for the professional UCI stage race and to bringing it back in 2025 bigger and better,” Dunn said. “With 14 months to plan for 2025, we will be working tirelessly to secure a top-tier lineup of sponsors. This race would not have been possible over the years without the sponsors, volunteers and others within the Fayetteville community who have done so much, and I look forward to continuing in partnership with them in the future.”

READY FOR ANYTHING

Martinous’ adventure machine and a meaningful kit.

PHOTOGRAPHy

by kai caddy

DAVID MARTINOUS

HOMETOWN: Little Rock

OCCUPATION: Funeral Director

THE BIKE: Canyon Grizl AL

THE HANDLEBARS: I’ve switched out to a Redshift Kitchen Sink handlebar. It’s got the little aero loop out front. On those flat straights and certain areas, certain gravel days, you can get down and use that, it just gives you tons and tons of hand positions and the drops are super flared out in a good way that it’s just very balanced. It definitely works well on a singletrack.

THE GEARING: Complete 1x 11-speed Shimano GRX. It was a 2x for the first two years of its life and then I destroyed the drivetrain at Rule of $3.99 in January — it was just brutal out there. So, I switched to a 1x to simplify things. It’s 40 tooth in the front and 11-46 in the rear. I think that for Despair/Doom I’m going to do an individual time trial maybe in the fall, and I would probably run at 36 teeth up front and that would be the only thing I’d change.

THE TIRES: Schwalbe G-One Ultrabites, these are 2.0s. This is their knobbiest gravel tire. I run Schwalbe tires on all my bikes. I’m a big Schwalbe fan. They have a lot of value and they’re slightly less expensive than the really top-end tires. And they pretty much run just as well.

THE BAGS: All ORR bags. I’ve got the handlebar bag, top tube and the frame bag. I’m really impressed with them. They fit really well and waterproofing on them is really great.

THE FORK: It’s got a Rock Shox Rudy fork up front with 30 millimeters of travel. It’s not the Ultimate XPLR, it’s just the solo

air version with no lockout, but honestly, I don’t really notice it. I don’t feel like it bounces and takes away speed when I’m on gravel roads.

THE BOTTLES: I’ve got my Spokes bottles. Spokes has been super supportive of me and helped feed me and taken really good care of all of my demands over the last few years. They’ve really helped me grow as a cyclist. So they’re part of Team Jagger.

THE POWER METER: I’ve got a Stages power meter. So I do have power coming from the left crank. That’s very helpful to have that information instead of just riding some of these events on feel.

THE BIKE COMPUTER: I do run a Karoo Hammerhead computer. I really like the dual band aspect and the intuitiveness of that computer.

THE HEADLIGHT: This is an Outbound Lighting Detour light. It’s a brand that people aren’t super familiar with, they’re kind of newer. It is like a cut-off headlight. It is like a car headlight. They are probably some of the best bikepacking and mountain biking lights.

THE KIT: Team Jagger is my privateer, one-man cycling team. It’s in memory of my son, David Jagger. He was born in October 2017 and lived for three days.

Mamie’s Poppy Plates’ support for us began moments after he passed in my arms. They train staffs at hospitals to capture hand and foot prints in those moments and those are used on the plates Mamie’s makes for families. Be -

sides the plates, Mamie’s creates a community for families experiencing loss. It began in Little Rock in 2010 and now serves hospitals in more than 20 states.

Team Jagger rides to raise funds and awareness for Mamie’s and in memory of Jagger and Malin Opitz. I have done three Rides for Jagger over the past three years and raised close to $20,000 for Mamie’s from

those rides.

On the left side of the kit, I have Jagger’s name on my left arm and left leg. And then on the right side of the body, we’ve got Malin. She was an 8-year-old little girl who passed away from brain cancer last year, who’s my very good friend’s child.

I’ve got “Daddy loves you” on the back collar as a reminder of what we’re riding for.

Diabolical

Adventure

Doom’s course lives up to name, but rider comradery is the opposite.

story and Photography

By Kai Caddy

Doom is not for the faint of heart.

