By Alexis Newman
Mountain biking enthusiasts and nature lovers have the perfect opportunity to come together this weekend at Lincoln Parish Park for the 29th annual Piney Hills Classic bike race.
The race will be held on Sept. 18 and 19, and it is open to both participants and spectators. The juniors and beginner category racers will ride on Saturday starting at 4 p.m., ending the day with the award ceremony, a musical performance by a classical guitarist, and refreshments provided by a local food truck vendor. Sunday morning, the upper-level racers will compete, and awards will be announced soon after the last rider has finished.
The Piney Hills Classic started in 1993 as the first mountain biking race in Louisiana. At its peak, it drew in around 650 racers, according to the founder of the race James Ramsaur. Although the numbers have dropped over the years, the director of the race Rolando Roman said that the race continues to attract racers from multiple states including Texas, Mississippi and Alabama.
Although it is a mountain biking race, it doesn’t take any knowledge of the sport to appreciate the talent of the racers while also supporting the Lincoln Parish Park. Locals are encouraged to attend and be a part of the long-standing tradition.
“It’s a great opportunity, even if you’re not competitive, to support this local event, and I would encourage the citizens of the community, if you don’t have anything to do with mountain biking, to come out and watch,” said Ramsaur. “These guys are great athletes, and it’s amazing what they can do on a bicycle in the woods.”
Bikers of all skill levels are invited to compete. Regarding the difficulty of the course, Roman said that while the trail’s natural terrain presents challenges, it should be able to be completed by anyone who has experience riding a bike on a trail.
“If you’re a local, you have a jewel in Lincoln Parish Park,” Roman said. “Go out there, go out this week, and experience it, explore it, and depending on how you feel, you should go ahead and sign up.”
Registration for joining the race is open online through the Piney Hills Classic website until Saturday at 5 p.m. The community is welcome to attend to cheer on the racers and to enjoy the music and food being provided.
