Getahn Ward

gward@tennessean.com

Mayor, others officially open new trail at Bells Bend Park

Music engineer Greg Lawrence brought his daughter Raleigh, 4, to Bells Bend Park in northwest Davidson County on Saturday to try out the latest addition to Nashville's growing system of mountain bike trails.

"Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day" marked the opening of 1.5 miles of a planned five-mile mountain bike trail that's ideal for beginning riders, children and families.

"She does better when she sees other kids doing it, riding it," Lawrence said about Raleigh, who rode a Strider bike. "It's great, especially for families to have a place to go that kids can learn."

In remarks at the ribbon-cutting, Mayor Karl Dean touted the role of mountain biker volunteers in bringing the trail to reality, which he sees as part of efforts to improve health and well being in Nashville.

"Doing physical activity as a family and setting an example for our children is probably our best tool for combating childhood obesity," Dean added.

The Bells Bend Mountain Bike Trail is the third Metro opened under Dean's watch. It brings the overall system to 25 miles, which includes trails at Hamilton Creek Park, Cane Ridge Park and Percy Warner Park, mostly designed for experienced bikers. Lawrence frequents the one at Percy Warner Park, but finds the new trail at Bells Bend Park a safer environment to bring Raleigh to learn because of its more gentle slopes.

"It's what we call a gateway trail," said Darryl Glascock, past president of the Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association's (SORBA) Middle Tennessee chapter, whose professional trail-building volunteers designed, built and will maintain the trail and oversee its expansion.

Currently, the trail at Bells Bend Park has 14 mountain bikes patrons can check out between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m on Saturdays and from noon to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays upon showing their driver's license.

Bikes manufacturer Specialized Bicycles offered the bikes as a grant facilitated through its local dealer Gran Fondo Trail & Fitness. Music City BMX loaned the children's Striders bikes for Saturday's event.

Nashville's latest mountain bike trail comes as interest is growing in the family activity locally. Currently, SORBA estimates more than 3,000 active enthusiasts with moving to Nashville from elsewhere. The city recently acquired a 100-acre tract next to Cedar Hill Park in Madison, which could be the future home to a new mountain bike trail development.

Cheatham County resident Drew Sandford, who helped to build the trail at Bells Bend Park, recalls how there weren't any mountain bike trails when he moved to Nashville 14 years ago.

"It's really exciting for me to have a place close to home where I can take everybody to ride," said Sandford, adding he looks forward to riding the trail regularly with his son Connor, 12; and his wife and daughter, who both are beginners.

Lawrence said his daughter Raleigh took two laps Saturday and looks forward to hitting the mountain bike trail again.

"It lasted a mile and half and she did it twice," he added. "She did great. It's a great trail."

Getahn Ward can be reached at 615-726-5968 or on Twitter @Getahn.