Ballwin's 'Muddy Spokes' Encourages Dirty Riding

Many sporting events are cancelled because of rain, but few would actually embrace it like the Muddy Spokes Mountain Bike Race planned for Castlewood State Park on Sunday.

The race will be the first of its kind for the Ballwin Parks and Recreation Department, which is banking on having at least some muddy ground that day to give new challenges to longtime riders.

Mountain biking can be intimidating with its steep terrains and brushy trails – obstacles that are not only challenging, but oftentimes exhausting. Muddy Spokes will try to cater, however, to all experience levels. The race's bottom tier, Category C, is intended for younger and beginner riders offering one lap that’s approximately 4 miles long.

“If someone's ready to try their skills in a race, then beginner definitely allows for newcomers to get into the sport without much barrier to entry,” said Ballwin racer Nate Davidson, 31. Davidson races close to 10 races a year competitively, often with his teammates at Slomotion Racing.

For more competitive racers, Category B riders will have to race three laps, while Category A racers will have to endure five, 4-mile laps.

As a community-run biking event, Muddy Spokes will be somewhat unique, as most races are hosted by promoters such as the United Federation of Dirt. The staff at Ballwin Parks & Recreation has worked almost 10 months organizing the event, which included extensive coordination with Castlewood, a state park.

“Being a Ballwin resident, and having a park like Castlewood so close, I stay pretty up-to-date on the events in our backyard,” Davidson said. “The fact that it's being put on by a municipality is alluring as well.”

Castlewood Park Superintendent Randy Becknell said it was Ballwin’s recreation manager, Chris Conway, who was conceived the idea for Muddy Spokes while working on other outings related to the Ballwin Race Series. Parks department personnel Matt Struemph and Julie Vogel also helped organize the event.

Local racers such as Ross Blanton, 46, said the combination of parks departments’ efforts, volunteer work and even non-profit and lobbying groups such as Gateway Off-Road Cyclists all have given the St. Louis area some of the best riding trails in the country.

“When I got back to St. Louis, I was amazed that it has, from what I’ve seen, more and better mountain biking trails than the Seattle area,” said Blanton, who lives in Hazelwood.

Jeff Yielding, 40, of Hermann said he’s extra excited for Sunday’s race since an earlier outing he registered for was cancelled due to snow.

“The trail may be soft due to all the rain, so I may get muddy … but it’s called ‘Muddy Spokes’ after all.”

For more information about the Muddy Spokes Race, visit the Ballwin Parks and Recreation Department online.