Arkansas High Country is Calling
Every cyclist has dreams of where they want to ride. For racers, that’s often one of the big races. Unbound, Mid South and the Mountain Races are so popular that it can be hard to get a spot. These events are famous for a reason: There’s a special energy when riders from all over the world come together for a big race.
And yet, when I think of the races I’ve enjoyed the most, it’s often the smaller events that come to mind. And then there are events that straddle both worlds: They are world-famous, yet grass-roots. That’s a good description of one of my favorites, the Arkansas High Country Race.
I remember walking around Hot Springs the day before the race and chatting with every cyclist I saw: They were either racing, had come with somebody who was racing, or were locals excited about the race. I had lunch with Jim Phillips, who had saved my ride the previous year when he lent me a power bank after mine bounced out of my bag. (Since then, my power bank is in a stuff sack that’s tied to by bag!)
During the rider’s meeting, all participants could assemble in one (large) room. I met more people I’d known only remotely, and made new friends. I realized that the smaller scale allowed for more personal connections. At the big races, more than 5,000 cyclists take over the town, and it’s easy to get lost in the crowd unless you’re well-connected in the gravel racing world. In Arkansas, everybody associated with the race became a friend.
The ARHC may be small, but it’s a world-class event: There is plenty of competition for the top spots. Past winners include Meaghan Hackinen, Ted King (above), Rebecca Rush, Jay Petervary, Abe Kaufman, Ernie Lechuga, Andrew Onermaa… At other times, all of these riders have stood on the podium in top-tier events like Unbound and the Tour Divide. That combination of world-class racing with grassroots vibes makes the ARHC so special.
The riding itself is special, too. Arkansas may not be on every gravel cyclist’s mental map, but it should be! Small roads, challenging climbs and descents, beautiful landscapes, great views, little traffic, friendly people… I think that everybody who rides here falls in love with Arkansas. The race itself is accessible for mere humans, too, with two options: You can race the full 1000-mile course or the 245-mile Northwest Loop.
Riders on the full course will stop at the famous Rich Mountain Store, whose owners (above) have been supporting the race for many years. From there, you’ll tackle Poteau Mountain (below), one of the most remote and beautiful places I’ve ridden. (At least it felt that way at night under a full moon.)
The ARHC has inspired our most popular tire, the 48 mm Poteau Mountain semi-slick. It’s probably no coincidence that quite a few of the wins and FKTs on the various ARHC courses have been on Rene Herse tires. Racing is part of our R&D, and these first-hand experiences have helped us create tires that combine race-winning speed with the durability to survive the rough gravel of the Ouachita Mountains. That’s why we’ve partnered with the Arkansas High Country Race, offering a discount for participants who want to race on Rene Herse tires.
I’m hoping to make it to Arkansas this year again, despite a very full schedule. One of the great things about smaller events is that you don’t need to win the lottery to get in—in fact, you can still register for this year’s ARHC and line up in Bentonville on October 3 for a ride you’ll remember. You won’t regret it!
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