FAST News & Events - Friends of Arkansas Singletrack

04/29/2025

🚨 Volunteer Call! 🚨

There’s a lot happening this Saturday, but if you’re still looking for something fun to do, come volunteer at the FAST Aid Station during the Pedaler’s Bash MTB Race! Signup here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C054CA4AC2DAAF5C25-56222694-fast #/

The race is an awesome local tradition, and our friends at Pedaler’s Pub have supported FAST for years—now it’s our turn to give back!🙌

📍 Where? Blowing Springs
🕘 When? This Saturday, May 3
💪 What? Handing out snacks, water, cheers, and high-fives to riders!

It's a great way to connect with the community and soak in race-day energy. Bring your good vibes and maybe a cowbell. 🔔😄

04/19/2025

Hot of the press... Check Yo Email!

04/12/2025

🚨 Spring Trail Maintenance Challenge! 🚨
Now’s the time to show your favorite OZ Trails some love!
Between now and April 30, head out and:
✅ Clear debris
✅ Fix tread damage
✅ Check drainage
Post a before & after photo of your work here FAST Group - Friends of Arkansas Singletrack, mention the trail you worked on, and you’ll be entered to win a new 2025 FAST hat! 🎉
Let’s keep our trails fast, fun, and ready for adventure! Grab your tools and get after it!

Discover Bella Vista
Visit Bentonville
Coler Mountain Bike Preserve
Destination Rogers

03/21/2025

Exciting news!

Spring brings with it some exciting news! 🎉 Officially opening tomorrow, March 22:

🥾Pigeon Roost Trail – Drycreek & Huckleberry loops are now opens which total 8.5 miles and includes the five reservable camping locations. Available for foot traffic only and backpacking trail users.
🎒 Hidden Diversity Multi-Use Trail – Little Clifty Loop and War Eagle Loop. Hikers, trail runners, mountain bikers and equestrians to utilize the entire 24-mile Hidden Diversity Multi-Use Trail. The Bashore and Dutton Hollow Loops were previously opened. Completing this entire trail system will allow park staff and our event sponsors/partners to conduct our two upcoming June special events: War Eagle Trial Run (600-700 participants) and one of the Arkansas Circuit Mountain Bike Races (200-250 participants).
🚴 Monument Trail – Karst Loop. This very popular hike, run and mountain bike 8-mile loop is the only trail section available, at this time, on the 18-mile Monument Trail System. However, opening of this Karst Loop also permits access to the reservable six-campsites for bike-in and backpacking camping along the corridor. Access to the Karst Loop will only be available at the parking area along Huckleberry Road or Paige Sawmill Road. Access from the Monument parking area at the Visitor Center will not be possible until the Tunnel Connector and Wolf Den Loops are reopened.

The remainder Monument Trail sections, including the Wolf Den Loop, Tunnel Connector, Sawtooth Downhill, Timberjack Downhill and the Return Trails are expected to reopen by the end of March or early April.

Our heartfelt appreciation to the park staff, contractors and volunteers who have worked diligently to clean-up trails!

03/05/2025

Shimano presents RITUAL Mountain Bike Film Tour powered by Outside is a big screen celebration of the indomitable human spirit that defines the sport of mountain biking with unforgettable film-going experiences. The film series highlights incredible athletes, creative filmmakers, engaging storylines and stunning cinematography; bringing riders together in mountain biking’s greatest cities and venues.
March 13: Bentonville, AR - Meteor Guitar Gallery
Get your Tickets NOW!
https://ritualbike.com/tour/

RITUAL sponsors will be providing $50,000 of the industries greatest giveaways throughout the tour, brought to you by Shimano-MTB, Outside Magazine, Lazer Sport North America, Trailforks, Pinkbike, Gunnison Crested Butte, Schwalbe tires, Flylow Gear, Send It, Oskar Blues Brewery, REEB Cycles, International Mountain Bicycling Association, Softopper, and Traction Coffee Roasters.

https://www.pinkbike.com/video/587228/

02/05/2025

YO! You got mail! If you didn't receive it...go into your IMBA account and make sure your settings are set up to receive email. If that still doesn't work...Call President Josh Deen after 10 pm... he loves it when that happens...😁

01/06/2025

🌨️ Winter Riding Tips: Understanding the Freeze-Thaw Cycle 🌡️

Hello, fellow trail lovers! Winter riding can be some of the best riding of the year—cool air, beautiful scenery, and quiet trails. But it’s also the time when our trails are most at risk of damage due to the freeze-thaw cycle.

What is Freeze-Thaw?
During freezing nights, the moisture in the ground turns to ice, expanding and breaking up the soil. As the day warms up and the ice melts, the soil becomes soft and muddy. Even without recent rain or snow, moisture in the ground can be drawn to the surface during sunny winter days, setting the stage for freeze-thaw conditions.

How to Ride Responsibly
The good news? You can still enjoy the trails if you ride at the right time and keep an eye on conditions:
👉 Ride when trails are either dry or frozen solid (like early morning after a hard freeze).
👉 If you notice mud sticking to your tires or see that you’re leaving ruts, it’s time to turn around. Trails can go from great to messy in minutes, so plan to finish before they thaw.

Why It Matters
Riding on soft trails during a freeze-thaw cycle causes deep ruts that harden and create long-lasting damage. Repairing these trails is time-intensive and takes valuable volunteer hours away from trail improvements.

What About Puddles?
If you come across a puddle, ride through it—not around it—to avoid widening the trail.

The Best Solution?
Bundle up, enjoy the crisp winter air, and hit the trails early while they’re still frozen. And if conditions change, be ready to adapt—switch to the road, gravel, or even a scenic hike to protect the trails for everyone.

By riding responsibly, we’re helping to preserve the trails we all love. Thanks for being awesome trail stewards and happy winter riding! 🚵

Send a message to learn more

01/04/2025

We are so grateful to everyone who helped make the FAST New Year's Day Ride & Social a great way to kick off 2025!

🌟 To our amazing sponsors: Bike Works, G4 Real Estate and riderup.app - your generosity and support allowed us to bring this event to life and create something special for our community. We also extend our gratitude to PRIME hydration & Bike Fest for their contributions.

🌟 To our incredible volunteers: you are the heart and soul of this event. From all the yummy food, setup to cleanup and everything in between, your dedication and smiles have not gone unnoticed. You’ve shown the true meaning of teamwork and community spirit.

🌟 To the entire community: thank you for showing up, contributing, participating, and making this event unforgettable. It was wonderful to see the community come together to share in fun, fellowship and make new connections!

Here’s to many more moments of connection, collaboration, and celebration. Thank you for being part of this journey with us! 🙌🏼
See you on the trails!