Bike Arkansas

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NOVEMBER 2021 ISSUE NO. 20 BIKEARKANSASMEDIA.COM

WORLD STAGE

FAYETTEVILLE HOSTS WORLD CYCLOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIPS

LECHUGA BECOMES FIRST WOMAN TO WIN ARKANSAW HIGH COUNTRY RACE BIKEPOC FOCUSES ON INCLUSIVITY

BEST WEEKEND GETAWAY, BEST RESORT

more than just fish.

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 november 2021

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BIKE ARKANSAS issue no. 20 | 3

IN THIS ISSUE PAGE 16

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Plans for NLR pump track revealed, Hot Springs' Parker caps season at MTB Worlds, Güdrun — Northwoods Mountain Bike Festival set for third year.

A pair of local organizations aim to stoke the cyclocross flames for all levels of racers in the state.

By Kai Caddy

Grab the perfect gift for the cyclist on your list this season (or maybe find something for yourself).

BRAKING NEWS

10

MY KIT

Young American cyclocross racer Lance Haidet shows off his muddy new Specialized Crux.

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FAYETTEVILLE WELCOMES THE WORLD

The eyes of the cycling world will turn to Fayetteville on Jan. 28-30 as the city hosts the UCI Cyclocross World Championships.

By Kai Caddy

GRASSROOTS ’CROSS

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CYCLING FOR ALL

BIkePOC's mission is to make cycling a place where everyone feels they belong. By Lindsay Southwick

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EVERY ISSUE

36 EVENTS 38 BIKE SHOPS

THE QUEEN OF THE HIGH COUNTRY

Scottie Lechuga of Springdale becomes the first woman to win the grueling Arkansaw High Country Race. By Kai Caddy

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GIVE THE HIGH COUNTRY A TRY

A guide to tackling the Arkansas High Country Route for yourself.

By Bob Robinson 4 | BIKE ARKANSAS november 2021

GIFTS GALORE

ON THE COVER Reigning women's cyclocross world champion Lucinda Brand of the Netherlands won the UCI World Cup race in Fayetteville in October. She will return in January to try to hang on to the rainbow stripes.

Photo by Kai Caddy

240 Miles of Trails NORTHWOODS TRAILS

Hot Springs north and west of Park Avenue

26+ Miles

OUACHITA NATIONAL RECREATION TRAIL (IMBA Epic Ride) North of Hot Springs through north of Mena

108 Miles

250+Miles Miles Trails 240 ofof Trails NORTHWOODS IRON MOUNTAIN TRAILS

TRAIL Hot Springs north and DeGray Lake/Caddo west of Park Avenue Valley

26+ Miles 32 0+Miles

OUACHITA NATIONAL RECREATION TRAIL WOMBLE TRAIL (IMBA Epic Ride)

(IMBA Epic Ride) North of Hot Springs Near Mount Ida, through north of Mena west of Hot Springs

108 Miles 37 Miles

IRON LAKEMOUNTAIN OUACHITA TRAIL VISTA TRAIL (LOViT)

DeGray (IMBA Lake/Caddo Epic Ride)Valley

Southern 32 Milesshore of Lake Ouachita

WOMBLE TRAIL (IMBA Epic Ride) Near Mount Ida, west of Hot Springs

37 Miles

45 Miles LAKE OUACHITA VISTA TRAIL (LOViT) (IMBA Epic Ride) Southern shore of Lake Ouachita

45 Miles

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

BIKE ARKANSAS issue no. 20 | 5

M A G A Z I N E

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BIKEARKANSASMEDIA.COM FOLLOW US FOR MORE BIKE

OUR MISSION

Our mission is to support cycling in Central Arkansas through advocacy, cyclist development and event hosting.

OUR HISTORY

With beginnings as a road race team in early 2001, Central Arkansas Velo soon developed a two-tiered structure of racers and recreational riders.

Over time CARVE has evolved to encompass multiple disciplines of racing at all levels, organizing and hosting races locally, and advocacy work while continuing to have an active population of recreational riders.

OUR GOALS

• Support advocacy initiatives in areas such as cycling related public policy and infrastructure, environmental impact of events, and public relations • Support cyclists in their development to become the most capable participants in their favorite discipline, such as fun rides, Gran Fondos, amateur races, gravel grinders, etc.

• Produce well organized events

www.centralarvelo.org

A not-for-profit cycling organization in Central Arkansas

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

Live Your Adventure

WELDON WILSON Production Manager/Controller ROLAND R. GLADDEN Advertising Traffic Manager KATIE HASSELL Graphic Design/Social Media

N OW T WO LOCATIONS TO BET TER SERVE YOU!

ROBERT CURFMAN IT Director CHARLOTTE KEY Billing/Collections JACKSON GLADDEN Circulation Director

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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 © 2021 Bike Arkansas Magazine

Contributors

LINDSAY SOUTHWICK is a freelance

writer who loves anything that gets her outside and is even known to occasionally summit tall peaks. Proving you can teach an old dog new tricks, she began mountain biking 18 months ago and can almost keep up with her husband. She lives in Bentonville with her husband and four children who graciously supply her with legions of content to write about.

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BRAKING NEWS

PUMP TRACK COMING TO NLR The city of North Little Rock has crafted an expansive vision for a cycling destination in Big Rock Quarry below Emerald Park and along the Arkansas River Trail.

Plans call for everything adventurous cyclists could want: downhill mountain bike trails, cross country mountain bike skills trails, asphalt flow trails and a bicycle playground. A rendering of the plan also includes a large amphitheater for concerts and events.

Most of the plan is just in the concept phase, according to Shara Brazear, director of communications for the city of North Little Rock. City leaders are actively pursuing grants and private support.

But one thing cyclists can definitely look forward to in 2022 is an asphalt pump track, which is under construction.

A pump track is a loop of small hills or rollers and berms designed so cyclists can ride it with minimal or no pedaling.

The “pump” part of the name refers to the motion that riders use with their handlebars to propel themselves around the track without pedaling.

North Little Rock was inspired by The Runway Bike Park at The Jones Center in Springdale. Runway hosted the Red Bull UCI Pump Track World Championships in May and in 2018.

The city of North Little Rock is spending $450,000 of American Rescue Plan money and another $50,000 on a small parking lot. American Ramp Company is building the track and Velosolutions is handling the asphalt.

Brazear said the project would require only minimal tree removal and would take advantage of the contours of the quarry.

The pump track will be fun for all ages and all skill levels, she pointed out. The city is always looking to expand free attractions for residents and visitors, she said.

PARKER RACES IN MOUNTAIN BIKE WORLDS

In August Cayden Parker of Hot Springs was one of six American junior men to compete in the cross country races at the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships at Val di Sole in Trentino, Italy.

