THE UNDERVIEW SERIES

Place-Based Cycling Experiences with The Underview

On these reflective, supported cycling experiences, we’ll traverse the hidden histories of Arkansas and beyond. All experiences bring us riding toward the edge of the region’s rural past. These journeys explore the stories beneath our feet: Indigenous removal, enslaved labor, forgotten cemeteries, immigrant resilience, and the modern forces reshaping the land.

Hosted by Mike Rusch, The Underview, these rides are rooted in belonging. It’s not about pace—it’s about presence. Participants will ride as learners, not tourists, guided by voices from the region and stops that challenge and expand our sense of place. Think of this as a moving conversation with the land, with history, and with each other.

IT IS MORE THAN A RIDE…

curated experiences ranging from half-day to week long tours showcasing the richness of the region by bike

Micro-Traverse Experiences: Northwest Arkansas

  • The Story of Northwest Arkansas:

    Ride through the layers of Northwest Arkansas—removal, war, labor, and rapid growth. From the Trail of Tears to Civil War battlefields, enslaved cemeteries to immigrant labor routes, this journey explores who belongs here, and at what cost. It’s a ride through history, memory, and the tensions between progress and preservation.

    Price Per Person – $149/ PP
    9am-1pm

    One-Way Route: from Bentonville to Pea Ridge with transportation (person and bike) back in van/trailer

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  • The First Settlers:

    Follow the land and legacy of Aaron Anderson Rock Van Winkle—a path shaped by federal Indian policy, enslavement, land seizure, and forgotten Black and Indigenous stories. This ride uncovers the deeper origin story of Northwest Arkansas—one rooted in erasure, endurance, and contested belonging.

    Price Per Person – $149/ PP
    9am-1pm

    route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/51204158? privacy_code=OdoWpGyOoJKZ0GjJd31xgjk0YNxlFuUs

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  • The Trail of Tears:

    Ride a section of the Northern Route of the Trail of Tears, ending at the Cane Hill Witness Tree. Along the way, we trace stories of Cherokee survival and federal removal, riding through land that remembers what we’ve tried to forget. This is a journey of honoring and listening

    Price Per Person – $149/ PP
    9am-1pm

    route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/51204158? privacy_code=OdoWpGyOoJKZ0GjJd31xgjk0YNxlFuUs

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The Details

    • Activity: Gravel Cycling Distance: ~20–25 miles (conversational pace)

    • Duration: Half-Day (4–5 hours including stops)

    • Start/End Location: TBD (Bentonville area)

    • Intensity Level: Low (e-bike available for additional fee)

    • Trail Type: Mixed-surface (gravel, pavement, some climbing)

    • Curated, guided cycling experience led by the underview and 37 North

    • Pre-ride orientation with historical framing and discussion prompts

    • Story-based stops at significant historical sites

    • Light snacks and hydration

    • Ride Support

    • Post-ride gathering and reflection

  • This isn’t just a bike ride—it’s a ride through the story of Northwest Arkansas. As we pedal out of Bentonville, we’ll cross the boundaries of master-planned growth and into the edges of deep memory.

    • Curious minds, local or visiting, who want to experience a place instead of just passing through

    • Riders who appreciate cultural and historical depth in outdoor adventure

    • Those ready to ask hard questions and embrace the complexity of Northwest Arkansas’s past and present

    • People seeking deeper connection through land, story, and each other

The Arkansas Traverse

Fall 2025

details coming soon…

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