How Bentonville is blowing up for bikes

The small town of Bentonville in Northwest Arkansas has a budget and an appetite for cycling infrastructure unlike anything else in the United States. I had heard a lot of the hype, so I went down to spend a few days and check it out for myself.

[@kennedywelborn1]

Born and raised in Bentonville. We do appreciate the trail builders that move here for us and our enjoyment. 7/10 cars around here have bike racks on them. It really is everyone.

[@claymcclendon]

Moved here and now at the ledger. Vittoria brought me here from OKC earlier this year. Love it! From the OKC office there and it is just a different environment of riding. Miss the Oklahomie riders still.

[@joejoe19976]

One thing I will add is that Walmart Corporate is trying to encourage associates to using bikes because it is sustainable. They are helping to create bike trails more accessible in Bentonville for their associates.

[@dylantech]

Unfortunately, the city blocked off the safe route through Walmart's new HQ and didn't provide an alternative during construction, which blows my mind considering how much Bentonville is promoting cycling.

[@richardbaker_0086]

As someone who was raised here, it’s annoying af and I wish all the bike nuts would leave or stay tf out of the roadway.

[@hedleykerr3564]

Reminds me when I lived in CO in the late 80's and 90's and the mountain bike scene took off! All the ski areas (Vail) would throw money into developing trails and attracting the Mountain bike worlds!

[@hopnglo680]

I was in Vail for the Worlds in ‘94. Good times.

[@markhagen7777]

Thanks for the balanced reportage

[@BlacqueJacqueShellacque_]

Bentonville is far from the best mountain biking in the world (mainly due to the lack of vertical). I'd much rather live in Bellingham, WA for the riding, but when you factor in the cost of living, Bentonville is probably one of the best options in the US for mountain bike trails, etc. The trail quality is still great, and the sheer number of miles is mind blowing. I'm seriously considering moving there as my job has an office 1.5 hours away, and I can (mostly) work remotely. I wish the Walton's had enough money to build an exact replica of Whistler Bike Park...but I suspect that is even out of reach for them. :D

[@princelinus8320]

Bellingham is top notch. So close to other riding options too. You're lucky to live there.

[@the_fast_life]

Shhhh pretend like the PNW doesnt exist. Its like fight club, dont talk about it.

[@jimc5696]

I am always puzzled when people complain about having to pedal their bike -- guess that is all I have every known. Hills are for climbing...

[@S0ulinth3machin3]

@@jimc5696 they're not complaining about climbing, they're complaining about having to go all out to clear a jump. There's only so many of those efforts you can make before you gotta call it a day while at a gravity bike park, it's still a workout, but a fit rider can do features for 5 or 6 hours.

[@bcm1013]

Been going down to Bentonville since my MTB buddies arranged a guy's trip there in 2019. Easy 5 hr drive from where I live in STL and tons of excellent rental properties. So much goodness for all variety of bikes. Always take the gravel bike now along with MTBs for myself and my son. In addition to the accessibility to riding, big time friendly ppl all around.

[@marvinbellomy3874]

Awesome! I lived in Sheridan Arkansas not far from there thirty years ago and I rode my bike on the back roads and it's a beautiful place to ride and live there.

[@marksevy]

Great recap Ben! Thanks for the @outerbike coverage. Cheers from the "other" MTB capital of the world :)

[@bombsquadsendersunion2280]

We love it here in Bentonville! Did you ever been here you need to visit.

[@classactracing]

The city of Bentonville has quickly changed from a sleepy, southern town in nowhere Arkansas to a hub of culture, entertainment, and activity for bikes. This has sure been fun to watch.

[@connor2926]

Shout out to the og slaughter pen jump park from like 2010. Gone but not forgotten.

[@bitchoflivingblah]

My favourite Ben film ever, focussing on bikes 'and' people.

[@robertcantrell7132]

Moving there in May

[@TheRidewithBenDelaney]

Cool. Got a job there, or are you able to work remote?

