Congratulation to the WINNERS of the Spring Checkpoint!!!
Chris Kimble
Madeleine Spires
Ivy McIver
Luke Grieve
Bradley Holtz
Michelle Kenik
Adam Fivehouse
Russell Manning
Thanks to all who participated in the event – both participants and the sponsors! We’ll see you in the Fall for another Checkpoint!
Join Appalachian Mountain Bike Club at Baker Creek Preserve for an awesome weekend of bikes, beer, food, friends and music proudly presented by:
Harper Audi | Yee-Haw Brewing Company | Bush’s Beans | First Neighborhoods Realty | City of Knoxville – Government
Group rides for all levels & Bell Joy Ride – Knoxville, TN !
Bike Raffle by Ibis Cycles & Harpers Bike Shop!
Bike demos from a variety of manufacturers!
Food trucks!
Short Track Race by Dirty Bird Events
Dinner provided by AMBC, Bush’s Beans & Sweet P’s Barbeque & Downtown Dive!
Beer on tap!
Live music!
Silent Disco brought to you by the AMBC & REI!
Silent auction!
The latest AMBC rad swag!
On-site camping (short walk from the parking lot)!
10AM Set-up starts (lend a hand!)
4PM Campground opens
6PM Soundcheck social
8:30AM Coffee with Backyard Coffee & Trailsnacks
8:30AM Demo-land opens – demos ALL DAY!
9AM Fall Fest Joy Ride! registration
10AM Bell Joy kicks off
10:30AM Group rides for all levels – listen for announcements
ALL DAY BUY BIKE RAFFLE TICKETS by Harpers Bike Shop!
11:30AM Food trucks open for business
11:45AM Guided kids ride
12PM BEER GARDENS OPEN!
2:45AM Guided kids ride
3PM Whip Off!
4:30PM Short Track Race by Dirty Bird Events
ALL DAY BID ON SILENT AUCTION ITEMS!
5:30PM Live music!
6:30PM AMBC family supper provided by Bush’s Beans & Sweet P’s Barbeque & Downtown Dive!
7PM Live music!
8:30PM SILENT AUCTION CLOSES!
8:35PM BIKE RAFFLE BIG WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT!
8:45PM Live music!
10PM SILENT DISCO presented by REI (you want to do this)
NIGHT NIGHT
8:30AM Mmmm.. breakfast by SoKno Taco Cantina
Wah wah site clean-up – we’d love a hand!
Please join us and the Tennessee Valley Authority this Sunday, January 31 for the grand opening of the NEW Mill Creek Loop, a 7 mile addition at Loyston Point!
There will be guided rides for all skill levels, women’s rides, bike demos, Knoxville Track and Field Club guided trail runs and food provided by the Appalachian Mountain Bike Club! Meet in the Boat Ramp Parking lot (map).
12:00 Demo tents open
1:00 TVA trail dedication and group photo (say cheese!)
1:30 Trail rides and runs depart
Beginner ride: 5-7 miles
Intermediate ride: 7-12 miles
Advanced ride: 12+ miles
It’s going to be the most fun! We’ll announce a backup date in case of inclement weather. Watch AMBC’s Facebook page for updates.
Every New Year’s Day the Big South Fork Bike Club invites all mountain bikers to ride the Big South Fork at an annual event called “The Mail Run”. Bikers meet at the Bandy Creek Visitor Center at 9 am (ET), January 1st and then hit the trails. “The ride is traditionally called the Mail Run because ‘neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of the night’ keep us from getting out there on the first of the year,” said Joe Cross, President of the Big South Fork Bike Club. The Mail Run consists of a choice of rides varying anywhere from 8 to 35 miles so bikers can pick the group ride of a length they are most comfortable with.
This January 1st will be a special ride since it will take place on the first day of the National Park Service’s Centennial year. In order to help celebrate the National Park Service’s one hundred years, the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area has partnered with the International Mountain Biking Association, Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association, Appalachian Mountain Bike Club, and the Big South Fork Bike Club to highlight one hundred miles of outstanding mountain biking in the park during 2016. The 100 miles of highlighted trails include West Bandy-Collier Ridge Route, Duncan Hollow-Grand Gap Loop, IMBA/Epic Route, Kentucky Bike Trail, Chestnut Ridge-John Muir Trail Route, and Hatfield Ridge-Fork Ridge Route. The International Mountain Biking Association now has a special webpage that helps bikers plan their routes on those trails.
The Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area has almost 300 miles of trails that allow mountain biking and in 2012 was the first national park in the nation to receive the International Mountain Biking Association’s (IMBA) elite Epic Ride designation. “Big South Fork’s extensive mountain biking trails along with the IMBA Epic designation, is likely to draw numerous new users to this part of the country,” said Tom Sauret, IMBA Regional Director for the Southeastern United States.
For more information on the Mail Run and mountain biking at the Big South Fork go to nps.gov/biso/planyourvisit/mountainbikeriding.htm or call the park at 423-569-9778.
