Bike Arkansas

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M AY 2 0 2 2 ISSUE NO. 22 BIKEARKANSASMEDIA.COM

THE ULTIMATE MTB VACATION AN INFRASTRUCTURE REVOLUTIONARY SHARING A MIRACLE STORY PRO TEAM ON A MISSION

your adventure awaits

1777 river road | lakeview, arkansas 870-431-5202 | gastons@gastons.com gastons.com | lat 36 20’ 55” n | long 92 33’ 25” w 2 | BIKE ARKANSAS may 2022

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Are you ready for the Southwest Trail?

Major portions of the Trail are ready to begin construction this year.

CENTRAL ARKANSAS CYCLISTS, WALKERS, RUNNERS, BIRDERS & TRAIL ENTHUSIASTS.

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

Join us in our efforts to make the Southwest Trail a prime destination in Central Arkansas. We need a group of supporters to help promote the trail’s use and preservation. To get involved, call 501-372-3300 and mention the Southwest Trail.

For more information, visit swtrail.transportationplanroom.com.

BIKE ARKANSAS issue no. 22 | 3

IN THIS ISSUE

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Women of OZ host summit, Allied adds Davison, Arkansan shines at U.S. Pro Cup and a UCI Gravel Worlds qualifier is set for NWA.

A Q&A with one founder of Project Echelon, a pro cycling team with an important mission. By Kai Caddy

BRAKING NEWS

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MY KIT

NICA league director Terry Coddington shows off his top-ofthe-line Trek Supercaliber.

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GREENWAY VISIONARY

Brett Budolfson works to improve bike infrastructure in Central Arkansas. By Dwain Hebda

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ORIGIN OF A PRO TEAM

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EVERY ISSUE

40 EVENTS 46 SHOPS

DOCUMENTING AN AMAZING JOURNEY

Filmmaker Garrett Hubbard shares the story of Josh Fohner and the community who helped him complete an unforgettable ride.

By Lindsay Southwick

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THE BEST TWO-WEEK VACATION

Your guide to a summer get-away that you don’t even have to leave the state for. By Bob Robinson

ON THE COVER Centennial Park in Fayetteville offers some of the best groomed trails in Arkansas, part of the ultimate mountain bike vacation.

Photo by Kai Caddy

NORTHWOODS TRAIL SYSTEM

+MILES 245 OF WORLD-CLASS RIDES

Hot Springs north and west of Park Avenue Including Cedar Glades

31.5 + Miles northwoodstrails.org LAKE OUACHITA VISTA TRAIL (LOViT)

Southern shore of Lake Ouachita

40 Miles trailforks.com IRON MOUNTAIN TRAIL

DeGray Lake/ Caddo Valley

32 Miles

trailforks.com

OUACHITA NATIONAL RECREATION TRAIL

North of Hot Springs through north of Mena

108 Miles trailforks.com WOMBLE TRAIL

Near Mount Ida, west of Hot Springs

35 Miles Visit DiamondLakes.org to request a FREE Hot Springs/ Diamond Lakes Guide.

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@HotSprings_DiamondLakes

ARKADELPHIA • CADDO VALLEY • GLENWOOD • HOT SPRINGS • MALVERN • MOUNT IDA • MURFREESBORO

BikeHotSprings.org DiamondLakes.org

This ad is paid for with a combination of state funds and private regional association funds.

BIKE ARKANSAS issue no. 22 | 5

M A G A Z I N E

Come for cycling.

Discover Arkansas history.

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BIKEARKANSASMEDIA.COM FOLLOW US FOR MORE BIKE

BROOKE WALLACE Publisher

brookewallace@arktimes.com KAI CADDY Editor

kaicaddy@gmail.com MANDY KEENER Creative Director

mandy@arktimes.com MIKE SPAIN Art Director LESA THOMAS Senior Account Executive LEE MAJOR Account Executive WELDON WILSON Production Manager/Controller ROLAND R. GLADDEN Advertising Traffic Manager SARAH HOLDERFIELD Graphic Design/Social Media ROBERT CURFMAN IT Director CHARLOTTE KEY Billing/Collections JACKSON GLADDEN Circulation Director

ALAN LEVERITT President alan@arktimes.com Arkansas Times Limited Partnership 201 E. MARKHAM ST., SUITE 150 LITTLE ROCK, AR 72201 501-375-2985 All Contents © 2022 Bike Arkansas Magazine 6 | BIKE ARKANSAS may 2022

Contributors

LINDSAY SOUTHWICK is a freelance

writer who loves anything that gets her outside, and is even known to occasionally summit tall peaks. She lives in Bentonville with her husband and four children who graciously supply her with legions of content to write about.

BOB ROBINSON enjoys all things

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

RIDE ANGRY

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CAMPGROUND

DWAIN HEBDA is an award-winning

journalist, editor and president of his own editorial services company, Ya!Mule Wordsmiths in Little Rock.

His work appears in more than 30 publications in Arkansas and other states. He and his wife, Darlene, spend much of their time spoiling their three dogs, Hootie, Tango and Cash.

Starting at $15/night Heated bathroom & showers Trails access from campsites Minutes from Bentonville Square BOOK ONLINE

colercampground.com BIKE ARKANSAS issue no. 22 | 7

BRAKING NEWS

WOMEN OF OZ TO HOST MOUNTAIN BIKE SUMMIT

Women of OZ, a nonprofit, women-focused organization based in Northwest Arkansas, has announced the inaugural Women of OZ Sunset Summit in Bentonville Sept. 16-17.

The organization is looking to break down barriers for women in mountain biking. The group has partnered with Ladies AllRide, Radical Roots, Anita Naidu, Anneke Burton, All in MTB, Biking with Brittany, Bike School Bentonville, World Ride, Arkansas Latinas En Bici, Elements Mountain Bike Instruction and others to be on hand to host rides, clinics, workshops and panel discussions.

Registration opens April 15 and space will be limited to 250 participants. Tickets start at $259.

To register and for more information, visit wozsunsetsummit.com.

Scholarships are available.

ALLIED ADDS DAVISON TO ATHLETE ROSTER Bentonville-based Allied Cycleworks signed two-time Olympian and eight-time U.S. National Champion Lea Davison to its roster in March.

Davison retired from World Cup mountain bike racing after last season, but is one of the 30 women chosen to compete in the Life Time Grand Prix, a series of endurance mountain bike and gravel races that will culminate with Big Sugar this October in Bentonville. Her kit for the Grand Prix highlights nonprofit organizations that advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, women’s empowerment and the environment.

8 | BIKE ARKANSAS may 2022

PARKER, BLEVINS DOMINANT AT U.S. PRO CUP Hot Springs native Cayden Parker won a pair of UCI cross country races in late April at the Moosejaw U.S. Pro Cup presented by OZ Trails at Centennial Park in Fayetteville, the latest round of world class bike racing in The Natural State.

Parker, a men’s elite junior who races for the Bear National Team, went off the front both races with teammate Jack Spranger. Parker was able to break away from Spranger in each race, winning the first on April 21 by 54 seconds and the second on April 23 by 27 seconds.

In April 22’s short-track race, Spranger won a two-up sprint with Parker using a bike throw and wheelie at the line to inch out the victory.

As of late April, Spranger and Parker were the highest ranked junior cross country racers in the world.

Christopher Blevins, the elite men’s short track world champion, went three-for-three on the weekend. He won each of the XCO races by more than a minute and held off a hard-charging Quinton Disera for a 4-second win in the short-track race.

Savilia Blunk and Sofia Gomez Villafane won the elite women’s XCO races, while Maghalie Rochete took the short track win. Women’s elite junior Bailey Cioppa claimed victories in the first XCO race of the week and the short track. Ava Holmgren took the final elite junior women’s XCO victory, holding off her sister, Isabella. Cioppa finished third.

UCI GRAVEL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIER SET FOR NORTHWEST ARKANSAS Fayetteville is set to host a UCI Gravel World Championship qualifier, the Highlands Gravel Classic, June 25.

The 2022 Trek UCI Gravel World Series will feature 12 qualifying races for the inaugural UCI Gravel World Championships. Fayetteville is one of only two U.S. cities to host a qualifier. The other American event is the Jingle GX Gravel event in Amana, Iowa.

