Sorry for the late notice but this is a blast! Here's the RIDE schedule for Sat and Sun...PARTY DOWN! "Right-click" and "Save-Target-as" on this link for the downloadable doc

OZARK MOUNTAIN BIKE FESTIVAL
DEVIL'S DEN STATE PARK APRIL 1 & 2, 2006

SATURDAY 9:00
TRAIL: The Bug Scuffle Loop.
TERRAIN: Intermediate, great scenery.
DISTANCE: 25 miles with one long hard ascent.
SPEED: Intermediate.
START & END: Amphitheater. You will take the Bug Scuffle Loop to 265 then pavement back to the park. Join STEVE "Little Feat" SHEPHERD on the ride through the Ozark National Forest.

9:00 TRAIL: Fossil Flats Trail. Novice Speed.
TERRAIN: Rolling, rocky with two creek crossings.
DISTANCE: 5 miles.
START & END: Trailhead near campsite 15. DAVID JUSTICE will be your guide on this great trail. This trail has new, sweet single track.

9:30 TRAIL: Fossil Flat Trail with add miles, Intermediate Speed. TERRAIN: Rolling, rocky with two creek crossings.
DISTANCE: 10 miles.
START & END: Trailhead near campsite 15. DENNIS BYRTUS will lead you on this extended version of the trail.

10:00 TRAIL: Fossil Flats Trail. Great for all levels, Novice Speed. TERRAIN: Rolling, rocky with two creek crossings.
DISTANCE: 3 miles.
START & END: Trailhead near campsite 15. KATIE FRITZ will be your guide.

10:30 TRAIL: Holt Road.
TERRAIN: Intermediate. Rolling, rocky, rugged descent and climbs.
DISTANCE: Intermediate, 8 miles.
START & END: Holt Road sign at the top of Hwy 74. Accompany your hosts PHIL KINDBERG and DANNY JONES on this great ride through the national forest.

11:00 TRAIL: Fossil Flats Trail. GIRL’S RIDE, Novice Speed.
TERRAIN: Rolling, rocky with two creek crossings.
DISTANCE: 3 miles.
START & END: Trailhead near campsite 15. KATIE will be your guide, AGAIN.

11:00 TRAIL: Butterfield Hiking Trail
TERRAIN: Hard Intermediate, all downhill
DISTANCE: Approximately 2 miles.
START & END: Holt Road sign at the top of Hwy 74. Free Ride with CHRIS CRONE AND NATHAN “WOODY” WOODRUFF.

1:30 TRAIL: HIGHROLLER’S RIDE.
TERRAIN: Intermediate with a long descent and a long ascent
SPEED: Intermediate.
DISTANCE: 9 miles.
START & END: Holt Road sign at the top of Hwy 74. This ride will include parts of the Butterfield Hiking Trail, Fossil Flats and then back to the top.

2:30 TRAIL: Combination of Hwy 74, Cross Country, Butterfield Hiking Trail and Fossil Flats.
TERRAIN: Hard.
SPEED: Intermediate.
DISTANCE: 12 miles.
START & FINISH: Fossil Flats Trail Head. This ride is for intermediate to advanced riders. Bring your supplies and meet DAVID JUSTICE on this exciting ride.

4:00 LAST RIDE OF THE DAY TRAIL: Intermediate with a long descent and a long ascent.
SPEED: Intermediate.
DISTANCE: 9 miles.
START & END: Holt Road at the top of Hwy 74. This ride will include parts of the Butterfield Hiking Trail, Fossil Flats and then back to the top. IRA WHITE and CHAD JENKINS.

TIME TO ENJOY AN EVENING BY THE CAMPFIRE AND GET READY FOR SUNDAY

SUNDAY
10:00 BAT HOUSE TOUR: Join RANGER BATMAN HARRY on a bike tour of the park’s bat houses. Learn about bats and bat conservation at Devil’s Den; you may even see a brown bat.
DISTANCE: 2 miles
START AND END: Visitor Information Center

10:00 TRAIL: Fossil Flats Trail.
TERRAIN: Rolling, rocky with two creek crossings
DISTANCE: 5 miles.
START & END: At the trailhead near Campsite 15. STEVE "Little Feat" SHEPHERD will be your guide.

10:00 OORC MEMBERSHIP DRIVE RIDE.
TRAIL: DAVE RENKO’S Secret Ride from Devil’s Den to Chester with DON WEST, your IMBA rep and AARON HANLEY.
TERRAIN: KNOW YOUR LIMITATIONS, up-down and rocky, plus creek crossings.
DISTANCE: 25 miles.
START & END: Fossil Flats Trail Area A to Chester. This ride will be conducted by the OZARK OFF ROAD CYCLIST. NECESSARY INFORMATION: This ride will follow the Fossil Flats Trail up the Butterfield Hiking Trail and descend to Quaill Valley then to Blackburn Creek. From there you will climb up Ben Doodle Hollow. Here you can rest and ride the 4 miles of secret single track to castle rock and other interesting geological formations. You will arrive in Chester after several miles of double track and two miles of dirt road, then on to the shuttle point back. Bring plenty of water, food and sunscreen. There is one bail-out points. Please remember this is a long rugged ride.

