A R K A N S A S
POSITIVE IMPACT
NICA SHIFTS THE CULTURE FOR YOUTH SPORTS
MY TOWN, MY RIDE DIRT CHURCH PLUS GRAVEL IN THE DELTA 20 YEARS OF BDB 100
BRAKING NEWS
Fat Tire Fest returns to Eureka Springs, Arkansas teens claim national titles, Vernon to head Bike Park and more.
MY TOWN, MY RIDE
Kenz Wilson takes us on a ride to the Dirt Church.
SHOP TALK
Jann and Bruce Hubbard have seen lots of changes in 30 years of owning Hot Springs’ Parkside Cycle.
A FRESH PATH
NICA is changing the culture of youth sports. By Bryce Ward
HIDDEN GEM
The Crowley’s Ridge Gravel Trail is a cycling paradise hidden away in the Delta. By Emily Osborn
BDB 100 TURNS 20
Arkansas’s largest cycling event thriving two decades on. By Kai Caddy
ON THE COVER
Amber Kirk of Eureka Springs enjoys a NICA race last season in Conway. Photo by Kai Caddy.
Eureka Springs Fat Tire Festival
BROOKE WALLACE Publisher brookewallace@arktimes.com
KAI CADDY Editor kaicaddy@gmail.com
MANDY KEENER Creative Director/Production Manager mandy@arktimes.com
MIKE SPAIN Art Director
LESA THOMAS LUIS GARCIAROSSI
WENDY HICKINGBOTHAM
TERRELL JACOB Senior Account Executives
LYNDSEY HUDDLESTON Digital Marketing Director
SARAH RICHARDSON Digital Ad Coordinator / Customer Service
WELDON WILSON Controller
ROLAND R. GLADDEN Advertising Traffic Manager
KATIE HASSELL Art Director / Digital Content Manager
ROBERT CURFMAN IT Director
CHARLOTTE KEY Accounting
ANITRA HICKMAN Circulation Director
ALAN LEVERITT President alan@arktimes.com Arkansas Times Limited Partnership 201 E. MARKHAM ST., SUITE 150 LITTLE ROCK, AR 72201 501-375-2985 All Contents © 2025 Bike Arkansas Magazine
BRYCE WARD
cyclist based in Fayetteville and the Northwest Arkansas General Manager of local paper shredding company, Rock Solid Shredding.
KENZ WILSON
community through cycling at Magnolia Cycles in Rogers and All Bodies On Bikes. You can find them rippin’ around the Ozarks on their custom Gnargo e-bike or their shiny All-City single speed.
EMILY OSBORN is a writer born and raised in Arkansas. While currently pursuing a master’s degree in Chicago, her heart remains in The Natural State with her family. She works with the nonprofit studioDRIFT to help spread awareness of the opportunity for outdoor recreation in the Arkansas Delta and advocate for better rural infrastructure for the generations of tomorrow.
Bike fitting, service, and accessories at our NEW LOCATION!
FALL INTO SOMETHING NEW
Fall has long been my favorite season. We’re lucky in Arkansas. It gets cool, but not too cold.
The foliage in the Ozarks and Ouachitas provide a beautiful backdrop for our adventures.
It’s a great time to slow down, enjoy the scenery and maybe try something new. We hope this issue will inspire you to get out and see some of those sights in new ways this fall.
Kai Caddy
In this issue, you’ll learn about the Crowley’s Ridge Gravel Trail — a collection of beautiful dirt roads with hardly a car on them tucked away in the Delta. It’s a beautiful bit of country unlike anything else in the state. Grab your gravel bike and get out there.
Also in these pages is an update on the great work NICA is doing to change the perception of youth sports. In these days of angry parents on sidelines and kids training in facilities once reserved for professionals and Olympians, it’s refreshing to attend a NICA race and see the inclusive vibe. Everyone can be a part of the team, there’s no pressure to compete.
Spectating a race or even volunteering will leave you feeling a little bit better about our future.
We also take you to Dirt Church in this issue. The all-inclusive no-drop gravel ride led by Kenz Wilson, takes off from Magnolia Cycles in Rogers once a month. It’s awesome to see a big group of people from various backgrounds get together to ride and just have a great time. Someone described the ride to me as “we’re hanging out, not working out.”
Now, as great as trying something new can be, there’s something comforting about familiar haunts. We cover a couple of those in this issue as well, visiting the 30-year-old Parkside Cycle in Hot Springs and celebrating 20 years of the venerable Big Dam Bridge 100.
It’s a special time. Get out and enjoy some long, slow miles!
›RACE NEWS
Fat Tire Festival
Set to Return
First hosted in 1999 and held through 2019, the Eureka Springs Fat Tire Festival — a three-day family-friendly mountain bike festival — makes its return Sept. 26-28.
Produced by Ozark Foundation, the Fat Tire Festival features short track, downhill and enduro mountain bike competitions, hearty group rides and social gatherings spread throughout Eureka Springs. The festival’s schedule includes both competitive and recreational tracks designed to complement one another. From fan favorites like the Big Town Ride to the Eureka Enduro, it’s a weekend celebrating one of Arkansas’s O.G. mountain bike destinations.
The Fat Tire Festival will be based out of multiple locations in Eureka Springs, including Lake Leatherwood City Park and the Eureka Springs Community Center.
Registration for all competitions, including the Eureka Downhill and Eureka Enduro, and recreational festival passes is open. Visit arkansasenduroseries.com for more information
›RACE NEWS
NWA Teens Claim National Titles
A pair of Northwest Arkansas teenagers returned from the USA Cycling Endurance Mountain Bike National Championships victorious.
Bella Vista’s Park Bishop won the 15-16 men’s title and Bentonville’s Bailey Brown was the 15-16 women’s winner in the marathon race. Bishop rounded out the week with a fifth place in the short track race and third place in the cross country race. Rogers native Preston Ronck, a former national champion himself, was second in short track and cross country.
Other local racers making it onto podiums were: Juniper Allen, fourth place marathon, women 15-16; Rachel Melilli, second place marathon, women 3034; Emily Allen, second place marathon and short track, women 45-49; Jessica Rockson, third place marathon, women 50-54; and Landrie Mclain, fourth place short track, 17-18 women.
Bailey Brown
WESTON
DAVID BROWN
›RACE NEWS
The Skirmish Sets 2026 Date
Registration for the 2026 edition of The Skirmish — A Delta Gravel Festival will open Oct. 10 at 8 a.m. The four-day festival will take place May 28-31 in Jonesboro.
