Youth Outdoor Access · Northwest Arkansas

Keeping the trail within reach.

Ride Within Reach helps Northwest Arkansas youth overcome the financial, transportation, and community barriers that keep mountain biking out of reach.

As Bentonville becomes for mountain biking what Aspen became for skiing, RwR works to ensure local youth are included in that opportunity from the beginning — not priced out of the culture being built around them.

Our Work

Three programs. One mission.

Gear Access

We fund complete youth access kits — certified helmets, safety gear, maintenance vouchers, and beginner resources — so cost is no longer the reason a student can't ride.

Partner Pathways

We connect students and families with trusted local shops, coaches, schools, and programs — building the on-ramp that makes the sport genuinely accessible.

Research & Policy

We study access gaps and advocate for smarter outdoor recreation planning — turning local data into practical recommendations for cities, schools, and parks departments.

100 Rider Access Campaign

$500 helps one rider get started.

Our 100 Rider Access Campaign aims to raise $50,000 to help 100 Northwest Arkansas youth access mountain biking with a complete gear and support kit.

Campaign Goal

of $50,000 goal

Launching soon

100

Youth riders to serve

$500

Per complete access kit

Impact math

$5001 rider

$5,00010 riders

$10,00020 riders

The Access Gap

The opportunity is growing.
So is the gap.

Northwest Arkansas is becoming a national outdoor recreation hub. That growth creates opportunity — but without intentional access planning, local youth can be priced out of the sport and culture being built around them.

Cost

Helmets, gear, maintenance, and a beginner bike can cost $500+ before a student ever reaches a trail.

Transportation

Trails may be close on a map but still out of reach for students without reliable transportation.

Community Awareness

Families may not know where to start, who to trust, or how to safely enter the sport.

Research Snapshot

The data behind
the access gap.

Higher-income families spend significantly more on their child's primary sport each year. That spending gap shows up in equipment, coaching, travel, and program access — and mountain biking sits near the top of the cost curve.

Aspen Institute Project Play reported that families earning $100,000+ spent $1,471 more per year on a child's primary sport than families earning under $50,000.

Aspen Institute Project Play, 2024 Parent Survey

Youth Sports Spending Gap

Higher income families spend significantly more on youth sports.

Baseline

Under $50k income

+$1,471/yr

$100k+ income

Additional annual spending on child's primary sport

Mountain Biking Cost of Entry

Mountain biking has a high starting cost.

Entry-level mountain bike$500 – $1,200

Helmet$60 – $200

Shoes & gloves$80 – $150

Pads / body protection$60 – $180

Annual maintenance$100 – $300

$0$600$1,200

Mountain biking has a higher starting cost than many youth activities because families often need equipment, safety gear, transportation, and ongoing maintenance before a student can participate consistently.

Trails alone do not create access.

Real access requires affordable equipment, safe transportation, youth-centered programming, and community support — and right now, those conditions are not consistently met for NWA youth.

Backed by local businesses and community partners

Northwest Arkansas