Tweetsie Trail outpost taking shape as Local Motion opens for business

This story was originally published in the Johnson City News and Neighbor Dec. 19, 2018.

At long last, those who frequent the Tweetsie Trail have an outpost to serve their needs at the beginning or the end of their respective journeys.

Local Motion Cyclery, a bike shop with a bit of European Trail Café ambiance, has opened its doors at 701 East Maple Street, just steps away from the Johnson City entrance to the 10-mile Tweetsie Trail. The outpost is an example of public-private cooperation as much-needed public restrooms are being added to a bike shop that aims to serve the needs of anyone who uses the trail.

The Local Motion shop has opened for business just steps away from the Johnson City entrance to the Tweetsie Trail. The building at the corner of East Maple and Alabama is a public-private endeavor aimed at providing much-needed amenities for those who use the Tweetsie Trail. PHOTO BY W. KENNETH MEDLEY IItion

The ceiling inside Local Motion Cyclery is painted to resemble white clouds and blue sky, albeit a little abstract. There are bikes, but also drinks, snacks, apparel, a patio and destination souvenirs. Being located directly next to the Tweetsie Trail provides a unique opportunity for founder, owner and operator Bryan Winston.

“I think we are more than just a bike shop,” said Winston. “We can help all the genres of people that utilize the Tweetsie Trail in specific; that is runners, walkers, hikers and cyclists. We have a patio out front, we have drinks, edibles, wear-ables and we offer all things cycling, whether that be maintenance, service, rental or sales.”

In the small show room, one will discover Fuji bicycles of all types surrounding an island stacked with shirts themed around the Tweetsie Trail and biking. Lining the checkout counter and end capping the island is an assortment of energy gels, bars and hydration additives. The shop also includes a maintenance area and a coffee/slushy station.

There were many obstacles to getting the doors open at Local Motion, starting with a caved-in roof. According to Winston, the structure was built in 1920, and a failed remodeling job led to the dilapidated state.

“It was like a swimming pool, and water was accumulating,” Winston said. “It was just going to collapse at whatever point in time. We removed the roof, but we couldn’t be on or inside the building. So we had to hang through and above to dismantle it piece-by-piece.”

The plan for the shop hatched after Winston bought the building in April 2017. It took him about five months to get the building rezoned and secure a building permit to begin reconstruction. After that, Winston postponed the work until spring, but received a boost when city commissioners agreed to reimburse him up to $35,000 for construction and cover the shop’s utility costs.

“We started putting it back together, pumped the walls full of concrete,” Winston said. “Did what we wanted to do with new doors, new garage doors. Then we elevated it up and went pretty much with the architectural plan.”

The original concept art for the outpost at the head of the Tweetsie Trail reflects a vision that was realized when Local Motion was completed.

Now, the building is an aesthetically pleasing mix of tin and wood, giving it the ambiance of a 1920-era speakeasy or modern European Trail Café. One almost expects to hear a “Hallo” or “Buongiorno” from behind the counter upon entering. Instead, visitors are greeted with Winston’s smile and slow Southern drawl.

 

“My goal for the shop is to be a destination point,” said Winston. “I think the Tweetsie Trail is a logical destination point for the local community, as well as visitors coming to the John-son City area. Our goal is to be that destination point. We want to be the ones that can fulfill (needs for) all things cycling.”

Winston went on to say that the decision to open a bicycle shop was made due to need, location and opportunity. His initial plan was to provide drinks, snacks and bicycle rentals aimed at the Tweetsie Trail. The decision to expand to a full cyclery came later.

Plans for the future include bicycle maintenance classes, no-drop group rides and working with The Goose Chase, a non-profit running organization. One of Winston’s part-time employees, who he referred to as a coach, is planning mountain bike “How-to” classes. All he needs is support from the community.

“I would love to have the community to support local,” said Winston. “In turn, I will continue to support the community. If I can provide the tools for the people in Johnson City, in our community, to be a healthier, more fit, diverse community, I am willing to step on the edge, and offer an abundance of guidance.”

Work Continues at Winged Deer Mountain Bike Park

This story was originally published in the Johnson City News and Neighbor November 28, 2018.

