Thank you for visiting CARVE (Central Arkansas Velo). We recently had our ten year anniversary and are proud of our past success. CARVE is evolving to better serve its members and become more active in the cycling community. We aim to engage in events in and around Arkansas and to serve as positive roll models for all cyclists. With those ideals in mind we have re-focussed CARVE in order to foster a positive cycling community and to promote scheduled rides and event support.
It is our goal to encourage riders at all levels to actively pursue cycling as part of a healthy lifestyle. We aim to give our members the opportunities to learn the skills and gain fitness through safe and organized group rides. While racing will continue to be a main CARVE activity, we are directing more effort to support the enthusiast cyclist. CARVE has numerous riding programs specifically directed at varying levels of skill, fitness and participation.
The greater Little Rock area has many cycling venues. Due to the easy access, many of our rides depart from areas close to the Arkansas River. The Big Dam Bridge and River Trail system are great places to enjoy cycling without the worries motor vehicle traffic. On the North side of the Arkansas River along the River Trail are Burn’s Park and the Pfeiffer Loop multi-use dirt trail systems. For those members who are comfortable in traffic, many of our weekly rides include routes to the East and West.

For the beginning Cyclist we have an “Absolute Beginners” course. This is a multiple session program designed to familiarize new riders with the function of their bicycle. Areas addressed include bike fitting, braking and shifting techniques, riding etiquette, and other information helpful for beginners. For riders who wish to introduce their family to cycling this is a great place to start.

Our “Learn to Ride” classes are for more experienced riders who have been riding regularly. These sessions include Road and Mountain bike rides that focus on the finer skills needed to safely ride in the particular discipline. Most attendees are simply looking to increase their skills to be better able to achieve their personal fitness goals.

The “Learn to Race” program includes sessions that focus on specific skills needed to successfully compete in the various racing disciplines. It assumes the participant already has a basic understanding of the various rules that are in place. Techniques addressed include riding in a pace-line, drafting, and road racing tactics and strategies. For Mountain biking, the sessions focus on body position while climbing and descending, proper braking technique, cornering, and race etiquette.

The “Racing” program focusses on events in Arkansas and surrounding states. There are two race squads: Road and Mt. Bike. For each race, a captain is selected to coordinate the group’s participation. We also promote events, including club only training races and USA Cycling sanctioned Road and Mt. Bike races.

We also host “Open Format” rides. These rides can be either no “no-drop” rides or may break up into groups based on individual fitness and skill. Some are on the Road while others stick to the Trail. Some are a creative mixture and each one has a different atmosphere. There are rides for women, social rides, hill repeats, sprint practice, and even night rides. Members will always have opportunities to participate in group rides to enhance their ability. Rides occur regularly, and are subject to change, so be sure to check the ride calendar.

It is our hope that by responsible use and continued development of our local resources, Central Arkansas will become known as a recognized cycling community and destination for cyclists across the country. As an organization, CARVE is committed to developing a strong group of cyclists unified by a common goal. That goal is to foster good-will in the community and provide riders the opportunity to become the best cyclist possible. Check out our ride calendar for details concerning weekly rides, and feel free to contact CARVE’s officers and ride leaders if you have any questions. Let’s roll!

CARVE Captains & Board Officers:

Sidney DeGarmo - President & Road Captain - 501 454-4625
Scott Penrod - Mountain Bike Captain - 501 231-2765
Roger Mangham - Secretary/Treasurer - 501 580-6844
Sean Clancy - Communications Coordinator - 501 827-7369
Kenny Massa - Membership Coordinator - 501 454-9686
Michael Mattox - Event Coordinator - 501 960-7755
Tom Burks - Board Member - 501 317-6934
Steve Tilley - Board Member & Sponsor - 501 663-9415