The event includes shake-out rides on Thursday and Friday before the competitive main event on Saturday with four distances of 20, 43, 63 and 100 miles, making this event perfect for riders of all abilities and experience levels.
“The 2025 Skirmish was by far the most successful inaugural event in our 23-year history because of the level of commitment, excitement and engagement from the amazing sponsors, as well as the entire Jonesboro community,” said Bruce Dunn, CEO of All Sports Productions. “We had cyclists from 15 states participate — from first-time gravel riders to experienced and competitive cyclists. The mix of terrain featuring both the rolling hills of Crowley’s Ridge and the pan-flat terrain through wide open farmlands was widely applauded by all who competed.”
An expo with booths from cycling industry giants and local vendors will also return as well as live music. Find more details at skirmishjonesboro.com
Onermaa
Wins Tour Divide Single Speed Category
Andrew Onermaa of Fayetteville, one of the founders of Ozark Gravel Cyclists and the race director for DOOM, won the single speed division of the Tour Divide in June.
Onermaa finished the 2,700-mile race in 15 days, 11 hours, just shy of the single speed record of 15 days, 8 hours and 4 minutes set in 2016 by Chris Plesko.
The race roughly follows the Continental Divide from Banff in Alberta, Canada, down to the U.S.-Mexico border at Antelope Wells, New Mexico.
Onermaa won the race atop a custom Slow Southern Steel Warhorn, built in Fayetteville by Jesse Turner. Onermaa ran a 32x18 gear ratio.
Vernon Named GM of OZ Trails Bike Park
Gary Vernon, who spearheaded much of the work on the OZ Trails network in Northwest Arkansas, was appointed as general manager of the new OZ Trails Bike Park in June.
Vernon has been a driving force in Northwest Arkansas’s transformation into a globally recognized mountain biking destination. His work on the OZ Trails network has grown the region from a handful of volunteer-built trails to a comprehensive system that attracts riders from around the world.
“Gary’s work over the past decade has been the foundation for what we have with OZ Trails today,” said Tom Walton, CEO of Runway Group. “We wouldn’t be here without his leadership and the hundreds of people who share this vision. The bike park represents everything Gary has been building toward. I’m excited to see where he takes OZ Trails next, and I know we’re just getting started.”
The bike park is under construction in Bella Vista. It will feature more than 20 miles of new trails and a chairlift system. It’s set to open in 2026.
›RACE NEWS
›TRAIL NEWS
A CHURCH FOR ALL
INCLUSIVE CYCLING GROUP HITS THE TRAILS ONCE A MONTH.
BY KENZ WILSON PHOTOGRAPHY BY KAI CADDY
There is a scene in “The Benchwarmers” when Mel is standing in an empty field and says, “If you build it, nerds will come.” Well, that’s basically how Dirt Church was born. Existing as a queer brown person in the South is not easy, so, just like “The Benchwarmers,” I know how challenging it is to find spaces of belonging. Now, I don’t have billions of dollars like Mel, but I have a lot of experience building community — and riding bikes — a lot of bikes. So, like Mel, I decided to create a safe space for my weird friends.
Even with the development boom in Northwest Arkansas, downtown Rogers is only a stone’s throw away from some excellent gravel roads. These lush Ozark backroads are one reason for the smorgasbord of group rides in the area, but there is a need for more accessible and openly inclusive gravel rides. I first noticed the need after hosting a one-off “Intro to Gravel” ride in the autumn of 2024, and most participants voiced a need for more rides like it. So, when I was cookin’ up Dirt Church, I knew it had to fill that need: all bodies welcome, all bikes welcome, and no-drop.
While searching for inspiration for Dirt Church, I recalled a moment in 2023 when I was in a months-long depressive episode and needed something to help me out of that
rut, which is why I took off toward Stillwater, Oklahoma, for the Wednesday night ride at District Bicycles. Long story short, it was just what my soul needed (thanks Bobby, love you bby <3). So, when I envisioned Dirt Church, I manifested these memories and the connectedness I felt then.
I knew I had to get the community involved, so I reached out to my friends at Ozark Beer Co., and they agreed to promote the ride and host a bunch of sweaty cyclists. Then, I emailed the fine folks at Pelli Bike Care, and they agreed to let me give free bike cleaning products to participants. I posted about the ride on Magnolia Cycles’ social media, I asked my fellow All Bodies On Bikes chapter leaders for help, and I texted all my bike friends.
Now, once a month, on a Sunday morning, a bunch of beautiful humans show up on cyclo-cross bikes with skinny tires, hardtail mountain bikes, steel gravel bikes, and e-bikes and then we ride together. We often stop to save turtles, gawk at baby raccoons, have a snack, pet goats and regroup after a long climb.
Look, I’m an introvert, and I love riding alone, but there’s something about moving as a group that fulfills a need somewhere deep in our DNA. It just feels good, it feels
“Now, once a month, on a Sunday morning, a bunch of beautiful humans show up on cyclo-cross bikes with skinny tires, hardtail mountain bikes, steel gravel bikes, and e-bikes and then we ride together.”
Above: When this railroad tunnel on Old Wire Rd. near Avoca is on the route, it’s a mandatory photo stop.
Below: The vibe at Dirt Church is fun and inclusive.
right. Every month when I ask, “Who has never been on a group ride?” a few hands always shoot up, and I am reminded of my first group ride. It can be intimidating, so I am grateful that folks trust us to take care of them and show them a good time.
To the folks looking for a place to belong, I see you. To the folks who are creating accessible and inclusive cycling spaces, thank you. To Magnolia Cycles, Ozark Beer Co., Pelli Bike Care and All Bodies On Bikes for their unwavering support, muchas gracias. And to my Dirt Church family, thank you for showing up, thank you for bringing your friends, thank you for being you.
In my book, Freddie Mercury is a saint, so when I sing, “I want to ride my bicycle,” it is a sacred reminder to myself and my community that movement is joy, joy is an act of resistance, and no matter what is happening in the world, we can find some peace on a bike in the middle of the woods.
Post-ride refreshments are always part of the Dirt Church experience.
Post-ride pets are also frequent.
MAINSTAY IN THE SPA CITY
PARKSIDE CYCLE OWNERS JANN AND BRUCE HUBBARD
CELEBRATE 30 YEARS IN HOT SPRINGS.
STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY KAI CADDY
HOW DID YOU START THE SHOP?
