This Pinkbike article sums up our feelings about this great city and its inhabitants perfectly!
The people I had gotten to know over the course of my time here were so profoundly excited to show off their trails and community, and the sense of family and familiarity was palpable almost immediately. There’s something to be said about the people of a particular place making it a destination.
Located just west of the spine of the Appalachian Mountains, Knoxville is blessed with never ending ridges and valleys–AKA really good geography for trails. Thanks to the blood, sweat, and tears of some exceedingly motivated mountain bikers, this East Tennessee city of 200,000 is laced with some seriously epic riding.
From the top of Pappy’s Point, you can just see downtown Knoxville’s skyline peeking above the lush green waves of rolling hills to the northwest. It’s an odd sight for a place that feels so removed, but it’s a quick reminder that—even here, surrounded by towering pines and the incessant chirping of songbirds in the heart of the city’s Baker Creek Preserve—you’re just a stone’s throw away from the hustle and bustle.
“I think we got more votes for the Knoxville trail, than we did in prior years for three projects combined”
Check out this Mini Doc showcasing the Bell Built process from concept to completion. For the third year in a row, Bell and IMBA awarded the Bell Built Trail Grant of $100,000. 9 communities competed feverishly and when the smoke cleared Knoxville, TN won the grant. Find out how the Appalachian Mountain Bike Club (AMBC), Legacy Parks, International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) and Bell Helmets helped bring this project to life.
Extra special thanks to our friends at The Frame Theory for the amazing video work.
“There’s a lot cooking these days in the world of mountain biking. And contrary to what you might think, it’s not necessarily about the construction of progressive trails or constantly improving bicycle technology. At the core, it’s about the communities that have embraced this type of recreation and its connection to the outdoors, making it part of the sustenance that fuels everyday lives.”
Donate Now AMBC’s work gets done by volunteers and donations from our incredible mountain biking community. Help continue the development and improvement of our trails with your secure donation.
