Bike Riders Kick Off Bentonville Weekend

Professional trials rider Kenny Belaey, from Belgium, hops his bike over children from local elementary schools on Thursday September 5, 2013 during the Slaughter Pen Jam media preview event at Park Spring Park in Bentonville. Trials riders will descend on the Bentonville square on Friday for an exhibition of the relatively new sport in which riders attempt to bounce, hop and balance over various obstacles.
Professional trials rider Kenny Belaey, from Belgium, hops his bike over children from local elementary schools on Thursday September 5, 2013 during the Slaughter Pen Jam media preview event at Park Spring Park in Bentonville. Trials riders will descend on the Bentonville square on Friday for an exhibition of the relatively new sport in which riders attempt to bounce, hop and balance over various obstacles.

BENTONVILLE — Two of the world’s top trials bike riders jumped their bikes around boulders and even over a line of adventurous children Thursday at Park Springs Park.

“Whoa!” one boy yelled as Kenny Belaey of Belgium hopped his bike off a 10-foot boulder. Students from Lincoln Junior High School and city elementary schools clamored for autographs after Belaey and Adrian Lengyel of Hungary finished the show.

The afternoon event was a preview for a weekend that includes a bike trials exhibition and bluegrass music at First Friday.

At A Glance

First Friday Music Schedule

• 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.: Shannon Wurst

• 5-5:45 p.m.: Outside the Lines

• 6-6:45 p.m.: Billy Bright & Geoff Union Trio

• 7-8 p.m.: The Greencards

Picking on the Square, Bentonville’s weekly community bluegrass jam session, begins at 6 p.m. at Dave Peel Park.

Source: Staff Report

Belaey and Lengyel will repeat their stunts from 5 to 8 p.m. at First Friday on Northwest Second Street. The exhibition is part of the Slaughter Pen Jam, an annual event hosted by Friends at Slaughter Pen Trail, which includes a cross-country mountain bike race Saturday and brings in professional trials riders for First Friday.

Belaey said he started riding trials bikes when he was 9. Now, 21 years later, he is sponsored by companies such as Red Bull and Adidas. He performed in Bentonville earlier this year for the opening of the 21c Museum Hotel.

“There’s a lot of nature here, a lot of green,” Belaey said. “Not a lot of cities are investing in cycling the way that Bentonville is.”

Trials biking is a sport where cyclists jump their bikes onto and over obstacles without putting a foot down. Riders use their strength and balance instead of movement to keep their bikes upright.

The spectator-friendly sport will be on display at First Friday with obstacles set up near Northwest Second Street. In addition to the exhibition, First Friday will include bluegrass performances and art events on the downtown square.

Cyclists can register this afternoon for the cross-country mountain bike race set for Saturday morning and afternoon. Races of varying lengths will serve different skill levels from beginner to expert. Races will start and end at the Free Ride Park at Slaughter Pen off the North Bentonville Trail, according to a news release.

Proceeds from the cross-country race go back into helping the club foster and support young mountain bike riders, grow a healthy community and create trails for fitness and nature enthusiasts, according to Gary Vernon, president of Friends at Slaughter Pen Trail.

A leisure bike ride Saturday night is open to anyone in the community. Riders will pedal from Phat Tire Bike Shop on West Central Avenue down scenic trails to Petit Bistro at 2702 N. Walton Blvd. Billy Bright and Geoff Union will be joined by special guest performances on the patio at the bistro. A menu crafted for the event will include artisan cheeseburgers, grilled portobello mushroom burgers and grilled chicken and Swiss burgers.

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