Trail Town: Bentonville

Payson McElveen sets out to ride all 140+ miles of singletrack in the Mountain Biking Capital of the World in one day, and learn about the people that make the special bike community of Bentonville, Arkansas what it is along the way.
For those ambitious riders looking for an adventure of their own, Payson is inviting viewers to go ride all of Bentonville's trails on their own time as well and earn a chance at a huge gear giveaway from his sponsors. Two lucky winners will take home a $1,500 shopping spree at Osprey Packs, a three year supply of Orange Seal tire sealant, a Smith Trace helmet and Shift Mag glasses, Hammerhead Karoo 2 bike computer, GU Energy ride food, and a $100 gift card to The HUB Bike Lounge in Bentonville.
3 Steps:
1) Ride all of Bentonville's trails by the end of year. You can do it all at once as Payson did, or take it in smaller chunks at whatever pace you like.
2) Document and share your progress on Instagram with the hashtag #BentonvilleTrailChallenge, and save your posts as a highlight on your profile. The most compelling/inspiring/creative stories win. If you're a retro grouch and don't have Instagram, you can write us a beautiful essay and/or submit your video(s) to [e-mail]
3) Join the Bentonville Trail Challenge STRAVA club to prove your progress.
Payson's ride file can be viewed here: / strava Check off the trails however you'd like, just make sure you hit at least most of every trail!
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Watch more films from Payson: • Films
Follow Payson!
Website: www.paysonmcelveen.com
Instagram: paysonmcelveen
Podcast: open.spotify.com/show/2DJhVL3...
Music
‪@odesza‬ "Loyal"
‪@odesza‬ "A Moment Apart"
‪@Dirtwire‬ "No More"
‪@redbullsoundsupply4817‬​

[@claymcclendon]

Bentonville really puts the big names on a pedestal...

[@MarkRadcliffe]

The cinematography here is worthy of an Oscar. And Payson's 9300 calorie ride worthy of an Olympic medal! This Tulsa boy's booking his trip to Bentonville. 💪

[@XX-is7ps]

Couldn’t agree more, started watching this on my iPhone while out and about but it definitely deserves better both in terms of playback quality and my attention - I’m parking it to watch it in HD on the desktop! I have to ask btw, as I understand it a huge number of the trails have been funded by Walmart as by far the biggest employer in the area, and they feature in this video - did they sponsor or assist your attempt at all? And did you manage to find out where their drive and motivation came from to invest so massively (tens of millions of dollars) in bike trails specifically?! It’s pretty extraordinary and unique.

[@steveh7108]

@@XX-is7ps I can tell you that the Walton Foundation has been investing into the general area quite a lot for decades now. Music amphitheaters museums riding trails and much much more. But I think it's one of the sons that took a special interest into the mountain biking trails and has been taking a personal interest in many of the mountain biking trails. And I believe they also have been providing grants for many of the neighboring cities and communities to improve Community trails.

[@austindrury4054]

I can’t decide which was more awesome the accomplishment of riding everything in a day or the video production. Very well done!!!

[@jcombs2266]

Wow! Payson, I'll say it again, "Your an absolute STUD!" And my claim to fame, your my nephew.! 😁👍 Love ya bro, Uncle Joe Congratulations Bentonville, second to none!

[@3dflyer87]

The cinematography in this is mind-blowing!

[@twowheelsforlife]

100% insane! Mad props to you! Btw i love going to bentonville!

[@funky-phantom]

This was one of the most incredible rides I've seen captured, and it gave me one more reason to come out here.

[@ldutoit2]

12:32 Oh my, so good! We need more mini-shredders interviewed on those biking videos!

[@munzmedia2917]

What a great mix of cinematic and athletic work. Definitely inspired by this piece!

[@steveandriese5511]

an artful expression ...of what mountain biking can be for experiencing people, places, outdoor beauty, and self-expression Really well done! Thanks for doing what your doing Payson

[@specwargru]

Ride it every Monday Live about an hour west... It's pretty amazing, says the guy from Sedona area...

[@bobmerrill8535]

Awesome work as always Payson. Went with buddies last year and was fired up with how awesome it is. Took my wife this year and she was super impressed with the trails and the town. Glad you highlighted the locals and professionals that are making this a world class playground. Heading to Durango in a couple weeks. Heard some good riding there too! Keep up the awesome storytelling and riding!

[@lelandains6099]

Class act all around, as always. Tip o' the hat to Payson, the Orange Seal team, and all that made this video possible for the rest of us to enjoy!

[@BigJRitch]

This. Is. Unreal. Cinematography bonkers. Riding 142 miles in one day bonkers. Thanks for showing the world what we have in NWA!

[@garyonnen7634]

Looked like good fun. Thanks

[@freendeed8410]

From one who's very familiar with the MTB Bentonville anomoly....I have no words but....Damn!! So glad you captured it so well on vid. I'd never believed it otherwise 😜. Riding and filming excellence doesn't even begin to describe my feelings about your work here. Hail the King! ✌️👍🤙

[@ChadEverettHarris]

What a great adventure, congrats on the creativity in filmmaking.