[@muellteam692]

Liked your video on Bentonville, I live in St. Louis and went there to check out the trails etc... One thing you left out was info on the "Joe Martin" Grand Fondo road race and ride. It claims to be the oldest continuous bike race in the states, don't know if that's true or not? I did the Joe Martin Grand Fondo 85 mile bike ride not the race, starts and ends in Fayetteville, I know-not technically Bentonville but just 30 minutes down the road. There are paved trails that you can ride from Bentonville all the way to Fayetteville, also where the cyclocross championships are held. The Joe Martin ride goes through the Boston mountains, very hilly and beautiful scenery. Worth taking a look at.

[@TheRidewithBenDelaney]

Thanks. And yes, lots of good stuff going on down in Fayetteville. I was out there for ’cross worlds last winter, held on a purpose-built course that has since hosted more World Cups. My brother and his family live in Fayetteville. 👍

[@pixeljedi8472]

I live in Grand Junction and work in Moab… now where is this pumpyflowtrackhell located again??

[@bradsanders6954]

Googling overall history of Bentonville, can be a real eye opener.

[@the_fast_life]

Didnt see anything notable.

[@S0ulinth3machin3]

@@the_fast_life Klan. But, judging by that brown person's treatment in modern day Bentonville, it appears as if it has evolved for the better.

[@jahairl227]

Who knew? Good report.

[@robbdog]

Cool vid and nice to learn about other areas. Is it single track mountain biking or pump track man made stuff? I’ve never been but it looks like mostly “ features “ type riding from your footage. Like a big version of the Valmont bike park here in Boulder ?

[@TheRidewithBenDelaney]

Thank you. It is kinda like a Disneyworld-scale version of Valmont, yeah - all purpose built and groomed.

[@bikdav]

Is Massachusetts and New Hampshire taking note of this presentation?

[@williammorris6097]

QuestionS for you please....1) Are there paths directly fRom downtown to the trails that you showed on the video? 2) if so how far a ride from downtown to the xc type trail riding? 3) are some of the xc trail single track? I ddnt notice single track in the video.

[@TheRidewithBenDelaney]

There are marked, on-road bike lanes from downtown to the start of the trails, less than half a mile away. Most are XC trails. Here's a map: bentonvillear.com/DocumentCenter/View/10993/Bentonville-Trails-Digital-Map_Aug-2022?bidId=

[@darrellhambley7245]

William, look at trailforks/Bentonville. You'll see maps with all the local trails.

[@jimc5696]

I am a super fan of Ben's content - but I do think he could have covered some of the 'other' things Bentonville offers. Hard to imagine not mentioning Crystal Bridges Art Museum - a truly world-class art destination free to access and set among MTB trails.

[@TheRidewithBenDelaney]

Fair. Guess I need to come back! 😀 (I went on a Tuesday and it was closed.)

[@MorganBrown]

Heehee we like to ride our gravel rigs on the equestrian trails near Ann Walton’s house in Cherry Hills Village 💵 🐎 I guess one of her brothers (nephews) is the bike guru

[@hopnglo680]

It’s not for me, but thank you. I enjoyed your candor and I think it was a great video.

[@TheRidewithBenDelaney]

Thank you. One thing I love about cycling is how it can take us to many different places that we otherwise might never consider visiting.

[@RookYZRM1]

It's all just so manicured, like artificial outdoors or something...not that it isn't fun or a well designed community but I like my trails raw and untamed. I dunno, it's just a weird place...

[@robp3431]

Have to agree based on the videos, but I haven't been. I'll take natural over built, all day. That said, it's awesome it exists and a huge plus for the sport.

[@hopnglo680]

Yes

[@KC-dr3cg]

I live on a bluff in Bella Vista Arkansas where the mountain bike trails run through naturals forests.. nothing artificial about it

[@darrellhambley7245]

There are a lot of groomed, paved "Disneyland" trails near downtown Bentonville but, there are also hundreds of miles of rugged rocks and roots and climbs in the surrounding areas.

[@jasonborne5724]

My wife an I are seniors and we love mountain biking, but we now ride with a little bit of electric assistance. What is the attitude toward e bikes? Are they banned on some of the trails? When we see this ban in certain areas we recognize that the community isn’t open to recreational seniors out on the trails and we go elsewhere. Most places in CA are open to e MTBs, but banned in a few. We treat that like we did when we were riding regular MTBs and a few forest districts banned MTBs on all the trails in the forest. We poached…

[@TheRidewithBenDelaney]

Hi Jason. E bikes are allowed on the trails as long as they're not Class 3 (bikes with throttles).

