Run To Test Riders’ Skills

TRAIL ADDS NEW DIMENSION TO WHAT IS ALREADY POPULAR

Seth Jacobs with Phat Tire Bike Shop in Bentonville rides a section of the new downhill trail Thursday at Slaughter Pen Hollow Multi-Use Trail System in Bentonville. Workers with Progressive Trail Design are finishing the new section that is supposed to be completed in August.

Seth Jacobs with Phat Tire Bike Shop in Bentonville rides a section of the new downhill trail Thursday at Slaughter Pen Hollow Multi-Use Trail System in Bentonville. Workers with Progressive Trail Design are finishing the new section that is supposed to be completed in August.

Monday, July 23, 2012

— The knobby front tire of Seth Jacobs’ Salsa mountain bike flew over the lip of a 10-foot dirt mound and Jacobs went soaring through the air, landing the bike on the down slope at Slaughter Pen’s latest playground.

Progressive Trail Design is building a new downhill course on the northwest corner of the mountain bike trail system off Northwest A Street, and dirt enthusiasts are flocking to it to test their skills.

The trail is not officially open, but that hasn’t stopped riders from speeding around flowy curves and jumping over packed berms. Caution signs warning of construction in progress stand to the side of trail entrances as riders gear up for a long ride down.

AT A GLANCE

About Slaughter Pen

Slaughter Pen Trails is a series of mountain bike trails in Bentonville for riders of all levels. The off-road trails can be accessed from the Crystal Bridges Trail or the North Bentonville Trail. Slaughter Pen Jam, a multiday mountain bike festival and race, is set for Sept. 7-9 on the trails.

Source: Staff Report

Chris Crone, head operator for Progressive Trail Design, worked on a wooden ramp feature on the trail during a recent 100-degree day. He said the trail will probably be finished in early to mid-August.

The trail snakes through the wooded hillside, sloping down to the new Wishing Springs Trail section below. Table-top jumps, S-curves and wooden features dot the winding trail on the bottom.

Gary Vernon, head of Friends at Slaughter Pen Trails, said the beauty of the trail is its accessibility to different skill levels. New downhill riders can take the course as slow as they want, while thrill-seekers won’t be disappointed with the jumps and speed of the course.

The trail adds a new dimension to what is already a popular spot for mountain bikers from around the region. Blair Cromwell, communications director of the Bentonville Visitors Bureau, said she often receives calls from visitors driving to ride the trail from out of state.

Alan Ley, Bike Bentonville director, said riders would be hard pressed to find anything like the downhill course in the surrounding area.

“I don’t think there’s anything like it in Arkansas,” he said. “It’s a really nice way to introduce people to downhill.

Riders do need to take proper precautions, he said. Riders should wear protective gear, such as a full-face helmet or leg guards, he said. They should also be aware of their skill level and ride at a safe speed.

The new downhill course won’t make it as an event into this year’s Slaughter Pen Jam, planned for Sept. 7-9, but could be a feature in future races, Vernon said. For more information on Slaughter Pen or the downhill trail, visit fasttrails.org.