My Microadventure - Norfork Adventure Supply
Well there is no doubt that things are heating up. It’s summer and all I can think about is being outside and having some fun in the sun. I wonder what kind of local, affordable activity I could get into? Recently, one refurbished trend seems to be making a big comeback and for some reason it also has me singing Queen songs in my head daily. Have you noticed, more people are riding bikes lately?
Cycling has been making its way back into the daily lives of Americans for several years now. Studies show that the numbers of bike owners are at all time highs with people opting to ride, rather than drive more often than ever before. And it’s not just the method of transportation that is drawing people in. Americans are becoming more health and environmentally aware. People have been finding more ways to distance, but still hang out together. Is it only a matter of time before we start seeing bike lanes in our streets?
I remember there not being a lack of bikes growing up. The youngest of five, I was surrounded by hand-me-downs. After school I remember pedaling my way around the neighborhood and oftentimes, I wouldn’t come home until dark. My four kids all have their own bikes and one of their favorite places to go is to the local park for some sidewalk action. I wondered, what would be the equivalent of a park for a middle-aged adult like me? With the help of a friend, I found answers to some of these questions.
A few weeks ago, I set out on my microadventure to Norfork with my photographer friend Derek Huber. Read more below:
Driving down Hwy. 201 South from Mountain Home you begin to notice the amount of trees and nature that you miss being closer to the city. The road curves to the East as you drive closer towards the massive White river, which flows from Bull Shoals lake 30 miles away. The air begins to crisp the closer you get to the Norfork river, which signals your entry into the rustic town of Norfork.
Before arriving at Norfork Adventure Supply, you are greeted by a colorful mural on a rock wall painted by local artist and owner of Borderline Supply, Co., Christopher Royer. As you round the corner a hanging wooden sign reading, "Norfork Adventure Supply, est. 2018” hovers over the front railing of our destination. The stone building is monstrous, decorated with bright yellow columns and trim. It would be impossible to miss if you were just passing through.
A set of stairs leads up to the front entrance from one side, while another ramp leads the way down to a street level, wheelchair access on the other. When we entered the building that morning, I had no idea what to expect. Jake was helping other customers, so I took advantage of wandering the shop and snapping some photos. The expert photographer on this trip was Derek, so mostly I shopped around while he worked his magic.
The front of the store hits all the sensory buttons. Hundreds of items including vitamins, supplements, hygeine products, foods and more line the shelves and surrounding walls. Camping and adventure gear is spread throughout, guiding you through the store. Half way through the store a nice selection of apparel is revealed. Hats, shirts, shoes and hand-crafted items can be found, and all for a great price and quality. Finally, as I work my way toward the back portion of NAS, I see the newest addition ...the bike shop!
A nice collection of used bikes hang from the racks on the wall. A work area with hundreds of hand tools, clamps and parts sits to the opposite side. Derek had a vintage set of bikes that he was having tuned, so this was the perfect opportunity to see first-hand what the NAS team could do. After finding all of my gear it was time for me to start asking questions.
What made you decide to open Norfork Adventure Supply in 2018?
Jake: "My wife Melony and I have been health and fitness enthusiasts, outdoor adventurers and nature advocates for years. When we moved to the area in 2013, our dream was to start our own business. When we saw the opportunity to get involved in Norfork we were extremely excited about what we could offer the area.”
"We saw a need to be able to help grow and develop more interest into the area and into the trails we support. Norfork is a great destination spot for outdoor recreation or just getting away from the city. It offers some of the best trout fishing in the country, 100's of miles of rugged and remote single-track trails as well as an abundance of backroads to explore. Twenty miles South on Hwy. 5 is an International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA) Epic Trail System known as Syllamo!"
Was opening a bike shop always part of the plan?
Jake: "It was the next logical step in our mission to be a balanced Adventure Outfitter. We realized the need to offer bike maintenance in the Twin Lakes and we wanted to fill that void. The trick was finding the right mechanic that had the aptitude as well as the ambition to invigorate cycling in the community. The Shop promotes the area NICA (youth cycling) team and is working to bring back events at Syllamo and Pigeon Creek.”
Rusty: "When I returned to cycling as an adult, I was intimidated by the amount of knowledge and skill required to be a good mechanic. I even remarked to a friend I didn't want to work on my own bike because I didn't have the tools and knowledge required to perform good work. Jake approached me to be his mechanic and it was a life-changing opportunity, because I love working on bikes and value high-quality work."
Can you tell me more about the bikes you sell?
Jake: "We sell a range of bicycle options in the store. Mostly we aim to find you a bike that fits you, so you will use it more. The point is to get a bike that you are going to ride and best suited to your individual needs. If you buy the cheapest one, or one that doesn’t fit you it could make biking miserable. Riding should be enjoyable and we want to help our customers find that joy."
Rusty: "We've sold new bikes from the brands Surly and All City. We have several others available to us that we think would be perfect for North Central Arkansas, and we plan to bring on more brands as we grow."
What are some things people should know about bikes, that maybe they don’t already know?
Rusty: "When you buy a brand new bike, they require some effort to make them a comfortable fit. Norfork Adventure Supply sells new and used bikes that are professionally tuned to ride as smooth and as comfortable as possible. As a full service shop, we can do everything from a small repair to a full overhaul that might entail complete disassembly, cleaning, re-greasing, and tuning."
"There's no one bike that can do everything. It becomes a question of how you want to ride; gravel, pavement, hills, or just to store and back. The bike industry is pretty good about pricing things commensurate with quality."
When considering a purchase or repair, what are some things to think about?
Rusty: "There sometimes is a divide between nostalgia for an old bike, versus the need of a usable bike. Vintage bikes are still a great source of fun and leisure and could very well be someone's favorite hobby or useful grocery getter. You may even find a vintage racing bike that could be fixed up, which would turn some heads at a competition. Even though most bikes can be repaired, leaving a bike to sit for years can destroy it. Sometimes it's worth fixing up an old bike and sometimes it's time to get a new bike. Whatever the choice, the goal is to get a bike you'll be happy with."
"Newer bikes are more universal and can be customized to a person's needs. This also makes them easier to work on sometimes. Tires and wheels are about 40% of the way a bike rides and how it feels to the rider. Trends like electronic bikes (E-Bikes) are making adventures more accessible, bringing new people to the sport. The growing industry offers everything from making daily commutes easier, to accessing rugged areas in mountains. The whole point of E-Biking is to add efficiency at a level humans cannot consistently produce."
"Jake and I are certified mechanics of the Appalachian Bicycle Institute. Having the education from the ABI means riders in North Central Arkansas no longer need to travel 2+ hours for professional work. Having local mechanics also means bicycle owners do not have to become home mechanics and spend a small fortune on specialized tools."
Do you have any future plans for NAS?
Jake: "We have big plans! We were all set to offer float trips and shuttles for the White and North Fork, but COVID-19 has forced us to push that off. It will be here for 2021! We are also working towards offering a buildering gym and promoting climbing destinations in the area. Melony has a few things up her sleeve as well."
"We are grateful for the support of our friends, family and community!"
I want to thank Jake and Rusty at Norfork Adventure Supply, for their letting me in on their story. Please follow them on Facebook here and check out their website here.
Also, a huge thanks to my friend Derek Huber (Huber Media Co.) for the story idea, coming along and taking photos with me. Learn more about Derek and his company here.