[@dylantech]

Nobody cares what kind of bike you're on as long as you respect the trails and the other people on them. You're more than welcome to ride your ebike here.

[@oxirosmusic]

Cycling paradise is in Girona, Spain imo

[@dylantech]

I loved how great it was to ride all over Korea's second largest city, Busan. There are plenty of bike lanes integrated into the sidewalks by the major roads, but the nice thing is it's pretty safe to go anywhere as there are so many side roads. These are excellent, because people generally don't speed, having smaller vehicles than we do in America, and are accustomed to keeping an eye out for pedestrians since it's so common for people to walk or cycle, which is far from the case in the United States. I'm sure Spain and many places in Europe are similar in that regard since they haven't overly emphasized car travel as we have in the US.

[@janetw9016]

Disney World for Bikers

[@opticspace1868]

5:03 i smoked weed on that trail at 3 am once lmfaoooo

[@dylantech]

3 AM? The Devil's Lettuce must have been whispering in your ear. haha

[@BladeBarn]

ANYONE NEED A ROOMMATE for this winter? 32yr old super cool guy looking to escape the north and do a ton of riding all winter. SFH only, and I need to use part of the garage. shoot me a msg!

[@CM-ft9ep]

Is there any truth to the stories that Bentonville/Fayetteville area tourist boards are offering cash incentives for pro athletes/influencers to relocate to the area?

[@TheRidewithBenDelaney]

I don't know but I find that quite believable. I will try to get concrete information on that. (For the record, Visit Bentonville put me up at La Quinta for two nights. I flew myself down there, paid for my rental car, and stayed at my brother's place for the remainder of the trip. There was no cash involved.)

[@gotaytaygo1]

Hey CM, Benton county and a neighboring county in NW Ark has (in the past 2 years or so) offered relocation incentives (mainly $10k) for tech pros, even professionals that work remotely in the tech field…they’re offered that monetary incentive to relocate to the county/counties. Disclosure: that $10k wasn’t for every tech pro that relocated here, but you applied for it, and if you were lucky: you got selected. Hope this info is helpful and clears things up. It’s a really rad place to live and be.!

[@dylantech]

@@gotaytaygo1 Yeah, this is true. It's what cemented my choice to move back to NWA when returning to the states from Korea. (I'm a remote worker in the crypto industry.)

[@auricschiller]

Most of the interviewers leaned heavily into the positive PR a bit much but I appreciate Ben trying to balance it out. The Giant guy’s ‘we like things that sell bikes’ was a bit egregious.

[@TheRidewithBenDelaney]

In An’s defense, he talked about a number of things but I just used that one bit because I do find the Walmart investment fascinating - and like An I am very pro-bike. As in, the more communities can do to get more people on bikes - especially safe routes for everyday riding - the better. So that was the presumption we started with. I don't know what we as a society can do to get over the hump of investing in cycling as a healthy mode of transportation - and recreation. In the meantime, having private money go towards public cycling resources is a positive thing in my book.

[@mediumrick7667]

@@TheRidewithBenDelaney When I think of "Bike Infrastructure" I think of safe routes for daily travel to work, school, shopping, etc. I've never been to Bentonville but it seems as though their "Bike Infrastructure" is geared towards recreational riding? Nothing against cycling for recreation, I do it all the time. But I also recognize the importance of bikes for daily local travel needs. Get people out of their cars. I'm hoping Bentonville is, or will be focusing on that as much as recreational riding opportunities.

[@TheRidewithBenDelaney]

@@mediumrick7667 Agreed! I don't know the percentage of spending on recreational facilities vs bike paths/safe routes, but there is definitely money going towards the latter. Would be interesting to know the split.

[@mclainmoon1627]

@@mediumrick7667 I live here and while there are great trails for cyclist transit, a lot of the trails around here are in fact for recreational riding. unfortunately, it's still a pretty car dependent city. Hoping for better infrastructure and alternatives to driving. A lot of areas are lacking in bike infrastructure, but the ones that do, especially the newer installations are great

[@slantedorbit]

I guess it’s a lot easier to monetize destination parks and trail features than to weave cycling as a class-agnostic tool for living throughout a city’s infrastructure, as a human right. It’s as if car culture will abide sandboxes but not sidelining. But hey, if corporations start to see the benefits, maybe the needle will move a few degrees. That’d be cool.