This event is open to all. Categories are split by age (in 5-year increments) and gender to compete on either a 52-mile or 70mile route. Riders finishing in the top 25% of each category

automatically qualify for the world championships.

Brannon Pack, director of cycling tourism for Fayetteville, invited a group of cyclists to join him on a preview ride of the Highlands course. The 95% gravel routes include scenic views and punchy steep climbs over the continuously changing terrain of the Boston Mountain range, and a glimpse into Ozark backcountry life.

Visit highlandsgravelclassic.com for more information and to register for the event.

BIKE ARKANSAS issue no. 22 | 9

MY KIT PHOTOGRAPHY: KAI CADDY

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NAME: Terry Coddington FROM: Conway JOB: Arkansas NICA league director, Conway Bike and

Pedestrian Coordinator and owner of Cyclelogical Coaching

WHAT IS NICA? NICA is a high school mountain bike league

all across the state. It’s for grades six through 12. It’s a fall sport and the goal is to get any kid in Arkansas that wants to enjoy the sport of mountain biking access to trails and bikes and get them out there.

ON HIS ROLE WITH THE CITY: I just try to make Conway

a safer and better place for cyclists and pedestrians with amenities like Pompe Park, the pump track at Gatlin Park and other trail projects. We’re getting ready to build a 3-mile mountain bike course at the tech park. I’m just trying to add amenities and make Conway a great place to live and recreate.

Conway’s been great to work with to get things like Pompe Park and the other trails in the community. Whether it’s the city or the chamber, everyone’s jumping on board for things for bikes.

THE BIKE: It’s a Trek Supercaliber 9.9. It’s top of the line —

this is basically what you would see if you turn on the TV and watch a World Cup race. This is what the cross country athletes are racing on. What I love about this bike is that with a touch of a button, everything is locked out and it becomes a complete hardtail. Whenever you take off on the start line at a race, everything’s locked out. You don’t have any suspension bob, and then whenever you hit the course, you open it back up and everything’s just nice flowy and fluid.

I probably override the bike in some categories. But, it’s just a super fun bike. It’s one of the lightest full suspension bikes you can get.

THE GROUPSET: It has SRAM Eagle AXS shifting.

Everything’s electronic. Even the dropper post is an AXS electronic dropper that I can control with the touch of a button, no cables, no anything. It’s just one less thing to worry about and it gets the seat out of the way. So whenever you’re doing technical features, it just makes it a little bit easier. I have a 1x drivetrain that has pretty much all the gear ratios you would need for just about any course.

THE WHEELS: They’re Bontrager XXX carbon fiber wheels.

Pretty much everything on the bike that can be is carbon fiber.

THE SUSPENSION: The fork is a RockShox World Cup SID.

It has completely adjustable rebound compression. The travel is 100 millimeters up front and 70 in the rear. It’s just enough. I hit some pretty gnarly stuff on it.

BIKE ARKANSAS issue no. 22 | 11

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TRAIL BOSS Planner strives to connect communities via bikes.

By Dwain Hebda

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BRIAN CHILON

rett Budolfson, soft-spoken project manager with Little Rock firm McClelland Consulting Engineers, is an unlikely revolutionary. Born in serene Mountain Home, and having spent time doing work on the West Coast, Budolfson’s vibe is about as zen as you can get.

But underneath his placid exterior lies radical new thinking about how cycling and urban design can completely recast the way cities work and their residents live and find joy. And he’s bent on bringing this vision to life one greenway cycling trail at a time.

“I love trails and I love connecting communities.

It’s the way I want to live,” he said. “I’d love to be able to commute to work and ride everywhere. I ride recreationally for exercise ,and if I could work some exercise into my daily routine, that would be fantastic. I enjoy the connectivity of it, connecting the citizens to the amenities of the city.”

Budolfson’s depth of vision is balanced by the breadth of his pragmatism concerning new bike trails and urban cycling routes. From a functional perspective, he’s not that far away from the generations of river, rail and road designers who came before him.

“I think connecting to what you’ve got, the existing infrastructure, is key. You’ve got to grow your trail plan from the existing infrastructure out,” he said.

“You don’t want to have a bunch of spurs randomly throughout the city. You’ve got to really use that river trail. You want to make sure you have a complete trail plan, complete infrastructure.”

EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE: Connecting to what’s already there, like the River Trail, is key.

BIKE ARKANSAS issue no. 22 | 13

ARKANSAS DEPT OF PARKS HERITAGE AND TOURISM

BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME: The Northwoods Trails in Hot Springs has led to a cycling boom in that city.

But unlike other thoroughfares, bike Done correctly, a trail not only Arkansas and was trying to get on a trails are something Budolfson sees as brings people together, but folds bike and trying to commute places much for their form as for their funcseamlessly into the landscape and trying to ride that I noticed it was tion, weaving throughout the existing as it does so, blurring the lines more of an issue here than somewhere landscape in ways that are thoughtful, that typically divide and separate that’s a little more established as far as deliberate and logical. Done correctly, neighborhoods one from the other. a biking structure. But that’s changed a trail not only brings people together, rapidly. It’s definitely something that but folds seamlessly into the landscape the more I get into it here the more I as it does so, blurring the lines that typically fighting traffic, while getting a little healthier notice it moving at a rapid pace here.” divide and separate neighborhoods one from and a little mental wellness in your day."

Trained as a landscape engineer, Budolfson’s the other.

Budolfson honed his design ethos in San work pays attention to the art of enhancing “There’s multifaceted things that trails conFrancisco where he completed a number of what surrounds a greenway trail as well as tribute to any community,” he said. “The obvious projects with various parks departments. He the science of how to physically construct it. one that sticks out in my head is recreation. returned to Arkansas to find the drive for “Parks are probably the easiest to do beThat’s immediately what everybody thinks, trail building was every bit what he’d seen out cause it’s typically owned by a municipality so much so it’s almost hard to get folks, even west, even though there had been relatively so it’s an easy place to start, connecting those administrations and municipalities, to think little to show for it. parks and connecting nearby neighborhoods past the recreation part and into more of a “That demand [for trails] has definitely to parks,” he said. “A lot of times I’m looking commuting mindset. The whole point is to grown up with time,” he said. “In California, at housing densities and trying to see where connect people and make people’s lives easier I wasn’t as big an advocate because I didn’t a majority of the people are living and how to get places without jumping in the car and need to be. It wasn’t until I moved back to you can make connections between parks 14 | BIKE ARKANSAS may 2022

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BIKE ARKANSAS issue no. 22 | 15

ARKANSAS DEPT OF PARKS HERITAGE AND TOURISM

RAILS TO TRAILS: The Delta Heritage trail was built on an old railroad line.

or urban corridors and big groups of “Parks are probably the easiest that levee by meeting all the [Americans populations. You want to hit as many to do because it’s typically owned with Disability Act] codes and that sort people as possible when you’re laying by a municipality so it’s an easy of thing to get down to East Village out these trails. place to start, connecting those neighborhoods and schools and the “Another locator is trail drops, located parks and connecting nearby East End Park.” in parks and floodways and areas that neighborhoods to parks.”

Another project, just in its infancy, aren’t suited for development. You’re — Brett Budolfson would convert Jonesboro Drive north looking at utility corridors. You’re looking of 12th Street into a bikeway, connectat municipalities’ ownership and what they A second project, the Southeast Trail, is a ing the Little Rock Zoo and War Memorial already have. You don’t want to put a trail Pulaski County project in the right-of-way Park. When completed, it would be the first across 2,000 different parcel owners and have acquisition phase. When completed, that trail cycle track in the city and feature a tie-in at to deal with right-of-way. You’re trying to be will cover roughly 25 miles, much of it on the Boyle Park. opportunistic when laying out these trails.” levee from the Clinton Presidential Center Budolfson said while many projects are Budolfson is applying his accumulated east to Terry Lock and Dam near the airport. initiated by municipalities, occasionally one knowledge and experience to several projects “It kind of serves a bit of a dual purpose as comes along that’s truly organic. Working on in and around Little Rock. Among them is it is making a wider levee, strengthening it these projects, as with the Rose Creek Trail, the Tri-Creeks project, which, if approvals go and putting a trail on top of it,” he said. “The which would connect the Capitol View/Stifft as expected, will start construction this fall. end of the application is to connect to the Station area with the River Trail, is especially “It’s approximately 6 miles, some of which actual airport terminal, providing a unique rewarding. is on-street in the Fair Park neighborhood,” opportunity for anyone who would want to “The unique thing about this one is it’s he said. “Some of that is going through Boyle fly in, potentially rent an e-bike and then totally a grassroots effort and very commuPark, and the existing trails of Boyle Park are head to their hotel downtown. nity-driven,” he said. “They have a little trail going to connect into that.”