Parker, 17, ending the season ranked 31st in the world. He finished in the top 10 of seven UCI races, including a pair of podium appearances at the OZ Trails U.S. Pro Cup presented by Experience Fayetteville. He finished third the first weekend of the U.S. Pro Cup and second the following weekend. He also placed fifth in the U.S. National Championship and fourth in the American Continental Championships.

Güdrun — Northwoods Mountain Bike Festival returns for its third year Nov. 12-14 at the Northwoods Trails in Hot Springs. The weekend is jam-packed with something for mountain bikers of all flavors.

Friday’s Slow Roll group ride takes participants through downtown Hot Springs and will end at 420 Eats for the opening night party.

Enduro racing starts Saturday morning.

Racers can choose from a three-stage mini-enduro or the 5-6 stage full enduro.

New this year is a Waffle and Coffee Time Trial powered by Red Light Roastery. That’s followed by the ever-popular Jump Jam. Another new event follows: a slalom.

Sunday will mark the 29th running of the Atilla the Hun cross country race. The race is the series finale for the Arkansas Mountain Bike Championship Series. This year, Trail Advocacy of the Ouachitas has taken over the organization of the race. The TACO crew is promising a spectator-friendly course.

More info can be found at goodrunmtbfest.com.

8 | BIKE ARKANSAS november 2021

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MY KIT PHOTOGRAPHY: KAI CADDY

10 | BIKE ARKANSAS november 2021

While not an Arkansan, as is typical in this feature, Lance Haidet is one of America’s young up-and-coming cyclocross stars. He was in Fayetteville to race the UCI World Cup in October and hopes for a return trip to race for the United States in the World Championships in January. Plus, he was rocking a sweet justreleased Specialized Crux, so we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to feature his bike (in all its muddy glory) in this edition.

NAME: Lance Haidet FROM: San Luis Obispo, California JOB: Professional Cyclist for L39ION of Los Angeles THE BIKE: Specialized S-Works Crux. The new frame is awesome. It’s insanely light coming in at right around 225 grams, which, I mean, for a road bike is frickin’ insane. And for a cross bike, it’s ridiculous.

The ride is amazing. The new geometry is really different from the old Crux so it took a couple days getting used to. But now with my position and everything dialed — I’m stoked on it. It looks amazing. I hope I can make it go fast.

THE GROUPSET: I’m rockin’ full SRAM Red AXS e-tap.

I have a 42 1x chainring with a 10-33 cassette.

THE WHEELS: The DT Swiss CRC 1100 wheels.

They’re pretty bomb proof and super light. And they look so good.

THE TIRE CHOICE FOR A MUDDY COURSE IN FAYETTEVILLE: It’s coming down right now so I’m gonna run the mud tires, the Specialized Terras.

ON THE UCI WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: I did

FayetteCross back in 2019. And then I raced mountain bikes here earlier this year. Racing today, and then hopefully worlds in January, and just seeing how much this park has changed over that timeline is crazy. They’ve been putting in a lot of work. The course, it’s fun. It’s frickin’ dialed. It’s perfect. And just having something that is designed purely for cyclocross, you can really tell a difference.

ON THE REMAINDER OF HIS SEASON: After Iowa we

head to Cincinnati for the last major C1 weekend of the season. And then after that, I’ll actually be heading back to California, racing my team’s Into The Lion’s Den crit. And so that will be super exciting. After that there’s a couple weekends out in Massachusetts that I’ll end up hitting. And then that will kind of go through early November. And then the second half of November, I’ll be home training and focusing for Pan Ams and nationals. Big goal for me this year is nationals and hopefully in prepping for that, if all else goes well, I’ll be in the running for world champs selection.

BIKE ARKANSAS issue no. 20 | 11

GOING DOWN: Fans cheer as riders tackle a steep descent.

12 | BIKE ARKANSAS november 2021

FAYETTEVILLE AWAITS THE WORLD UCI Cyclocross World Championships set for Centennial Park. story and Photography By Kai Caddy

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yclocross racers from all over the world are set to descend on Fayetteville’s Centennial Park Jan. 2830 for the 2022 UCI Cyclocross World Championships.

It’s just the second time the sport’s pinnacle event has been held in the United States.

Rainbow-striped jerseys will be handed out in seven divisions: Elite men and women, Under 23 men and women, junior men and women and, for the first time, a team relay. Three hundred athletes from 25 nations are expected, along with the eyes of an international TV audience of more than 50 million.

“Fans can expect the 2022 Walmart UCI Cyclocross World Championships to include multiple days of international cyclocross racing that showcases the

best cyclists in the world,” said Brannon Pack, cycling coordinator for Experience Fayetteville. “One unique addition announced for next year’s event is an added day of competition that will feature a new cyclocross relay race. This first-time test event will see multiple athletes competing for their home countries in a unique relay-style format — probably without the baton though.”

Pack says the construction of Centennial Park and the leadership of the city and the Walton Family Foundation led to the UCI selecting Fayetteville as the host city for the event. In February 2021, Fayetteville was named a UCI Bike City, the only city in the United States awarded the designation because of its commitment to development of cycling at all levels.

RAINBOW STRIPES: Lucinda Brand will defend the rainbow jersey in January.

BIKE ARKANSAS issue no. 20 | 13

WATCH YOUR STEP: The Centennial Park course features a 38-stair runup.

In October, Fayetteville hosted one of three UCI World Cup races held in the United States this season. It gave racers a chance to preview the course and secure all-important points in hopes for selection to their national team to compete in the championship.

The Dutch dominated the women’s race, placing six riders in the top 10, including current world champion Lucinda Brand, who won the race. American national champ Clara Honsinger finished third, just 12 seconds in front of seven-time world cyclocross champion Marriane Vos. Honsinger is excited for the world championships to be on home soil.

“The race promoters did a fantastic job demonstrating they could put on a top tier event with the World Cup and I am really proud of my podium finish on that course,” Honsinger said. “And with so many of my family and friends coming to Fayetteville, I have a lot of fuel for my fire to give it my best at Worlds.”

It was all Belgian on the men’s side of the World Cup race. Quinten Hermans took the victory, followed by three countrymen.

Four more Belgians rounded out the top 10.

Gage Hecht, the current American national 14 | BIKE ARKANSAS november 2021

champion, was the best-placed American, finishing eighth.

Defending world champion Mathieu van der Poel of the Netherlands and three-time world champion Wout Van Aert of Belgium

“THERE’S NO OTHER cycling discipline that’s more fun to watch than cyclocross!

Heckle, cheer, be loud and obnoxious, hand up donuts, dress up if you want, then grab your bike and enjoy everyone doing the same for you.”

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chose to skip the U.S. World Cups after long road seasons. Both are expected in Fayetteville in January.

A daunting course awaits the racers. Cyclocross courses are known for their obstacles, and Centennial Park has quite the obstacle: a 38-stair runup a man-made mountain.

“I don’t know that I have ever raced anything like it in the US or Europe,” Honsinger said.