Jann: Bruce has always ridden bikes. He did the Junior Olympic thing, was probably one of five road racers in the ’70s here as a kid. He was working for UPS and they were fat on management and they came in and were like, “You can voluntarily go or we might ship you to New York.” And I’m like, “I’m not moving to New York.” So, he started looking for an alternative plan and this area has been the bike hangout forever. The building was getting ready to get condemned. It had a little
window that had a postcard in it that had the owner’s names on it. About three days later, he came home and said, “I bought a building and we’re opening a bike shop.”
One of the guys that he used to race with was a fireman in Little Rock, and he used to have a shop in Little Rock. And so he reached out to him and he was like, “Hey, I’m thinking I’m going to open a little shop. I need somebody to tag-team this with.” Bruce was working preload, so he’d go in at 2 in the morning and get off at 1 or 2 in the afternoon, and his buddy would
work 7 to 7. Which is why we open at 11, so he could get a couple hour nap and then come in. So they tag-teamed it for a year.
About a year into it. Bruce was like, “Will you come to work for me?” I was gainfully employed and I was happy where I was, and knew zero about bikes.
So it started out as an alternative if he was no longer employed and he retired from UPS in 2014 with 34 years. I ran the shop and he would come in the afternoons and wrench and do sales. And now we’re 30 years old.
When Bruce Hubbard bought the building at 719 Whittington Ave., it was about to be condemned.
HOW HAS THE CYCLING COMMUNITY IN HOT SPRINGS CHANGED IN 30 YEARS?
Bruce: There wasn’t a cycling presence here and we put that on, and we got the trail system going, and, you know, we’ve done all that stuff. So it’s just been a process of getting people educated. And now it’s mainstream. With what the Waltons are doing up in Northwest Arkansas, it’s helping the whole state, it’s helping the whole cycling industry. In the late ’90s, early 2000s, Lance Armstrong was a big push, you know, he helped all of the U.S. sell bikes. We’ve had those milestones come along throughout the way.
WHAT BRANDS DO YOU CARRY?
Jann: We’ve been a Trek dealer for probably 25 years. We’ve
had Pivot for probably close to 10 years, we love Pivot. I’m able to email my guy or call my guy, and I have one guy, and he takes care of it. We picked up Salsa mainly for the gravel bike. They’re phenomenal with their gravel bikes.
Bruce: When you come in here as a customer, you leave out as family. A lot of our customers, we know by first name, and that makes a big difference. We’re not a corporate store. I’ve probably been the longest-running Trek dealer in the state. But I’m not totally Trek. I’m gonna keep the brands that people want. I only take on the brands that have people that I trust and know and feel comfortable with it. Because when it boils down to it, a frame is just a frame. To me, it’s the people that stand behind you. If you have a problem with Trek, I go to my people, they
HOME-COOKED & HANDCRAFTED
Fuel Up After Floating The Buffalo with Fresh Country Cooking & Explore Solid Oak & Cherry Treasures.
121 E HWY 333 · ST. JOE, AR
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Ad paid for using a combination of state and Ozark Mountain Region funds.
USE OF BICYCLES OR ANIMALS
Every person riding a bicycle or an animal, or driving any animal drawing a vehicle upon a highway, shall have all the rights and all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle, except those provisions of this act which by their nature can have no applicability.
OVERTAKING A BICYCLE
The driver of a motor vehicle overtaking a bicycle proceeding in the same direction on a roadway shall exercise due care and pass to the left at a safe distance of not less than three feet (3’) and shall not again drive to the right side of the roadway until safely clear of the overtaken bicycle.
Beginning in 2019 with the “Idaho Stop” law, cyclists may treat stop signs as yield signs and red lights as stop signs.
DRIVERS PLEASE BE AWARE, IT’S ARKANSAS STATE LAW: AND CYCLISTS, PLEASE REMEMBER:
Your bike is a vehicle on the road just like any other vehicle and you must also obey traffic laws as applicable — use turning and slowing hand signals, ride on right and yield to traffic as if driving. Be sure to establish eye contact with drivers. Remain visible and predictable at all times.
Parkside stays well-stocked, making it easy for customers to hit the trail.
take care of it. Same way with Pivot. So I just don’t carry a brand just to be carrying it. I carry for the relationship that we have.
HOW HAS GRAVEL CHANGED THE INDUSTRY?
Bruce: Gravel has been the latest change in the last five, six years. It’s really strong. I think it came about because, really because of distracted driving and the roadies just realizing it’s unsafe out here. So, unless you’re just a true die-hard roadie, you know, you’re looking for alternatives, and gravel’s the perfect thing because there are miles and miles of dirt roads in Arkansas that hardly get traveled. And so it just makes sense. I think it’s going to be here for a long time.
WHAT’S YOUR ADVICE FOR A FIRSTTIME BUYER?
Bruce: The best thing I can tell people is have an idea of what you want before you go into a bike shop. What style of riding you’re going to do, how much riding you’re going to do and what kind of budget that you have. We try to develop a relationship. If you come in, and I know you’re real athletic, and you’re wanting to buy a bike — I know I don’t want to sell you an entry-level bike if you’re going to be racing in a year. I don’t want you to underbuy a bike and I don’t want you to overbuy a bike. When I sell a bike, I want to make sure that you’re getting what you want ‘cause I don’t want you bringing it back. I want you to ride that bike and to keep riding that bike.
Parkside has been a Trek dealer for 25 years.
This or That with Bruce
Road or off-road? Road.
Lycra or Baggy? Lycra.
Mechanical or electronic? Mechanical.
Carbon or metal? That’s a tough one because for the last 20 years I’ve been on carbon, but I love steel. so I can go either way with that one.
Above: Shop dog Beau Jingle provides solid customer service.
Left: Bruce and Jann Hubbard keeping Parkside Cycle running smoothly.
PREMIER CYCLING EVENT
20TH YEAR!
DATE TIME SCHEDULE
9/26 11am9pm Big Dam Bridge 100 Expo - On-site Registration and Packet Pick-up at the Statehouse Convention Center, Hall 4, in Little Rock. 9pm – Registration Closes
9/26 6pm8pm Gears and Beers Athlete ReceptionPresented by Forvis Mazars
Location - Dickey Stephens Park, across Willow Street from the Wyndham Hotel 400 West Broadway, North Little Rock
Appetizers, beverages, drinks, music and fellowship. Free to athletes!
9/27 5:30am Staging for all distance rides opens. Remember to go to your designated corral.