“The trick in that one is getting off and on that they built several years back, a paved 16 | BIKE ARKANSAS may 2022

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BIKE ARKANSAS issue no. 22 | 17

MCCLELLAND CONSULTING ENGINEERS, INC.

CONNECTING COMMUNITIES: The Tri-Creeks Greenway is one of a handful of trail projects in the works for Little Rock.

ARKANSAS DEPT OF PARKS HERITAGE AND TOURISM

TWO RIVERS ROLLIN’: Trails are great for recreation, but future connections will improve the ability to commute via bike.

18 | BIKE ARKANSAS may 2022

trail that goes to a little seating-area park. They also had a bunch of parcels that somebody donated to the city for a park. They’re going to set it up where they have a little popup playground and event space, some ballfields, that sort of thing.”

Budolfson’s focus on the two-wheelification of communities borders on the obsessive. Everywhere he goes in Little Rock and elsewhere, his eyes invariably draw to prospective routes and ways to improve access and egress to trails and the communities they connect. He envisions underserved neighborhoods revitalized, as-yet-undeveloped parcels teeming with cyclists of all descriptions and crosstown routes providing new ways for tying places together.

“I think there’s plenty of opportunity in town for new trails,” he said. “When I see a corridor or some utility lines, I’ll definitely be like, ‘Oh yeah. There’s a good spot [for a trail].’ That happens all the time.

“The things that I’m really attracted to in cycling is low cost. It gives an underserved neighborhood or person or family the opportunity to get out and get to work without having to afford a car. And it connects many, many different neighborhoods and parks providing opportunities for people to jump on the trail and connect to green spaces. Those are all big things for me.”

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Downtown Russellville Bike Expo 2022

479-967-1762 www.discoverrussellville.org Lake Dardanelle State Park

Paid for with a combination of state funds and private regional association funds.

BIKE ARKANSAS issue no. 22 | 19

RACING WITH PURPOSE: Project Echelon has its sights set on stage race dominance while providing help to veterans.

20 | BIKE ARKANSAS may 2022

EDUCATING, EQUIPPING AND EMPOWERING The origin story of a unique professional cycling team.

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY By Kai Caddy

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head of this year’s Joe Martin Stage Race, I had the opportunity to talk with Eric Hill, co-founder and racer for Project Echelon Racing, about the team’s origin and its mission to help veterans nationwide. Project Echelon has built its roster with a focus on stage racing and has lofty goals for the Joe Martin, which celebrates its 45th year May 19-22 in Fayetteville.

What is Project Echelon and how did it begin?

Project Echelon was founded in 2016 after veteran Eric Beach reached out to me, an elite cyclist, looking for support to complete his first triathlon as a means to get active and overcome his struggles with addiction and PTSD. After some conversation, it became quickly apparent that Eric lacked the knowledge, resources and experience to achieve his goals, all of which I was privileged to have through the platform that professional cycling had provided. Over the course of a year, we worked together to educate, equip and empower Eric to complete his first triathlon and address his personal struggles head on and in a way that was more successful than previous therapies and supports he had tried. Together, we recognized the power in what we had achieved and the opportunity it provided to use professional sport to reach more veterans like Eric, connect with communities more deeply, and engage the support of the cycling industry. From this concept, Project Echelon Racing was created as a mechanism to remove the barriers to healing by fostering relationships between veterans, their communities and professional athletes through mentorship, structure and the promotion of long-term health and wellbeing through endurance sport.

Talk about the work you do with veterans and how a veteran can become a supported athlete.

The mission of Project Echelon is to educate, equip and empower veterans through physical activity. We accomplish this through three modalities: 1. The riders of Project Echelon Racing carry the mission to every community they engage with, connecting with veteran non profits, employee resource groups and community leaders from across the country

to discuss the issues our veterans face today and how physical activity can serve as a form of therapy and a positive outlet to support their success. 2. Every member of the Project Echelon Racing Team is responsible for coaching and mentoring the veterans we serve. The team provides training plans, mentors through a cohort program, and helps to foster a strong sense of community and support. 3. Project Echelon Racing works with its sponsors to make the sport more accessible through online webinars, equipment and event entry scholarships, exclusive product discounts and more.

We are blessed to work with companies who value our veteran community and believe in our mission. It is especially exciting to work with veteran-owned companies like BioTech Pharmacal, a Fayetteville-based company, as a sponsor as it helps to elevate our mission and veteran-owned businesses in unique ways.

Veterans can get involved by completing the contact form on the Project Echelon website at projectechelon.org, after which a team member will reach out and begin the on-boarding and goal-setting process.

How have things changed since the program started?

Project Echelon has drastically evolved since its founding in 2016. We started out with a small roster of seven riders located in the Midwest and focusing on a mostly regional calendar of top events and a few National Racing Calendar events like Joe Martin Stage Race and Redlands Bicycle Classic. Similarly, we had a very small veteran support program in place, where we helped 12 veterans in our first year. This structure was essential to our sustainability as we had a very small budget, rider-supported equipment and the coolest

1993 Ford Econoline Van you’ve ever seen.

Through our advocacy and persistence, we were able to grow our network, earn stronger results and acquire more talent and support year over year. By 2019, we had a team that had finished on the GC podium and won stages at Redlands Bicycle Classic and Joe Martin Stage Race, won a National TT Championship, and grown our community to over 150 veterans supported. Today, Project Echelon is regarded as one of the top teams in North America and has been invited to race internationally in the UCI Europe Tour. Additionally, the team has grown its veteran community to over 300 veterans supported and $70,000 in veteran support provided in 2021 alone! As a program, we aim to be recognized as the top all-round program in North America and to use that platform as a means to continue our ability to support our veteran community in meaningful and life-changing ways.

How important is the Joe Martin Stage Race for the team and what are your goals for that race this year?

Joe Martin is where Project Echelon first really hit its stride as an elite team in North America, taking third on GC in 2018 and winning Stage 2 of the race in 2019. This community has slowly become a second home for the team as well, with BioTech Pharmacal, a local veteran-owned business, stepping up as a major sponsor, hosting our team camp in collaboration with Experience Fayetteville, building a relationship with the VA and organizations like Pedal It Forward and more. This is a big-time race in a wonderful community, and with the new support from Walmart and the visibility their partnership is going to bring to this race, winning is a major goal in 2022.

BIKE ARKANSAS issue no. 22 | 21

THE ‘ALL IN FOR J

TOP-NOTCH CREW: Josh Fohner had plenty of support on his 900-mile journey from Buena Vista, Colo. to Springdale.

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MIRACLE STORY JOSH’ The transformational power of cycling and storytelling.

By Lindsay Southwick Photos Courtesy Garrett Hubbard

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ince moving from Washington, D.C., to Arkansas five years ago, many of filmmaker and photographer Garrett Hubbard’s projects have told stories through the lens of cycling. Like most trades, there’s an order to the way filmmaking works. Filmmaking 101 would teach that when you first take on a project a number of things need to come together before filming even begins. Things like research, fundraising, selecting collaborators and making a plan for how to distribute the film once it’s completed. But sometimes a story comes along that compels a storyteller to ignore the way it’s supposed to be done because it’s a story that needs to be told. For Hubbard, that was the story of Josh Fohner.

Cycling has given itself quite the reputation for being transformational. For teaching us lessons that translate to everyday life. Arkansans know firsthand that cycling has a way of building community and relationships. It challenges us to accomplish things we didn’t know we could do, often giving us more confidence off the bike as well.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 26 BIKE ARKANSAS issue no. 22 | 23

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I WANT TO RIDE MY BICYCLE.

WE’RE SET TO ROCK AT THIS YEAR’S TOUR DE ROCK! WHAT: 25, 50, 62 and 100 mile routes through central Arkansas with a great after party.

WHERE: Race begins and ends on Washington and Vine in North Little Rock.