Winged Deer Mountain Bike Park saw more than 20 volunteers join Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association Tri-Cities (SORBA Tri-Cities) members to clear a section of trail and place rocks for a new advance skill-level trail.

Members of SORBA Tri-Cities and volunteers enjoy pizza, refreshments and camaraderie after a long day of breaking rocks and building trail at Winged Deer Park. The new stretch of mountain biking trail will be between 1 and 1.5 miles complete with rock features.

SORBA Tri-Cities Trail Boss Greg Carr said, “I think the trail that we are currently building is a little bit out of the norm for us. We didn’t really know that we were going to have such enormous technical trail features.”

The new trail will be approximately 1 to 1.5 miles long and have natural rock features. The main focus of last Sunday’s volunteers was to build this section of new trail. Completion is not expected until the spring of 2019. This new trail and a beginner loop being built in January will nearly double the available mileage at Winged Deer Mountain Bike Park.

“We’re going to have, probably, some of the biggest drops that we have ever built at 4 and 5 feet,” Carr said. “It surprised us and we are really excited about the opportunity to build something like this.”

Carr explained that the rock features presented themselves as they cleared the downfall. This was during a previous outing to mark new trails.

“Normally, technical trail features like this have to be built with rock that you have to bring in,” explained Carr. “This was probably one of the largest natural rock gardens that we have ever uncovered.”

Volunteers use a rock bar to dislodge a large boulder that will be included in the new rock garden.

Morale was high amongst the volunteers. Sledgehammers landing upon solid rock echoed like shotgun blasts, as big rock was broken into little rocks. Volunteers used a “rock bar” – imagine a 6 foot tall, 2.5 inch thick nail – to break apart large boulders along fracture lines. Chainsaws screamed as more downfall was cleared to expose the rock and trail underneath.

Carr said, “It will be a trail that will take time to master. It is not going to be something that most riders will be able to ride all the way through the very first time they ride it, myself included.”

Volunteers used a variety of tools to clear leaves, roots and trees to expose a trail that may seem foreign to the untrained eye. Blisters, pizza, refreshments and the prospect of “sending it,” are the reward for the diggers. Carr hopes the volunteers gain “a sense of pride in the local trails, because they are putting their own time and effort into build-ing them.”

SORBA Tri-Cities will host its next volunteer workday on Dec. 2. This will be the last workday of the year. The club plans to go “full-throttle” in 2019 to complete this trail and a new beginner loop. Check the groups Facebook page – http://www.facebook.com/SORBATriCities/ – for more details.

Five Reasons to Visit Johnson City

Johnson City, Tennessee, is a diverse little city that is growing fast. The city was once a transportation hub, where coal, timber and goods from the east would cascade off the western slope of the Appalachian Mountains to develop an expanding frontier.

Long gone are the frontier days. Gone are the boom days of coal. Gone are a lot of the factories, and gone is the need for rail travel. Finally, gone is most of the agriculture that once dominated the region. The little city has struggled to redefine itself.

The never-say-die spirit of the Appalachian American is kicking in though. They are picking themselves up and finding new ways to make a living. This time in one sustainable for future generations.

Outdoor-Assets are to play a major role in the future of the region. Mountain Bike parks are popping up where local organizations have struggle with land-use for two decades. More emphasis is being placed on long standing assets like the Appalachian Trail, in near by counties.

One trail head at Winged Deer Mountain Bike Park.

Every visit to Johnson City provides another opportunity to learn or try something new. There is always a festival for music, food, cultural diversity or outdoor recreation happening. Besides all of the reasons one has already, what follows is a list of five reasons to visit the city, with your bike.