“They put a massive amount of work into building it — everything from the giant staircase and hill, to the grass sod on the track. Even though there are not any super technically difficult obstacles, the speed that we race on it makes it quite a challenge.”

The course starts and finishes atop Millsap Mountain, but about half of it dips down into the wooded areas surrounding the mountaintop.

That’s unique for a U.S. cross course. Steady rain on race day in October made what had been a dry, fast course on practice day into a sloppy mudfest.

“I had a lot of fun on the sweeping descent in the woods,” Honsinger said. “With the mud, it became very rutted yet still super fast. There was a fine line between making it deftly around the corner and losing control into the fencing.”

Lance Haidet, an American worlds hopeful racing for L39ION of Los Angeles has seen the park’s progression since 2019 in multiple disciplines.

“I did FayetteCross back in 2019,” Haidet said. “And then I raced mountain bikes here earlier this year. Just seeing how much this park has changed over that timeline is wild.

They’ve been putting in a lot of work on this course. It’s fun. It’s frickin’ dialed. It’s perfect.

And just having something that is designed purely for cyclocross is great.”

Pack says there will be some changes to the course for January.

“October’s UCI Cyclocross World Cup race featured a majority of what will be the 2022 Walmart UCI Cyclocross World Championships course,” he said. “A few course additions are being considered, but we’ll let those be a surprise for the fans.”

He says there will be much more beyond the three days of races to keep fans busy.

“Fans can expect Fayetteville to welcome the world — and be ready to showcase the vibrant community, flavors and vibe that makes Fayetteville, well, Fayetteville,” he said. “One specific opportunity to put on fans’ radar is a welcoming ceremony being planned for Fayetteville’s Historic Downtown and Entertainment District on Thursday evening, Jan. 27. The ceremony will serve as the kickoff to the 2022 Walmart UCI Cyclocross World Championships and be a showcase of the level of international competition we know fans are excited for.”

Pack also encourages fans to bring their bikes.

“While the races themselves will be for athletes that have competed in international cyclocross racing all season long, there is no shortage of riding in and around Fayetteville,” Pack said. “From world-class mountain biking to gravel grinding in the Ozarks, the cycling opportunities are diverse. As an internationally recognized Bike City, cyclists will find Fayetteville’s urban trail system — featuring over 50 miles of protected paved trails — to be a catalyst for daylong cycling adventures.”

Average high temperature in Fayetteville in late January hover around 50 degrees. The average chance of precipitation is around 19%.

Whatever comes, the athletes, especially those who raced in October, will be ready.

“The weather was everything with this course,” Honsinger said. “In dry conditions, it rolls as fast as a road race, which makes it a very tactical race. In the wet, it became all about bike handling and grit. Pre-riding a course is always helpful to get an idea for the layout of the track, but we really need to be ready for any conditions come race day.”

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FOR MORE INFORMATION

Ticket information, travel tips and a schedule of events will be available at cyclocrossfayettevillear2022.com BIKE ARKANSAS issue no. 20 | 15

BUNNY HOP: Adam Moore of the SHAM Squad clears an obstacle.

’CROSS FOR THE REST OF US

Grassroots organizations build community through cyclocross. story and Photography By Kai Caddy

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nly the world’s elite cyclocross racers will get to tackle the UCI World Championships in Fayetteville this January, but two local groups are making sure there’s plenty of ’cross action for races of all levels to compete in.

SHAM Events of Hot Springs organizes two cyclocross races a year, including this year’s Arkansas state cyclocross championship Nov. 6 in Little Rock’s War Memorial Park. New this year is Breakaway Cycling’s ALL Cross.

ALL Cross races will be Nov. 13 at Centennial Park in Fayetteville, Nov. 20 at Runway Bike Park in Springdale, Dec. 4 at the Rogers Railyard Bike Park and Jan. 8 at the Ironhead property in Bentonville.

SHAM was started by Stephen Harrison and Adam Moore. Paul Alexander of Little Rock has joined the SHAM squad as a racer 16 | BIKE ARKANSAS november 2021

and promoter and will design the state championship course.

Harrison and Moore are longtime cyclocross fans and in 2017 set out to grow ’cross and gravel scene in Central Arkansas.

“There were no USAC-sanctioned races in Central Arkansas at the time,” Harrison said.

“We love our Hot Springs community, and we wanted to build the cycling community here.

So we figured the best way to do that was to start making events we’d like to race. That fall, we had our first cyclocross race and were shocked to have a couple dozen people show.

That winter we promoted two gravel events: the first edition of the Ouachita Gravel Grind, and the only edition of the Winona Grynder and were also blown away by the turnout on two horrible weather days.”

After that first SHAM race in 2017, Alex-

ander joined the crew and took over Little Rock’s Cross Boss series in 2018. The group has now hosted 12 cyclocross race days across three seasons. And while SHAM’s races are USAC-sanctioned, the group doesn’t take itself too seriously.

“At the end of the day, we’re just big kids playing bikes,” Harrison said. “The running joke is, ‘If you don’t like one of our events, we already told you: It’s a SHAM.’ One goal of our group is to push ourselves physically, and learn about ourselves through training and racing. The bigger goal is to build community through promotion of racing and social events.”

SHAM donates money raised from its events to organizations like Trail Advocacy Coalition for the Ouachitas (TACO), Recycle Bikes 4 Kids and the Hot Springs NICA team.

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2022 UCI CYCLO-CROSS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS Centennial Park - Fayetteville

Join Team USA and thousands of fans from around the world in Fayetteville, January 28-30, for the 2022 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships. For just the second time in 72 years, this event is being held outside of Europe. Don’t miss this three-day, seven world championship races event with music, food and everything fun to do in Fayetteville!

cyclocrossfayettevillear2022.com

BIKE ARKANSAS issue no. 20 | 17

GRASSROOTS FUN: SHAM and Breakaway Cycling aim to give everyone a chance to try cyclocross.

Tiffany Dixon of Breakaway Cycling started developing the ALL Cross series over a year ago.

“One of our biggest goals and missions is to get people on bikes and eliminate barriers to give more people the opportunity to get on a bike and get involved,” Dixon said. “I see cyclocross as an amazing opportunity to get people on bikes, especially kids and women.

I also see it as a great way to bring all cycling disciplines together while building community.”

Dixon consulted with several people to put together courses that were inviting for bikers of all skill levels, including experienced racers.

“We are really pushing all bikes, all levels, all humans,” she said. “We use the term ALL Cross over cyclocross often as we learned people felt like they needed a cyclocross bike and skills to be a part of cyclocross. So we are really trying to use language and be expressive in that it doesn’t matter the bike type or your riding ability, just come have fun and experience this. The beauty of cyclocross is the colorful culture that is welcoming, fun

and gives the opportunity to be a part of something from different aspects.”

