RISON - The Cruisin' Cleveland County Bike Ride will return Saturday, June 14, for its third annual event, organizers Charles Roberts and Darren Austin have announced.The organizers and volunteers are looking into expanding the route offerings by adding a gravel ride to the event for riders interested in off-road cruising. Registration is expected to open in early April.While the Pioneer Village Rison serves as a hub for the ride, the routes take riders throughout the county.Last year 38 riders registered for the event that offered four routes ranging from 21 to 65 miles in length. Those routes took cyclists along portions of Highways 8, 35, 63, 79, 97, 114, 133 and 189, and took riders through communities like Woodlawn, Calmer, Rowell, Pansy, New Edinburg and Kingsland.Organizers are looking at adding a gravel route to tap into the growing interest of off-pavement cyclying. Cleveland County maintains more than 600 miles of county roadways, most of which is gravel.Arkansasoutdoors.com reported last month that, nationally, gravel cycling is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the sport. Strava, a platform popular with cyclists, reported more than a 50 percent year-overyear increase in gravel rides logged. Also, the website reported that sales of gravel-specific bikes have surged. Unlike the intensity of road racing, Arkansasoutdoors.com states that gravel cycling is "more approachable, catering to riders of all skill levels with a mix of scenic exploration, challenging terrain, and community camaraderie." Anyone interested in assisting with the ride is encouraged to attend a planning meeting Tuesday, March 11, at 5:30 p.m. at Rison City Hall.Sponsorships for this year's ride are also being accepted. Anyone wishing to contribute should contact Roberts at (501) 545-5319 or Marty Bowlin at (870) 540-7545....
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