1. Accommodations: One can choose from a variety of accommodations in the Johnson City area. Whether you want a 5 Star hotel complete with room service, or a private country cabin; the region will oblige your needs. There are a variety of offerings ranging in price to accommodate most people’s budget. Easily search online for any offerings if looking to book a trip.If one is traveling with a bike do not worry. There are a variety of bike shops in Johnson City to take care of your best friend if repairs or a tune is needed. One can find a shop that is brand specific to their bike but most of the shops can work on any bike. The city is very bike friendly and has multiple repair points in the parks downtown too.
2. Biking: Tannery Knobs Bike Park will be opening soon. This park is located within an easy 2 miles of downtown Johnson City. TK features beginner to advanced skill-level mountain bike trails, built by IMBA Trail Solutions. Also, being built at this time is a paved pump track by Velosolutions out of Knoxville, Tennessee.Winged Deer Mountain Bike Park is within city limits and features miles of single-track. The local Southern Off-Road Bicycling Association is in the process of expanding the trail system for 2019. This trail system is mostly hand built by volunteers, residents and from donations.SORBA Tri-Cities will be adding an advanced skill-level trail to Winged Deer. The trail will feature natural rock gardens with 4 to 5 feet drops. This line was discovered, when club members began to clear undergrowth looking for opportunities to dig new trail.

   

   Members of SORBA Tri-Cities gather for Take A Kid Mountain Biking Day at the Mountain Bike Park at Winged Deer. Photo by Kenneth Medley

   The cities convenient location also makes it possible to drive to Pisgah National Forest for a day trip. There is also Paint Creek and a few other popular mountain bike destinations available for day trips. That is why it is best to plan an extended stay, around a week, to the region.

   There are also great road biking opportunities, if one is more into that. There are a myriad of routes to choose from with loops of 50 to 100 miles or more. Local clubs and businesses have nightly rides Monday through Saturday during peak season for road and mountain bikes.

 

3. Beer: Okay, if you do not drink then this may not be a reason. Let me entice you though. Beer has been a part of American Culture since the countries founding. Some of the founding fathers were even rumored to be brewers themselves.Johnson City has found success in the popularity of craft breweries. The city features five craft breweries and six tap rooms within a one-mile radius of downtown. At any time of the day one can catch a whiff of malt in the air and this floods the mind with images of 18^th Century America for the history buff.

 

4. History: Johnson City has a storied history. One such story is how the city received its nickname, “Little Chicago,” from notorious American gangster Al Capone. Although not spoken about by the locals, the Bible Belt-town had quite the reputation during prohibition.Also, nearby is Jonesborough, Tennessee, the state’s oldest town. This historical town is home to the International Storytelling Center, the first abolitionist newspaper in the south, and a preserved Main Street where the likes of Daniel Boone, President Andrew Jackson, David Crockett and John Sevier, once went for an evening stroll.

   One can experience this living history in Johnson City and much more. The trails nearby provide more history. The Overmountain Shelter is a rejuvenated shelter on the Appalachian Trail once used by the Overmountain Men during the Revolutionary War. You can hike up, stay overnight here and imagine what it would have been like; to be a part of a militia about to battle the most powerful army in the world, at the time.

 

5. Convenience: One thing that one should have noticed is that not everything on this list is in Johnson City. That is on purpose. Johnson City is conveniently located in the Tri-Cities and Northeast Tennessee region.Johnson City provides the best all around location to get the most out of what the region offers. One can travel to Bristol Motor Speedway, Roan Highlands or Erwin to white-water raft all in under an hour. These activities can be accomplished on a day trip.

   

   Once back in Johnson City you can enjoy a refreshing drink at a local award-winning brewery, grab a bite to eat at a fine restaurant and return to your accommodations, all without spending an arm-and-leg. The city provides the convenience of backcountry outdoor recreation without the negatives.

Specialized 2FO Flats Product Review

 

Welcome to American Dream Overland Expedition, I’m your host Kenneth Medley. This is a product review about the Specialized 2FO-flats. This is the first pair of shoes I’ve bought with a manual, albeit useless, because it was for a different pair of shoes. This is great marketing by Specialized. There is warranty information so do not throw it out.

What does Specialized say about these shoes?

“Pushing the limits requires confidence in your equipment. 2FO brings control, comfort, and protection to platform pedal footwear without any weight and fit penalties. Developed and tested by gravity and all mountain athletes worldwide, 2FO uses our SlipNot rubber tread compound for ultimate platform pedal hook-up. Foot out, flat out.”

Well there it is folks, straight from the company’s website. There is a bulleted list that describes more specific details, found here, Specialized website.

