Local News

Slaughter Pen Hollow Mountain Bike Trail System

The Slaughter Pen Hollow Mountain Bike Trail System is scheduled to open April 21, 2007.  The trail has become a reality thanks to Tom Walton and the Arkansas Trail Blazers. They hired The Grey Barn, LLC. to build the trail starting in January 2007.  The trail was designed and constructed by two OORC members. Don West and Aaron Hanley.  The completed trail includes around 5 miles of fast and flowing singletrack that blankets the mountainside between the north side of Bentonville and I-540. The trail has something for all level of riders, including beginners to experts.  Expect to see a combination of singletrack, log rides, drops, jumps, log overs, and teeter totters. The trail construction was completed March 1. Trail signs and Kiosks should be up by the first week in April. 
A freeride skills park has been added due to the efforts of OORC members Nathan Woodruff and Chris Crone. Freeriders can enjoy the table top jumps, bermed turns, ladder bridge drops, and wall ride. For more information contact Don West at 479-236-3292.
Directions: I-540 North to last Bentonville exit(#93).  Follow the exit back around under interstate and on to 71-B south.  Drive 1/2 mile to North Bentonville Bike/Pedestrian parking lot. Park your vehicle and ride the trail 1/2 mile north to the mountain bike trailhead. STAY OFF TRAILS WHEN WET!

OORC Elects New Officers

There was a little change in OORC officers in the last election on April 10, 2007. OORC President, Don West, handed over the reigns of the club after 5 years of leadership to Ira White. Ira has been involved with the mountain bike club nearly since its inception in 1997. Ira formally was our Trail Maintenance Coordinator and has helped us out with all of the OORC events including the Buffalo Headwaters Challenge, Park to Park Ride, and the Eureka Springs Fat TIre Festival. We look forward to seeing where Ira takes the club in the future.
The other new OORC officers include: Secretary - How Kuff, Treasurer - Don West, Trail Maintenance Coordinator - Aaron Hanley, Event Coordinators - Dave Renko & Phil Penny, Website Design - Clay Crimes & Chad Jenkins. Go to the OORC contacts page for up to date phone numbers and e-mail addresses.

OORC Accepts New Bylaws

At the February meeting the OORC has accepted new bylaws.  Major changes include officer descriptions and lengths of service, protection for the club against liabilities, and the establishment of a Board of Directors to create committees for special events. Check out the Bylaws at this page.

OORC Visits Whistler, BC for World Mountain Bike Conference

OORC President, Don West, made the trip up to the World Mountain Bike Conference in Whistler, British Columbia on June 20-23, 2006.  The trip involved riding some of the best trails in the world, meeting represetatives from 19 different countries, and attending sessions on mountain bike advocacy issues.
I arrived in Whistler on June 20 and made sure my first visit was to the local bike shop to rent a bike for the week.  I settled on a Kona Collier from the Sun & Ski Shop on Blackcomb Mountain. After registering for the event I signed up for a guided ride by the Whistler Off Road Cycling Association, the local mountain bike club.  We set out on a 1 1/2 hourride through the cross country trails surrounding town. The mountain sides were covered in a lush carpet of evergreen trees and mosses that offered an other worldly riding experience.  No man made obstacles but plenty of tight twisting singletrack. During the ride. I meet people from Scotland, Denmark, Canada, and Autralia. Not bad for an afternoon ride.
The next morning the conference began in earnest.  We went over everything from 2010 legacies now to Legal issues in Mountain biking. After lunch we went into indiviual sessions depending on our interests.  I chose a talk on Urban Trail Systems. A bike club in Seattle had packed in a couple miles of trail in a couple acre spot underneath a freeway underpass. The trail work involved was astronommical. Volunteers were putting in hundreds of hours of work a week. After the days work I attended the afternoon Loony Race, now a “toony race” for the two dollar entry fee. The 1 hour plus race climbing up the Whistler Mountain Bike Park descended down the mountain, then climbed up Blackcomb mountain before finishing on the Lost Lake Trail system. Riders were greeted with free beer and hamburgers at the end of the ride.  Not bad for 2 dollars.
Thursday morning began with talks on Land Manager and Partner relationships andUnderstanding IMBA MOU’s with land management agencies.  After lunch we meet on sessions covering keeping interest in local mountain bike clubs. I found out a lot of clubs are having the same problems with volunteer burnout and lack of involvement.  I heard some creative things clubs have been doing all over the country to keep interest up and to cultivate new leaders in mountain bike advocacy.  After the work sessions I headed up to the Mountain Bike Park to test my skills on the constructed trails and bermed jumps.  It was a blast riding trails like Hidden Darkness and A-Line. I found myself riding things I never thought I would. I even started to clear several of the table top jumps after a few runs down A-line and landed the drop at the end of the run.
Friday began with discussions how to improve mountain bike advocacy. It turned into a little of a complaining sesssion when IMBA took coments from the group on how IMBA can improve transfer of information to clubs.  Afterwards I attended the session on Marketing and Tourism of Mountain Biking.  I found out about several communities that have really embraced the sport and are reeping the benefits of tourism. I finished out the day by riding the trails in the Whistler valley called a river runs through it, ahich was a blast and the Emerald park trails.  A river runs through it was an expert trail that included raised trails on wooden boardwalks, skinnies, tetter-totters, log rides, and drops.  These trails were amazing!
Saturday morning I woke up early to ride the Lost Lake trail system. This was a mix of intermediate and beginner trails.  My favorite trail was Pinnochio’s Parts. Most of the trail was on a raised wooden boardwalk with roller coaster ups and downs as well as banked turns. Sweeeet! After that I returned the bike back to the shop and called it a day.