A brutal but beautiful bikepacking race conceived by Ozark Gravel Cyclists founder Andrew Onermaa wrapped up its third edition on Easter weekend. The rapidly growing event saw 100 riders toe the line at the Horseshoe Canyon Ranch in Jasper. The Doom route is 408 miles of relentless climbs (nearly 44,000 feet of climbing) and rugged downhills. There are very few resupply points along the route. It is truly a backcountry tour of the Ozarks.

WARDING OFF BAD LUCK: Riders “charge” gremlin bells, ringing them as they walk around their bikes prior to Doom.

This year Onermaa added a second distance option: Despair. The Despair route is still no small feat. It comes in at 196 miles with more than 21,000 feet of climbing.

And, because Onermaa has taken to mountain biking of late, in addition to gravel riding, he added two sections of singletrack to the route. Because it wasn’t hard enough.

“‘It doesn’t have to be fun to be fun.’ I think that really sums up this event and route,” Onermaa said. “It’s ridiculous, and we all know that. But for whatever reason, we can’t stop smiling and laughing.”

On the morning of the grand depart, this year on Good Friday, Onermaa dons a ghost mask like the one from the Scream movies and hands out gremlin bells to each rider. Gremlin bells are a tradition in motorcycle riding. The bells are supposed to ward off evil spirits along the route, but not before they are charged by the riders ringing them and walking around their bikes before the start.

Once the bells were charged and attached to their bikes, the riders took off to tackle the brutal course

with some amazing conditions. A group of eight riders were still together as night fell on the first day, unusual for races of this ilk.

As that front group of eight, all men, settled in for dinner at Hillbilly Slims in northern Pope County, Canadian Meaghan Hackinen took the opportunity to move into first place all alone.

She held the lead for a while. She was eventually overtaken by Dexter Kopas about 6 hours after taking the lead. Kopas, from Arizona, never looked back. He decided to finish the race on no sleep and his advantage over the others ballooned.

He crossed the finish line first, returning to Horseshoe Canyon 45 hours and 42 minutes after he left.

“It’s only natural I would get my proudest biking achievement during the best biking event I’ve been lucky to be a part of,” Kopas said. “At some point on Friday I decided not to give the concept of sleep the slightest attention, which really paid off. It was as if the sleep deprivation was an advantage instead of an obstacle. I got to play in my mind, body and spirit for

RIDING AWAY: Meaghan Hackinen crosses a creek on day one, shortly before overtaking all of the leaders as they stopped for dinner.

‘I NEVER WANT TO DO THIS TRAIL AGAIN’: Bryan Dougherty toward the end of the second loop of single track on the route at the Buffalo Headwaters.

two days uninterrupted in the process learning about my different selves and the world I get to inhabit.”

Hackinen maintained second place for much of the second day. She was passed on the second section of singletrack at the Buffalo headwaters, where a majority of riders came unraveled. She was passed by Kuya Takami, who later relinquished second place back to Hackinen after he realized he had forgotten the bags he had dropped at the start of the singletrack and had to come back for them.

Hackinen was the first of the remaining riders to make it to the Mountain View Bistro in Oark. She was on her way back onto the road as Takami was ordering dinner.

Takami was later joined by three other riders who arrived just before the restaurant closed.

Bryan Dougherty, a previous Doom finisher, was one of the three who joined Takami. He eventually passed Hackinen that second night and made it back to the ranch second in 51 hours, 36 minutes.

“My second Doom was just as amazing of an experience as my first was, perhaps even better,” Dougherty said. “Andrew took an already extremely challenging route, and upped the ante by adding two different loops of singletrack. At mile 250 the second loop proved to be one of the hardest mental barriers of the race. The old school, hand-cut trails with punchy climbs and creek crossings galore had me cursing out loud.”

Dougherty said the group of four at the bistro in Oark were all in rough shape. None had slept. There were 110 miles to go and they all thought they were racing for third with Hackinen up the road.

“Somewhere during the night, I managed to pass Meaghan, and while I was pumped to move into second, I had been really excited watching her lead the race earlier and was hoping she would take the win,” he said. “That second night was a hard one. The sleeplessness really got to me, as I had to take many short breaks to try to stay awake. This route does not

TAKING A DIP: A trio of riders cool off in a creek on an unseasonably warm day.

get any easier at any point, and you are pushing yourself all the way to the end.”