10:30 THE LAST RIDE OF THE DAY.
TRAIL: Holt Road.
TERRAIN: Intermediate. Rolling, rocky, rugged descents and climbs.
DISTANCE: Intermediate, 8 miles.
START & END: Holt Road sign at the top of Hwy 74. Join FAYETTEVILLE BICYCLE COMPANY for a ride on the ridge.

REMEMBER: -It is Spring, all the trails are MUDDY!!!
-HELMETS are required
-Yield to foot and horse traffic.
-If you leave the group, tell the guide.
-Ask about other rides.
-Discount on all mountain bike items at the store
- set your clocks forward SATURDAY night
-TO HAVE FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
VISIT THESE BUSINESSES; THEY HAVE HELPED US IMMENSELY; TELL THEM THANK YOU:

EUREKA SPRINGS: NELSON'S LEATHER
FAYETTEVILLE: BANK OF FAYETTEVILLE, SUPERIOR MITSUBISHI / KIA, HIGHROLLER CYCLERY, FAYETTEVILLE BICYCLE CO., WILLIAMS TRACTOR, UNCLE SAM'S SAFARI OUTFITTERS, FRIEND’S OF DEVIL'S DEN, NORTHWEST ATHLETIC CLUB, OZARK OFF ROAD CYCLIST, JACK & JOANNE MILLER, LEWIS AND CLARK OUTFITTERS, PACK RAT OUTDOOR CENTER, OZARK COOPERATIVE WAREHOUSE, LA PALOMA HUNTING RANCH.

FORT SMITH: CHAMPION CYCLING, AUTO SPECIALTIES, SCOTT’S BIKE SHOP, TANKERSLEY FOOD SERVICE

LITTLE ROCK / NORTH LITTLE ROCK: CHAINWHEEL, ARKANSAS CYCLING AND FITNESS, COMPETITIVE CYCLIST

MENA: OMNI WORLD WEB SERVICE, SEE WWW.BIKEARKANSAS.COM
ROGERS: OZARK BIKE SHOP, SCOTT / DEFOLIART CHARITABLE TRUST
RUSSELLVILLE: HIGHLANDER CYCLING AND OUTDOORS
PITTSBURG, KS: BICYCLE ADVENTURES, TAILWIND CYCLISTS
JOPLIN, MO: BICYCLE SPECIALISTS
TULSA, OK: T-TOWN BICYCLE SHOP

SEE YOU IN SEPTEMBER FOR THE NW ARKANSAS MOUNTAIN BIKE CHAMPIONSHIPS.
ARKANSAS MOUNTAIN BIKE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES; BE A PART OF IT
For more information, www.bikearkansas.com
REMEMBER!!!!!!
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS MOUNTAIN BIKE CHAMPIONSHIPS
DEVIL’S DEN STATE PARK
SEPTEMBER 16 & 17, 2006

Our old buddy Jim Holsted recently sent me this email and I'm sure you will all be interested -- We are going to have a work day at Syllamo to prepare the trail for the Syllamo's Revenge. The work date is Sat, April 1. We will work on Sat and ride on Sunday for those that stay. There will be camping available on Sat night in Blanchard Springs and dinner will be provided on Sat. by Twin Lakes Bicycle Club. This will be a great time to ride the trails during the Spring foliage and enjoy mountain biking in the Ozarks. Thanks, Jim.

Jim's email address is jimholsted@cox-internet.com. You can direct any questions to him.

Thanks,
Gary

Bike To Work Day 2006 & National Ride of Silence Rides schedule...

This year Bicycle Advocacy of Central Arkansas (BACA) is pleased to announce two great events in one week. On May 17, 2006, BACA will coordinate a Ride of Silence as part of the National Ride of Silence movement. Now, more than ever, it is critical that the cycling community remembers all the cyclists who have been killed by motorists and let it be known that we will not stop riding - we only seek to Share The Road.

The Ride of Silence is tentatively scheduled for May 17, at 7:00 PM, along the Jimerson Creek section of the River Trail. The exact route and details will be announced at a later date. For more information about the Ride of Silence, please visit www.rideofsilence.org. BACA is also sponsoring the annual Bike To Work Day event on May 19, 2006. The ride will include simultaneous rides along the Little Rock and North Little River Trail to the River Market pavilion. Registration for the rides will begin at 6:30 AM and the rides begin at 7:00 a.m. More details on the exact routes will be posted on the BACA website soon. Both events, the Ride of Silence and the Bike to Work Day ride, will also serve as demonstrations of the importance of keeping the Jimerson Creek section of the River Trail closed to vehicular traffic.