9/27 7:00am Rider corral start order. Location - Riverfront Drive
• Orange - 6:55am (Charter/Tandems)
Access from Riverfront Drive and Willow
• Blue - 7:00am
Access from Riverfront Drive and Riverfront Place
• Yellow - 7:00am
Access from Poplar and Riverfront Drive
• Green - 7:00am (ALL 50 mile riders)
Access from Willow, Poplar or Riverfront Drive
• Red - 7:00am (ALL 15 & 26 mile riders)
Access from Riverfront Drive west to Olive Street.
This will be a continuous start. All corrals except Orange will be started at 7:00am.
9/27 8:30am Finale Fest area opens - Inside the sea wall of North Little Riverfront Park at the south end of Willow Street in North Little Rock. Food, Drink and Fellowship
9/27 4:30pm Final Finisher & See You Next Year!
›TOP GEAR
Ride Ready, Ride Prepared
Having the right gear and knowledge can mean the difference between make or break with your bike. Ask for them at your favorite local bike shop!
FAVERO ASSIOMA PRO MX-2
WAHOO ELEMNT ACE
Wahoo’s latest flagship bike computer boasts a full-color 3.8-inch touchscreen, audible turn-by-turn directions, 30 hours of battery life and 64GB of memory to house all your rides, routes and workouts. Also new is a wind sensor that allows you to analyze what effect the wind and drafting had on your ride. And, when you’re taking the trail home, a digital bell let’s walkers and runners know you’re coming around. wahoofitness.com
These off-road power meter pedals are some of the most accurate on the market. So much so that the most well known bike tech reviewers use them as the baseline when testing other power meters. The pedals are compatible with the two most pop ular Shimano off-road cleats, making them an easy switch for most gravel and mountain bikers. cycling.favero.com
GARMIN HRM-FIT
REAR LIGHT RADAR
Let your rear light keep you doubly safe this summer. Wahoo’s new TRACKR Radar is a rear light/radar that alerts you when cars approach from behind. Garmin’s Varia range of radars has been the standard for years; their latest model, the RCT715, includes a camera. wahoofitness.com
Traditional full-strap heart rate meters and sports bras don’t always jibe. Like almost never. Garmin has an answer. The HRM-Fit clips directly to sports bras. Beyond that, it has all the same features as Garmin’s other heart rate monitors. It’ll even save your data for transfer to the Garmin Connect app if you happen to leave your bike computer at home. garmin.com
road condition. Mixing tires on singletrack has also become popular. Try a Mezcal on the front, paired with a beefy Peyote on the rear. Similarly, Continental offers the Terra Adventure. Taking cues from Continental’s legendary XC tires, the tread is in the same ballpark as the Mezcal XC and the Gravelking X1. With the amount of loose-over-hard roads around here, a healthy center tread is recommended, along with extra sidewall protection and knobs. We have some gnarly routes in Arkansas, so a robust tire that excels at descending rough off-camber roads is a must, and it will take you anywhere you point your handlebars. vittoria.com, continental-tires.com;
SHIMANO PULSAR CYCLING SUNGLASSES
These are perfect. The new adjustable nose bridge is versatile and stays put. Shimano’s RideScape lenses have options that are finetuned to the environment you’ll be riding in and each pair also comes with a clear protective lens. The bottom of the full frame detaches for easy lens swapping, or if you prefer half-frame glasses, just leave the bottom half off. And at only $90, there’s room in the budget for a second lens or backup pair. ride.shimano.com
ROCKSHOX FLIGHT ATTENDANT SUSPENSION
This is a fully automatic suspension system for mountain bikes that adjusts to the trail conditions based on the way you ride and the trail you’re riding on. The system launched in 2022, but has been fully updated for this year. It’s pretty mind-blowing tech and requires a SRAM AXS groupset to allow all the parts to communicate, but if you’ve got the money, it’s a solid investment in increased comfort and performance out on the trail. sram.com
HOLD FAST TUBELESS VALVE KITS
The crew at Magnolia Cycles in Rogers believes small businesses should support one another, which is why they use these valves. Run by the MacLeod family in Boston, Hold Fast has 18 colors available for the valve, cap, and nut, and you can pick any color for each piece. Keep it sleek and simple with monochrome, or spice it up with a rainbow on your rims. Valves are available in 42mm and 65mm, and the cap has a built-in core remover. Fully custom, shopping small and more affordable than a pair from any major brand? That’s a win-win! holdfastcycling.com;
PHOTOS
COURTESY OF THE VENDORS
Bentonville’s Bailey Brown was the NICA JV3 Girls state champion last season.
NICA
IS USING BIKES AS A TOOL FOR CHANGE IN YOUTH SPORTS.
BY BRYCE WARD PHOTOGRAPHY BY KAI CADDY
Sports can offer us a lot of value. At a basic level, they encourage us to move our bodies and engage our minds in meaningful and constructive ways. At a deeper level, they introduce us to important lessons on cooperation, discipline and resilience that apply to situations well beyond the context of any given sport. And at the deepest level, when we have a healthy relationship with sports, they can provide us with a source of joy, self-confidence, social belonging and purpose.
During childhood and adolescence, these positive attributes of sports are especially helpful for self-development, which is why most parents encourage their children to participate in sports from a young age. The issue is that sports can also have negative attributes that undermine and even negate these benefits. Unfortunately, youth sports in the United States have no shortage of these negative attributes, and they are starting to take a toll on the mental and physical well-being of young athletes.
Above: Juniper Allen of Siloam Springs won the 2024 Varsity Girls state championship.
Below: Hot Springs’ Emmaleigh Deal rips a downhill at Fayetteville’s Centennial Park last fall.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, 70% of youth athletes are dropping out of organized sports by the age of 13. There are many variables involved in this concerning statistic, but the most pressing one is the recent trend toward the “professionalization” of youth sports.
From a young age, many athletes today are subjected to high training volumes, rigorous and domineering coaching styles, and pressures to specialize in a single sport — demands traditionally reserved for older athletes. This hyper-competitive approach to youth sports is resulting in high amounts of overuse injuries, athlete dissatisfaction and the all but inevitable feeling of burnout.
Add into this equation the abundance of readily accessible and highly addictive technologies of our current age — along with academic pressures and the financial and logistical limitations felt by many of today’s families — and the high drop-out rate in youth sports becomes more understandable. The question is, what can we do about it?
The National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA), has a unique and promising solution to the issues facing modern youth sports. Founded in 2009, NICA is a nonprofit organization that develops school-affiliated and composite-based mountain biking programs for fifth- to 12th-grade student-athletes across the United States. Like traditional youth sports programs, NICA hosts seasonal practices and competitions under the guidance of volunteer coaches. But most of the similarities end there.