Hackinen managed to hang on for third place overall and was the first female finisher at 2 days, 4 hours and 15 minutes. Another Canadian, Zach Delgreco, spotted Hackinen and was attempting to chase her down before crashing out.

“Doom was everything you’d expect from a ‘beautifully evil bikepacking route in the South,’ and more,” she said. “I’d shown up ready, or so I thought, for the impossibly steep pitches, rollercoaster descents and long hauls between resupply. What I didn’t anticipate — or couldn’t possibly fathom from the outset — was the magic of Arkansas’s backcountry, incrementally revealed as sleep deprivation, muscular fatigue and exhaustion set in. Unfamiliar places in the dark feel even stranger. Down in the hollows, I entered another world of fireflies and frogs, water crossings and armadillo. This — testing myself in unfamiliar surroundings with only the night noises from the bush and my gremlin bell for company — is why I was here. Overall, I’m grateful for the opportunity to race hard, overcome some personal challenges and experience a little bit of the great terrain and bikepacking community that Arkansas has to offer.”

Corey Krosner was the first single speed finisher at 2 days, 6 hours and 54 minutes. He led a packed field of riders who decided to tackle the route with just one gear.

“With a name like Doom, a high bar is set, and this event did not disappoint,” he said. “The climbs were steep, the descents were a blast and there was no shortage of creeks to go splashing through. Throw in a little singletrack to keep things spicy, beautiful weather

“Doom was everything you’d expect from a ‘beautifully evil bikepacking route in the South,’ and more.”

DONE & DUSTED: Onermaa congratulates Dougherty, 2nd place (above), and Hackinen, 3rd place (below), at the finish line.

THE WINNER: Dexter Kopas, from Arizona, finished the race in1st place with no sleep.

this year, a great location for hosting an event and an amazing race director, and it was everything I could have hoped for and more. Andrew treads the line beautifully between designing a course that is challenging and rewarding and one that is truly heinous. If you haven’t heard, single speeds are in. It was a blast to see so many fellow one-geared visionaries out there on the course this year.”

Jesse Smith of Indiana won Despair in 20 hours and 12 minutes. Carter Persyn, a former runner at the University of Arkansas, was second at 21:53 and Conway’s John Hoffmann finished in 23:55.

“I got to ride with many wondrous souls and to ride solo for hours on end, culminating in a welcoming party of sharing and connection at the finish line,” Kopas said. “Organized self-supported challenges like this have immense potential for personal growth,

bringing out the very weirdest, purest, darkest and most joyful parts of ourselves when we open up to the experience. I’m so glad to get to be a part of this community as it grows.”

In all, 34 riders finished Doom and 34 finished Despair — more finishers than had started each of the first two editions of the race. The one constant as each rider finished back at the ranch was the smiling face of the man behind the race. Onermaa has created a truly devious route, but there’s no one happier to see so many riders successfully navigate it.

“Doom and Despair isn’t for everyone, but damn, it’s certainly for a group of people that bring me an absurd amount of joy,” Onermaa said. “I don’t even know how to begin to say thank you, but thank you. This 2024 edition was one of the best things to ever happen to me.”

ON THE DOWNHILL SIDE: Unclip and enjoy the coast.

A PRO’S PERSPECTIVE

A Q&A with Tanner Ward on nutrition, training and more.

By Bryce Ward

Photography by Kit Karzen

What advice would you give to someone new to the sport of cycling, particularly if they aspire to rise in categories?

I’d say to keep in mind the big picture, and to understand that each race is a learning opportunity. You should learn something from every race so you can gain experience to improve for future races.

For example, if someone is a Cat. 5 and they want to become a Cat. 1, it’s important to understand why you want to be a Cat. 1 and then making sure you develop a process that aligns with the reason you want to be in that category.

It’s common for cyclists who are new to the sport to do too much too soon. What advice do you have for preventing the “burnout” that so many cyclists encounter?

For your motivation to be sustainable, you need to make sure you’re training for the right reason.