This year, as always, we need volunteers for the following duties:
1. Ride Leaders
2. Bike Buddies (Assist and encourage riders)
3. Sweep Riders
4. Registration workers
5. Volunteers to work at the finish area (set-up area, greet riders, other duties)
6. Volunteers to shuttle participants to their parked cars if necessary. (Some participants do not work downtown, but participate to
show support for event.)

Also, we are seeking employer and business involvement in this year's event via our Commuter Challenge pledge. We ask each of you who work in or near the downtown area to approach your employer about participation. Information on this year's Commuter Challenge will be posted on the BACA website.

For more information on Bike To Work Month, please visit the League oof American Bicyclists at www.bikeleague.org. If you are not a member of the League, please consider joining.

Thank you in advance for your assistance and participation in these two important events. We are currently forming a committee to work on the BTW event. If you would like to assist in the event or serve on the committee, please contact me (see contact information below).

Thanks again,
Monty Cole
BTW Coordinator
wcole@comcast.net
231.3328

Here's our latest inventory count for the CARP Jersey's:

The short sleeve count is:
S = 2
M = 3
L = 7
XL = 8
XXXL = 1

Sleeveless:
S = 1
M = 1
XL = 3
XXL = 5
XXXL = 2

Not many left...get'em while you can! See the Short Sleeve here. Sleeveless have the same look except without sleeves. Contact Daron off the Merchandise page link above.

Steve S passed this along to me to post out here.....jammin down on April 1st!

When: April 1st, Saturday Night - 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM
Where: Hillcrest Hall - Intersection of Kavanaugh Blvd

Wanted to make sure that all of our friends at CARP know about the ABC Spring Fling party. We would like to invite the CARP membership to this event. Details are contained in the Flyer posted on the ABC website. Would you please let everyone know!

Bill - same thing for the all of the canoeing folks - we would love to have everyone attend.

Let's party-down and celebrate the river trail!

It was good to see everyone present last night at City Hall - thanks for being there.

Thanks,
Monty

RED ALERT!

THIS COMING TUESDAY NIGHT AT 6 P.M. the City of Little Rock Board of Directors will receive & perhaps act on a report in regard to converting the Jimerson Creek section of the Arkansas River Trail & Rebsamen Park & Riverfront roads to a vehicular traffic corridor. The report has been prepared by the UALR Conflict Resolution Mediation program at the request of the City. The City's request for the report stems from the attempt of the Riverdale area business interests ( especially Alltel Corporation) to open the multi-use walking, jogging, bicycling recreation trail as a vehicular traffic commuter corridor for executives & employees of Riverdale area businesses.

PLEASE ATTEND THE MEETING AT CITY HALL AS AN EXPRESSION OF CONCERN about the conversion of this highly valuable community asset, the River Trail, to a vehicular traffic corridor. At this point all we need do is register our concern about possible opening of the Trail by attending the meeting. Here's why every citizen of Central Arkansas, not just the Trail users, should be concerned:

Converting the River Trail from a multi-use walking, jogging, bicycling community resource to a vehicular traffic corridor will:

(1) Harm the economic health of Central Arkansas by destroying the value of the River Trail as a tourism & fitness icon for attracting and retaining businesses and industries whose management and employees will view the Trail as a primary community amenity that significantly enhances the quality of life in Central Arkansas;

(2) Cause numerous negative environmental impacts by making the river route a main, if not the primary, vehicular street access from west Little Rock to the downtown area;

(3) Damage beyond repair the beauty and serenity of the River Trail for all citizens of Central Arkansas;

(4) Conflict with the overwhelming vote of the electorate in 1992 that the River Trail should be forever closed to vehicular traffic;

(5) Potentially harm, if not destroy, an historic African-American cemetery;

(6) Significantly interfere with or prevent effective use of the new bicycle-pedestrian bridge at the Murray Lock and Dam;

(7) Impede completion of the Arkansas River Trail on the Little Rock side of the Arkansas River;

(8) Pose major safety hazards for bicyclists and other trail users; and

(9) Interfere with the Corps of Engineer's obligation to provide security for the Murray Lock & Dam.

And, all of that without any showing of any community based need to open the Trail, such as problems of traffic congestion that even approach those of most major metropolitan areas.

PLEASE HELP SAVE THIS VALUABLE COMMUNITY ASSET BY ATTENDING THE 6 P.M. MEETING IN THE LITTLE ROCK CITY BOARD MEETING ROOM ON THE 2ND FLOOR OF CITY HALL, 500 WEST MARKHAM.

Also - please pass this message on to anyone who might be interested in attending the meeting. If you are a member of a community organization whose members would be interested in attending the meeting, please help arrange for an e-mail message to be sent to the organization's membership.

Thanks very much!

Ken Gould
President Bicycle Advocacy of Central Arkansas