After Party at Heifer International Pavilion WHY: Support CARTI’s mission of delivering the most advanced forms of cancer care.

SATURDAY, JUNE 4

Register today at CARTI.com/TourdeRock BIKE ARKANSAS issue no. 22 | 25

DAY 3: The All In For Josh crew rolls through Colorado.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23 You’ll be hard-pressed to find a story where the transformational power of cycling is more profound than in the story of Josh Fohner.

Cycling has always been a major part of Josh’s life. Since first learning to ride as a kid, Josh, a native of Springdale, has always loved being on a bike. It was on his bike that his life dramatically changed in 2016 when he was hit by a car riding home from an early-morning workout in Colorado. The accident left him a quadriplegic with a traumatic brain injury. He was in a coma for 15 months. Since then, Josh has had more surgeries than his family can count and has spent endless hours in therapy.

Typically TBI patients’ progress slows after two years, but Josh continues to surpass goals and milestones. Not surprisingly, cycling was patiently waiting for him on the other side of his accident.

26 | BIKE ARKANSAS may 2022

About three years ago Josh’s dad, Mike Fohner, had the idea to do a bike ride to raise money to allow for additional therapies.

“I thought it would be cool if I rode from where his accident happened in Colorado to our home in Springdale,” Mike said. “I just threw the idea out there. About a week later, Josh taps out with his foot [Josh communicates using his foot to spell out words] that he wanted to do the ride with me. That really got my wheels turning.”

Through a lot of work and research the Fohners assembled a team, each member bringing a unique skill set to the group.

They found a bike they felt confident would accommodate such an undertaking — a 120-pound YUMI side-by-side, recumbent, E-assist, adaptive bike customized for Josh.

The Springdale Bike Club got behind them

and “All in for Josh” was born. The mission: Ride 900 miles over 21 days from Buena Vista, Colo., the site of Josh’s accident, to Springdale.

“I just felt called to do it,” Hubbard said of coming across “All in for Josh” on the internet in early 2021. “I knew this was only happening once and it felt super important to tell this story. I didn’t have funding or know exactly how it would work out, I just knew the story needed to be told.”

Hubbard reached out to the Fohner family about filming their journey. He was clear about the kind of process it would be: intrusive at times, and requiring their full trust.

“The extent to which I can tell a story is the extent to which people can trust me,” he said.

“Once we understood the scope of what Garrett wanted to do, it just seemed to fit in with our family’s belief that we have a calling

TELLING THE STORY: Filmmaker Garrett Hubbard, left, was on hand for the entire 21-day journey to document Josh’s story.

and purpose in life,” Mike said of the initial conversation with Hubbard. “This has been such a long, and sometimes lonely, road for all of us. If we can help others experiencing similar challenges, then we want to do that.

This seemed like an opportunity to reach more people.”

Hubbard became part of the core group of 11 people who would participate in the entire 21-day pilgrimage. He took part in the Sunday night Zoom meetings where the group would discuss logistics, fundraising, training plans

and routes; where they would work through any current problems and try to anticipate and plan for any potential problems or obstacles that could occur along the way.

“What immediately struck me on that first Zoom call was just the idea that these people loved Josh,” Hubbard said. “These were people who were inspired by Josh. This group, most of whom were just casual cyclists, were dedicated to this family and this aspiration. The story went from this powerful one of tragedy and perseverance to one of a community loving this family and making something this ambitious happen.”

Twenty-one days. Eleven people. Three cars.

Ten bikes with lights. With bikes and cars in front of and behind Josh the entire time, it was like a presidential motorcade. And Josh had a personal pit crew; everyone with a specific

job in caring for Josh and his bike along the way — from making sure his skin was covered to helping him on and off the bike.

“It was quite the sight to see,” Mike said.

“When we would stop for a break, there would be a team hovered around Josh, doing their assigned job to care for him and his bike. I’ll never forget that sight.”

As for Hubbard’s team, it was a team of one and whoever was willing to drive him.

There was constant planning and decision making. He managed five cameras, a drone, GoPros, and microphones. At the end of an exhausting day, he was making a plan and preparing for the next one.

“The neuromuscular fatigue was very real,” Hubbard said. “But it was also fun and energizing. It was moving. I left my family for three weeks to work, unpaid. That’s how BIKE ARKANSAS issue no. 22 | 27

COMMUNITY CARES: The cycling community didn’t hesitate to support Josh.

much I believed in this story and its potential, Josh,” Mike said. “But it’s more than that. We really greases Hubbard’s chains is the posand I never regretted it.” don’t just want Josh to get better. We want the sibility that his work will inspire, challenge This is a story that challenges the traditional process of him getting better to help folks and mobilize people. way we define what “quality of life” really who are struggling, or are impaired. To help As of late April, Hubbard was continuing means. It’s about family. How in a family, them overcome it.” his efforts to raise money to get “Paramount: what affects one, affects all. The same could The hope of any filmmaker is that people The All In For Josh Miracle Story” produced be said of a community. The cycling comwill see their work. The reality is that a story and distributed. With hours (and hours and munity continues to be a group that shows is only effective if people are willing to listen hours) of film, the work of putting it all toup and bands together. It has proven that to its message. As a visual storyteller, what gether still lies ahead. it is willing to go to great lengths to “This story is lightning in a bottle,” help, love and broaden itself to allow Hubbard said. “It’s about helping, hope, more people to be a part of it. Josh’s community, tragedy, faith, perseverance, “This story is lightning in a bottle. It’s about sacrifice, love, overcoming. The journey recovery also challenges commonly held beliefs about TBI healing, a is the framework we hang the story helping, hope, community, tragedy, faith, message that has the potential to on. It’s ready to be unleashed. It hasn’t perseverance, sacrifice, love, overcoming ... been an easy process, but I’ve never extend well beyond Josh and the cycling community. taken that as a sign that it shouldn’t I continue to believe in the message “The phrase ‘All in for Josh’ makes be done. I continue to believe in the it easy to assume that it’s all about message of this story.” of this story.” — Garrett Hubbard 28 | BIKE ARKANSAS may 2022

If you’re big on cycling, you’re big on little rock.

This ad is paid for with a combination of state funds and regional Heart of Arkansas funds.

River mountain Park BIKE ARKANSAS issue no. 22 | 29

30 | BIKE ARKANSAS may 2022

How to best spend two weeks mountain biking The Natural State.

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY

By Bob Robinson

ROAD

TRIP! L

KAI CADDY

oad up the bike and hit the road for a two-week adventure shredding singletrack across Arkansas.

With only two weeks, you won’t have time to hit all of them — but it will be fun trying.

Begin this rambunctious undertaking in the state’s southern portion on the Iron Mountain Trails, near Arkadelphia. Dave Renko of Progressive Trail Design called me recently to say his company had added 10 miles of new trail that was “fast, both up and downhill.”

With camping and lodging within riding distance of what is now 30 miles of trails, this is an ideal cycling destination.

Once camp is set up, pop in your earbuds and roll out onto the latest addition to the trail system, Joe’s Garage, named for a Frank Zappa tune. Fred Phillips, the trails’ designer, named the Iron Mountain trails after some of his favorite classic rock songs.

As advertised, this sweet, flowy singletrack was not too steep or too techie. A great trail to get your mountain bike buzz on.

CARVING IT UP: Fayetteville’s Centennial Park provides 20 miles of trails atop Millsap Mountain.

BIKE ARKANSAS issue no. 22 | 31

THE BIRTHPLACE: Devil’s Den State Park is where Arkansas mountain biking began.

Then feed this buzz by rolling onto White Zone with fantastic views across the blue waters of DeGray Lake. Knock out Clockwork Orange and the other trails located on the north side of Skyline Drive to complete the first day’s adventure.

Day two starts on the south side of Skyline Drive. These trails are either blasting downhill or grinding it out uphill. Jolly Green Giant drops riders to the bottom of the dam with a 500-foot descent. Then Yellow Snow takes you about 200 feet up an adjoining mountain to circle back around to climb back up Giant.

Ride these trails counterclockwise. It makes for some fast, fun downhill and the climbs 32 | BIKE ARKANSAS may 2022

work better.

Pedal back to camp to grab some calories and treat yourself to a quick nap in the hammock, then load up the bikes for a 30-mile drive to the Northwoods Trail System in Hot Springs.