Does the shoe perform? The short answer is yes. Now I will explain why.

First is confidence:

These shoes won’t keep your feet on the pedals as if you were wearing clip-ins, but will give you the confidence as if you were. There is the obvious inability to pedal on the upstroke, however, moment can compensate. If you are used to riding flats, you’ll have no problem.

The difference of riding with a shoe designed for mountain biking is night and day. Be safe and confident in your equipment and your session times will improve. The Specialized described, “shark-skin forefoot tread pattern,” grips the pedals well. This translates into confidence on the trail. Confidence translates into speed.

Second, Comfort:

These shoes are comfortable for all day Stage-Enduro races, social rides or Dirt Church. I placed 12^th in the Fire Mountain Inferno race wearing them. They are great for hike-a-bike sections. A little slippery on wet rocks, but they are not made for that. The tread will pick up a little mud when hiking but is easily stomped clean.

They are perfect for grabbing a beer after the trail. Since a lot of my rides end at the pub instead of the podium, I wear these all the time. They are my go to for social rides and when I know I will be on my feet a lot.

That being said, I recommend buying a pair of insoles with the shoes. The factory insoles are garbage and not worth wearing out. Throw them out and get new ones.

Third point I want to talk about is style.

I love the red and black. I am partial to the color combination though. I have a lot of gear in the combo because it is available, goes well with a lot of other colors and I like the two together. I get compliments on these things all the time and if you care about that, cool. Specialize has many different offerings.

Next, protection:

I absolutely love Speacialize’s, “Injection-molded toe kick, anti-tear toe, and high-side cuff.” These features really do provide lightweight armor-like protection. You do not have to worry about trail hazards puncturing your foot when riding.

They are not bulletproof, but do provide a higher level of protection. I have hit plenty of sticks, roots and rocks jutting onto the trail with these and never missed a pedal stroke. Also, they don’t scuff on pavement and protect from road rash during urban assaults.

Last two things I will hit on are price and durability. I think these go hand-in-hand. I know I want a product that is going to stretch my dollar. I purchased my 2FOs through The Bike Shop Johnson City and got a closeout deal, because of color. I am amazed at how they have held up.

I have pedaled hundreds of miles wearing these. Landed my first doubles, ridden in three different states and been down more times than I can count. The only items I have replaced are the insoles. They come with two pair of laces, which is nice. Use the trademarked Lacelock and you don’t have to worry about replacing the laces.

Cleaning is easy. Garden hose them off, remove the insoles to dry and place in the sun. I recommend some deodorizer to kill any leftover scent.

Yes they do what Specialized designed them to do. Yes they are worth the money but look for a deal. Yes they are flats so everybody knows you’re gnarly on the trail. Yes they provide some protection.

No the insoles are not comfortable so buy some. No they are not armor or bulletproof.

Most importantly, YES, I would definitely recommend these to another rider. I can’t wait to get another pair. I will try a different model in the line-up but it will be a flat.

I hope this review helps you make a decision on where to spend your hard earned cash. Whether you are racing, meditating or socializing you won’t be disappointed with these shoes.

Subscribe to American Dream: Overland Expedition for future product reviews. We have some Troy Lee Designs shorts, Ryder Glasses and a glove review coming up. Make sure to check back for those and more.

$10,000 Grant to Winged Deer Mountain Bike Park!

PeopleForBikes is achieving their goal of “building better places for bikes” by awarding a $10,000 grant to Winged Deer Mountain Bike Park in Johnson City, Tennessee.

Chad Wolfe presents check from PeopleForBikes to SORBA Tri-Cities Vice-president Marc Upton and President Jerry Greer.

Mayor David Tomita opened celebrations Wednesday, August 8, as community leaders, mountain bike trail advocates and local bike shop owners gathered at Winged Deer Park. A brief downpour did not dampen the spirit of attendees. Out of the rain, a big check was presented to the Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association Tri-Cities to expand the existing trail system.

“Thank you to PeopleForBikes for the generous grant,” said SORBA Tri-Cities Vice-President Marc Upton. “This is really a tremendous win for the community; and what it means to facilitate the growth of mountain biking as a whole, and also open up mountain biking to new generations.”

