Category Archives: Featured

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Give More, Get More: Our Membership Drive Is Live!

It’s on!! If you’ve ever wanted to start or level up your support for Knoxville’s trails, now is the time. From May 1st through 31st, we’ll be offering special perks, deals, and prize drawings to all of our new and upgrading members — and automatic entry into SORBA’s Membership Drive Giveaway (more chances to win!). Help us get to 600 members by the end of the month! Join or upgrade now!!

All New & Upgrading AMBC Members will get:

*Family Memberships will receive one deal at each location, like Individual Memberships. The primary family member is counted as the “new” or “upgraded” member for giveaway purposes.

*All giveaway items will be sent via email on or before June 15, 2026.

Plus a chance to win even bigger prizes!

New & Upgrading Members will be entered to win prizes based on their membership level (see below). The more you give, the more prizes you’ll be entered to win! All Platinum and higher level memberships (both new and current members) will be entered to win all prizes.

*All prizes will be sent to winners via email on or before June 15, 2026. You must respond within 48 hours to claim your prize.

We couldn’t have this Membership Drive without our local partners. Sending a BIG thank you to Bear Paw Bikes, Charit Creek Lodge, Climbing Roots Bouldering Gym, Cycology Bicycles, River Sports Outfitters, and Sauna House Knoxville.

Ready to become a member or upgrade your membership? Join or upgrade now. Email us at [email protected] with any questions.

See Official Membership Drive giveaway rules here.

Ride with us at Outlandish Adventure Festival!

Are you ready for a weekend of adventure in Knoxville? That’s what Outlandish Adventure Festival is all about! We’ll be there all day Saturday, May 2nd with some special news for current and new members, along with group mountain bike rides, a professional Whip Off, and more! Find the full weekend schedule here.

AMBC Group Rides on Saturday, May 2nd:

  • 9 am — Social Ride (co-ed group ride – all are welcome!)
  • 9 am — Joy Ride (women’s group ride – Beginner and Beginner Plus rides offered)
  • 12:30 pm — Kids & Youth Social Ride (2nd-12th grade group rides led by Trail Blazers, Little Bellas, and AYC volunteers)

Learn more and sign up for the rides here.

It’s about time for a Membership Drive!

We’re hosting our first Membership Drive throughout the entire month of May — which means new member benefits, special perks for new and upgrading members, and a chance to win some awesome prizes!

Why should you become a member?

Here at AMBC, we work to develop, build, and maintain nearly 100 miles of multi-use trails while offering programming to improve access to outdoor recreation around Knoxville. We have four dedicated Trail Crew members that work on our local trails daily, along with two office staff who focus on programming, fundraising, events, partnerships, and new projects to keep us rolling. And we can’t forget to mention our committed volunteers!

AMBC photos from volunteer work days, kids riding bikes, and bikers on the trails

AMBC memberships support all the work we do, keeping the trails in top shape, breaking ground for new ones, and running programs to get more people outside on bikes. It doesn’t stop there — every membership also advocates for trails across the Southeast through our parent organization, SORBA. Our members can take pride in their local and regional trails, knowing they play an active role in keeping them open and thriving.

Take a look at our 2025 accomplishments to learn more about what we did last year by the numbers.

What is special about the Membership Drive?

Everyone who joins AMBC or upgrades their AMBC membership from May 1st-31st will receive special deals from local partners and — depending on which membership they choose or upgrade to — will be entered to win local prizes of $300-700 value! Learn more about membership and membership tiers at AMBCKnox.org/Join.

All members will also get access to new member benefits in the SORBA app, coming soon!

Special deals for New & Upgrading members:

AMBC prize packages include:

  • Private 2-hour Sauna Session for up to 10 people at Sauna House Knoxville
    • $300 value
    • Automatically entered: New & Upgrading Steel and Aluminum memberships and higher
  • Professional MTB Bike Fit & Service Package from Cycology Bicycles
    • $503 value
    • Automatically entered: New & Upgrading Carbon memberships and higher
  • Stand-Up Paddle Board & 3-Month Climbing Center Membership from River Sports Outfitters
    • $720 value
    • Automatically entered: New & Upgrading Titanium memberships and higher)
  • Head to Toe Bike Apparel Package from Bear Paw Bikes
    • $550 value
    • Automatically entered: All Current, New, & Upgrading Platinum memberships and higher

How do you become a member?

 

SORBA app screenshotThe best way to join is by downloading the SORBA app, making an account, and selecting our chapter. Once you select your membership tier and finalize your payment, you’re officially a member! You can also become a member at AMBCKnox.org/Join through the online portal (but you’ll need the app to access your benefits!).

If you are able, please consider annual recurring subscriptions, which help keep us on track with membership fees we can rely on each year.

Thank you to our local Membership Drive Partners:

Knoxville is an IMBA Trail Town!

We’re proud to announce Knoxville as one of the first IMBA Trail Towns in the country! “Trail Town” is a new national designation from the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) honoring communities with an exceptional commitment to building, maintaining, and celebrating trail systems.

The Knoxville community earned this title by demonstrating strong trail infrastructure, a commitment to trail funding, an active local trail organization, a culture of community engagement, and a sustainable trail stewardship plan. Knoxville wouldn’t be where we are without years of dedicated work from individuals and organizations in our community — and AMBC couldn’t do what we do without all of our members, volunteers, and supporters.

“Earning the IMBA Trail Town designation is a reflection of decades of work by our community. With more than 250 miles of mountain bike trails within 30 miles of Knoxville, we’re proud to be a place where trails are part of everyday life and a driver of connection, health, and economic impact,” said Matthew Kellogg, Executive Director of the Appalachian Mountain Bike Club (AMBC).

Trail systems are increasingly recognized as important drivers of outdoor recreation economies. Communities that invest in trails often see benefits, including increased tourism, support for local businesses, improved public health, and stronger community connections to the outdoors. Tennessee’s outdoor recreation economy continues to grow: in 2024, it reached $15.6 billion in economic impact while employing 114,070 people (Outdoor Recreation Roundtable). “Outdoor recreation is an important amenity for residents and visitors to Knoxville. We are proud of our investments in parks and open spaces and are lucky to have great partnerships that have fostered a healthy, engaged trail community,” said Mayor Indya Kincannon, City of Knoxville.

As part of the Trail Town designation, Knoxville joins 28 communities leading a growing national network of trail-forward places committed to trail stewardship, collaboration, and expanding access to outdoor recreation. We want to thank our community for helping Knoxville become a Trail Town and supporting the work we do each day!

Urban Wilderness Gateway Park Expansion OPEN!

AMBC and community gathered in front of new pavilion at the Urban Wilderness Gateway Park.

It’s OPEN! We gathered with the community on February 5 to celebrate the opening of the Urban Wilderness Gateway Park expansion under the Sevierville Pike Bridge at 1250 Tilson St.

This space is a game changer for the urban wilderness — extending the park to the end of James White Parkway, adding more accessible parking, bathrooms, play areas, and providing cover and shade.

Thank you to all the hands that went into this project, and thank you to the community for showing up and showing love to this new space! For more photos, check out our Facebook post.

Shout out to The City of Knoxville, The City’s Parks & Recreation, Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness, and Legacy Parks Foundation.

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