Park at the old waterworks plant, where the pumphouse building is looking good after getting a coat of bright colors as part of the 2021 OZ Art mural project. Head out on the east trail system first. These nice, easy paths flow gently across the mountainside through dense pine forest.

The west trails include some real gems — as in black diamonds.

Work your way to Bluejay. This is an inter-

mediate/difficult downhill with plenty of double jumps and high-earthen banked-sharp turns.

If this is to your liking and you’re interested in supersizing it, head back up the mountain to Lucky 13. This is a true black diamond, with plenty of tabletops, gaps and step-ups with big air opportunities for some styling.

Interested in a second helping of the meaty features on Lucky 13? Peel off early for a short hike back up a social trail for repeats, avoiding the long ride from the bottom.

If you’re up for more miles, hop on one of the connector trails that hook up with Cedar Glades Trails for another 10 miles of old-school trails.

News and Politics • Culture • Food • History • Cannabiz • Travel

WWW.ARKTIMES.COM

ARKANSAS TIMES

DO YOU HAVE A BIKE CITY IN THE HEART BIKE NEWS? OF AMERICA WANT TO Fayetteville becomes the first U.S. cityADVERTISE? to earn this international designation.

INTERESTED IN Fayetteville is currently the only UCI designated Bike City in the U.S. SPONSORSHIP 5. Promotion of road safety friendly cities and/or regions that are 6. Organization of mass participation excellent locations for bike tourism.

OPPORTUNITIES? and closed road events

In 2021 Fayetteville, Arkansas became the first city in the United States to be designated by the UCI as a Bike City. This designation recognizes cities and regions that not only host cycling events but also demonstrate outstanding commitment to cycling for all.

The UCI Bike City designation is awarded based on two key pillars and 8 criteria: PILLAR 1: Hosting UCI events (World Championships / World Cups) PILLAR 2: Investing in Cycling for All in these 8 ways: 1. A clear, long-term cycling strategy 2 Dedicated funding for the promotion of cycling in the city or region 3. Better infrastructure for bikes 4. Increase in cycle usage

7. Provision of child cycle training 8. Measurement and monitoring of progress

CONTACT Fayetteville BROOKE WALLACE AT:is proud of our designation as a Bike City. But we are even more proud to share our bike culture with BROOKE@ARKTIMES.COM visitors. So while you’re here, hop on a bike and enjoy all the hospitality that @BIKEARMAG Fayetteville has to offer!

The aim of the UCI Bike City label is threefold: • To reward cities and/or regions that invest in cycling in all its forms; • To build long-term relationships between the UCI and different cities and/or regions, supporting them in their strategies for cycle use; • To inform the wider public about bike

BIKE ARKANSAS issue no. 22 | 33

PRIME TRAILS: Mount Nebo offers something for everyone from the youngest shredder to history buffs.

MOVING ON

For day three, we are on the road again to Little Rock for a doubleheader on River Mountain Trail and Pinnacle Mountain State Park.

River Mountain is constructed on a mountain overlooking the confluence of the Little Maumelle and Arkansas rivers. At just less than 10 miles, it offers a fun assortment of trails.

Riders can pump up the adrenaline factor with a run down the rocky, techie Narrows or schedule some airtime on Gravity Falls.

A short 8-mile drive links up with another 14 34 | BIKE ARKANSAS may 2022

miles of trail at Pinnacle Mountain State Park.

This is one of four trail systems constructed as part of the state’s Monument Trails project.

Start your ride at the visitor center parking area. Head out on Jackfork, then grab some Dynamite for a techie, rocky run, around an abandoned rock quarry and scenic river views.

Pinnacle includes a pair of fast downhill-only trails: Glade Runner and Turkey Tracks.

They are sprinkled with rock gardens, jumps and drops. The Pinnacle trails have an “old school” feel to them, honoring the state park’s

request to retain the flavor of the original trails in the park.

Finish out the day driving to the next stop, Mount Nebo State Park. Reserve a campsite or one of the 1930s-era rustic Civilian Conservation Corps-constructed cabins for a couple of nights. You’ll want time to fully appreciate these 25 miles of prime mountain bike trails.

Roll out of bed predawn to jump on the strider-friendly Three-C’s Trail for the view of first sun at Sunrise Point. Follow Sunset

IRON MOUNTAIN: These trails near Arkadelphia offer lots of variety.

Connector to reach a pair of trails that circumnavigate the mountain. Bench Trail is 3 miles on an old wagon road, and Miller’s Goat Trail is 5 miles of singletrack that weaves through boulders and pine forest.

After riding one or both of these trails, drop down the Chickalah Loop Trail. Literally. Two miles of downhill loaded with expert drops, jumps and gaps. The features are well marked with ride arounds, so riders of almost all skill level will love this downhill thrill ride.

The area’s interesting history is document-

ed at the visitor center and kiosks. Take the remainder of the day to enjoy the park’s rich past, then enjoy a moment of zen at the end of the day at Sunset Point.

Begin the next day shredding the trails on the mountain’s opposite side. Two-mile-long Hayes Creek Run is steeper than Chickalah, with sharper turns and rocky sections. Plus, Ox Pull is a much more strenuous grind out.

Enjoy the remainder of the trails across the mountain, and a few repeats on your favorite rides, then pack up for the next stop, Devil’s

Den State Park.

Devil’s Den is recognized as the birthplace of mountain biking in Arkansas. It is also home to the most recently constructed Monument trail.

These 19 miles of singletrack route riders behind waterfalls, through tight rocky crevices, along sheer bluff lines, and past other unique natural features not normally explored from a bicycle.

The majority of these trails are rated intermediate so most cyclists will find them BIKE ARKANSAS issue no. 22 | 35

THUNDER DOME: Bentonville’s Coler MTB Preserve features a dual slalom course for head-to-head battles.

fun and challenging. Even the mile-long descent on the park’s lone black diamond offers alternative B-lines around the more challenging drops and jumps.

After a long day of cycling bliss, load up once again for a short drive up I-49 for 20 miles of sweet trails atop Millsap Mountain at Centennial Park in Fayetteville.

These are some of the best groomed, professionally constructed trails in the state, peppered with countless purpose-built challenging features. The expertly designed earthen berms on Learner’s Permit are perfect. And many skilled riders have traveled to the park for the challenging gravity trails like Redrum.

At the end of the day, it’s on to another colorful, entertaining city — Eureka Springs.

36 | BIKE ARKANSAS may 2022

With two mountain bike systems, plan for a double-night stay.

The Passion Play Trail system was constructed on hillsides surrounding the outdoor amphitheater where The Great Passion Play is performed. The 11 miles of trails that comprise what’s known as “Beginner’s Full Tour” is a great place to start your ride. Nothing techie, mainly sweet flow to get your legs warmed up.

This loop passes several intermediate-rated trails riders can drop into. Even though these trails have steeper descents, all the features have ride-arounds. The intermediates lead to several downhill-only, high-adrenaline black diamond trails.

Your next stop is Lake Leatherwood DH, just outside of town. You want to be fresh —

physically and mentally — for these challenging trails, so take the remainder of the day off.

Lake Leatherwood features seven downhill-only trails. They average about a 500-foot descent and are just under a mile in distance.

The frosting on this mountain bike treat is the Ozark-style gondola shuttle back to the top.

THE HOME STRETCH

It is difficult to say goodbye to the Eureka Springs trails. However, you will get over them like a teenager leaving his high school sweetheart behind when heading off to college. That’s because you are heading to the Mountain Bike Capital of the World.

Begin your Northwest Arkansas Adventure on the Back 40 Trails, located in Bella Vista.

Plan ahead to score a campsite at the trailhead in Blowing Springs RV Park. This 50-mile trail system races through deep tree-filled hollows, up and over a ridgetop, then drops into the next drainage.

Back 40 Loop encircles the entire trail network. Like spokes on a wheel, there are fun interconnecting trails crisscrossing the middle. Trails like Flo Ride and SBAT are loaded with short, punchy climbs, rollers, rock gardens and small kicker jumps.