Upton gives thanks to PeopleForBikes for their generous grant.

SORBA Tri-Cities built the 3-miles of existing trails with volunteers after the trail system was approved by the city in 2015. A $500 cash donation from The Bike Shop to match an International Mountain Biking Association and Fox Head Apparel grant began groundwork in Feb 2016.

“We could not have done it without the community,” Upton said of the existing trails. “We’ve had 2,000+ hours of volunteer hours. We’ve had 150 different volunteers show up.”

Upton went on to say the grant from PeopleForBikes is to build a new Green Trail to facilitate more youth riding programs. Contour Trail Design out of Knoxville, Tennessee, is tasked with digging the new trails. Work will begin in December and take 4 to 6 weeks to complete.

According to Upton, 40 to 50 hours of work was put into the grant application process. Time was needed to gather letters of support. Even the office of a U.S. Representative for Tennessee, wrote a letter that may have helped secure the grant in a competitive selection process.

Upton explains the what the grant will be used for at Winged Deer Mountain Bike Park.

Upton said, “My understanding from PeopleForBikes is this is a very competitive process. They typically have 100 people apply for this, maybe 150 per grant cycle.”

Two local NICA teams utilize the trail system at Winged Deer Park now and there is a plan to add a local Little Bella’s chapter by 2019. Both of these factors were added to the grant application, according to Upton. He stated that reaching the next generation of riders and advocates is a goal of SORBA Tri-Cities.

“A lot of the things that Johnson City has done helped prime our ability to put ourselves at the top of the heap,” said Upton. “That includes the Tweetsie Trail, talks about a State of Franklin walking/hiking/trail-running loop around the city…The NICA teams and a youth program coming out of ETSU; we hope to be able to serve all those user groups.”

SORBA Tri-Cities accepts grant from Wolfe representing Trek and PeopleForBikes.

 

Chad Wolfe was representing Trek at the event. He explained Trek’s history with advocacy and PeopleForBikes. Wolfe spoke about one of Trek’s philosophies of creating new places to ride.

“Our arrangement [with PeopleForBikes] started with $1.00 for helmet sales,” Wolfe said. “At the time we were not entirely sure what that was going to spin into. Now we [Trek] are able to make $1 million donations to organizations like PeopleForBikes to create new opportunities for cyclist.”

Wolfe delivery a brief statement about PeopleForBikes and Trek’s philosophies of philanthropy.

Wolfe went on to say that the success of Winged Deer Mountain Bike Park is due to its accessibility and proximity to Johnson City. The non-discriminatory access ensures that all members of the community get to enjoy the trails.

Johnson City Parks and Recreation Director James Ellis closed the celebration. He began by thanking PeopleForBikes and SORBA Tri-Cities. The Director highlighted Winged Deer Park’s diverse offerings.

“I am very proud to be part of the recreation program and the offerings that we are able to offer our park patrons,” Ellis said.

The future development of Johnson City into a Mountain Biking Destination is well underway. Along with Winged Deer Mountain Bike Park, Tannery Knobs Bike Park is scheduled to open soon. There are miles of single-track to be ridden within city limits or a 20-minute drive away.

There is also approval to design trails at Buffalo Mountain City Park, digging trail is not yet approved. Local riders one-day hope to connect Buffalo Mountain City Park trails, if approved, to Cherokee National Forest trails, where a land use debate is currently open for public comment.

Bikin’ & Eggs, Get Some

The temperature is mild. Trees sway in a gentle breeze. It is Saturday morning and 75 new friends, as diverse as their bikes, enjoy the year’s first Bikin’ & Eggs event.

“Bikin’ & Eggs is our early morning breakfast ride,” said Trek Bicycle Store Johnson City Event Planner Sydney Lawson, “where we team up with Bojangles Tri-Cities and they provide breakfast.”

Sydney Lawson enjoys the easy pace of the Bikin’ & Eggs ride. Photograph by Robert King.

The ride leaders are Trek Store employees and three boys all under 11 years old. The pace is conversational to ensure participants complete the ride. This also allows the riders to focus on friendship and family.