SHAM is also hoping to get more racers involved with the state championships.

While the more experienced racers will be required to race with drop handlebars and tires no wider than 40 millimeters, per USAC rules, the group is lifting handlebar and tire limitations in the youth, junior and Category 5 categories.

“We’re really excited and honored to host the 2021 state champ race,” Alexander said.

“I’ve personally always hoped that we’d be able to host an event at War Memorial Park in Little Rock on the now defunct golf course, and I think it’s a perfect location for a state championship race.”

Racing will start at 10 a.m. Online registration is available at bikereg.com/arkansas-cyclocross-championships-2021.

Dixon and Harrison both hope that Fayetteville’s world-class racing inspires more people to give cyclocross a try throughout the state.

FOR MORE CYCLOCROSS INFORMATION: Go to bikearkansasmagazine.com for advice on how to get into cyclocross racing and tips on watching a cyclocross race.

18 | BIKE ARKANSAS november 2021

“My hope is there is a lot of interest from individuals about cyclocross as they hear about these big events, which will entice them to seek out local events,” Dixon said. “Those bigger events and I are supporting each other as it just makes sense. ALL Cross dates are set to go in between those larger events on purpose. We hope the World Cup gets people interested and then we can build excitement leading up to Worlds in order to get a bigger local presence at that race.”

Harrison said SHAM hopes to grow the youth and women’s side of the sport.

“We’re going to make an effort to work more directly with NICA next year to expose the juniors,” Harrison said. “And we’ve always paid out equally for male and female racers.

Cyclocross will always be a niche sport within cycling. It requires a very specific person that is interested in racing hard, in cold, wet, muddy conditions and keep smiling through all of it.

It’s not for everyone. But, for those that love it, it’s absolutely epic.”

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SHINING A LIGHT ON CYCLING’S DIVERSITY PROBLEM BIkePOC is working to bring people of color into the community.

By Lindsay Southwick Photography by Novo Studio

M

IMPASSIONED: Kim Seay wants to bring people together 20 | BIKE ARKANSAS november 2021

aking bikes and trails accessible for everyone is a mission Bea Apple and Kim Seay set out on just over a year ago in the wake of racial tensions that ignited across the country. It wasn’t the first time fault lines regarding race had been exposed, but it did seem to penetrate deeper than it had in decades.

Apple and Seay have always been active members of their community. As women of color themselves, it’s in their nature to advocate for people living in the margins of society to have the same opportunities as everyone else in all spaces. The events that summer became the catalyst of bringing those difficult conversations into a community they are both passionate about: the cycling community.

“What we were seeing [in the bike industry] and in the culture was a lack of acknowledgment of what faced the community,” Apple says. “Even though [cycling] is just a slice of the world we live in, it also reflects the world we live in.”

In August of 2020, Apple and Seay coordinated a bike ride with a dual purpose: to bring awareness to the lack of diversity currently in the sport, and to create a ride specifically for those who don’t feel like they belong. The ride was a success and from it, BIkePOC was born.

BIkePOC (a play on BIPOC, which stands for Black, Indigenous, People of Color) is a grassroots movement dedicated to changing what it means to be a cyclist, and who gets to be one. It’s a space specifically designed for those who are currently underrepresented. BIkePOC believes riding a bike is a basic need in which everyone should get to participate.

“It’s true what they say, ‘If you can see it, you can dream it,’ ” Seay said. “If you don’t see other people who look like you on a bike, then it’s difficult to imagine yourself on one.”

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BIKE ARKANSAS issue no. 20 | 21

RIDING FOR CHANGE: Bea Apple and Kim Seay organized BIkePOC to give marginalized groups of people engaged in cycling.

Their own backgrounds and experiences make this work personal. Apple didn’t ride a bike until she was in her 30s, when she learned alongside her kids. She grew up in the Bronx, poor, relying heavily on government assistance and the kindness of others. Her family didn’t have the resources to buy extra things like bikes. And even if they did, there was nowhere for them to ride one.

“As a Korean-American woman who has always been the odd one out, both in the Bronx and when I moved to Rogers, I have grown up with this awareness of being an other,” Apple says. “It’s my passion for kids who, like me as a child, exist in the margins of society, that they discover the joy of movement.”

Seay is used to being an anomaly. Growing up she was one of only a few brown-skinned kids at her school and the only African American in her accelerated classes. She participated in sports and activities that at the time were seen as “white sports.” In college, she received a degree in industrial engineering, a field dominated by men. The lack of female representation bled into her work in corporate America. As an adult she got into mountain biking and rode for years without seeing a single woman of color.

“Because of the circumstances of my life, I’ve always been part of both the black and white worlds,” she says. “It’s because of this 22 | BIKE ARKANSAS november 2021

that I feel so passionate about bringing people together.”

When Apple and Seay met in 2011, they soon started riding together. It was the first time either of them had biked with a woman of color. Since then, they’ve both discovered the joy of riding a bike. It changed both their lives in ways they never anticipated.

“If you don’t see other people who look like you on a bike, then it’s difficult to imagine yourself on one.”

“When you find something as empowering and transformative as cycling has been for me — for us — you don’t want to keep it to yourself,” Apple said. “It’s tragic that oftentimes, the people who need this type of intervention the very most are the people who have the least amount of access and opportunity. We’re working to change that.”

Since the inaugural BIkePOC ride, Apple and Seay have worked to get marginalized groups of people engaged in cycling for a

purpose, for fun, and for transportation.

They’re having tough conversations. They’re working to get more diverse representation at events and in photos. They’re working with groups on infrastructure, from where trails are located to adaptive trail use for people with disabilities. They’re advocating for safe streets for everyone in the region. They’re working to get solid community partners and individual support to continue to do the work of social, political, economic and cultural transformation on two wheels.

“The first step is to identify the problem, which also means you have to admit there is a problem. We’re committed to broadening access to the sport — not just for people of color, but for all marginalized groups.”

It’s easy to put cycling in the category of “less important” when it comes to inequality. It’s not a heavy hitter like education, employment or housing, for example. In the scheme of things it can seem inconsequential. Insignificant.

An aspect of society that doesn’t demand our attention as much as others that are more vital. However, more often than not, what’s happening in quiet ways in microcosmic cultures of society is a reflection of what’s happening on a much broader, more harmful scale. In terms of cycling, consider the answers to these questions: Who has safe and easy access to trails?

Who are these trails designed to accommodate?

What is the cost of entry for cycling?

What kinds of people are typically depicted in photos?

The answers to these questions likely coincide with answers to questions about equity in other parts of our culture as well.

Apple and Seay are working to change what’s happening within the cycling industry but their hope is that such change will have consequences well beyond the world of cycling.

“What a lot of people don’t realize is that giving everyone the same opportunities ultimately makes it better for everyone,” Seay said. “If the most marginalized people in society feel safe, we’re all safer. We’re all better for it.”