There’s also a lot of distractions with social media and seeing what other people are doing. You may see a big ride on Strava and think, “I should have done more.” You’ll see someone’s average power and wonder what their weight is and how on earth they’re doing that. So, it’s easy to

get distracted and think you’re not doing enough. That’s where it’s important to have a plan in place, and to have someone you can rely on, either a coach or a mentor or even a training partner who can help keep you grounded.

Cycling is endurance based, so keep the big picture in mind and keep chipping away. It’s going to take time to get where you want to be.

What is the secret to becoming a faster cyclist?

To truly enjoy riding your bike. I feel like a lot of people think racers are mainly in it for the competition, but I think all the top cyclists truly love cycling in its most basic form. There’s the competition aspect, and some people are super competitively driven, but you have to at least find some sort of enjoyment in it — whether it’s getting outside in nature, or the community aspect of it — there’s got to be something there.

If you can enjoy riding by yourself at times, that’s a good sign. It goes back to it being a long game. You’re not always going to be able to train with someone. You can’t always rely on somebody to help hold you accountable. If you can find joy while riding a bike, you’ll have a lot of longevity in the sport, and that longevity will ultimately make you a faster cyclist.

GO FAST: Ward says the first key to getting faster is to truly enjoy riding.

Pedaling toward happier, healthier communities, one revolution at a time.

“Investing in multimodal transportation infrastructure isn’t just about bike lanes and walking paths; it’s an investment in the vitality of our communities. It’s about fostering healthier, happier lifestyles by providing accessible avenues for physical activity and transportation. It’s about cultivating stronger social connections as people come together to ride and explore. And it’s about championing sustainability, reducing pollution, and creating greener, more livable spaces for everyone. Active transportation infrastructure isn’t just a feature; it’s a cornerstone of building thriving, vibrant communities where health, happiness, and sustainability intersect.”

Bea Becerra, EI is not only a project designer with MCE, she also serves on the Board of Directors for the Trailblazers, and Bike.POC. She is also a ride leader and BICP-certified mountain bike coach with Latinas en Bici.

Bea Becerra, EI

There is a lot of advice out there for what cyclists should be doing when they’re not on the bike, but what are some general guidelines that can point people in the right direction?

I think the biggest thing is for people to get into a routine, something they can stick to. And also, don’t over-complicate it. You don’t have to reinvent stretching, or gym work, or core, or nutrition for that matter.

For stretching, you can keep it dynamic and focus more on activation before rides if that’s what someone wants to do. I would save static stretching — or the lengthening sort of stretching, where you’re actually doing some damage to the muscles in a very controlled manner — for after rides and before bed, and don’t do too much, too quick.

For core, I think recovery days are good times to focus on that, but don’t over complicate it. Five minutes can be plenty for core work. And for gym stuff, start out with single leg movements, dynamic coordination type stuff, and working in plyometrics, too. Cyclists get no impact through the ground, no eccentric movement, so anything that can ease into the body, absorbing some impact into the ground, is going to help with overall health.

Any general nutrition tips for cyclists who want to improve their overall health and/or on-bike performance?

I think one of the biggest things is fluctuating your carbohydrate intake based on the demands for the day or the day ahead. For most people the training volume isn’t so astronomical where you have to be shoveling in 5,000 calories a day.

There’s this big push right now for 100 to 120 grams of carbs per hour on the bike. While there is a place for that — for super high-intensity workouts — it’s not needed on every workout by any means.

And that goes for off-the-bike nutrition ,too. If you have a weekly plan, think ahead for your intensity days; if it’s a VO2 or threshold session, even a longer tempo day, you’ll want higher carbohydrate intake for dinner and even lunch for the day prior, maybe even breakfast. The dinner before a recovery day or a day off, you still want carbs, but you shouldn’t have to eat a massive plate of pasta. That’s a great time to get in some high-quality protein. Don’t neglect the carbs because you can bury yourself if you are training consistently.

RECOVERY DAYS: Are good days for cyclists to hit the gym.

For those recovery days you don’t want to shut off carbohydrate intake, you want to limit it. Try to save those Haribo gummy bears for high intensity days, and prioritize wholesome carbs — actual food — on easier days.