“We go for about a 10-mile ride,” said Lawson, “to the Tweetsie Trail Quarry and back and it’s just a lot of fun.”

The Tweetsie Trail is a rails-to-trails project in Johnson City, Tennessee. It is a gravel trail that runs approximately 9.5 miles from Johnson City to nearby Elizabethton, Tennessee. The Tweetsie Trial will eventually extend to Roan Mountain.

The ride is an active alternative to Saturday morning cartoons. The streets have less traffic, and watching Johnson City wake-up provides a new perspective. The ride is safe and is a no-drop event ensuring fun for the whole family.

“When I saw [the] little one, in the carrier in the back,” said participant Pat Huber. “That is what families should be doing on a Saturday morning instead of watching cartoons.”

The Bikin’ & Egg riders gather for a group photograph. Photograph by Robert King.

Urijah Kim, one of the young leaders said his favorite part of the ride is eating bacon and eggs at the end. His dad’s favorite food group is the coffee provided by Open Doors Coffee Shop. Many participants corral at the Trek Bicycle Store Johnson City afterward until the food and drinks are gone.

“I want to ride bicycles and sometimes watch cartoons,” Kim said. He likes to do group rides in Johnson City because, “usually when we get done riding bikes, we get to eat.”

Urijah Kim enjoys breakfast, provided by Bojangles, after the Bikin’ & Eggs ride. Photograph by Robert King.

Bikin’ & Eggs is a unique opportunity to rent and demo some bikes too. The Trek Store has Townies and E-Bikes available. Helmets are required for everybody and decorations are encouraged. The whole point of this ride is to have fun and enjoy the company of neighbors.

The food and coffee is a favorite reward for many. It isn’t the only payout for riders though. Many celebrate completing the ride because it inspires confidence to those whom underestimate themselves.

“Making it up the hill,” said Huber immediately when asked about her favorite part. “Then having that wonderful reward at the end. Eggs and bacon, those wonderful blueberry biscuits.”

The ride is slow-paced and mostly downhill on the way to the quarry. This makes the return trip a little more interesting. The weather was perfect and conversations were heard more than heavy breathing.

Ryan Graybeal and other riders pause for a break. This is a time for people to fellowship. Photograph by Robert King.

“I like it (Bikin’ & Eggs) more than the Taco Trek because there are less people,” said rider Kaylani Ngirarois. “ Everybody is riding a little slower because they are not just trying to get back for free beer. It makes the Bikin’ & Eggs more personable and gives you the ability to meet new people from within your community.”

One gets a deep sense of community here. Participants can be overheard discussing what they love about bicycling and Johnson City. Many meet new people and make lunch plans for the same day.

“It is an event for everybody,” said Ngirarios. “You can get a true sense of the person from their bike. You have everything from real-shredders on full-suspension bikes to hippies cruising on Townies, it’s great”

Community and togetherness is the theme of the day. Co-Owner of Open Doors Coffee Shop Michael Marion is serving hot coffee to participants. He is smiling and carrying on like every person is a friend.

Open Doors Coffeehouse co-owner Michael Marion serves coffee after the ride to thirsty and tired riders. Photograph by Robert King.

“We love being a part of the community,” Marion said, “especially the downtown community’s unique owners of private shops, such as Trek, and believe in what they are doing.”

Marion is a bit of a large man standing around 6’5” but soft spoken. He is unassuming and pours coffee for everybody. He adds cream and sugar to Ngirarois’s coffee because her hands are full with a toddler. Marion is quick to help and has personal reason why Bikin’ & Eggs is important for Johnson City.

“Well, more so then ever we need community within communities,” said Marion. “The biking community is just a unique group of people who share a love for being outdoors and for two-wheeling.”

Marion is not a big bike rider himself but knows how important riding can be. He is here to support a way forward for this small Southern Appalachian city. In a region hit hard by economic downturn and illegal drug abuse Marion sees a silver lining in bikes.

“I told somebody this morning that nobody can ride a bike mad, it just brings out the best in you. I think [group rides] are vital to those that want more community,” said Marion.

The front of the group is usually Trek Bicycle Store Johnson City employees and children. Photograph by Robert King.

