Celebrate New Year’s Day Mountain Biking at Big South Fork

bikeriders_imageonlyEvery 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.

Skills Clinics at AMBC Fall Festival

_F5A7738-X2This year we’re expanding Fall Festival to add some special skills clinics for riders of all levels! Pre-registration is encouraged for all clinics, and you can pre-register online.

Friday, November 6

Take Aim Cycling Clinics

Maximum of 6 participants. Cost for each clinic: $60 per person. Register online »

  • 2pm-4pm Descending: Using advanced braking techniques and body position, we’ll work on descending confidently and creating flow.
  • 4:30-6:30pm Jumping 101 Pressure Control: Intermediate riders looking to start getting their tires off the ground and feel confident.

Saturday, November 7

Take Aim Cycling Clinics

1 hour clinics. Maximum of 10 participants. These clinics are FREE, thanks to Tennessee Valley Bicycles! Register onsite at Fall Festival.
  • 9am, 10:15, 11:30, 12:45pm, 2pm Hour to empower clinics: 1 hour sessions to get the basic concepts down of specific skills.
    1. Wheel Lifts For Logs and Obstacles: Front and Rear Lifts. Two wheel lifts.
    2. Pumptrack Flow: Techniques for riding a pumptack with more speed and flow.
    3. Cornering: Fundamentals of cornering.
    4. 2 Skills 4 Life: Body Position and Braking: These two skills will help you unlock more confidence on the trail for all all your riding. Great for beginner and intermediate riders.
    5. Jumps: Air curious? The steps to start floating jumps.

Sunday, November 8

Spoked Women’s Mountain Bike Clinic

  • 9am – 12:30pm Skills- and trail-focused clinic for women. Maximum of 10 participants. Cost: $50. Register online »

Take Aim Cycling Clinics

2 hour Clinics. 6 person limit. Cost: $60 per person. Register online »
  • 10am-12pm, 1pm-3pm. Choose two:
    1. Advanced Drops: Learn to ride at trail speed off drops.
    2. Jumping 201: Experienced riders looking to begin consistent jumping, start clearing jumps and landing confidently.
    3. Advanced Cornering: Highspeed, countersteering, and cutties. Intermediate to expert riders.

Knoxville Hosts a Tennessee School Team Mountain Bike Race

Plus a movie event with instructions on how to form a school team

236065_origKnoxville, Tenn. – The National Interscholastic Cycling Association brings a new Tennessee High School Cycling League mountain bike race to Knoxville for the first time on October 11, 2015 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. in Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness. This is the third event in the state’s four-race fall series for both high school and middle school students.

“We’re using cross country school mountain bike racing as our tool to develop our youth,” said Rick Splitter, former president of NICA’s board of directors. “Our core values are building a strong mind, a strong body, a strong character. And we’re going to do that in the most equal and inclusive environment that we can.”

Working with Legacy Parks Foundation and the Appalachian Mountain Bike Club – a chapter of the International Mountain Bike Association – representatives from the Tennessee League say the Knoxville race will highlight Legacy Parks’ new purpose built flow trails for mountain biking that are ideally located in an urban area. The trails were made possible by a State of Tennessee Recreational Trails Program grant and built on Legacy Parks’ property.

In addition to the race, THSCL will present the movie “Single Track High” at Legacy Parks’ Outdoor Knoxville Adventure Center, 900 Volunteer Landing Lane on Wednesday, September 2 at 7 p.m. The free movie showcases the incredible impact high school mountain biking has had in California and encourages more support for NICA and the movement. Information will be presented on how to form a team at your school and how individuals may also register to race in this year’s fall League series. Area bike shops will provide door prizes to be given away at the event.

Founded in 2009, the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) develops high school mountain biking programs for student-athletes across the United States. NICA provides leadership, services, and governance for local leagues to produce quality mountain bike events and supports development of every student-athlete.

For more information, visit the League’s website at www.tennesseemtb.org