In recent years, cyclists have become infatuated with numbers — especially power numbers. How important are power metrics, really, and is perceived effort something people should be prioritizing more? In other words, how can cyclists find a balance between looking at data and listening to their bodies?

Most people’s FTP will start to plateau at a certain point. When you first get started, you see improvement, improvement, improvement, and then eventually you’ll start to plateau. You might try a 20-minute test and do worse for the first time than you ever have in a previous one, and that’s when a power meter might start to become a limiter. At that point it can also start to have an impact on you listening to your body, and understanding what threshold should feel like or what VO2 should feel like.

The power meter is basically a calibration device for your perceived effort. If you’re trying to ride at endurance pace, you should be able to stay in the zone without looking too much at your power or heart rate numbers. When you do glance down, it should check out with the zone you’re trying to ride in. It takes time and practice to be able to ride a steady power for a given interval based on your perceived effort, but the goal should be not to fully rely on a power meter for training and racing.

When someone asks what power I did after a race, I have zero idea. I’ll look at it after the fact, it’s a great way to track progress or to compare races over years or events, but in a race scenario, it matters absolutely zilch — all that matters is speed.

What is a mid-ride gas-station haul you’re particularly proud of?

Jumex Mango Nectar, chocolate milk, Haribo peaches and a package of family-sized Reese’s peanut butter cups. Chocolate milk is money.

What is your favorite route in Little Rock? Garrison Loop.

White shoes and black socks, or black shoes and white socks?

If I’m picking between those, I’d have to say white shoes, black socks.

Who is your favorite professional cyclist right now? And why?

In the men’s peloton, Tadej Pogacăr for his aggressive racing style — and because he pulled off the “Babe Ruth” at this year’s Estrada Bianchi. In the women’s peloton, Demi Vollering for her souplesse on the bike.

THE NATURAL STATE CRITERIUM SERIES

Downtown Springdale Hosts the Natural State Criterium Series!

These bike races are high-speed, spectator-friendly, and happening in downtown Springdale -- a vibrant & fast-growing downtown in Northwest Arkansas.

New to the sport? Sign up for the First Chance race where experienced coaches will take you through the course.

In it to win? Compete for over $10,000 in cash and prizes over the three races that are sanctioned by USA Cycling.

Looking for free family fun? Watch the race in the Outdoor Dining District and enjoy drinks, dinner & family friendly activities.

SERIES DATES

1 JUNE 1

Thank you Buffalo Builders for sponsoring the Natural State Criterium Series!

COLER’S NOON2MOON

MAY 3-4

$10-$75

Bentonville

Noon2Moon is a 6-hour endurance race, and the only Coler Fundraiser event of the year. There will be a kids mountain bike camp and race May 3. Prior to the 6-hour race May 4, there will also be a Hot Lap race for those only wanting to race one lap of the course. For more information visit peelcompton.org/ events/noon2moon.

TOUR DE TOAD

MAY 4

$35-$60

Conway

This family-friendly bicycle event is held in conjunction with Toad Suck Daze. Route options consist of 10, 20 or 40 miles, and a family ride. Participants can earn an Iron Toad medal by participating in both the Toad Suck 5K/10K Run and Tour de Toad. Proceeds benefit Literacy Action of Central Arkansas. Visit facebook.com/ TourDeToad/ for more information.

THE UGLY GNOME XC RACE

MAY 5

$15-$40

Conway

Part of the Arkansas Mountain Bike Championship Series, this race moves

to a new course this year at the Conway Meadows Tech Park. The lap will be 3.2 miles with fast and flowy sections, some rocks, a few roots and some new features including jumps. Registration is available at bikereg.com/the-ugly-gnome

RECYCLE BIKES FOR KIDS

DIRTY FONDO

MAY 5

$20-$90

Lonoke

Gravel ride with four route options benefiting Recycle Bikes for Kids. A finish line party with a beer garden featuring brews from Lost Forty, Flyway, New Province and Blade and Barrel. Register at bikereg.com/rb4kdirtyfondo

AVOCA RACE SERIES

MAY 8, MAY 22, JUNE 5, JUNE 19, JULY 3

$20

Avoca

Weeknight road racing in Northwest Arkansas along a 6.1-mile loop. Three race categories each night. Visit Avoca Racing Events on Facebook for more information.

