Cross-country cycling venture to make stop in Arkansas this summer

Looking to ride? The Fuller Center Bicycle Adventure, now in its 10th year, puts on group fundraising rides throughout the year, including taking on several cross-country road bike routes in the summer.

Among those trips is a 3,600 mile cross-country ride from San Francisco, CA to Savannah, GA taking place June 2-August 6. Trip leader Henry Downes said they are currently recruiting riders specifically for their 1-week segment from Lawton, OK to Shreveport, LA, which takes place July 9-15.  “We would love to attract some Arkansans to ride with us that week,” he said. Registration for the 2017 summer ride is now open with registration fees increasing on January 1.

“I will be leading a cross-country trip this summer, and our group will be passing through southwestern Arkansas and spending a night in Texarkana,” said Downes.  He said their summer-long journeys, which are fully supported, offer an opportunity to see a broad swath of the country. Riders can choose to join for the whole adventure or for one or more of the week-long segments. As part of the venture, participants help build homes as they travel.  The group is slated to ride through Arkansas on July 13. More details can be found at fullercenterbikeadventure.org/summer.

In other biking news, also to keep on the radar next year are the 2017 and 2018 USA Cycling Marathon Mountain Bike National Championships, which will be in Arkadelphia. The championships, which as of now are scheduled to take place in the spring, will be on a single-track course around DeGray Lake on the Iron Mountain Trail System. The races are being put on by local racing event company DLT Events, which is run by Fred Phillips, who lives in Arkadelphia. Along with mountain biking events, the company puts on road cycling races, triathlons and other events. For more information on biking in Arkansas check out arkansas.com/bicycling/.