Forsythe Bike Trail

by

Andrew Joiner
Photography by

Sierra Rasberry

Along the edge of the Ouachita River lies a unique section of land most would deem unusable. Swampy, muddy, and constantly changing; the Forsythe park bike trail provides a healthy dose of mountain biking right here in Monroe. Four miles of undulating trail that winds, bends, and drops cyclists into tricky terrain gives the trail its character. Short and technical, the trail can be completed in as little as twenty minutes, but many of the trails riders find that more than one lap is necessary to fully experience the area. (contd...)

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A group of riders making their way through the trail at night with the Lea Joyner Bridge in view.

(..contd) The trail has several points at which one can stop and take in the beauty. Of these scenic stops, several are along the edge of the river, providing views of West Monroe, the Lea Joyner Bridge, and various water sport on the river. Wildlife sightings are a common occurrence; ducks, birds, and other critters can often be seen throughout the trail. Many people actually walk, jog, or run the trail as well. The trail changes greatly depending on the time of the year. During some months of the year parts of the trail are completely inaccessible while other months offer the opportunity to ride the full course. Mountain biking is a fully recognized Olympic sport divided into a few different categories. Downhill is a type focused on descending as fast as possible while minimizing costly mistakes, whereas the more common cross-country style generally involves riding a set trail with various terrain, either in a loop or point to point. Unless a trail is in the mountains, it is most likely cross-country. While a downhill trail might provide more excitement and adrenaline, a crosscountry trail requires much more exertion from a rider. It requires a good balance of upper body, core, and lower body strength. A downhill rider might complete several miles in a short time while a cross-country rider must propel himself much longer and further if he wants to get anywhere worthwhile. Leg strength is important, but without upper body strength, obstacles can become hard to navigate and more mistakes will be made, which takes a rider from a state of moving forward to one of damage control, a situation some cyclists know all too well. Serious riders tend to shoot for a sustained heart rate of 170 while some riders go well above that, nearing 200 at times. Very few bike trails are located in such swampy areas, and thus the obstacles here are unique. More ducking is necessary than most trails require due to low branches. And as with most trails, momentum is critical. New sections are possibly the best part of the trail, as it is continually developing. The trail as it sits this year will likely not be the same as next year. These small changes make up its character. With the changing nature of the trail, the sense of exploration never seems to go away. It is a relatively short circuit, but has a great variety of terrain. The trail is maintained by volunteers and occasional trail maintenance meet-ups are organized as well. The trail wouldnt be what it is without its hardworking volunteers. One of the trails avid riders and volunteers, Andrew Wilson, states his favorite attributes of the trail are its variety, swooping lines and ease of access, as the next closest trail requires a forty minute drive to Ruston. Beginner, intermediate, and expert riders will all find parts of the trail suited for them. The areas of the trail that are more technical often have alternate routes for those not as comfortable on two wheels. Caution is advised, as the trail can be dangerous and is to be ridden at your own risk. As always, helmets are required. The City of Monroe has added new bike racks and picnic tables to the area in order to better facilitate park goers. Several events are held at the trail throughout the year and weekly rides are generally arranged on Wednesday afternoons. Some riders even enjoy hitting the trails at night with flashlights attached to handlebars and helmets, a thrill like no other! For more info, see www.nelacycling. org or the Facebook group of the same name. Check it out sometime!

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A satelite image of the area with an overlay of the 4.2 mile trail.

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