FEMMES GRAVEL 100

MAY 11

$35-$50

Bentonville

A 100-mile gravel ride that is the culmination of a 10-week training

program. Visit bikereg.com/femmesgravel-100 to register.

DELTA GRIND

MAY 11

$29.99-$159.99

Helena-West Helena

A rally-style event for road, gravel and tandem riders. The event mixes bicycles with music, food and other fun cultural activities. Organizers promise a one-ofa-kind experience in the Arkansas Delta. Visit studiodriftar.org/events/deltagrind-2024 for more information.

RULE OF THREE

MAY 17-18

$85-$255

Bentonville

Gravel race that incorporates gravel, tarmac and singletrack. There are 50- and 110-mile route options. New this year is a completely self-supported 200 mile+ option that will leave a day earlier than the other races and have a 30-hour cutoff time. Visit ruleofthree.bike for more information.

BENTONVILLE BIKE FEST

MAY 23-26

Bentonville

Bike festival featuring an expo, workshops, clinics from well-known athletes and coaches, autograph sessions, group rides,

NATURAL STATE CRITERIUM SERIES

MAY 15, JUNE 12

$45-$75

Springdale

Weeknight criterium racing in downtown Springdale. These races are known for large fields, competitive racing and large prize purses. Register at bikereg. com/natural-state-criterium-seriesspringdale

races of all kinds, live music and more. Visit bentonvillebikefest.com for a full schedule.

BIKE CITY FONDO

MAY 25-26

$25-$250

Fayetteville

A gran fondo with five route options. Routes include road and gravel riding options. Visit bikecityfondo.com for more information.

CARTI’S

JUNE 1

$30-$100

TOUR DE ROCK

North Little Rock

Support cancer patients in Arkansas by clipping in for one of the state’s largest cycling events and the fastest century ride in the South. Now in its 21st year, Tour de Rock includes 25-, 50-, 62- and 100-mile pancake-flat routes throughout Central Arkansas, complete with rest stops and an after-party. Proceeds benefit CARTI’s Patient Assistance Program. Register to ride at CARTI.ejoinme.org/TDR2024

TOUR DE BBQ

JUNE 1

$45-$100

Bentonville

A ride featuring three route options and BBQ stops along the way. Proceeds benefit Dress for Success NWA. For more information visit tourdenwa.com.

SINGLE SPEED ROYAL RUMBLE

JUNE 1

$30

Russellville

A single speed mountain bike race on the Old Post Challenge cross country course in Russellville presented by Jackalope Cycling. First-place and last-place prizes will be awarded in open men’s and open women’s divisions. Register at bikereg.com/singlespeed-royal-rumble.

THE

BATTLE OF TOWNSEND’S RIDGE

JUNE 9

$35-$40

Rogers

Annual cross country race that’s part of the Arkansas Mountain Bike Championship series. Register at bikereg.com/btr.

OZARK ENDURO LITE

JUNE 16

Fayetteville

A fun, welcoming, all-inclusive beginner-to

Little Rock Bike Doctor is a mobile bicycle repair & assembly

BIG BEAR BICYCLE BATTLE

MAY 8, MAY 22, JUNE 1

$5-$20

Conway

Criterium racing at the Conway Tech Park. Three races plus a fat-tire bike race each night. Register at bikereg.com/big-bearbicycle-battle.

intermediate-level enduro race environment at Centennial Park. The first of a three-race series consisting of six to eight segments depending on the venue. Visit ozarkenduro. com for more information.

RIDE TO DEFEAT ALS: THE OZARKS

JUNE 22

$65

Bentonville

Inaugural gravel ride to benefit the ALS association. The ride starts in downtown Bentonville and offers four route options. Riders will enjoy fully supported routes with rest stops, support vehicles ready to provide a lift, course marshals along the routes, and a finish line celebration with delicious food and a beer garden.