Lake Sequoyah Gets Singletrack

Thanks to the Hard work of Wade Colwell, Jacob, and the OORC there is about 2 miles of new trail at Lake Sequoyah. The trail begins next to the parking area near the boat ramp. It flows into and out of a huge ravine and climbs steeply to a bench overlooking the lake. You’ll continue up and down along the hillside until you finish the new trail overlooking the dam. Future trail contruction will route the trail all the way around the lake. Thanks everyone for all the hard work so far. To volunteer, contact Jacob, with Fayetteville troop of Boy Scouts, at 479-502-2800.

New Trail Guide for Arkansas

OORC President, Don West, has published Mountain Biking in Northern Arkansas: Guide to the Ozarks and Arkansas River Valley. The guide features twenty-one mountain bike trails through out the region. Fifteen of the trails in the guide have never been published before. All of the trails were mapped using a GPS, so trail locations are accurate. Each trail has a detailed trail description, map, expected ride time, trail type, and additional information about the area. The book focuses primarily on singletrack trails open to mountain biking and hiking, but several of the trails are open to 4-wheelers and equestrians.
The book is broken into two main sections covering the Ozark Mountains and the Arkansas River Valley. You will find beginner friendly trails like Lake Fayetteville and Springhill Park. There are great intermediate trails including Hobbs State Park—Conservation Area and Camp Robinson Trails. Expert riders looking for more challenging mountain bike destinations will enjoy the Syllamo Trail System in Mountain View and Pigeon Creek Trail System in Mountain Home.
Furthermore, this guide has useful information about weather in Arkansas, trail ratings, general trail location map, lists of Arkansas land managers, and bike shop contacts.
The book was generously sponsored by Adventure Subaru, Now Creative, Highroller Cyclery, and West Environmental Consulting. The book will sell for $14.95. Look for the book at your local bike shop and outdoor store through out Arkansas or contact Don directly at (479) 236-3292.
Look for more books and maps by Don in the future. There are plans to write a guide for Southern Arkansas within the next year and a detailed topographic map of Devil’s Den State Park with all the hiking, equestrian, and mountain biking trails.

Regional and State News

Syllamo Phase III Completed

The Sylamore District of the Ozark National Forest has funded Phase III of the Syllamo trail system near Mountain View, AR. The trail has been completed and is ready to ride. This phase adds 15 miles of new trail to the existing 38 mile trail system. That means there is over 50 miles of some of the best singletrack in the Midwest. The Phase III loop is located northeast of the Yellow Loop.
Look at the OORC Calendar events for our next trip to the Syllamo to explore the new trails.

Trail Designation Pending for Buffalo Headwaters

The Ozark National Forest is considering official designation of a mountain bike trail system in the Buffalo National River headwaters area. These (currently unofficial) trails have been used for many years for hiking and mountain biking. The OORC has been hosting regular outings to the area for more than 7 years.

Many of the trails follow previously existing travelways between old homesteads. Bicyclists started riding the trails about 12 years ago. Many were very overgrown but have been consistently improved and maintained by the mountain bike users. Currently there are about 20 miles of singletrack and another 20 miles of doubletrack and forest roads. All trails are on national forest lands but are hard to locate without maps or designated trailheads. We hope that the creation of an official system will open up more quality mountain biking opportunities for both area residents and recreational visitors. The BNR headwaters have old growth hardwood forests, a beautiful Wild and Scenic River corridor and great recreational opportunities. Establishment of designated mountain biking trails should also improve local economic conditions. Please support the efforts of the Buffalo Ranger District to officially designate the trail system and to develop marked trailheads and maps. You can send comments supporting the proposal by email to: R8.Ozark.planning@fs.fed.us or mail to:USFS Attn: Terrell Hope, POB 427, Jasper AR, 2641 or call 870 446 5122

Trails Open to Mountain Bikers at Village Creek SP by Don West

On a recent visit to Village Creek State Park this summer I got a chance to work with park employees on opening trails to mountain bikers. The state park is located about 30 minutes north of Forrest City, AR.  There are a possiblity of about 17 miles of trail open to mountain bikers.  The trail is located on Crowley’s ridge which has some surprising elevation gains and losses.  Most trails follow ridges and descend steeply into valleys. Most trails are wide enough to fit a 4-wheeler on, but i suggested building some singletrack trails to help encourage more use by more experienced mountain bikers. For more information about the trail contact Village Creek State Park at 870-238-9406