No matter how small or trivial a change may seem, it helps in the collective effort to move the needle towards the goal. It still matters. We often hear that what we learn on a bike translates to life off the bike, whether it’s learning a specific skill, falling and getting back up, or the confidence and empowerment that comes from mastering a climb, or riding farther than ever before.

With all that cycling can give people, making it accessible for everyone can only bring positive outcomes. We all win when everyone has the opportunity to reach their full potential.

SHARE THE POWER: Apple says the transformative power of cycling is something everyone should experience.

WE SELL NEW AND REFURBISHED BIKES WE ACCEPT TRADE-INS (UP TO 60% OF ITS VALUE) WE BUY BIKES (CONDITIONALLY) WE OFFER FINANCING THROUGH WE OFFER 90 DAY LAYAWAY BIKE ARKANSAS issue no. 20 | 23

STEADY SHE GOES

Experience, preparedness pay off as Scotti Lechuga becomes first woman to win the Arkansaw High Country Race. story and Photography By Kai Caddy

W

ith a brand new headlight and a fresh pair of shorts, Scotti Lechuga of Springdale stopped at a Russellville hotel to wait out a storm and get some sleep. After dealing with failing devices, dogs, strange men and a slowly leaking front tire, the only thing standing between her and winning the 1,013-mile Arkansaw High Country Race was about 150 miles of mostly gravel roads that had mostly turned into a sloppy, peanut-buttery mud as rain continued to fall.

Lechuga set out at midnight for the final push home. Thirty minutes after she set off, the rain began. It wouldn’t end until about 20 minutes from the finish line.

Waiting in Fayetteville’s downtown square was her husband, Ernie, who she had twice completed the route with, and their twin boys, Ethan and Eli. Scotti and Ernie had previously set fastest known times for a pair on each attempt. A large crowd of cyclists had also formed. Women inspired by Lechuga.

Young girls holding signs awaiting a new hero.

At 6:19 p.m. Lechuga made the final climb up Block Avenue and crossed the finish line as the first woman and first Arkansan to win the fully self-supported race. She also set the fastest known time for a woman at five days, 10 hours and 49 minutes.

“It’s funny because I didn’t set out to win or to break any records,” Lechuga said. “I really was excited about this as a personal challenge, because it’s the first time I’ve ever raced solo without Ernie.

And he and I were both actually just really kind 24 | BIKE ARKANSAS november 2021

of looking forward to finding ourselves out there.

Because we’ve always had the support of each other.

And so we were really stoked to just go push our own limits. Winning was never on my mind. It came as a complete surprise.”

Young girls looked on in awe as she took a seat on the curb, cracked a beer and enjoyed a pizza delivered by a friend. Women were in tears watching the live Instagram video of the finish.

“When I rolled up to Fayetteville, and saw the community that was there, and the support, especially from the women’s community, and the messages that I’ve received just since I finished, I realized how impactful it was to women specifically,” Lechuga said. “I think in the sport of endurance cycling, you know, there is kind of a more level playing field. I don’t think I was the strongest athlete, by any means. Those guys ahead of me were stronger than I was. But I think women have a lot of staying power. Women know how to push themselves, and for me it came down to sometimes slowing down and making good decisions so that I could go fast the next day.”

After leading the race for a time on day two, Lechuga had slipped to third behind Spencer Ralston of Hebron, Conn., and Josh Allen of Rogers.

Allen held the lead as night fell on day two. Ralston then led most of day three before the two started swapping places into the night.

Allen scratched from the race on day four, dealing with serious saddle sore issues.

ON HER WAY: Scottie Lechuga powers toward Hot Springs on day three of the Arkansaw High Country Race.

BIKE ARKANSAS issue no. 20 | 25

KEEPING THINGS RUNNING SMOOTH: Lechuga re-applies lube atop White Rock Mountain.

“I had a good go — but saddle sores resulted in no sleep,” Allen posted on Instagram. “It’s the little things that cascade out there into big problems. It kind of freaked me out. I rode in my pajamas for 5-6 hours to relieve the pain and I did a lot of other strange things with socks and baby wipes.”

From there Ralston was on pace to not only win the race, but finish with the overall fastest known time. But some 45 miles from the finish he was faced with a severe thunderstorm atop White Rock Mountain near Winslow. Nursing a front tire slowly leaking air, trying to sleep in a puddle and the fear of being struck by lightning was enough to force him to scratch so close to the finish.

Experience paid off for Lechuga about 115 miles away at Jackalope Cycling in Russellville.

That’s where she replaced a failed headlight, bought new shorts, stocked up on food and checked the weather to see the storms approaching and decided to get a few hours of sleep and recharge her devices in a hotel.

“I love that part of this style of racing, that you have to manage yourself so carefully, and 26 | BIKE ARKANSAS november 2021

“Women know how to push themselves, and for me it came down to sometimes slowing down and making good decisions so that I could go fast the next day.” make good decisions like just one after the other and hope that you’re doing the right thing,” Lechuga said. “I made sure everything was charged, took a shower, slept for four hours, which is the longest sleep that I had the whole race. And I got up and I felt like a new person. I felt amazing. And so when I left from Russellville it literally started raining 30 minutes after I left and it did not stop until like 20 miles outside of Fayetteville.”

Peanut butter-like mud awaited her in the

final 45 miles from the finish, descending White Rock Mountain and heading into Hazel Valley.

“It just turns to mush,” Lechuga said. “You’re like 45 miles from home and you’re realizing that it’s going to take four to five hours. That’s just demoralizing. You’re seeing on the elevation profile that it’s downhill, but I’m going 9 miles an hour. That was hard. That was really hard. I ended up turning on some really loud music and just suffering through.”

The final push in the rain wasn’t the only obstacle Lechuga faced. In Mount Ida, she was nursing a slow leak to her front tire around midnight. She stopped at a motel, but the owners didn’t want to deal with checking someone in at a late hour. She found another motel with a “vacancy” light on. A man with what Lechuga described as a gnarly beard came to the office door. Twirling his finger in his beard, the man asked Lechuga if he could help her.

She told him about her flat tire and need to charge devices. He didn’t have any rooms.

“I was like, ‘Do you have somewhere I can plug my stuff in at least and I’ll just stay

BIKE ARKANSAS issue no. 20 | 27

IN AWE: A young fan looks on as Lechuga digs in to a congratulatory Mexican pizza (above).

outside’ and he looked at me like I was crazy,” Lechuga said. “‘Do you have somewhere I can charge my stuff or not because if you don’t, I need to move on.’”

The man returned with a charging dock that allowed Lechuga to recharge all her devices.

He set up a light for her and brought a spray bottle of soapy water to help her locate the leak. Stunned, Lechuga asked how the man

ULTIMATE SUPPORT CREW: Lechuga's family joins her at the finish as she shows off her custom belt buckle (left).

knew the soapy water trick.

