Provider: River Valley Mountain Bike Association (RVMBA)

I'll tell you where they are. Only an easy 30 minute drive from Parkersburg near and in Athens Ohio. And you not only can mountain bike there, you should mountain bike there.

I am guilty of hearing about these two locations in the past and just never made the effort to ride there. I have driven right past on my way to places like Lake Hope, which is great riding, however I never stopped to even check out the trails at either of these and now feel these are some of the most awesome trails this close to home.

Well our ride all came about when three of us started talking after our RVMBA group ride at Mountwood this past Wednesday evening. Talk of riding some place different, some place we haven't been or at least seldom been. North Bend was mentioned, then Lake Hope. That sounded like the plan. However during conversations with others we contacted a couple mentioned Sells Park and Strouds Run State Park. Both sounded good especially when it was noted we could ride from one to the other on singletrack.

The date was set and the group started to grow. By Sunday our group had grown to 11 riders on a quest to check out the trails at both parks. However once there and enjoying the awesome trails our 12 to 15 mile ride grew to a 20 mile ride by the time we were through. Our loop began at Sells Park and we rode Rockhouse to White Oak Connector up to Athens Trail, Finger Rock Trail, Thunderbunny, Sundown, Hickory, Finger Rock (back to Athens Trail) and Athens trail back to Sells Park.

. . .

. . . Several mechanicals and a couple flats made our ride a bit timely although the sights and the trails kept our adrenaline flowing. We enjoyed some just plain awesome trails not far from home.

While researching the trails and talking with a couple close friends about them, I discovered that one person who played a key role in these trails being built had passed. Here is a clip from the Athens Bicycle Shop website that I feel is necessary after riding those awesome trails. "Local cyclist Kaleb McCutcheon, who died of cancer on July 3, 2006, headed up that effort and left us with the fantastic trails Thunderbunny and Sundown. Work will continue to complete his vision for trails at the park. Thank him while you're out there by having a good time on the trails." I thanked him graciously and had a great time on those trails especially Thunderbunny and Sundown Trails.
As my friend noted, "what a legacy he has left for us to enjoy" - Indeed !

So when you wonder where to ride, jump onto theopam.com, mtbr.com or singletracks.com and look up some trails close to home and enjoy. You don't always have to travel long distances to have a taste of it all. If you haven't been to either of these locations be sure to look them up and go check them out.