If one missed 2018’s first Bikin’ & Eggs there are no worries. Trek Bicycle Store Johnson City host the event every second Saturday of the month from April to October. The next one is this Saturday, so mark your calendars now!

Rain, Rain and MORE Rain!

There does not seem to be an end in sight for the rain in East Tennessee. Local weather agencies are reporting a chance of rain nearly everyday this week. There are many trails in East Tennessee that are hard-packed enough to ride in between downpours.

Winged Deer Mountain Bike Park is one of these. Please, however, be aware there are a few spots that hold water. One in particular has been damaged multiple times. SORBA Tri-Cities Trail Boss Greg Carr made repairs to the section of trail only for them to be damaged again.

A section of damaged trail a Winged Deer Mountain Bike Park. Photograph by Greg Carr

Next up for this section will be a rock bed to prevent future damage. Volunteers are always welcome to come out and help with trail maintenance. There will be future work days coming soon.

Tannery Knobs remains closed. There will be an opportunity to ride the park during the Meet the Mountains Festival August 24-25th. There are multiple group rides on the schedule. A special Ladies Ride will be hosted by Ladies of SORBA Tri-Cities.

All riders must sign a waiver at the festival. The gate will remain locked. This means that riders will enjoy the quick uphill climb along Dennis Drive. Do not fret because there are multiple breweries in Downtown Johnson City, Tennessee, to re-hydrate an individual.

Make sure to come out and enjoy Johnson City and East Tennessee. Tweetsie Trail, Erwin Linear Belt and many other greenways offer alternatives to destroying volunteer built trails. The fire roads in Cherokee National Forest are strong alternatives too.

Check back in at the end of the week for an update on Tannery Knobs.

Thunderstorms Bring Trail Damage

Words and images by W. Kenneth Medley II

Whitewater rushes down the side of Buffalo Mountain as a new creek forges its path. The waterway is temporary. It is the consequence of severe thunderstorms ravaging the region Friday night and into the wee hours of Saturday.

Rain has been falling off and on since Friday night in Northeast Tennessee. The downpours are unpredictable, sporadic and over as fast as they start. The Johnson City trails however seem to have weathered the storm in fair condition. The same cannot be said about Warrior’s Path State Park in nearby Kingsport.

Standing water and muddy singletrack at Winged Deer Mountain Bike Park.

Winged Deer Mountain Bike Park is open. The top layer of soil is dryer than expectation but Sunday showers brought massive downpours that soaked the region. The SORBA Tri-Cities Lady’s Ride was canceled due to afternoon rain.

Nathan “Biceps” Cole was at Winged Deer Mountain Bike Park clearing downed trees Sunday. Cole made quick work out of the few that had fallen during the storms. Some standing water was found on the trail.

Puddle of water on the trail at Winged Deer.

ETSU cross-country course, pump track and downhill section seemed to get hit a little harder than Winged Deer. The top inch of soil is wet and sticky, not a good sticky that provides traction. Rather, a bad sticky where mud clogs bike components and damages trails.

The DH area near the lower parking lot was dry! Again, late afternoon showers probably changed the saturation level of the dirt. The rocks were very slick and dangerous. Traction was hard to come by while walking the trail.

Pump track at East Tennessee State University Sunday afternoon.

Warriors’ Path State Park is closed due to storm damage. Local news agencies are reporting multiple trees down throughout the park. A night watchman was temporarily trapped in his vehicle when two trees fell on it. Crews are currently working to have the park open quickly.

Nightwatchman Pinned Inside Truck

Public Service Announcement: Please don’t ride wet trials! The trails in the Johnson City area are purpose built and maintained by volunteers. Remember there is no such thing as Trail Gnomes. An easy ride on certain areas before afternoon showers may be possible. Check conditions upon arrival and make a responsible decision. Make sure to check back next week for more updates.

7 Day Forecast

Tri-Cities Mountain Bike Trail Update!

This week’s Trail Update is going to focus on two Johnson City locations and one Kingsport, Tennessee, location. SORBA Tri-Cities is celebrated their 10th Anniversary this weekend. Also, make sure to read the end for an update regional weather to help plan the weeks riding and links to join SORBA.