“I watch a lot of YouTube, and I like bikes,” the man replied.

Lechuga made it through with no more major mechanical issues. Her preparedness and experience on the route were key.

“It was a good entry for me to try something

by myself because I had that familiarity there,” she said.

“But winning was never on my mind. I didn’t even check the tracker that much because I was just so into my own experience out there. And just plugging away and doing the ABCs to take care of myself and like just make progress every day. So it was kind of like icing on the cake.

To roll in and be first, it was just completely unexpected.”

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28 | BIKE ARKANSAS november 2021

ARKANSAS TIMES WWW.ARKTIMES.COM

Come for cycling.

Discover Arkansas history.

DO YOU HAVE BIKE NEWS? WANT TO ADVERTISE? INTERESTED IN SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES? CONTACT BROOKE WALLACE AT: BROOKE@ARKTIMES.COM @BIKEARMAG

BIKE ARKANSAS issue no. 20 | 29

h Take the PREPARE TO CLIMB: The High Country Route features plenty of elevation gain.

Push yourself on the Arkansas High Country Route.

KAI CADDY

By Bob Robinson

Y

ou added a gravel grinder to your stable of bicycles and now you’re looking for a new challenge. Well, look no further. The Arkansas High Country Route will push boundaries for all levels of cyclists.

The 1,000-plus-mile course has something for everyone. Whether you take it on as a single-day outing with a shuttle vehicle waiting at the end of your ride, as a multiday self-supported adventure camping under the stars, or as “The Big Lebowski” riding the entire route, the AHCR is your oyster.

Flowing through the spectacular scenery of both the Ozark and Ouachita mountain ranges, utilizing a mix of roughly 50/50 gravel and pavement, cyclists are exposed to the world of rural life in The Natural State not found 30 | BIKE ARKANSAS november 2021

in the seat of an automobile.

With climbs reaching gradients of 17-21%, the route provides physical challenges as well.

Arkansawyer Chuck Campbell, the creator of the AHCR, came up with the idea while reviewing Adventure Cycling Association’s map of continental bicycle routes. He noticed a huge gap, which was the state of Arkansas, where no touring routes existed.

Clicking on the “Contact Us” link on ACA’s website, he called to asked if they would be interested in an Arkansas route. To his surprise, they instructed him to send them an outline. With this, Campbell set to work creating the AHCR. Using Campbell’s route as a starting point, the ACA team made his dream a reality in

2019. They now offer maps and guided tours on their website, adventurecycling.org.

The AHCR is comprised of three adjacent loops that encompass much of the Ozark and Ouachita mountain ranges. Arkansans across the state need not travel far to begin their adventure.

The 238-mile Northwest Loop begins and ends in Bentonville, traversing the Ozark-St. Francis and Mark Twain national forests. Riders cross relatively flat, populated western regions, offering plenty of services, then head east to the remote ruggedness of the Boston Plateau, where services and basic necessities are limited.

The 434-mile Central Loop begins and ends in Russellville, crossing the Arkansas River Valley and the Boston Mountains. The

high route ONE OF MANY LANDMARKS: The Arkansas Sphinx standing sentinel over the Ozarks.

BOB ROBINSON

River Valley offers flat terrain, paved roads and plenty of services. Riders will need to plan ahead for the Boston Mountains. Food, water and bike services are limited. Most of the roads are gravel and include steep climbs over roller coaster ridge tops.

The 500-mile South Loop begins and ends in Little Rock, tracking through the Ouachita Mountains and the Arkansas River Valley. Once again, the River Valley includes services and flat riding. The Ouachitas offer few services and mostly gravel roads. This section contains some of the tallest climbs on the AHCR, including the highest point in the state as it tops Mount Magazine.

You can also plan your own route, jumping in at any section of the ride.

Planning

I first heard about the AHCR on a gravel grinder ride with Campbell at Prestonrose Farm and Brewing Company. When I returned home and looked it up, I thought this was something I would be interested in riding someday.

Shortly after this, finishing a gravel ride with my friend Bill Hanna, he mentioned an interest in a multiday ride. I responded, “I think I might have something.”

The AHCR offers such a variety of options that deciding to ride is only the first step in planning your bicycle tour. There are many additional decisions to make before you begin cranking out the miles. How many days to ride? Which loop to ride? Self-supported?

Camping or motels? How many miles to ride each day? Eat at restaurants, graze at convenience stores or pack your own food?

After adding three more riders, our group decided on a four-day ride, the Northwest Loop. We were supported by a van, and camped along the route wherever we pitched our tent.

Luckily (although not so lucky for him), a cycling friend of mine who was recovering from an injury stepped up to take on the yeoman’s duties of shuttle driver.

The hardcopy maps from ACA are very helpful in planning your tour. They not only lay out a detailed course route but also include turn-by-turn directions, towns, camping, lodging, food, bike shops and other points of interest.

BIKE ARKANSAS issue no. 20 | 31

BOB ROBINSON

PHOTO OP: Hawksbill Crag is just a short hike off the route.

Let’s Ride

Over six inches of rain pelted the ACHR the three days preceding our departure, with additional rain forecasted for day one.

Not to be deterred by a “little” moisture, at 6 a.m., under steady rainfall, our crew was busy stowing massive amounts of gear in the back of Hanna’s van.

The section of the AHCR we had chosen to begin our epic adventure was just north of Russellville. On the drive down I-40, the steady rhythm of the wiper blades battled torrential rains. As we exited the interstate onto State Highway 333, with waning rain, Hanna was able to adjust the wipers down a notch. By the time we reached the beginning of the gravel road that would be our official start point, the rain had lessened to an occasional light mist.

Although the morning was damp and chilly, spirits were high as the team of five mounted bikes officially began our AHCR adventure.

Autumn leaves clung to tree branches hanging over the gravel lane, creating a vibrant canopy of color, while already fallen leaves blanketed our path with bright red and yellow leaflets.

As I cranked out the miles, I was in awe of the enchanting natural wonderland we Arkansans reside and recreate within.

The ACA hardcopy map was a big help while planning for the tour. However, during the ride itself, its GPX Data app made navigating the hodgepodge of unsigned backroads super easy.

The app not only displays a map of the route and flags points of interest, it also tracks a rider’s location as they progress along the route. All a rider has to do is follow the blue dot.

Upon spotting a flag on the navigation map for “The Arkansas Sphinx,” we stopped to scrutinize the dense tree cover over the gravel road.

We were able to locate this unique naturally sculptured creation atop the backbone of Pilot Rock Mountain.

On another day of our ride, pedaling across Cave Mountain Road in the Buffalo Wilder-

KAI CADDY

FASTEST KNOWN TIMES

32 | BIKE ARKANSAS november 2021

ness, we climbed off our bikes for a hike to Hawksbill Crag.

Each day throughout the AHCR offers its own scenic and unique attractions to experience.