What separates NICA from other youth sports is that it prioritizes self-development and community involvement over competition, while at the same time providing an outlet for the young athletes who do want to compete. There are no tryouts, nobody is cut and all kids — whether from a public, private or homeschooled environment — can find their place on a team. If any kids don’t want to compete in races, they can still contribute to their team by earning points through volunteer opportunities such as trail stewardship. And contrary to many youth sports programs, NICA athletes are encouraged to participate in other sports.
The most striking aspect of NICA for the American mind is the complete and utter absence of a ball. Instead of orienting a youth sport around a single spherical or egg-shaped
object that determines a winning and losing side, in cycling every athlete “has the ball,” so to speak. It is both a team sport and an individual sport simultaneously, much like cross-country running, except more fun. Mountain biking, specifically, is one of the more enjoyable ways to ride a bike, and it fits especially well with younger athletes. Contained courses, lower speeds, wider tires, softer landings. Mountain biking is a great introduction to cycling and a great foundation for a youth sport.
So far, NICA’s alternative approach seems to be working. Since its founding in 2009, leagues have sprouted across 30 states and participation has soared to more than 27,000 student-athletes and 14,000 licensed coaches nationwide.
When a NICA league was established in Arkansas in 2015 and held its first race season in the fall of 2016, it had only 35 athletes. In 2024, that number had grown to just under 1,000. And now, NICA Arkansas is preparing to host the first-ever Central Regional Championship, a race that will bring together 11 states and an estimated 7,500 youth athletes to Centennial Park in Fayetteville this November.
NICA Arkansas League Director Terry Coddington has been with NICA Arkansas since its inception in 2015 and began his journey as team director and head coach for the composite-based Conway Bearcats, one of the state’s first NICA teams, and now one of its largest.
The freshman boys' mass start at Centennial Park last season.
After attending a NICA leaders summit in 2015, Coddington became passionate about the organization’s mission and set out with the simple goal of starting a NICA team for his son and other Conway students. Once he saw firsthand the value that NICA provided to the athletes on his team, it didn’t take long for the scope of Coddington’s goal to expand. Unfulfilled by his corporate job in insurance, he decided to take a leap of faith and began devoting himself to the mission of getting as many kids as possible onto bikes.
“Cycling,” Coddington said, “is a life sport.” And unlike most other sports, cycling is available to us throughout our lives and can serve many different purposes — it can be a tool for transportation, a way to stay active and healthy, an excuse to go outside, a form of exploration, a source for joy, and an outlet for competition, to give just a few examples.
However, the various mental and physical benefits of riding a bike can only be attained through direct experience, so it is important that cycling be made accessible to as many people as possible. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of countless volunteers, NICA’s programs are achieving much in this regard.
While Coddington’s primary focus is getting kids onto bikes, he understands that this mission is much more significant than that: “If you can get kids on bikes, you can get families on bikes,” he said. “Once you get families on bikes, you can start to change communities.”
Everyone, not just kids, can benefit from cycling. But when you provide kids with a safe, welcoming and supportive outlet for cycling, it also exposes families to the benefits of riding a bike. Once families begin riding, it’s only a matter of time before communities follow suit.
And if an entire community gets behind cycling, it becomes much easier to convince city leaders to invest in the necessary infrastructure to make cycling more accessible.
This, as Coddington likes to put it, is “the NICA effect,” and he’s seen it unravel in cities across Arkansas.
Harrison, for example, home of the composite-based Buffalo Riders, did not have a dedicated mountain bike trail until 2023. Today, the city has its own bike park with three dedicated trails, and a separate venue with a skill-building course. Because of the city’s investment into cycling infrastructure, Harrison has been a successful venue for NICA races for the past two years, giving kids in this area a unique opportunity that would’ve otherwise been out of reach.
In Central Arkansas, there are plans in motion that would transform Hindman Park, a former golf course in the heart of an underserved portion of Little Rock, into a network of mountain bike trails that could be used for NICA events. Though being the largest city in our state, Little Rock has only four NICA teams (to put this in perspective, Bentonville alone has six). It’s no secret that Northwest Arkansas has reaped much of our state’s investments into cycling, but Coddington and his team are working hard to ensure that kids in other areas of the state are not left behind.
NICA has a truly unique approach to youth sports, and it’s not only having a positive impact on young athletes, but families and communities, too. The Arkansas league in particular is going above and beyond to make cycling more accessible across our state, and their efforts are bringing about significant changes to our communities. Only time will tell just how much they can achieve, but the trails ahead are clear of debris.
How
VOLUNTEER
NICA depends on volunteers to help execute every race they put on, and they are always searching for passionate coaches to help guide and support young athletes.
Above: Gavin Cornett of the Sugarloaf Shredders race last season at Conway.
Below: Siloam Springs’ Deacon Maples and Conway’s it out at the 2024 state championship race.
CROWLEY’S RIDGE
The Delta’s terrain is prime for gravel cycling. photo courtesy studioDRIFT
CROWLEY’S
Carving Out the Future of the Delta.
BY EMILY OSBORN
At first glance, the Arkansas Delta may seem to many Arkansans simply as the seemingly endless expanse of farmland between Little Rock and Memphis. The Delta is often seen as having nothing more to offer than the food that we either grow or hunt there.
Martin Smith, co-founder of studioDRIFT, certainly felt that way even being a fifth-generation Delta resident.
“I spent the first 20 years of my life trying to figure out a way to get out of this place, and the next 10 trying to figure out a way to get back,” Smith said.
The draw that Smith experienced back to the Delta was one of personal history, to save a historic family home in Birdeye, but it led to a discovery, or rather, a rediscovery of what makes the Delta so much more than meets the eye.
In the middle of all that flat farmland is nestled an extraordinary ecological anomaly so much different from the neighboring land that it is considered its own region. Crowley’s Ridge was carved by Mother Nature over the course of 50 million years as a windblown glacier moved its way through what is now the Arkansas Delta. This ancient root stretches for 250 miles from Mississippi all the way into Helena, creating a natural cathedral for the masses to visit.
The ridge is encased in a luscious green canopy that shields you from the rest of the world and allows you to experience what it’s like to live in the moment again.
“We live in a society that pays the bills, but I would say that very few people are over-the-top happy with the way that our society is set up and the Delta really hasn’t changed that much,” says Smith.
The Delta endures as a portal to the things that our fast-paced and grueling society has left behind.