[@TheRidewithBenDelaney]

Walmart is financing the construction of commuter bike paths with a goal of getting 10% of their Bentonville employees riding to work. It ain’t perfect and the company obviously has a variety of impacts around the world. And… building bike paths and working cycling into a town’s transportation planning is an undeniable positive from my bike-centric perspective. I would love to talk to the Waltons about all this, but they have never granted me an interview.

[@thumperd8]

Yo Ben...Heads up, there’s likely an interesting yarn to be had by calling Ted King and delving into the cryptic language in his notice pausing Rooted.

[@slantedorbit]

Wrong King. You mean Ted King.

[@thumperd8]

@@slantedorbit thanks! too many Bens and Kings floating around the gravel world. Conflated while typing at high speed...

[@CycoWarriorx]

Bentonville is - or was home to the largest Walmart in the world… there’s that little nugget…

[@KC-dr3cg]

Bentonville was Sam Walton's home he had the Five and Dime Store that is still in the Town Square

[@utah1man]

How's the food?

[@mmodtomic7119]

It's great....for a small town in Arkansas. But for real, if you look hard enough you'll find some real gems there, like Blue Fish House for seafood, Wright's for smoked BBQ and Ramo D'Olivo has spectacular spaghetti and meatballs on Mondays. There are lots of others that I just haven't tried yet too

[@pingpongballz5998]

It's the south so probably salty as shit

[@Geno28]

What about road cycling?

[@dannykaity7668]

As long as you don't do it on a road with a speed limit over 25 or bad curves.

[@oxirosmusic]

So much better than Whistler

[@LarryRichelli]

Do the discriminant against ebikes on the trails there?

[@opticspace1868]

No they are actually quite popular here

[@jokermtb]

Too bad Arkansas rejected 420

[@rangersmith4652]

All this footage, and unless I looked away at the wrong moment, not a single frame of anyone riding on the regular streets of Bentonville. The people of Arkansas need to be aware of the challenges that can arise from having a lot of people from places like CA, WA, and CO move into their state. While folks from very Left-leaning locales are obviously welcome, they do tend to bring their politics with them; Arkansas is solidly Conservative in its views, and I suspect the vast majority of its residents want their state to remain that way.

[@opticspace1868]

mostly accurate i would say but because of the college in faye northwest arkansas (where the video takes place) specifically is actually pretty cut down the middle but is still slightly republican leaning for sure

[@opticspace1868]

For example, recreational marijuana, while it failed in the sate overall, actually passed in Washington county by over 2,000 votes (quite a lot by Arkansas standards)

[@allenschmitz9644]

Blue law reality check.

[@CommutebyBicycle561]

Imagine if the state had passed the recreational marijuana laws. Earn that title of 'MTB capital of the world.' Even the bonus $ to move there wasn't enough.

[@dylantech]

It was poor legislation. I wouldn't have voted against it if it didn't make marijuana and hemp growth a state-backed monopoly where the right to grow your own remained illegal and only a few companies were allowed to do so based on a lottery system. If weed is that important, it's easy to get a green card as long as you "suffer" from headaches, anxiety (provided weed accentuate that for you), PTSD, or just general "pain".

[@lincolnlu9869]

There's nice trails in and around the town but it's still a car centric design and you can't escape the feeling this town is a greenwashing effort that traded the death of hundreds of small American towns for this one.

[@hutch73]

lets actually credit why these trails exist: cheep Chinese labor, shuttered small towns that Wal-mart decimated the economy of, nafta, and tax write offs.

[@chipsnotchunks2620]

I live locally and have had 3 bicyclists ignore the rules of the road when on side streets. Pain in the a$$.

[@richeekm]

Great for recreational biking but it sucks for commuting by bike

[@zephaniahgreenwell8151]

You can't call it bike culture when you have to drive to get there and can't get around town without a car.

[@paulvanreesch2493]

Let me tell you how the "Walton's" have made my town more bike friendly. (HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA) Oh, & the living wages are to die for. It never ceases to amaze me how blinkered the white collar, coordinating class is. So much for "inclusivity". Excuse me whilst I go collect returnables on my Walton distributed cruiser.