Campbell did a fantastic job weaving Arkansas’s natural wonders and quaint communities into a cycling route.

At the end of day one, a 60-plus-mile ride with over 5,200 feet of elevation gain, our weary group pedaled to the Oark General Store for a well-deserved thick juicy burger, french fries and a craft beer.

Your AHCR Adventure

Whether breaking the route down into separate weekend rides or setting a goal to ride the entire route nonstop, the AHCR challenge will take on all comers. You can even compete against other riders in the annual Arkansas High Country Race.

Order the ACA maps/GPX and start tailoring your own extreme AHCR Adventure.

For riders motivated to make their mark in the record book, below are the fastest known times.

Overall: Ted King in 4 Days, 20 Hours, 51 Minutes (2020) Women’s Solo: Scotti Lechuga in 5 days, 10 hours, 49 minutes (2021) Men’s Single Speed: Brett Stepanik in 6 days, 23 hours, 43 minutes (2021) Women’s Single Speed: Lindsay Shepard in 7 days, 15 hours, 6 minutes (2021) Pairs: Scotti and Ernie Lechuga in 4 days, 22 hours, 5 minutes (2020)

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BIKE ARKANSAS issue no. 20 | 33

Bike Arkansas’s

Holiday Gift Guide The holiday season is here.

We’ve compiled a list of gifts sure to make the cyclist on your list (or maybe yourself) beam with joy this year.

1.

2. d r a C t f i G

803 MO 65 FIELD, PRING S • .

ST 01 ERCIAL -324-79 COMM M • 417 422 W. ABS.CO TRAILL

3.

4.

6.

5.

8.

34 | BIKE ARKANSAS november 2021

7.

1. Coler MTB Swag

After spending a day in Northwest Arkansas’s mountain biker’s paradise, the Coler Mountain Bike Preserve, swing over to the Peel Mansion Museum Store for some Coler swag.

9.

PEEL MANSION MUSEUM STORE 400 S. Walton Blvd., Bentonville 479-273-3636 peelcompton.org

2. Get Balanced

Tri-Salts Powder by Bio-Tech Pharmacal contains a blend of alkaline minerals that may work to maintain an optimal acid/alkaline balance. Great before rides!

BIO-TECH PHARMACAL INC. Fayetteville 479-443-9148 biotechpharmacal.com

3. Shock Support

10.

Trail Labs specializes in expert mountain bike suspension service. Get your mountain bike enthusiast a gift card to help keep their forks, shocks and seat posts in tip-top shape!

TRAIL LABS 422 W. Commercial St., Springfield, Mo. 417-324-7901 traillabs.com

4. Conquer The Trail

The Specialized Rockhopper Expert features a Premium A1 Aluminum frame and modern geometry. Pair that with a parts list that just doesn’t quit and you have a tubeless-ready, SRAM Eagle 1x12-equipped Rockhopper that’s absolutely prepared to fly.

ARKANSAS CYCLING & FITNESS 315 North Bowman, Little Rock 501-221-BIKE(2453) 3010 E. Kiehl Ave, Sherwood 501-834-5787 arkansascycling.com

11.

5. Fun on the fly

Is your cyclist looking for a fun off-season activity? How about fly fishing? Send them to Gaston’s on the White River where expert instruction and experienced guides ensure a successful outing every time. It’s the trip of a lifetime, right here in Arkansas!

GASTON’S WHITE RIVER RESORT 1777 River Road, Lakeview 870-431-5202 gastons.com

6. Keep Sweat At Bay

7. Hydrate In Style

The Ride in Conway has custom stainless steel Camelbak mugs that will keep your hot drinks hot and your cold drinks cold. Perfect for a bike-packing excursion or pre- and post-ride beverages anywhere.

THE RIDE 2100 Meadowlake Rd., Conway 501-764-4500 therideonline.net

8. Fine-Tune Your Fit

Bike fit is one of the most important factors to enjoying your ride. The Ride in Conway has got you covered. Their certified fit specialist will ensure that you’re properly, efficiently and ergonomically fitted to your bike.

THE RIDE 2100 Meadowlake Rd., Conway 501-764-4500 therideonline.net

9. Pet Doggos and Pop Wheelies

SockGuy was able to capture Angry Dave’s beloved shop pups on a 6-inch cuff sock, so everyone can have the puppers out on a ride with them!

ANGRY DAVE’S BICYCLES 3515 JFK Blvd., NLR 501-753-4990 angrydavesbicycles.com

10. Scratch the BMX Itch

For the rider who wants function and style, the new SE Bikes BMX lineup will be arriving at Holy Roller in time for the holidays!

HOLY ROLLER BIKE SHOP 108 N. East St., Benton 501-672-4110 holyrollerunited.com

11. Upgrade Your Safety And Tracking

Garmin’s Edge range of cycling computers has something for everyone from beginner to elite and pairing a new bike computer with the compatible Varia Radar system is an important safety upgrade. Sulphur Creek Outfitters, an authorized Garmin dealer, has the full range in stock while supplies last. Select Edge and Varia models are $50 from Nov. 12-29!

SULPHUR CREEK OUTFITTERS 115 E. Center Ave., Searcy 501-203-4002 1520 Hwy. 25B, Heber Springs 501-691-0138 screekoutfitters.com

Junk, based in Northwest Arkansas, has headbands in countless unique styles. They’ve got designs suited for anyone on your list and The Ride in Conway keeps a large selection in stock year-round.

THE RIDE 2100 Meadowlake Rd., Conway 501-764-4500 therideonline.net BIKE ARKANSAS issue no. 20 | 35

ARKANSAS CYCLOCROSS STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS NOV. 6 War Memorial Park, Little Rock SHAM Events hosts the state cyclocross championship races. Register at bikereg.com/ arkansas-cyclocross-championships-2021.

JOE MARTIN GRAN FONDO NOV. 6 $35-$55 Fayetteville Five road route options (13, 25, 55, 65 and 85 miles), two gravel route options (44 and 70 miles) and three Greenway options. Visit joemartingranfondo.com for more info.

TOUR DE QUEEN NOV. 6 $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. There is also a Pop-cycle trike ride for children around the courthouse square at 11 a.m. Visit bikereg.com/tourdequeen to register.

WOMEN OF OZ NOVEMBER FLAGSHIP GROUP MTB RIDE NOV. 6 Bentonville Monthly group ride for women featuring a fundamental skills clinic and several ride options based on experience and skill. Visit bikereg.com/women-of-oznovember-flagship-group-mtb-ride for more information.

ALL CROSS NOV. 13 $5-$15 Centennial Park, Fayetteville Cyclocross race for all experience levels featuring kids races and timed races from 15 to 45 minutes. Register at bikereg.com/ allcross.