“We live in a society that pays the bills, but I would say that very few people are over-the-top happy with the way that our society is set up and the Delta really hasn’t changed that much.”
Smith realized the potential that Crowley’s Ridge holds for somewhat unconventional gravel cycling almost immediately upon moving back into Birdeye and finding the highways ill-suited for the type of cycling he and his wife had grown accustomed to in Austin, Texas. This was the genesis of what has become studioDRIFT’s flagship project: the Crowley’s Ridge Gravel Trail.
Smith says the trail is made up of “old historical paths from animal trails to trading trails to Civil War trails that were eventually turned into county roads.” studioDRIFT has spent the last several years mapping all of them and tying together this route that winds through five state parks, one national park and 18 Delta towns before it connects to the existing Delta Heritage Trail.
The nonprofit studioDRIFT was founded in 2020 by Smith and his partner Tanner Weeks. It is a branch off of their landscape architecture and civil engineering firm, Ecological Design Group, which has branches across the state of Arkansas, including the Delta.
studioDRIFT’s focus is on Developing Rural Infrastructure For Tomorrow, but Smith says they’re not trying to create new infrastructure or change what makes this region the unparalleled time capsule it currently is.
“We’re identifying existing infrastructure that is in the Delta, and we want to activate it,” Smith says, “We love this place the way that it is.”
Their mission has been supported over the course of the last five years with events that showcase not only the Crowley’s Ridge Gravel Trail, but the cultural gems that are yet to be discovered by the majority of the state.
The Crowley’s Ridge ecoregion encompasses some of Eastern Arkansas’s most prominent cities, including Paragould, Wynne, Forrest City, Helena-West Helena and Jonesboro. Thiss makes it not only an ecological wonder, but a cultural epicenter for the Arkansas Delta, and this trail now acts as the ribbon to tie them all together.
From Delta Dirt Distillery in downtown Helena to Big O’s Ribs in Harrisburg, there are hundreds of hidden gems scattered along CRGT. The Delta offers staggering experiential adventures to riders both veteran and new.
The Crowley’s Ridge Gravel Trail is for cyclists who are interested in exploring the unknown. The ride feels like modern-day trailblazing. It’s completely enveloping to where Smith says, “You can spend four to six hours on the trails and see maybe one or two cars.”
This immersion is what makes it different from any other cycling experience in Arkansas. Nowhere else in the state can you completely lose your sense of time and place in this meditative activity.
“Life is a much different experience at 10 miles per hour” especially in a world that continues to demand more from us each day.
This trail makes virtually the entire Delta accessible to anyone on two wheels and it is the first pedal stroke in a much greater vision of showcasing the mesmeric encounters that lay beyond what the eye can see from the highway.
The CRGT trail and the work of studioDRIFT call Arkansas’s cycling community not only to adventure, but to action.
For many years, the Arkansas Delta has faced years of chronic and systemic issues. The region suffers from intense poverty, population decline and an eroding economic base resulting in some of the highest poverty rates and the shortest life expectancies in the state.
According to the latest U.S. Census data, Phillips County has the lowest life expectancy in the state at 68 years. That is 6.4 years lower than the state average and 10.8 years lower than Benton County’s life expectancy.
Terrain varies from pancake flat to climbing up the Ridge.
Even on damp days, the low-trafficked roads hold up.
KAI CADDY
That staggering difference can be traced to several issues that Smith and studioDRIFT are working to address through the work they are doing with the Crowley’s Ridge Gravel Trail.
One of the most notable causes of shorter life expectancy is an economy built around agriculture. Over the past 100 years, that same industry has largely become mechanized and commercialized. This has led to abrupt side effects on the people who had largely relied on this industry for their living. As the need for labor has decreased, so has the circulation in the economy leading to several of the issues that the region faces today.
studioDRIFT is helping to carve out a future for the Arkansas Delta’s economy that is not entirely dependent on industrial agriculture. It is capturing the attention of Arkansas’s growing outdoor recreation community, showcasing what unique experiences are waiting to be had in the Delta and building the infrastructure needed to support this level of activity.
Future work will include creating jobs in bicycle-related sectors, increasing tax revenue, raising money to continue to rehabilitate existing infrastructure and stimulating existing small businesses along the trail route. All of this is done while simultaneously reshaping the fabric of Arkansas by redefining the Delta’s place in the state’s story.
“It’s hard to think that this would be a place you could go unless you had the family history to it, but our goal with studioDRIFT is to make this a region that people want to be a part of,” says Smith.
“When we invest in the future of the Delta, we invest in the future of Arkansas,” says Ammen Jordan, executive director of studioDRIFT.
Arkansas is The Natural State for a reason. Its beauty is not
limited to the small portion of the state that sees the most tourism. As Arkansans, it is our duty to champion every part of this magnificent state, and that starts by visiting the parts we have yet to see.
With every mile of route mapped and every fundraiser, the mission to preserve the Delta for tomorrow’s generations is strengthened.
To learn more about how to get involved with studioDRIFT and the Crowley’s Ridge Gravel Trail, visit studiodriftar.org or consider attending the Birdeye Gravel Festival on Nov. 8-10 to experience the Delta firsthand.
“It’s hard to think that this would be a place you could go unless you had the family history to it, but our goal with studioDRIFT is to make this a region that people want to be a part of.”
A Birdeye farm makes for a nice backdrop to the annual Birdeye Festival.
RAMHORN FILMS
TWO DECADES OF BDB
ARKANSAS’S FALL CLASSIC CELEBRATES 20 YEARS.
BY KAI CADDY
The Big Dam Bridge 100, Arkansas’s largest cycling tour, will celebrate its 20th year when thousands of cyclists embark on this year’s ride Sept. 27.
The courses have differed over the years, but for the last several years the longer courses have started from North Little Rock and headed west to Pinnacle Mountain and on to Thornburg, Houston, and back to North Little Rock through Roland. There are five routes offered annually, from 15 to 105 miles.
Routes in the early days headed through Maumelle, Mayflower and circled Lake Conway before heading back to Little Rock. Since 2011, with the opening of the Two Rivers Park Bridge, the routes have included that bridge as well.
The BDB 100’s first event was Oct. 1, 2006, just one day after the 4,226-foot-long Big Dam Bridge opened to the public.
The bridge project took eight years to complete from conception to the completion of construction. Pulaski County judge Buddy Villines was the guiding force behind getting the bridge built and steered $17 million of local, state and federal funds toward getting the project completed.
Texas, served as inspiration for the BDB 100. Hotter’N Hell takes place in a largely rural, flat and, as the name suggests, hot area of West Texas every August. The event has featured upwards of 15,000 riders.