TRUE GRIT RIDE

JUNE 22

$55

Fort Smith

A road ride with three route options that raises funds to provide meals for at-risk children. T-shirts, snacks and a BBQ lunch are on offer. Visit truegritride.com for more information.

ARKANSAS GRAVELER

JUNE 23-29

$245-$950

Fayetteville

A six-day gravel ride traversing some of Arkansas’s most rural roads from Fayetteville to Jonesboro. Nightly live music, outdoor recreation, camping and chef-made meals are included in this fully supported event across the northern

portion of the state. Visit arkansasgravler. com for more.

RIVER VALLEY RUMBLE

JUNE 23

$10-$40

Fort Smith

Cross country mountain bike race on a 4.4-mile UCI-style course at Ben Geren Park. Part of the Arkansas Mountain Bike Championship series. Visit facebook/ rivervalleyrumble for more information.

ARKANSAS STATE OMNIUM CHAMPIONSHIP

JULY 19-21

$20-$75

Conway

The Arkansas state time trial, road and criterium championships will all take place during this one weekend. Races are open to any USA Cycling license holder (one-day licenses are available), but state championships will only be awarded to Arkansas residents. Category 5/novice races are not eligible for state championships. Visit bikereg.com/65987 to register.

WAMPOO ROADEO

JULY 20

$20

Scott

The 16th annual road ride will feature three route options. Four rest stops are available on course. There’s also a timed Strava sprint segment on course with prizes from Sterling Market to the fastest finishers. Visit bikereg.com/wampoo-roadeo for registration.

OZARK ENDURO LITE

JULY 21

Rogers

A fun, welcoming, all-inclusive beginner to intermediate-level enduro race at Hobbs State Park. The second of a three-race series consisting of six to eight segments depending on the venue. Visit ozarkenduro.com for more information.

THE CAVE CITY MELON GRIND

JULY 27

$25

Cave City

A 13-mile gravel ride in conjunction with the Cave City Watermelon Festival. The event takes riders on roads used for hauling the famous Cave City melons. Visit bikereg. com/the-cave-city-melon-grind to register.

OZARK ENDURO LITE

AUG. 11

Bentonville

A fun, welcoming, all-inclusive beginner to intermediate-level enduro race at Slaughter Pen. The third of a threerace series consisting of six to eight segments depending on the venue. Visit ozarkenduro.com for more information.

MASTER BIKE BUILDERS SHOW

SEPT. 14-15

Free

Bentonville

Custom handmade bicycle builders and suppliers will have their creations on display in downtown Bentonville. A vintage mountain bike exhibit is also planned. Visit masterbikebuildersshow. com for more information.

KAI CADDY

TOUR DE TACOS

SEPT. 14

$45-$100

Bentonville

A ride featuring three route options and taco stops along the way. Proceeds benefit Dress for Success NWA. For more information visit tourdenwa.com

NWA MTB CHAMPIONSHIPS

SEPT. 14

Fayetteville

Part of the Arkansas Mountain Bike Championship Series at Devil’s Den. Visit ambcs.com for more information.

KESSLER MOUNTAIN JAM

SEPT. 22

$25-$40

Fayetteville

Cross country race on the trails on Kessler Mountain. Part of the Arkansas Mountain Bike Championship Series. Visit kesslermountainjam.com for more information.

BIG DAM BRIDGE 100

SEPT. 28

$55-$140

Little Rock

Arkansas’s largest cycling tour with five route options from 15 to 105 miles. Visit bigdambridge100.com for more information.

PEDALS FOR COMPASSION GRAVEL GRINDER

OCT. 5

$55

Magnolia

This long-running event that benefits Magnolia’s domestic violence shelter Compassion’s Foundation shifts from a road event to a gravel ride featuring three route options from 45 to 100 miles. Visit bikereg.com/p4c-gravelgrinder to register.

OUACHITA GRAN FONDO FOR FAMILIES

OCT. 5

$40

Hot Springs

A fun ride featuring two route options that start and finish in downtown Hot Springs and drop south into rolling hills. The ride benefits Ouachita Children, Youth and Family Services. Visit ouachitagranfondoforfamilies.com for more information.

