Nationally recognized bike trail offers wheeling paradise.
Imagine yourself relishing in the freedom of open air, your bike, and your body swaddled loosely amongst a friendly shade of trees. With each peddle-propelling thrust you make, and with every breath you take, the gentle leaf bearing giants provide your body with much needed oxygen required to conquer the trail that lies before you. Stress does not exist here. Endless joy is marked by the grin you wear, like a child experiencing their first two-wheeler ride without training wheels.
You’ve practiced and planned for the task at hand. Your gloves are strapped, your grip is tight, your goal is simple, yet not within sight. But you know where you’re going, the journey is clear, you’re sporting a helmet, plenty of water, and other survival gear. You peddle the path, lean into the first turn, you jump the ramps, ascend the slopes, and continue pressing on, even as your legs begin to burn. Yet the pain is a pleasure you’ve come to treasure, like the holy grail awaiting your arrival at the end of the trail.
Now, imagine this child-like freedom taking place just outside the heart of Hotty Toddy nation. With a short 15-minute drive north of Oxford, you can find yourself staring down the trailhead of this mountain bike rider’s utopia. Located near the Clear Creek Landing (Sardis Lake), and featuring a full 13-mile loop, an eight-mile intermediate loop, and a three-mile beginner loop, it goes without explaining why such a diverse group of folks are attracted to this local gem.
Serious Biking
More than the setting, however, is the trail’s attention to detail. Biking enthusiasts Steven Valliant (former owner of Oxford Bicycle Company) and Brad Cannon were the minds and the pioneers behind the Clear Creek Trail. Their passion for a hand-cut single track, that flows seamlessly through turns, jumps, and climbs, was the fuel that brought their dream to reality. At no point, however, did they consider their passion would eventually lead to a nationally recognized trail. Recognized as a Top 50 best trail in the nation, as well as the Best Trail in Mississippi, according to a 2008 Bike Magazine article, this trail is kind of a big deal. Furthermore, as a fine wine, the Clear Creek trail continues getting better with age with an enormous amount of hard work, sweat, and a level of teamwork that can only be found within a group of passionate sport enthusiasts.
Clear Creek Trail 101
“The seeds of the Clear Creek mountain bike trail were planted in 1998 and 199 when Adam Dorsey approached the Corps of Engineers about the possibility of opening a dedicated mountain bike loop at the Clear Creek recreation area,” Cannon says. “The Corps was resistant to the idea at first, but finally relented and allowed Shane Norris, co-owner of Oxford Bike Company, along with Kevin Stuart, to sign the original agreement. Layout and marking of the trail began in early 1999, with Shane and Steve Valiant doing the lions share of the scouting and flagging. OBC was lucky enough to have a staff of mountain bikers who spent a great deal of time, both on and off the clock, hacking the original 6.5-mile loop. Michael Weldy, Mark Robinson, and Steve V all did more than their share of the work out there. Daniel Wren and Robert Wells get credit for adding the centerpiece of the trail, the big switchback climb at the half way mark. With the help of several dedicated locals the trail was completed in late 1999.”
The finished trail in its original form was a handful. Created by racers looking for bigger hills to climb, the seven-mile loop was tough for beginners and casual riders. The big switchback climb set up a meandering run down to the shores of the lake, followed by a long return ascent to a primitive campground. It was capped off with three brutal climbs in the last mile back to the trailhead that didn’t leave anyone wanting to do a second lap. Still, the trail popular with the locals and hosted the inaugural Clear Creek Challenge Cross Country mountain bike race in 2002.
After the trails began to fall into disrepair, a few factors came together to further elevate the quality of the trails. The Mississippi Off Road Championship mountain bike race series was in its infancy and wanting to add a race at a trail in the north half of the state. “We wanted Clear Creek to be that race,” Cannon says. “The rivalry between the regional trail crews pushed all of Mississippi’s trails to new heights.”
Second, the current edition of Oxford Cycling was formed, and soon after signed on as liaison for the Corps’ Agreement of Use. “With the new club came a new generation of trail builders and a renewed interest in trail work,” Cannnon says. “Third, Chris Gurner was promoted to park Ranger in charge of Clear Creek Rec Area. Chris understood what we were trying to do and gave us a much a longer leash to do it on. With the renewed push in trial work, the trial quickly grew to a 10-mile loop and was in a continual state of refinement. In 2008 we petitioned the Corps for the addition of the plot of land west of the original trail and were granted its use for a three-mile Beginner Loop. The Beginner Loop was completed in spring 2009, and became so popular that the original trailhead was moved to the new entrance. The trail in 2013 is one of the most popular in the state and a draw for riders all over the mid south. It’s commonplace to see out of state car tags in the parking lot on any given weekend.”
Part of the Mississippi Off-Road Cycling Series www.morcs.org, the Clear Creek Challenge is an annual event attracting nearly 200 competitors from all over the country. Usually taking place during the fall, the 2013 Clear Creek Challenge was moved to April in order head off the 2013 series. Plans are currently under way for the 2014 season, so stay tuned to find out the date and be sure to register early. You can find out more information by plugging in to the local site www.oxfordcycling.org.
— Robert Tidwell