Proceeds from the BDB 100 support the Big Dam Bridge Foundation. The foundation’s mission is to promote the use of and preservation of the Big Dam Bridge for the advancement of health, fitness, cultural and recreational activities in Arkansas.
The Hotter’N Hell Hundred in Wichita Falls,
While the BDB 100 hasn’t sniffed 15,000 riders, it generally sees 3,000 to 4,000 take to the start line on a much more urban and hilly course than what West Texas has to offer. Riders come from all over the country to take part in what has become a well-known ride to cyclists nationwide.
It’s so well known by out-of-towners, in fact, that the BDB 100 has started a training program in the months leading up to the ride to encourage Arkansans to get back out and ride the event.
The program features two rides a month from June through September. Rides are split into four groups based on riders’ experience level and what distance they plan on riding come September.
And, of course, what’s a good event without some good parties. The BDB 100 hosts a kick-off event in the spring and various events with sponsors throughout the year.
The vendor expo held in the Statehouse Convention Center the day before the ride has continued to grow over the years. Riders come to pick up their packets and are greeted by a large number of booths showing off the latest gear from brands and local shops and there’s a chance riders may get in a little pre-ride massage.
In recent years, organizers have added a Gears and Beers event the night before the ride which features food, drinks and live music for all registered riders. And, of course, the finish line party caps the weekend.
Northwest Arkansas’s rise as an off-road cycling mecca has grown Arkansas’s stature as a cycling destination. Events like the Rule of 3 in the spring and Big Sugar in mid-October have pushed to unseat the BDB 100 as Arkansas’s most attended cycling event, but the BDB 100 continues to hold strong 20 years in.
Riders from all over the world have crossed the Big Dam Bridge during the annual Big Dam Bridge 100 the past 20 years.
›UPCOMING EVENTS
Mark Your Calendar
Mark your calendar and gather your gear, because there’s always another ride or race to participate in The Natural State. We’ve listed and organized all of the cycling events throughout Arkansas and no matter your level of experience, you’re sure to find a ride that fits your skills and preferences.
GO
NUTS OR GO HOME XC AND ENDURO
Aug. 16-17
$50-$60
Bentonville (Mountain)
A cross-country race Saturday and enduro Sunday at the Coler MTB Preserve. There are race categories from beginners to pros. Register at bikereg.com/go-nuts-or-gohome-2025-xc
NICA RACE CLINIC AND TIME TRIAL
Aug. 23-24
Mountain Home (Mountain)
The Arkansas NICA season kicks off with a race clinic Saturday and then the annual time trial Sunday to determine call-up positions for first races of the season. Visit arkansasmtb.org for more information.
FAYETTEVILLE ENDURO
Aug. 30-31
$30-$125
Fayetteville (Mountain)
First race of the Arkansas Enduro Series. Up to eight stages of enduro racing at Fayetteville’s Kessler Mountain Regional Park. Pre-ride is available Saturday with racing on Sunday. Visit arkansasenduroseries.com for more information.
TOUR DE SALVATION
Aug. 31
$15-$65
Hot Springs (Road and Mountain)
Annual ride benefiting the Salvation Army’s Pathway of Hope program. The ride offers two road routes: a hilly 23.5-mile option or a flatter 19.5-mile option; two mountain bike route options: a 17-mile or 24-mile course and family fun route of just less than six miles. Or riders can choose the “full” tour option, which is a 21.9-mile road route followed by 21.5 miles of singletrack. Visit facebook.com/tourdesalvation for more information.
NICA PLATEAU REGION RACE 1
Sept. 6-7
Siloam Springs (Mountain)
The first race of the season for NICA teams in the Plateau Region. Visit arkansasmtb. org for more information.
NICA PLAINS REGION RACE 1
Sept. 6-7
Jonesboro (Mountain)
The first race of the season for NICA teams in the Plains Region. Visit arkansasmtb.org for more information.
99 MILES OF BAD ROAD
Sept. 6-7
$60-$100
Hardy (Gravel)
Gravel race starting and ending in Hardy. Routes of 99 and 199 miles on mostly unpaved roads that feature everything from
CHINKAPIN HOLLOW GRAVEL GRINDER
Oct. 25
$45-$70
Fayetteville (Gravel)
A gravel race with four distance options (24,40, 60 and 110 mile) that head west from Lake Wedington Park in Fayetteville. Visit chinkapinhollowgravelgrinder.com for more details.
SCAN HERE TO SEE ALL UPCOMING EVENTS
Beginner Intermediate Advanced Intermediate Advanced
mud, dirt, gravel, clay, crushed limestone and rocks to broken pavement. Register at bikereg.com/badroad
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS MTB CHAMPIONSHIP
Sept. 13
$25-$45
West Fork (Mountain)
Cross-country mountain bike race at Devil’s Den State Park. Part of the Arkansas Mountain Bike Championship Series. Visit ambcs.com for more information.
THE RIVER CLASSIC
Sept. 13
$50
Little Rock (Road)
Road ride with 26-, 43- and 66-mile route options benefiting Young Life and an official part of the Big Dam Bridge 100 training program. Visit theriverclassic.com for more information.
KESSLER MOUNTAIN JAM
Sept. 14
$20-$40
Fayetteville (Mountain)
Cross-country mountain bike race at Kessler Park. Part of the Arkansas Mountain Bike Championship Series. Register at bikereg.com/kessler-mtn-jam
RIDE YOUR DAMN BIKE FEST
Sept. 18-21
Free-$66.60
Fayetteville (Gravel)
The Ride Your Damn Bike Festival invites you to ride your damn bike, any damn way you want. Ozark Gravel Cyclists, Bikes or Death, Bikepacking Roots and Fayetteville have joined forces for this event. It kicks off with the five-year anniversary of the Thirsty Thursday group rides, followed by workshops and an expo Friday, an overnight community ride, ultra-endurance
KAI
CADDY
race and gravel crits on Saturday. Visit ozarkgravelcyclists.com/rydb-fest for more information.
NWA BIKE-A-PALOOZA
Sept. 19-20
$25
Northwest Arkansas (Road, Mountain, Gravel)
Two days of rides of every discipline for every skill level hosted by several of Northwest Arkansas’s bike clubs to raise money for charity. A $25 donation gets you all the riding you want. Visit facebook.com/ Bikepalooza for the latest routes and ride options.