ARKANSAS HIGH COUNTRY RACE

OCT. 5

Russellville

A well-known ultra-endurance bikepacking race moves its start/finish to Russellville for 2024. The 1,000-mile route takes racers on a tour around the northwestern quadrant of the state on

GRAN FONDO HINCAPIE

SEPT. 7-8

$35-$1,500

Bentonville

Join former pro George Hincapie for an epic weekend of road riding. Three distance options are available. Day one courses have plenty of rollers with a course that runs west out of town and then heads north, just shy of the Missouri state line. The courses on day two start with a gentle warmup heading north out of town, and travel through picturesque countryside into the rolling hills of Missouri before heading back down into Arkansas, approaching Bentonville from the east. Visit hincapie.com/ pages/bentonville for more information.

some of the most beautiful and challenging gravel roads the state has to offer. Other race options for 2024 will include the central loop of the High Country route at 430 miles and the Ozark Odyssey route at 253.5 miles. Visit arkansashighcountry.com for more information.

CONWAY REGIONAL HEALTH SYSTEM BIKETOBERFEST

OCT. 6-26

Free

Conway

A month of rides throughout October for all levels of cyclists. Rides include a kickoff group ride, a women’s ride, a Sunday Sundae friends and family ride, a taco ride, and a Bike, Brunch and Brews ride. For more details, visit conwaybiketoberfest.org.

CONWAY FALL CLASSIC

OCT. 12

$35-$45

Conway

Three route options (23, 40 and 62 miles) benefiting the Boys and Girls Club of Faulkner County and Conway Advocates for Bicycling’s Conway Cycling Project serving citizens of Conway with basic bike repairs and refurbished bikes. Visit cycleconway.com for more information.

LADIES DU FAYETTEVILLE

(2 PERSON): $90

(3 PERSON): $135

The Little Sugar mountain bike race kicks off the week-long Big Sugar Classic in Bentonville. The race is marathon-style, offers three distances and is a qualifier for the Leadville Trail 100 mountain bike race. Visit bigsugarclassic.com/mtb for more information. SATURDAY, JUNE 8,

LITTLE SUGAR

OCT. 13

Oct. 13

Bentonville

WHEEL A’ MENA

OCT. 12

$65

Mena

A bicycle tour of the Ouachita Mountains and the Talimena Scenic Drive starting at Janssen Park in Mena. With three route options, this ride provides some of the best scenic views in Arkansas. All routes include stretches with an average of 7% grade or greater, with max grades reaching almost 12%. Visit wheelamena.org for more information.

BIG SUGAR

OCT. 19

Bentonville

Once again the finale of the Life Time Grand Prix. A blazing fast gravel race course that starts and finishes in Bentonville and heads into southern Missouri. Registration opened March 1. Visit bigsugarclassic.com/gravel for more.

CHINKAPIN HOLLOW GRAVEL GRINDER

Oct. 26

$35-$60

Fayetteville

A gravel grinder with four route options that leaves from Fayetteville, rolls into Oklahoma and back. More information is available at chinkapinhollowgravelgrinder. com.

GÜDRUN MTB FESTIVAL

NOV. 8-10

Hot Springs

A three-day mountain bike festival in Hot Springs that features mini and full enduros, a slow roll, jump jam, time trial, the Atilla the Hun cross country race and more. Visit northwoodstrails.org for more information.

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

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 12315 Chenal Parkway Suite D 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

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

109 East Center Ave. 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 gearheadoutfitters.com

RUSSELLVILLE

JACKALOPE CYCLING

112 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 7402 Ellis St., Suite 2 479-222-6796 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

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

OZ FIT & TECH

6028 W. Stoney Brook Road, Suite 3 479-619-6775 ozbike.fit

PHAT TIRE BIKE SHOP

318 S. First St. 479-877-1313 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

GEARHEAD OUTFITTERS

EXPERIENCE CENTER

501 SW A St. 479-657-2135

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 10 Riordan Road 479-268-3800 phattirebikeshop.com

BICYCLE REPAIR & SERVICE ONLY

OZARK BICYCLE SERVICE 1801 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 479-323-1931

ozarkbikeguides.com

CUSTOM JERSEYS

FLO BIKEWEAR

901-896-5979