36 | BIKE ARKANSAS november 2021

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

ALL CROSS NOV. 20 $5-$15 Runway Bike Park, Springdale Cyclocross race for all experience levels featuring kids races and timed races from 15 to 45 minutes. Register at bikereg.com/ allcross.

ALL CROSS DEC. 4 $5-$15 Railyard Bike Park, Rogers Cyclocross race for all experience levels featuring kids races and timed races from 15 to 45 minutes. Register at bikereg.com/ allcross.

PETIT JEAN OVERNIGHTER DEC. 1-3 Petit Jean Mountain An Arkansas Bicycle Club ride from the Conway airport to Petit Jean Mountain. Must be an ABC member to participate.

RAPTOR GRAVEL GRINDER DEC. 11 Fayetteville Gravel grinder that starts at the Fayetteville square and heads east of town. Only the mileage and elevations are released early. There will be roaming support on the course, but all riders should come prepared to be self-sufficient. The postrace party takes place on top of Mount Sequoyah. Visit runsignup.com/Race/ RAPTORAdventureSeries/Page/gravel for more information.

THE WANGO TANGO DEC. 4 $20-$25 Siloam Springs Four-hour endurance mountain bike race at City Lake. Categories include solo male, solo female, four-man relay, four-woman relay, four-person (coed) relay, two-person open relay and four-person junior open relay.

Register at bikereg.com/the-wango-tango.

ALL CROSS JAN. 8 $5-$15 Ironhead Property, Bentonville Cyclocross race for all experience levels featuring kids races and timed races from 15 to 45 minutes. Register at bikereg.com/ allcross.

KAI CADDY

EVENTS

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

GÜDRUN – NORTHWOODS MTB FESTIVAL

NOV. 12-14

Northwoods Trails, Hot Springs Third annual three-day Mountain Bike Festival will incorporate activities such as Güdrun Slow Roll, Mini-Enduro, Enduro, Jump Jam and the Attila the Hun XC Mountain Bike Race. Learn more at northwoodstrails. org/events/gudrun.

17TH ANNUAL BUFFALO HEADWATERS CHALLENGE FEB. 4-6 $40-$90 Pettigrew Three-day all-inclusive mountain bike festival including food, libations, tent and RV camping and live music. Visit bikereg. com/buffaloheadwaterschallenge for more information.

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

E D I R E H T F A LIFETIME

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Pick up your FREE PASSPORT at the nearest state park today.

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THE WORLD COMES TO FAYETTEVILLE FOR THE 2022 UCI CYCLO-CROSS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

F

or only the second time, the United States will play host to the UCI Cyclo-Cross World Championships – scheduled for January 28-30, 2022, in Fayetteville, Arkansas!

An international spectacle, more than 5,000 fans from Europe, South America and North America with make the trip. Hosted at Centennial Park in Fayetteville, fans will be treated to a new worldclass cyclo-cross racecourse and venue. Purpose built and the only course of its kind in the United States, expect a fun-filled, threeday weekend of championship racing, celebrations, and events.

SPECTATOR-FRIENDLY RACING

ELITE CYCLISTS The World Championships pit the world’s top cyclists against one another. Team USA is expected to field a large contingent of racers to battle traditional European powerhouse teams.

Cyclo-cross is one of the most spectator-friendly forms of competitive cycling. The circuit-style racecourse is packed with a variety of

Elite US Women are expected to highlight Team USA, with current U.S.

“features” intended to challenge the racers lap after lap!

National Champion Clara Honsinger and rising stars like Maddie Munro competing for the coveted rainbow jersey, awarded only to the winners.

Fans are in for a treat at Centennial Park as one-of-a-kind features tower over the racecourse - including a mountain of stairs (literally)

Cycling fans across Arkansas will have the opportunity to catch the

and a unique obstacle known as Fayetteville’s own “Stonehenge”.

world’s best compete – right in our own backyard. Make plans now and

Combine three days of world championship racing with Fayetteville’s

we’ll see you in Fayetteville this January!

award winning Downtown and Entertainment Districts, and you have a weekend to remember.

More information is available at: www.experiencefayetteville.com BIKE ARKANSAS issue no. 20 | 37

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 38 | BIKE ARKANSAS november 2021

HOT SPRINGS HOT SPRINGS BICYCLE TOURING COMPANY 436 Broadway St. 501-276-2175 facebook.com/hotspringsbicycletouringcompany PARKSIDE CYCLE 719 Whittington Ave. 501-623-6188 parksidecycle.com SPA CITY CYCLING 873 Park Ave. 501-463-9364 spacitycycling.com

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

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

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

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

RUSSELLVILLE 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 479-452-3-559 thewoodsmancompany.com

SILOAM SPRINGS DOGWOOD JUNCTION 4650 Hwy 412 East 479-524-6605 dogwoodjunction.biz PHAT TIRE BIKE SHOP 101 S. Broadway St. 479-373-1458 phattirebikeshop.com EUREKA SPRINGS Adventure Mountain Outfitters 152 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

BUDDY PEGS FAMILY BICYCLE HQ 3605 NW Wishing Springs Road 479-268-4030 buggypegs.com CUSTOM CRUZERS PREMIUM E-BIKES 10636 Hwy. 72 W., Suite 102 479-367-4694 facebook.com/customcruzersnwa THE HUB BIKE LOUNGE 410 SW A St., Suite 2 479-364-0394 thehubbikelounge.com THE METEOR 401 SE D St. 479-268-4747 meteorbikes.com MOJO CYCLING 1100 N. Walton Blvd.

479-271-7201 mojocycling.com PHAT TIRE BIKE SHOP 125 W. Central Ave. 479-715-6170 phattirebikeshop.com PLUG POWER BICYCLES 3905 NW Wishing Spring Road 479-273-9229 facebook.com/plugpowerbikes STRIDER BIKES 109 N. Main Street 479-367-2335 facebook.com/StriderStoreBentonville

BELLA VISTA JOHAN’S BICYCLE REPAIR & BIKE RENTALS 3 Allendale Drive 479-308-1497 facebook.com/bellavistabikeshop PHAT TIRE BIKE SHOP 3803 NW Wishing Springs Drive 479-268-3800 phattirebikeshop.com

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

GUIDES/SHUTTLE SERVICES

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

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

BIKE SHOP JOE’S 1206 SE Moberly Lane, Suite 6 479-709-2242 bikeshopjoes.com

FLO BIKEWEAR 901-896-5979

CUSTOM JERSEYS

Adventure, elevated

Fayetteville, AR 479.442.8200

adventuresubaru.com BIKE ARKANSAS issue no. 20 | 39

Bank Better with us.

When you bank with First Security, you’re choosing real support. For you, and for the state.

That’s because our bank is your community bank. So friends, families and fellow Arkansans find better solutions together. It’s another way First Security helps Arkansas bank better – and it’s why you should call on us today.

Member FDIC

40 | BIKE ARKANSAS november 2021