[@caplephoto]

This was rad. Well done to all involved!

[@morethanbikes]

Amazing man, thank you for sharing your adventures with us. Keep up the great work!!

[@mrtominboulder]

Great Video, thank you for sharing Payson.

[@bbrennfo]

Amazing! Well done, and top notch video work!

[@jeffedmisten6576]

I live here. Bville is my backyard. That was freakin amazing... Beyond words.

[@johncasiano6469]

Finally made it up. Only a day and ahalf but planning for at least a week next time. Super job out there.

[@Gigglewatts]

Love love this video! Great job! 😍

[@thomashussey5159]

Awesome video! Great job Payson.

[@QualeHouse]

Bentonville is the best!!! Love this!

[@TetrologyGamingBattlefield]

This deserves way more views and likes. Great video.

[@TodRaines]

Great stuff! I stumbled across your podcast about a year ago and have become a huge fan! (Wait, that sounds pathetic coming from a 55-year-old. HA!) Anyway, thanks for all you do, share, and the entertainment and inspiration you provide. Nice commercial on the TdF, too!

[@colindowey9267]

Big ride, and props to the edit and production, great vid

[@BikeLifewithRob]

I really love it there! If you ever need a riding buddy for half of an adventure like this, I may be down, as long as it's not high elevation...nice work!

[@TheBikeDAD712]

This was so well put together

[@keith55444]

I absolutely loathe social media but I'll gladly write an essay and document via strava. This is so cool!

[@JasonLiske]

how did you say where I'm at? Same page.

[@anavillalobosroca8100]

Both your videos and your effort are superb! Congrats :D

[@danhart2411]

Hell yea I'm going down in October to ride bentonville. I can't wait to go

[@shaunelliott5408]

Great effort great production. 👍

[@aaronhamlen8215]

Wow amazing trails congrats.

[@bethstouder5047]

Great video 👍🏻👍🏻 beautiful footage

[@mattbare2803]

Great video, awesome effort 💪🏻👏👍🏻

[@thomasnwa]

Damn! That was awesome.

[@mtbjourney8209]

Great video!

[@1bulletaway]

This is absolutely insane.

[@jrbechthold]

The trails are so fun, how can you not ride some of them 3-4 times? 😝 awesome video!

[@stevedeibler2181]

Always got to put a snake in there, huh? 😂😂😂 Those trails look like so much fun!

[@Garrett-G]

What an athlete!! I get a handful of runs in at Coler, maybe 12-15 miles total, and I’m done for the day 😂

[@IronCranks]

Sick and Epic bro!!

[@Shooterthecat1]

Well done!!!

[@Atraslin]

Ride on, stoked to try some local link-ups.

[@mrmcflappy6639]

Sweet contest and prizes!

[@the_forgotten_angler]

you are a walking and talking and riding commercial brother. Well done. See you soon Payson. Great video.

[@alancurettiteamtodesco2382]

Beatiful video🤩

[@cactusflats6592]

Incredible, your commitment to the sport is otherworldly. Loved the interviews with all of the OZ/NWA builders and advocates. Cheers sir stache, what a killer vid.

[@tdaubner]

Wow that was amazing

[@Ttallahhasse]

this is amazing. just want to give a special shout-out to the music choices... got some Apashe and Odesza 🤘

[@UriahNazario]

Sorry, you had to do "Here's Johnny" near the end of your adventure. Well done sir!

[@PaysonMcElveen]

Haha that is something I will always remember. I was so thankful to have Garrett Hubbard for company through there!

[@protijy1]

Yea most of coler in the dark = pucker factor. Great film🤟

[@IfYouAintFirstYoureLast]

Dude, I said the same thing! When he left the 2nd refuel stop, I was thinking "Aw crap, he has to do Coler in the dark? He's gonna miss out on so much.", and then I saw the twisted skinnies and thought "Oh damn, Here's Johnny?!". The fatigue had to have been compounded by the lower visibility.

[@mtnbikfrut]

@@PaysonMcElveen Definitely good company. But not sure how much we rode in the wet. Looking forward to our next ride.

[@BentonvilleMTB]

Man, I chased you in Kansas, I live minutes from Coler. Hope to run into you some day.

[@matteovellani3350]

One of the best “bike” videos I’ve ever seen. 10/10. Payson is amazing. Hope to race against you in gravel soon!

[@007458689]

I live in NWA and can't belive you did it all but that's freaking awesome its also crazy how much bentonville is paying all these youtubers and social media people to advertise our area ahaha

[@driftadvocate1839]

seems they have a smart marketer, cheap and effective campaign.

[@1RA787]

BAMF of the month for sure.

[@hannahturkington7973]

You should try riding all the trails in Whistler BC it would be a very hard challenge.