SORBA Tri-Cities Trail Boss Greg Carr has been sweeping early morning spider webs at Winged Deer Mountain Bike Park. The last leg of volunteer built trails for the summer is complete. There are ample opportunities to link trails at Winged Deer Mountain Bike Park for long rides.

Trails are available for all skill levels at Winged Deer. There are a few drops that may take a second look from timid riders. Most, read all, features are roll-able or have a ride around for lower skill levels.

One of the best features of Winged Deer Mountain Bike Park is there are trails suitable for a Burly Minnow bike trailer. This allows mom and big brother to hit the miles of single-track while dad pulls the baby. All of this is located within city limits.

East Tennessee State University has a few miles of single-track, a pump-track and downhill course. These are some of the older trails in the region. They have suffered from wet conditions recently. Please remember that riding wet trails can cause damage.

The trails are able to be ridden with care. The mid-morning and afternoon sun dries the trails out. Portions under the canopy can still be water trodden. Walk around the wetter portions of trail so as not to create ruts.

Wear protection for your eyes and exposed skin. There are many places where thorn bushes and other foliage will reach for you. The tight spots are there and trees are pock marked with bar-end scars. They do, however, make for some great technical training.

SORBA Tri-Cities celebrated their 10th Anniversary this weekend. The club had a family day event and cross-country race at Bays Mountain Park and Planetarium in Kingsport. Events included a Huffy Huck, Tiny Bike Race, Chain-less Downhill Race and a Bunny Hop Contest. The mountain bike trails at Bays Mountain are wonderful!

The loam is super grippy and there is not much debris on top. Rolling through turns at a steep angle is easy and rear-suspension soaks up the momentum; just to spit you out upon exit accelerating. There are some jumps and great views too. There will be more on Bays Mountain Park in the future.

Weather for the week looks rider friendly. There is a slight chance of rain most days but higher chances Monday and Wednesday. The trails will be wetter in the morning and evening. The cloud cover will be higher at these times. Humidity will be a factor too.

Make sure to drink plenty of water. Northeast Tennessee enjoys mild summer temperatures but the high humidity can cause dehydration. When riding distance make sure to eat! Last but not least, PLEASE, give this story a like, share and subscribe for future updates.

 

TRAIL UPDATE: RACES TO COME, TRAILS TO RIDE

Spring is finally upon us. Freezing nights are occurring but becoming more rare. This week has seen plenty of sunshine for great mountain biking opportunities, including one local race.

A rainy, snowy mix last weekend threatened to postpone the inaugural Cat’s Pajamas Time Trial Race scheduled for the next day.

All Trail Cycling presented the race and proceeds go to the Science Hill High School mountain biking team. alltrailscycling.com

Fortunately, a sunny Sunday gave over 30 racers the opportunity to set times and help support a good cause.

More sunshine is projected this weekend. Sunday’s weather may be the opposite of last week, but this Saturday should be perfect for riding. Some closed sections at Winged Deer Mountain Bike Park are back open. There are a myriad of other areas in the Tri-Cities to ride as well. A great place to do session laps is the Hampton Watershed Trails. These trails are great and will provide a nice workout for any rider.

For a more advanced biker, the climb on Cat’s Pajamas is deceptively never-ending, but the climb is worth the descent. A series of steep drops into short popping up-hills will make the smile spread ear-to-ear. Warning to the unwary rider: there are plenty of spots to get in trouble if you aren’t careful.

Take a spare mech-hanger or two. There is more than one rock garden and plenty of downed limbs that can, or rather will, snag you up. The local trail stewards are getting the trails cleaned up, but unseasonable cold snaps are slowing work.

There are other trails too. Make sure to check out Bays Mountain, Pisgah and all the other places available for day trips from Johnson City, Tennessee.

The Wildcat race event is coming up at Panther Creek State Park in nearby Morristown, Tennessee. Every month this season offers different events within day-trip distance of JC. Anyone is welcome to come, whether as a spectator or participant. dirtybirdevents.com/wildcat/

As a reminder, be respectful and make sure not to damage any of the trails so other bikers can have a safe, fun ride too.