On the following day, jump onto Little Sugar Trails — which adjoins Back 40 — to explore another 50 miles of singletrack. The trails are a little wider than those at Back 40, and more vertical per mile, at 1,500 feet of ascent per 10 miles. This makes for some long sweet-flowing descents peppered with tons of fun jumps, drops and other optional features woven in. As with Back 40 Loop, Tunnel Vision Trail encircles this entire network of trails with interconnecting trails crossing the middle.

After completing your time at Bella Vista, head over to Coler Preserve in Bentonville — 20 miles of some of the most diverse trails in the state.

Start your adventure from the main parking area on the mountain’s west side. Pedal up Oscar to get this party started at The Hub. This is a beautiful steel and wood ramp, elevating riders 13 feet above the ground, then launching them headlong down one of two steep ramps into a buffet of exciting downhill runs.

Fireline is pretty much a downhill pump track. Rock Solid is a fast and furious slab fest of adrenaline-feeding frenzy. Cease and Desist includes a 12-foot drop sending you sailing over riders on an alternate trail below.

Before leaving Coler, enjoy a head-to-head matchup against your buds on a downhill dual-slalom, Thunder Dome.

On the final day of the MTB road trip, roll your knobbies onto Slaughter Pen Trails.

A trail app like MTB Project is a must to follow the smorgasbord of trails branching off the core Slaughter Pen network. Most of these small pocket parks are beginner/ intermediate trails, but they also include challenging black diamonds.

Begin the ride in bike-friendly downtown Bentonville on All American Trail. Peel off onto Rocking Horse for some fun short rides before continuing to experience some flowzone on Ozone, Angus Chute, the new Medieval, Medusa and many others.

Continue around to where it all began in 2007 with Phase I trails. Even though these were the first trails constructed, they have experienced numerous upgrades and enhancements over the years. The full list of fun trails at Slaughter Pen could fill this article, so just hit them all.

I know some great trails were left out of this road trip. Two weeks just isn’t enough time to ride them all. But there’s always tomorrow.

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BIKE ARKANSAS issue no. 22 | 37

UP TO SOMETHING...

Rad

We’re up to something totally rad in North Little Rock, Arkansas!

Our new pump We’re We’re up up to to something something totally totally rad rad in in North North Little Little Rock, Rock, Arkansas!

Arkansas! Our Our new new pump pump track (pictured above) is the first phase of Big Rock Quarry Bike Park, which will track track (pictured (pictured above) above) is is the the first first phase phase of of Big Big Rock Rock Quarry Quarry Bike Bike Park, Park, which which will will include downhill downhill mountain mountain bike bike trails, trails, cross-country cross-country mountain mountain bike bike skills skills trails, trails, include include downhill mountain bike trails, cross-country mountain bike skills trails, asphalt flow flow trails and and bicycle playground. playground. Surrounded by by majestic 200-foot 200-foot asphalt asphalt flow trails trails and bicycle bicycle playground. Surrounded Surrounded by majestic majestic 200-foot bluffs of of Emerald Emerald Park, Park, the the bike bike park park is is easily easily accessible accessible from from the the scenic scenic 1515bluffs bluffs of Emerald Park, the bike park is easily accessible from the scenic 15mile Arkansas Arkansas River River Trail.

Trail. Next Next to to Emerald Emerald Park, Park, our our 1,700-acre 1,700-acre Burns Burns Park Park has has mile mile Arkansas River Trail. Next to Emerald Park, our 1,700-acre Burns Park has 4.6 miles miles of five five paved trails trails and 12.5 12.5 miles of of unpaved trails. trails. All of of this is is within 4.6 4.6 miles of of five paved paved trails and and 12.5 miles miles of unpaved unpaved trails. All All of this this is within within a few miles of breweries, restaurants and entertainment in North Little Rock. a few miles of breweries, restaurants and entertainment in North Little a few miles of breweries, restaurants and entertainment in North Little Rock.

Rock.

Your Plan Plan Your Visit Visit > > NorthLittleRock.org NorthLittleRock.org @exploreNLR @exploreNLR

Left Left to to Right: Right: Outdoor Outdoor dining dining on on Main Main Street Street during during Argenta Argenta Dogtown Dogtown Throwdown, Throwdown, live live music music Left to Right: Outdoor dining on Main Street during Argenta Dogtown Throwdown, live music Ad paid Ad paid Ad paid 38 | BIKE ARKANSAS may 2022

at at Four Four Quarter Quarter Bar, Bar, salmon salmon dish dish at at Brood Brood & & Barley Barley at Quarter Bar, salmon dish of at Arkansas Brood & Barley forFour in part part by state state and Heart Heart funds. for in by and of Arkansas funds. for in part by state and Heart of Arkansas funds.

THREE HOT SPOTS FOR CYCLING IN NORTH LITTLE ROCK We’re up to something totally rad in North Little Rock, Arkansas!

1. For thrill-seekers: Big Rock Quarry Bike Park is the newest addition to North Little Rock’s cycling scene, with its first phase opening in 2021 with a pump track. The bike park will eventually include downhill mountain bike trails, cross-country mountain bike skills trails, asphalt flow trails and a bicycle playground. The bike park has a convenient free parking lot and is within a short distance of the Arkansas River Trail.

2. For long distance cyclists: The scenic 15-mile Arkansas River Trail flows between the cities of North Little Rock and Little Rock, crossing pedestrian bridges like the iconic Big Dam Bridge and the Clinton Presidential Bridge. The trail is mostly paved and relatively flat with several access points. Free parking is available at the Big Dam Bridge and North Little Rock’s Riverfront Park.

3. For the mountain bikers: Burns Park has several unpaved trails as well as Emerald Park, where you can get breathtaking views from the bluffs. Camp Robinson, home to the Army National Guard, is known as the crown jewel of the region for containing some of the best and most varied rides in central Arkansas.

Because it is a military base, photo ID and purchase of a visitors pass are necessary but well worth it for access to 30 miles of beginner to advanced trails.

Plan Your Visit > NorthLittleRock.org @exploreNLR

BIKE ARKANSAS issue no. 22 | 39

EVENTS WALMART JOE MARTIN STAGE RACE MAY 19-22 Fayetteville A four-day, four-stage professional men’s and women’s race that’s part of the USA Cycling Pro Racing Tour and the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) America Tour. Cyclists from all around the world are expected. The event also includes a two-day, three-stage amateur race. Visit joemartinstagerace.com for details.

Have an event you’d like to include in a future Bike Arkansas? Email editor Kai Caddy at kaicaddy@gmail.com.

AVOCA G&R SERIES MAY 25 $20 Avoca Second race in the Avoca Gravel and Road race series. The gravel course is a 15-mile loop that begins with a neutral 1-mile rollout from the Town Office Building. The loop is a mix of road and gravel. Register at bikereg.com/avoca-gr-race-series-2.

6.1-mile loop. Register at bikereg.com/ avoca-gr-race-series-3.

TOUR DE BBQ JUNE 4 $30-$80 Lewis and Clark Outfitters, Bentonville Event features distances of 7, 30 and 50 miles with barbecue rest stops on the Razorback Regional Greenway trail. Proceeds benefit the Kendrick Fincher Hydration for Life Foundation. Register at app.regwiz.io/ register/tourdebbq/906.

ARKANSAS ENDURO SERIES MAY 28-29 $90-$140 Eureka Springs Two-day enduro event featuring up to seven stages each day. More details at arkansasenduroseries.com.

AVOCA G&R SERIES JUNE 8 $20 Avoca Fourth race in the Avoca Gravel and Road race series. The gravel course is a 15-mile loop that begins with a neutral 1-mile rollout from the Town Office Building. The loop is a mix of road and gravel. Register at www. bikereg.com/avoca-gr-race-series-4.

AVOCA G&R SERIES JUNE 1 $20 Avoca Third race in the Avoca Gravel and Road race series. The road course is a

PEDALS FOR COMPASSION JUNE 11 $45 Magnolia Ride benefitting Compassion’s Foundation domestic violence shelter. Four ride options ranging from 15-100 miles. Visit bikereg.com/pedals-for-compassion for more information.

KAI CADDY

RULE OF THREE MAY 19-22 $65 Bentonville A unique race in Northwest Arkansas combining tarmac, gravel and singletrack.

There are 50-mile and 100-mile options.

The race can be done solo or in teams of three. Registration is sold out, but a waiting list is available here: bikereg.com/rule-ofthree. More information about the race can be found at ruleofthree.bike.