[@zephaniahgreenwell8151]

Great town for getting hit by a pickup truck while cycling.

[@cjb8993]

Been here since 1990, sans a 5 year stint for work before coming back in 1999. NWA, particularly Benton County is easily one of the best overall places to live in the nation. If there's something better, please let me know. We have tons of sun, clean air, clean water, low/no crime (seriously!) and because it's the bible belt, you still have a level of sanity you don't find on the left or right coasts. That said, my biggest fear is that with the museum, arts/entertainment and bike ecosystems bringing thousands of people to the area annually, I hope these people don't bring blue with them. Yes, it has to be said, we're VERY red here in NWA and it's why it's a wonderful place. Please do not eff this up people.

[@JWCulp88]

Hmm, raving about how great the most progressive part of the state is, while bashing the progressives that are largely responsible for everything you love about it. Interesting take. Without the influence of the people you loathe, Bentonville would just be another Harrison. Maybe you'd prefer it that way?

[@cjb8993]

@@JWCulp88 Rocket, there is nothing "progressive" that makes this place great. To the contrary, the arts and entertainment community brought gender confusion and pride, which is merely code for perversion. Safety is not progressive, we have zero tolerance for crime here, it's been this way for decades, before the woke clowns were a thing. Our culture, which includes sound family units that actually worship on Sunday also makes this a wonderful place to live, not wokeisms. At the state level, we balance our budget, don't do pot for recreation and don't mandate clot shots. That's GOP folks for as long as the eye can see. And do you think you have a lock on sunshine, clean air and water. Does your ilk bring such conveniences? Y 'all fuc**d up NJ, NY, IL, MI, CA, WA, OR and on and on and on. Now you beyond fuc**d up the WH. Get back in the corner puppet. Your Harrison comment tells me you need a safe space.

[@dannykaity7668]

@@JWCulp88 Progressive? No. The reason NWA is what it is, is because of Sam Walton and Don Tyson. They were definitely not on the blue end of the spectrum.

[@JeremyLawrence-imajez]

"and because it's the bible belt, you still have a level of sanity you don't find on the left or right coasts" Believing in one of the 4,000+ gods that humans have made up, is not in any way a definition of sanity.

[@dannykaity7668]

@@JeremyLawrence-imajez Careful with all that edge there little fella

[@sccxvelo]

Besides company town situation, add in state government authorized hated towards lgbtq+ people. The town is a tiny semi-positive spot in bad overall state.

[@rangersmith4652]

You have evidence of this?

[@yogert96]

I live in Bentonville as an LGBTQ+ member and you have no idea what you’re talking about

[@texasflood1295]

Well, Bentonville is not Colorado Springs, that's for sure.

[@MTBryanH]

What does lgbqtlmnop have to do with biking? Nothing...

[@Phil-pq4ks]

@@MTBryanH I know. We always need to bring the gay thing in which has absolutely nothing to do with this. 🤡 show as usual

[@ladyendless1058]

I'm so sick of all these bikers. None of them have any consideration for others, they believe they don't have to follow traffic rules and are always almost getting themselves or others killed. If Bentonville wants to keep doing this they need to make a bike lane ONLY for bikes not the combination of bikes and cars it's to dangerous. most of them just jump out in front of cars kids are doing this as well without paying attention. It's kinda rediculouse.

[@chipsnotchunks2620]

I live locally and I have had 3 cyclists endanger themselves by going in front of my car. I can see a huge problem coming.

[@mogulmayhem]

I don't feel comfortable spending my money in Arkansas. States like these need to be shunned for blanket bans on abortion. It's totally insane, and I'd never visit a state that doesn't respect a woman's body. It's that simple.

[@rangersmith4652]

What about a baby's life; should states respect that? Arkansas is empowered by SCOTUS and the concept of Federalism to do as it wishes regarding abortion, just like every other state. Shun Arkansas if that's your desire, but don't try to change it to suit your own views.

[@dylantech]

That's cool. You don't need to come here. Really, it's fine.

[@adamturley9884]

You will be missed.

[@hutgirl666]

Don't even worry about going there dude. The mountain biking sucks and there's walmart everywhere.

[@glennhibben7757]

Baby killer