A delegation of Arkansas mountain bike enthusiasts reached the summit, then returned with more awards than any other state in the nation or any other country in the world.

Their destination was the International Mountain Bicycling Association world summit held Aug. 19-23 at Steamboat Springs, Colo. About 20 Arkansans were among 400 attendees from 40 U.S. states and 12 other nations.

Riders from Northwest Arkansas and other parts of the state took part in workshops, rides in the mountains and the awards presentation. Eighteen awards were presented, and Arkansas won four of them, said Steve Schneider of Springdale who attended the summit. That's more than any other state or nation, added Schneider, who is south-central regional director of the International Mountain Bicycling Association.

The organization designates certain cities as "ride centers" with gold, silver and bronze awards presented. Bentonville received a silver and Fayetteville a bronze. Ride center designations recognize towns for their variety of trails and proximity to amenities like dining, lodging and attractions.

Several factors added up to the silver for Bentonville, Schneider said, particularly the city's unique free-style park with jumps and other challenges for riders. Fayetteville received a bronze for its varied riding opportunities, including the Lake Fayetteville off-road loop that was recently refurbished by the local Ozark Off-Road Cyclists trail conservation group.

Only one city in the United States, Park City, Utah, has received the gold award, Schneider said.

Two awards is the most any other state received, but Arkansas brought home two more.

International Mountain Bicycling Association awards "epic" status to the top mountain bike trails in the world. The new 40-mile Upper Buffalo mountain bike trail network near Red Star received an epic award at the summit. The Lake Ouachita Vista Trail also garnered an epic.

The association bestows epic distinction to mountain bike trails of 20 or more miles. They offer a true outback experience with varied terrain that is physically and technically demanding, Schneider said.

Three trails located in Texas, Wyoming and California and one in Australia got epic status. Canada, Austria and the Czech Republic were other nations receiving awards at the annual summit.

TLC For Trails

If trails aren't maintained, they tend to disappear. The Ozark Off-Road Cyclists are the Northwest Arkansas leaders in maintaining 150 miles of the region's off-road cycling trails. They built and maintain the new Upper Buffalo trail, the Lake Fayetteville Trail and several others.

They're happy to do it, said Phil Penny, president of the off-road cyclists. He's happy to see the awards.

"For us, it's recognition for all the hard work we've been doing for the last 17 years," he said.

Penny figures the Ozark Off-Road Cyclists have built $750,000 worth of trails since 2008 in Fayetteville at Mount Kessler, Mount Sequoyah and Lake Fayetteville. They've performed $500,000 worth of trail maintenance since 2004, he said.

As if 150 miles isn't enough trail to maintain, the cyclists plan to do more. There is a trail proposed at Lee Creek Reservoir near Van Buren that the group is eyeing.

The off-road cycling group was the first to become a south-central region chapter of the International Mountain Bicycling Association, Penny added. The region takes in five states.

Pedal The Buffalo

The Upper Buffalo trail network is a new place to ride for area mountain bikers. Penny and Schneider get excited talking about it.

Different routes make up the 40 miles. "The Azalea Falls Trail is the absolute best in Arkansas," Schneider said. "It's four miles with seven or eight creek crossings. There are big benches and boulders. If you took the best of the best in Arkansas, it's on the Azalea Falls Trail."

Some of the network is on Cave Mountain Road, which is a regular gravel road that vehicles use. The road may be familiar to those who have visited Hawksbill Crag. Cave Mountain Road passes the trailhead and path that leads to the much-visited promontory.

Not all of the network is finished, and the Ozark Off-Road Cyclists need to get in and cut weeds on some sections, Penny said. Preferred trails are the Fire Tower Trail, Knuckles Creek Connector, South Bench and Azalea Falls trails.

"People will find a lot of swimming holes," Schneider said. "We've seen bears when we've been down there."

Rocky Mountain Ride

It wasn't all workshops and awards at the Colorado summit.

"We rode every day," Schneider said. "About 50 or 60 miles for the time we were there. There was some great riding. Scenic, rocky terrain and beautiful forest."

Schneider is lobbying to have the International Mountain Bicycling Association world summit in Bentonville in 2016. He's optimistic that it will happen.

Outdoors on 09/04/2014