BECAUSE OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, DATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. CHECK ONLINE BEFORE MAKING PLANS.

CAPITOL CRITS JUNE 26

Little Rock A day of criterium racing around the state capitol grounds presented

by Central Arkansas Velo. Visit.facebook.com/Central-Arkansas-VeloCARVE-189839401030919 for more information.

40 | BIKE ARKANSAS may 2022

ARKANSAS ENDURO SERIES JUNE 12 $70-$100 Mt. Nebo State Park, Dardanelle Second round of the series, a one-day enduro event featuring up to seven stages and around 20 miles of riding. More details at arkansasenduroseries.com.

AVOCA G&R SERIES JUNE 15 $20 Avoca Fifth race in the Avoca Gravel and Road race series. The road course is a 6.1-mile

BIKE ARKANSAS issue no. 22 | 41

loop. Register at bikereg.com/avoca-gr-race-series-5.

TRUE GRIT RIDE JUNE 18 $55 Fort Smith Fundraiser to provide food for at-risk children. Route options of 30, 45, 62 and 100 miles. Visit bikereg.com/true-gritride to register.

IRON PIG TIME TRIAL JUNE 18 $40 Fayetteville The Iron Pig Time Trial is part of a fourevent festival featuring a duathlon, 5K run, 1 mile fun run and a time trial. The time trial course is an out-and-back course on flat to slightly rolling terrain. Visit bikereg. com/iron-pig-time-trial to register.

BIKE SCHOOL BENTONVILLE KIDS 5-DAY SUMMER CAMP JUNE 20-24 $350 Bentonville A camp for children ages 7-13 for a week in Bentonville to progress their mountain bike skills. The camp will feature endurance and jumping groups and three levels of riders. Visit bikereg.com/bike-schoolbentonville-kids-5-day-summer-camp-1 to register.

AVOCA G&R SERIES JUNE 22 $20 Avoca Final race in the Avoca Gravel and Road race series. The gravel course is a 15-mile loop that begins with a neutral 1-mile rollout from the Town Office Building.

The loop is a mix of road and gravel.

Register at bikereg.com/avoca-gr-race-series-6.

HIGHLANDS GRAVEL CLASSIC JUNE 25 $80-$90 Elkins The first qualifier in the U.S. for the inaugural Trek UCI Gravel World Series.

Selection to the world championships will be per age group and gender. The race will feature 52- and 70-mile courses. The 70-mile course is for males (19-59) and females (19-49). The 52-mile course is for males 60+ and females 50+. Registration is available at runsignup.com/Race/Info/ AR/Elkins/HighlandsGravelClassic.

BIG BEAR BICYCLE BATTLE WEDNESDAYS, JUNE 29-JULY 20 $20 Conway Four-race criterium series on the campus of UCA. Visit bikereg.com/big-bear-bicycle-battle to register.

BIKE SCHOOL BENTONVILLE KIDS 5-DAY SUMMER CAMP JULY 11-15 $350 Bentonville A camp for children ages 7-13 for a week in Bentonville to work on their mountain bike skills. The camp will feature endurance and jumping groups and three levels of riders. Visit bikereg.com/bikeschool-bentonville-kids-5-day-summercamp-2-2022 to register.

WAMPOO ROADEO JULY 16 $15 All Souls Church, Scott A flat road ride with 28-, 40- and 62-mile routes to benefit the Marilyn Fulper Fund.

Visit bikereg.com/wampoo-roadeo for more information and to register.

CUSTOM CYCLING CLOTHING - MTB TRAIL JERSEYS AND TECH-T’S - CUSTOM KITS FOR XC, GRAVEL, AND ROAD. CLUB FIT, PRO FIT, AND HIGHER END OPTIONS. - GLOVES, HATS, HEADBANDS, & MORE - TAILORED TO SHRED FLOBIKEWEAR.COM BRENT@FLOBIKEWEAR.COM BENTONVILLE, AR (EST. 2017)

KESSLER MOUNTAIN JAM AUG. 6 $20-$40 Fayetteville Arkansas Mountain Bike Championship Series cross country mountain bike held at Kessler Mountain Regional Park. Register at bikereg.com/iron-mountain-xc-2022.

FLINT CREEK ENDURANCE GRINDURO AUG. 6 $35-$50 Siloam Springs Self-sufficient gravel race with distances of 25 and 50 miles leaving from Siloam Springs and venturing into eastern Oklahoma. Visit flintcreekendurance.com for more information.

TOUR DE TACOS SEPT. 10 $35-$45 Northwest Arkansas Ride benefitting Kendrick Fincher Hydration for Life featuring taco stops along the route. More info and registration can be found at app.regwiz.io/register/tourdetacos/905.

WOMEN OF OZ SUNSET SUMMIT SEPT. 16-17 Bentonville This mountain bike conference will bring together 300 women from across the country to learn, ride and be inspired through mountain biking and lifestyle related activities. Attendees will hear from nationally recognized coaches and influencers from around the country and learn technical skills on the bike as well as how mountain biking can be the community connector for your home town.

Registration opened April 1. For more information, visit woznwa.com.

MUSIC. EVENTS. ART. CLASSES. TOURS. ALL AVAILABLE HERE:

centralarkansastickets.com

ARKANSAS TIMES 42 | BIKE ARKANSAS may 2022

OFF-ROAD ADVENTURE, ON THE BEATEN PATH Right off the trails in the heart of downtown Bentonville, 21c Museum Hotel merges art and nature for a cycling getaway that is anything but ordinary. Enjoy complimentary bike valet and storage.

21cBentonville.com | TheHiveBentonville.com Follow us @21cBentonville and @TheHiveBentonville

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BIKE ARKANSAS issue no. 22 | 43

RIVER CLASSIC SEPT. 17 $40 Little Rock All funds raised in this event go toward YoungLife’s ministry efforts with teenagers in underserved communities south of I-630. The ride offers routes of 20, 40, 55 and 64 miles. Visit theriverclassic.com for more information.

BIG DAM BRIDGE 100 SEPT. 24 $40-$110 Little Rock The Big Dam Bridge 100 is an annual event in Central Arkansas that celebrates the “Big Dam Bridge” over the Arkansas River.

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. Visit www.thebigdambridge100.com for more information.

ARKANSAW HIGH COUNTRY RACE OCT. 8 $100 Hot Springs Self-supported endurance bikepacking race that traverses the 1,000-mile-plus Arkansas High Country Route. This year’s event will also feature the Short Circuit option, which will race just the southern loop of the route, which is approximately 500 miles.

WHEEL A’ MENA OCT. 8 $50 Mena Bike tour with distance options of 30, 50

and 70 miles through the Ouachita Mountains and along the Talimena Scenic Drive.

Registration opens April 1. Visit wheelamena.com for more information.

TOUR DA DELTA OCT. 8 $20-$60 Helena A ride along the Delta with several distance and surface options: paved routes of 6, 35, 40 and 55 miles and gravel routes of 12, 22 and 35 miles. Registration includes a oneday pass to the King Biscuit Blues Festival and $20 of Blues Bucks. Visit tourdadelta. net for more information.

JOE WEBER ARKY 100 OCT. 9 $35 Sheridan The 51st edition of this tour through Dallas and Grant counties. Distance options are 25, 50, 62 and 100 miles. New for 2022 is a mixed-surface adventure ride through scenic forests and farms. Registration opens on July 11. More information can be found at arkansasbicycleclub.org.

PEDESTAL ROCK AND LICK FORK BICYCLE RIDE OCT. 15 $45-$50 Witt Springs Road ride options of 20, 40, 50 and 62 miles and gravel routes of 15, 30, 50 and 62 miles benefiting work being done by Community Voices, a 501(c)(3) organization, to showcase the beauty of the Authentic Ozarks and strengthen the lives of rural Arkansawyers living in the Boston

Mountains of southwest Searcy County.

Visit wittssprings.org/prlf-welcome-page for more information.

CHINKAPIN HOLLOW GRAVEL GRINDER OCT. 23 $70-$90 Fayetteville Route options of 42, 63 and 109 miles. The event begins at Lake Wedington Recreation Area west of Fayetteville and travels through the woods not normally opened to ride and into western Oklahoma. Registration is available at runsignup.com/Race/ AR/Fayetteville/ChinkapinHollowGravelGrinder.

