March 24, 2020
ABOUT THE EPISODE This is the first episode of a 5-episode special recorded on location in Bentonville, Arkansas. Host, Josh Blum, sits down with Luke Hall who is a Bentonville local with a very diverse background in cycling. They discuss Luke’s journey towards finding the bike again – his own Freedom Machine. During the show they discuss the backstory behind why Luke decided to move to Bentonville from Kansas City. The guys also review the various jobs Luke has had related to cycling in the Bentonville region, which include: AirBnB host, web developer, bike shop employee, Rapha Popup Shop employee, multiple positions at Bike NWA, and most recently the coach of the H.S. Gravel Racing team, quite possibly the first and only H.S. Gravel Racing program in the nation. They also go deep into why gravel riding and racing is important to Luke, as well as his thoughts on the humanization of cyclists and vehicles finding a common ground on gravel roads. Luke discusses what it was like to be invited on the preview ride for the first ever Big Sugar Gravel Race which will be hosted in October of 2020. Currently Luke is a freelance Web Designer and Graphic Artist – Reach out if you are looking for those services. The Bentonville Series has been brought to you by Evolution Trail Services. For more information about Evolution Trail Services check out www.evotrails.com ----------- RELATED SHOW LINKS Luke Hall Contact: https://loukalldesign.com/ Thaden School: https://thadenschool.org/ Thaden School Velonews Article: https://www.velonews.com/2020/03/culture/meet-the- high-school-cycling-team-thats-ready-to-storm-the-mid-south_507461 Bike NWA: https://www.bikenwa.org/ Big Sugar Gravel: https://www.bigsugargravel.com/ (Note, Luke is the face of suffering on the opening page of this site). IMBA Trail Labs: https://www.imba.com/trails-for-all/trail-labs ----------- ABOUT DRIFTLESS DIRTDriftless Dirt is based out of La Crosse, WI which is nearly centered in the Driftless Area. The Driftless Area is a region of the Upper Midwest comprised of SW Wisconsin, NE Iowa, NW Illinois and SE Minnesota. Known for its steep jagged blufftops, massive rock outcroppings, rivers, and spring-fed streams, this area provides excellent topography for nearly all things outdoors. Spared from the glaciers of the last Ice Age, the steep peaks and valleys were formed.
While mostly unknown, the Driftless Region has a rich history in Mountain Biking spanning back to the mid 80’s. Paired with seemingly endless miles of paved and gravel roads, this area is a cyclists dream.
While cycling may be a large part of this show, we will also bring you the various aspects that make this area great.
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ABOUT THE HOST Josh Blum is a father, husband, and doer of stuff - paired with Advocate, Builder of Trails and Community. Originally from La Crosse WI, Josh has been enjoying the outdoors, trails, and mountain bikes since a young age. Always curious and learning about better ways to improve trail users’ experiences. Josh is employed by WisDOT, and is the owner / operator of Evolution Trail Services.