[@grvlmaml9043]

I didn't realize I was supposed to be going through *that* much Orange Seal! Time to bust out the Orange Seal dipstick...

[@JLising]

Oh my!!! Love it! 🥰🤙🏼 I love the khaleesi drink too!

[@benterpsma8469]

Best MTB, period.

[@Cold417]

I'm sore from just watching this video. That's a lot of rock.

[@fastleopard1]

Orange makes everything better

[@coachashishlathar]

😍

[@jasonhendrickson2289]

If 140 miles of trail makes Bentonville the MTB capital of the world then does that make Park City, Utah and its 400+ miles of trail the MTB capital of the universe?

[@Goingforbroke71]

That’s just in the city limits. 😉

[@jpfaff7649]

Pretty sure Arkansas is also tied with Colorado for most IMBA Epic trails and keep in mind that you can ride year round in Arkansas, unlike Utah or Colorado unless you just love a fatbike

[@CUBE297]

Right. Mtb capital of the southeast. Maybe. Ashville, North Carolina is sick too. But the world. Y'all be drinking that Walmart koolaid.

[@Mike77787]

That’s just bentonville and Bella vista. There are tons of trails all the way to Fayetteville.

[@davidlacharite3710]

day 4 of riding in bentonville, yeah the town his pretty cool but i would never take this over a real mountain full of long single track ....... @@CUBE297

[@E2tge]

listened to the PODcAST then came here!

[@havenwisner6776]

The man staying at my house Eddie Anderson just beat you in the Firecracker 50. Just jokes but this video is insane

[@tschick2680]

Squamish next :)

[@friendlyneighbourhoodmtb7961]

haha good one. like i win anything, ever.. . :D

[@cypriano8763]

go try and ride all of squamish, nelson or fernie in a day. lol

[@stockprog50]

Nice advertisement for Bentonville disguised in a bike challenge video and I hate to say it but it was almost too cinematic. Most of the shots In the video were taken pre or post the actual ride. Sorry not sorry.

[@stanescoo]

so how did the karoo 2 battery hold up to this challenge?

[@PaysonMcElveen]

It was great. I used a little power bank to give it a boost about halfway through, and I finished the ride with almost 50% charge left. In my experience, you always have to use an external power source for something this long.

[@rjh2772]

Any room for active seniors like ourselves?

[@youwishyouknewmyname2656]

Dare ya to do Moab next

[@PaysonMcElveen]

😂😬😭

[@acupunk7379]

DId the Bentonville tourism board pay you at all to do this?

[@joshuabakin3624]

Lol, most definitely.

[@Plexus37]

Did you Drop the Hammer in the dark? That would be awesome footage. Great video man.

[@Garrett-G]

I was wondering the same thing

[@PaysonMcElveen]

Haha I did not. With 130 miles in the legs at that point, I didn't have that kind of courage. Plus it was in the dark and drizzling! I'm sure there are folks out there that would have the confidence to push through and do it regardless, but that wasn't me that night!

[@Garrett-G]

@@PaysonMcElveen Can't blame you

[@Kampy_]

Payson after 140 miles of riding looks about as tired as I look after 30 miles of riding... on my eMTB 😕

[@CUBE297]

Pretty bold claim to say this is the mountain biking capital of the world. Think I could disagree...

[@johnnnewmex]

Yeah no one could ride everything in Moab in one day or two days or three days

[@blameitonben]

I'm pretty sure I crash more than once every 140 miles on my local trails....

[@st3ppenwolf]

Amazing footage, but man, you do look a bit unwell.. hopefully it's just that you've lost a lot of weight compared to a few years ago.

[@atraildog]

Rides 140 miles....still afraid of COVID!!!!!

[@billfisher9829]

Ego uninterested

[@MyDadWasALifeguard]

Pro tip: more dirt trail footage…less self indulgent narcissistic porn mustache trimming

[@michaelallen9676]

Got bored after one minute intro full of adverts… paused it… wrote this comment… moved on… get over yourself.

[@ajreycer3294]

While I love the concept I am disappointed we are giving any attention and consumer $ to Arkansas. Their continued anti-POC and LGBTQ+ legislation is alarming and unacceptable. Common, Payson, Red Bull, Trek and Orange Seal. We must do better.

[@PaysonMcElveen]

I’m excited to roll out a project addressing these issues that we carried out in tandem with this film project. Keep an eye out in the next week or two. We wanted it to live with its own breathing room.

[@stiritup4663]

Is it anti transgender or pro-woman? You can still do whatever you want here except compete against biological women if you’re a biological man. It’s alarming that people actually support the demise of women’s sports.

[@Natebyrd479]

Let's Go Bentonville

[@HVYMETL]

After it took over a minute thirty for just the introduction, I realized this is going to be a long boring video with drab interviews. C'mon Red Bull, your film crew can produce a much more exciting video than this.