TOUR DE QUEEN NOV. 5 $40 De Queen With six routes of different lengths, including a new 38-mile gravel and paved combination, riders of all levels will enjoy a scenic trek through the countryside or up by the lake. Routes include a 15-mile, 25-mile, 36-mile, 38-mile, 47-mile ride and a new 100-mile option. Registration opens Sept. 1 at bikereg.com/tourdequeen.

GUDRUN MTB FESTIVAL NOV. 11-13 Hot Springs The fourth-annual three-day mountain bike festival will feature a slow roll, mini-enduro, enduro, jump jam, time trial, dual slalom and the 30th annual Attila the Hun Mountain Bike XC Race.

More information is available at northwoodstrails.org.

NATURAL STATE CRITERIUM SERIES

KAI CADDY

LAST WEDNESDAY OF EACH MONTH, JUNE 29-AUG. 31

44 | BIKE ARKANSAS may 2022

$15-$25 Springdale Three-race criterium series in downtown Springdale. Each race will feature a “first chance” category where new racers will be guided by experienced coaches through the course. Visit bikereg.com/natural-state-criterium-series-springdale to register.

PRO MECHANICS WITH OVER 50 YEARS EXPERIENCE COMBINED SHUTTLE SERVICES AVAILABLE! SCOOTER AND BIKE RENTAL

WE TAKE TRADE-IN BIKES PICK UP AND DELIVER IN-HOUSE FINANCE

ADVERTISEMENT

A BIKE CITY IN THE HEART OF AMERICA Fayetteville becomes the first U.S. city to earn this international designation.

In 2021 Fayetteville, Arkansas became the first city in the United States to be designated by the UCI as a Bike City. This designation recognizes cities and regions that not only host cycling events but also demonstrate outstanding commitment to cycling for all.

Fayetteville joins a distinguished list of cities and regions from around the world – including Copenhagen, Paris, and Glasgow – that have previously received this designation because of their commitment to

Fayetteville is currently the only UCI designated Bike City in the U.S.

developing cycling for all levels, from elite international competitions to the use of bikes for leisure as well as transportation.

Cyclo-cross World Championships, are just some of the reasons the UCI chose to give Fayetteville this designation.

The City of Fayetteville’s commitment to growing it’s bicycle culture through a robust bicycle master plan, strong public investment/support, along with hosting professional events like the Joe Martin Stage Race, UCI Cyclocross World Cup and the 2022 UCI

We are proud of our designation. But we are even more proud to share our bike culture with visitors. So, plan your visit and see why Fayetteville was named the first Bike City in the United States.

BIKE ARKANSAS issue no. 22 | 45

Bike Shops

LITTLE ROCK ARKANSAS CYCLING & FITNESS 315 N. Bowman, Suites 6-9 501-221-BIKE (2453) arkansascycling.com

THE COMMUNITY BICYCLIST 7509 Cantrell Road, Suite 118 501-663-7300 thecommunitybicyclist.com PEDEGO ELECTRIC BIKES 2017 Kavanaugh Blvd.

501-747-1633 pedegoelectricbikes.com ROCK TOWN RIVER OUTFITTERS (RENTAL) Little Maumelle River Boat Launch 501-831-0548 rocktownriveroutfitters.com SHIFT MODERN CYCLERY 1101 W. Markham St. 501-683-8400 shiftmoderncyclery.com SOUTHWEST BIKE SHOP 7121 Baseline Road 501-562-1866 SPOKES GIANT LITTLE ROCK 11525 Cantrell Road, Suite 607 501-508-5566 spokesgiant.com TREK BICYCLE OF LITTLE ROCK 10300 Rodney Parham Road 501-224-7651 trekbikes.com

NORTH LITTLE ROCK ANGRY DAVE’S BICYCLES 3217 John F. Kennedy Blvd.

501-753-4990 angrydavesbicycles.com

RECYCLE BIKES FOR KIDS 717 E. 10th St. 501-563-8264 recyclebikesforkids.org

BENTON HOLY ROLLER UNITED 108 N. East St. 501-672-4110

SHERWOOD ARKANSAS CYCLING & FITNESS 3010 E. Kiehl Ave. 501-834-5787 arkansascycling.com

J&P BIKE SHOP 7910 Hwy. 107 501-835-4814 jandpbikeshop.com

CONWAY THE RIDE 2100 Meadowlake Road, No. 2 501-764-4500 therideonline.net 46 | BIKE ARKANSAS may 2022

HOT SPRINGS HOT SPRINGS BICYCLE TOURING COMPANY 436 Broadway St. 501-276-2175 facebook.com/hotspringsbicycletouringcompany

PARKSIDE CYCLE 719 Whittington Ave. 501-623-6188 parksidecycle.com SPA CITY CYCLING 873 Park Ave. 501-463-9364 spacitycycling.com

SEARCY THE BIKE LANE 2116 W. Beebe-Capps Expressway 501-305-3915 thebikelane.cc

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

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

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

RUSSELLVILLE JACKALOPE CYCLING 103 N. Commerce Ave. 479-890-4950 facebook.com/jackalopecycling

FORT SMITH CHAMPION CYCLING & FITNESS 5500 Massard Road 479-484-7500 championcycling.com

PHAT TIRE BIKE SHOP 1700 Rogers Ave. 479-222-6796 phattirebikeshop.com ROLL ON BMX AND SKATE 1907 Cavanaugh Road 479-974-1235 Rollonbmx.business.site THE WOODSMAN COMPANY 5609 Rogers Ave, Suite D 479-452-3559 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 West Van Buren St. 479-253-0900

FAYETTEVILLE PHAT TIRE BIKE SHOP 3775 N. Mall Ave. 479-966-4308 phattirebikeshop.com

THE BIKE ROUTE 3660 N. Front St., Suite 2 479-966-4050 facebook.com/thebikeroute THE HIGHROLLER CYCLERY 322 W. Spring St. 479-442-9311 highrollercyclery.com

SPRINGDALE LEWIS & CLARK OUTFITTERS 4915 S. Thompson St. 479-756-1344 gooutandplay.com PHAT TIRE BIKE SHOP 101 W. Johnson Ave., Suite B. 479-717-2073 Phattirebikeshop.com

ROGERS BEAVER LAKE OUTDOOR CENTER (RENTALS) 14434 E. State Hwy. 12 479-877-4984 beaverlakeoutdoorcenter.com LEWIS & CLARK OUTFITTERS 2530 Pinnacle Hills Parkway 479-845-1344 lewisandclarkoutfitters.com PHAT TIRE BIKE SHOP 321 S. Arkansas St. 479-899-6188 phattirebikeshop.com THE HIGHROLLER CYCLERY 402 S. Metro Parkway 479-254-9800 highrollercyclery.com

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

BIKE SHOP JOE’S 1206 SE Moberly Lane, Suite 6 479-709-2242 bikeshopjoes.com BUDDY PEGS FAMILY BICYCLE HQ 3605 NW Wishing Springs Road 479-268-4030 buggypegs.com CUSTOM CRUZERS PREMIUM E-BIKES 10636 Hwy. 72 W., Suite 102 479-367-4694 facebook.com/customcruzersnwa THE HUB BIKE LOUNGE 410 SW A St., Suite 2 479-364-0394 thehubbikelounge.com THE METEOR 401 SE D St. 479-268-4747 meteorbikes.com 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 STRIDER BIKES 109 N. Main St. 479-367-2335 facebook.com/StriderStoreBentonville

BELLA VISTA PHAT TIRE BIKE SHOP 3803 NW Wishing Springs Drive 479-268-3800 phattirebikeshop.com

BICYCLE REPAIR & SERVICE ONLY OZARK BICYCLE SERVICE W. Deane St., Fayetteville 479-715-1496 ozarkbicycleservice.business.site REVOLUTION MOBILE BIKE REPAIR 512-968-7600 revrepair.com

GUIDES/SHUTTLE SERVICES OZARK BIKE GUIDES, LLC 479-644-8893 ozarkbikeguides.com

CUSTOM JERSEYS FLO BIKEWEAR 901-896-5979

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Fayetteville, AR 479.442.8200 adventuresubaru.com 48 | BIKE ARKANSAS may 2022