Trail Blazers is AMBC’s 8-week program for 3rd–5th graders that blends on and off-bike games, trail exploration, and mentorship. We are operating programs at Baker Creek Preserve (South Knox) and Concord Park (West Knox) in the fall of 2026. Both programs run 5-7 pm every Tuesday from September 8 through November 3 (except October 6). Registration opens June 30th at 7 am.
Tag Archives: mountain bike
THANK YOU: Membership Drive Success!
If there’s one thing we learned from our first AMBC Membership Drive, it’s that we have an amazing community. Sending a HUGE thank you to everyone who joined, re-joined, or upgraded their AMBC membership through May, and to everyone else who supports us year-round!
We’re honored to say we grew by 100+ members (that’s 20%!) and 25+ membership upgrades during the month of May, and we’re still growing. Our club is bigger than it’s ever been before with 643 members, and with your help we will continue to grow and share our love for trails and mountain biking across Knoxville and East Tennessee.
Congratulations to our Membership Drive prize winners:
- Joe Ludick, Sauna House Knoxville package
- Sonny Schow, Cycology Bicycles package
- Trina Deel, River Sports Outfitters package
- Russell George, Bear Paw Bikes package
Russell George with his new bike apparel set from Bear Paw Bikes. More prize pictures to come!
Thank you to our supporting businesses who helped us put on our Membership Drive and give back to our members:
- Charit Creek Lodge
- Climbing Roots Bouldering Gym
- Bear Paw Bikes
- River Sports Outfitters
- Cycology Bicycles
- Sauna House Knoxville
Don’t forget all AMBC members can enjoy Member Benefits with 25+ local businesses through AMBC, as well as benefits with national and regional brands through SORBA. As always, thanks for keeping us rolling!!
Red Bird Crest 40K/80K in Manchester, KY
The Red Bird Crest 80K and 40k will feature an epic course with lots of rocky features, single track, climbs, and amazing descents. This course will challenge your physical fitness and your bike handling. Learn more and register here. The AMBC community has been offered a special discount code of 10% off – use discount code 10speed.
National Trails Weekend at Big South Fork
Every year we celebrate National Trails Day for an entire weekend at Big South Fork! Join AMCB and BSF Bike Club this year from June 5-7 for volunteer trail work, group rides, free food, and a great time with friends! ALL ARE WELCOME!!!
Camp: We have reserved Group Camp E1 at Bandy Creek Campground in Big South Fork from Friday afternoon (2 pm) to Monday (noon). Camping is on a first come, first served basis. There are no hookups, but plenty of sites to choose from, and all are a leisurely stroll to the campfire, pavilion, and bathhouse.
Work: We’ll meet at the Bandy Creek Visitors Center at 9am EST, our good friends with the Big South Fork Bike Club will have our work projects ready, and AMBC will have all the tools you’ll need for the day. Bring a friend, sturdy shoes, safety glasses, and water! At noon we’ll meet back at Bandy Creek for lunch and drinks.
Eat:
- Saturday lunch: Following our Saturday Work Party, lunch will be provided by the Big South Fork Bike Club.
- Saturday dinner: We’ll have a potluck Saturday night at the group site pavilion! Tennessee Valley Bicycles will provide the protein/main, and everyone else should bring a side for 10 to share with the group. BYO plate, utensils, etc. for dinner!
- All other meals will be on your own.
- If you’re going on the EPIC ride, you’ll want to pack a lunch or bring $20 for refreshments at Charit Creek Lodge.
Ride: We’ll offer several ride opportunities this weekend!
- Social Ride — Saturday afternoon. Casual co-ed ride; all are welcome!
- Joy Ride — Sunday at 10 am. Women’s ride for Beginner through Intermediate Riders – sign up here!
- EPIC Ride — Sunday at 9 am. Long ride, around 30 miles. Led by Shawn McCann (Harper’s Bike Shop) and Scott Smith (TN Valley Bikes).
Thank you to BSF Bike Club, TVB, Harper’s Bike Shop, Randy Conner, and everyone else who is making this weekend a success!!
Email us at [email protected] with any questions. Find the Facebook event here.
POSTPONED – Highlander Rail Trail Preview Ride
POSTPONED DUE TO RAIN IN THE FORECAST – CHECK TN Highlander for news on a new date.
The Echoes group is organizing a ~30 mile group ride along the TN Highlander railbanked corridor on Sunday, May 24th at 1 pm.
This ride will not be on the rail bed, but instead will be adjacent to the corridor on portions of New River Hwy, Straight Fork Rd, and Norma Rd. The ride will be a recreational pace, no-drop ride and expected to be approximately 30 miles (best suitable for gravel bikes, mountain bikes, or e-bikes). Much of Straight Fork Rd is gravel and not suitable for a pure road bike. We will take many opportunities to view the rail corridor and visit some of the notable features. Unfortunately the rail corridor is still the rail ballast and is quite rough for bike traffic. The selected route parallels the corridor and is very close (within feet) for most of its route. Here is a similar route for comparison.
Meet at: Ligias Fork Cabins – 5901 New River Hwy, Briceville TN
Please email Doug Ferguson ([email protected]) if you have any questions or plan to join for the ride.
Some other news about the Highlander Rail Trail:
The rail corridor has been railbanked!!! The agreement between RJ Corman, the Trust for Public Lands, and the National Surface Transportation Board to operate an interim trail was reached at the end of April. This was the first big step towards securing the future of the rail trail.
Our efforts now turn towards fundraising. Our goal is to raise the purchase price of the corridor so that we may officially transfer ownership by early 2027. If you would like to take a larger role in fundraising please contact us at: john.mccracken@echoesoftnrail.
