“Road cycling is my passion,” she said. “I started the sport about two years ago. Now, I usually ride three to five times per week with each ride covering between 20 and 40 miles on average.”
Ariel traveled from her home in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on the first weekend of August to join more than 330 participants in the inaugural Rogers Cycling Festival held in Downtown Rogers and Lake Atalanta.
The festival offered multiple cycling events over two days -- from road cycling time trials to mountain bike relays to a family-friendly poker ride -- and by all accounts the event was a huge success.
“It wowed me beyond belief,” Ariel exclaimed. “The area is so beautiful and the improvements around the lake have drastically made a difference in attracting more people and allowing for more events there.”
The improvements at Lake Atalanta include the construction of mountain bike trails, concrete trails, and a bike park on 120 acres near the lake. It is a key cornerstone in the revitalization of downtown Rogers.
The city of Rogers operates and maintains the trails and bike park, which is also linked to the 36-mile Razorback Regional Greenway where bikers and pedestrians can enjoy continuous use into downtown Rogers from the north and south ends.
“The community and volunteers for the race win the gold medal for hospitality,” Ariel said. “All the people were friendly and welcoming.”
Ariel says she can’t wait for next year’s festival and hopes to come back again.
“If I knew the date for next year’s event, I would book a hotel room now,” she said. “This is my 10th cycling event and I’ve never had such a memorable experience. They cared for all of our needs. I just loved it.”