TOUR DE BLUFF
Sept. 19-20
$50
Pine Bluff (Road, Gravel)
Tour de Bluff is for people of all ages to learn fun, safe ways to enjoy bicycling. Anyone can participate. With enjoyable routes and activities, this year's event promises an even more exhilarating experience.
NICA MID-SEASON CLASSIC
Sept. 20-21
Conway (Mountain)
The second NICA race of the season, with both regions racing at the Meadows Tech Park in Conway. Visit arkansasmtb.org for more information.
OZ KIDS CRIT CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
Sept. 20
$15
Bella Vista (Road)
One of five kids races in a series throughout Northwest Arkansas. Each race is scored, scores accumulate throughout the series with an overall podium celebrated at the final race in October. To qualify for the overall series championship podium, racers must have a minimum of three finishes, one of which must be crossing the finish line at the series finale in Bentonville. Visit ozkids. org for more information.
EUREKA ENDURO
Sept. 26-28
$30-$125
Fayetteville (Mountain)
Second race of the Arkansas Enduro series. Up to 8 stages of racing. This year’s race is being held in conjunction with the Eureka Springs Fat Tire Festival. Visit arkansasenduroseries.com for more information.
BIG DAM BRIDGE 100
Sept. 27
Cost TBA
Little Rock (Road)
An annual cycling tour with several routes ranging between 15 and 105 miles, with beautiful mountain and river scenery as well as a few challenging hills on the longer routes. The event provides participants with well-marked courses, fun aid stations with foods and liquids, great volunteer support and post-ride food and drinks along with a unique finish-line experience. Visit thebigdambridge100.com for more information.
HILLFOLK HOOTENANNY
Sept. 27-28
$45-$130
Chester (Mountain/Gravel)
The Hillfolk Hootenanny is a two-day festival packed with rides, runs, food, music, creek swims and community. There will be a 15-mile shakeout gravel ride Saturday followed by a 25-, 40- or 60-mile ride Sunday. Visit dirtmovement.cc for more information.
CONWAY BIKETOBERFEST
October Conway (Mountain/Road/Gravel)
A month-long celebration promoting local cycling amenities and routes in four different riding formats: road, mountain, gravel and community. More information can be found at conwaybiketoberfest.org.
ARKANSAS HIGH COUNTRY RACE
Oct. 4
$100
Russellville (Gravel)
An ultra-endurance, self-supported adventure race through the Ouachita and Ozark national forests. The main route is 1,000-plus miles and nearly 80,000 feet of elevation gain. Also on offer are the 430mile central loop and the rugged 253-mile Ozark Odyssey route that explores some super-remote terrain. Registration opens July 4. More information at arkansashighcountryrace.com.
OUACHITA GRAN FONDO FOR FAMILIES
Oct. 4
$35
Hot Springs (Road)
Annual fondo benefiting Ouachita Children, Youth and Family Services. Route options of 15 and 50 miles are available. Visit
GÜDRUN MTB FESTIVAL
Nov. 7-9
TBA
Hot Springs (Mountain)
The sixth edition of the annual mountain bike festival at the Northwoods features a slow roll, jump jam, dual slalom racing, enduro racing, the Atilla the Hun cross country race and more. Visit northwoodstrails.org for more information.
ouachitagranfondoforfamilies.com for more information.
NICA PLAINS REGION RACE 3
Oct. 4-5
Hot Springs (Mountain)
The third race of the season for NICA teams in the Plains Region at the Northwoods. Visit arkansasmtb.org for more information.
CONWAY FALL CLASSIC
Oct. 11
$35-$45
Conway (Road)
An annual bike tour, this year the ride will coincide with Conway’s Biketoberfest. There will be 23-, 40- and 62-mile routes. Proceeds benefit Conway Advocates for Bicycling and Boys & Girls Club of Faulkner County. More information is available at cycleconway.com.
WHEEL A’ MENA
Oct. 11
$75
Mena (Road)
An annual bike tour through the Ouachitas. The ride provides great scenic views on the Talimena Scenic Drive and through Queen Wilhelmina State Park. Ride options of 30, 50 and 70 miles. Visit wheelamena. com for more information.
›STARTING LINE
Part Of The Pack
All across the Natural State, there are clubs, classes and cycling groups more than willing to have new members join and learn. From road warriors to kings and queens of the mountain, opportunities abound to explore the exciting world of cycling, but we’ve listed a few here to make it a little easier.
TACO
The Trail Advocacy Coalition of the Ouachitas is dedicated to establishing, enhancing and maintaining an exceptional trail experience for all users in and around Hot Springs. Through the use of trail work days, educational workshops and group rides, hikes and runs, it strives to strengthen our outdoor community, promote trail sustainability and trail etiquette. facebook.com/TACOhotsprings
Road Riders
MAJOR TAYLOR LITTLE ROCK
Marshall “Major” Taylor overcame racial barriers in professional cycling in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, he became the first African American world champion in cycling, earning his title in 1899. Clubs across the country honor his contributions by promoting cycling as a means of fitness, community building, and social change. They are committed to diversity, inclusion, and the encouragement of safe, responsible riding practices for cyclists of all ages and backgrounds. mtcc-lr.com
NWA Women Riders
WOMEN OF OZ
An inclusive non-profit organization dedicated to fostering a supportive community for women mountain bikers. WOZ is committed to creating a welcoming and non-intimidating environment for all individuals who identify as women, regardless of background or skill level. woznwa.com
Inclusive Riders ALL BODIES ON BIKES
A national group with a Northwest Arkansas chapter, All Bodies on Bikes is a movement to create and foster a sizeinclusive bike community. The group believes that anyone who wants to ride a bike should be able to, regardless of their size or weight. allbodiesonbikes.com
Ouachita Riders
TACO Tuesday group rides are weekly at Northwoods in Hot Springs.
South Arkansas’ FINEST Bicycle Event
FRIDAY & SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19-20, 2025 - PINE BLUFF, AR
TOUR DE BLUFF is an annual bicycle themed event produced and managed by Novel T’s and made possible through partnerships and sponsorship funding.
Tour de Bluff was created for people of all ages to learn fun, safe ways to enjoy bicycling. Anyone can participate; those who are just learning to ride a bicycle, those who ride regularly, and those who haven’t been on a bicycle since they were kids. Tour de Bluff 2025 presents an opportunity for participants to engage in the revitalization of our vibrant Central Arkansas community. With enjoyable routes and activities, this year’s event promises an even more exhilarating experience.
Photo:Bicycling during The Skirmish Delta Gravel Festival in Jonesboro. Image courtesy of All Sports Productions.