Riders Alex Howes, Malaki Caldwell and Jeremiah Bishop tackled a 300-mile loop through the Ozarks called the “Mega Loop.” Their journey was featured in a documentary film made by Bishop. Its first screening took place on screen outside the StoneBreaker Hotel in Fayetteville. | Photo credit: Chloe Johnson
Three bikers, 300 miles, one Ozarks region. The impossible became possible when two pro mountain bikers and a rookie rider completed the route. The three were challenged to complete 300 miles in 40 hours while also striving to hit a series of checkpoints throughout the route to complete the race.
Pro bike racer and content creator of the documentary series “Impossible Route,” Jeremiah Bishop, visited Fayetteville to premiere his latest film about “The Ozarks Mega Loop.” Pro biker Alex Howes participated just for the ride of the Mega Loop with Bishop. A documentary that chronicled their journey premiered at the Stonebreaker Hotel on Oct. 15.
The route was considered impossible by some, but not for these men. Bishop needed a third biker, so he called the one local guy he knew that had endurance – Malachi Caldwell.
Their plan was last minute, which was difficult for Caldwell. He was interested and wanted to go on the ride, but that brought difficulty for him. Caldwell missed two months of training due to an injury.
“I was really excited for the opportunity to be able to do it, so I tried to believe in myself because, honestly, I had a pretty bad injury,” Caldwell said.
He fractured his kneecap just a few months before the ride, making it difficult for him to train. Caldwell told Bishop about his injury, but “I don’t think he knew I was out for as long as I was,” he said.
With 300 miles and around 30,000 vertical feet of climbing, the bikers rode through loose rock trails and steep and difficult rideable climbs. To hit the checkpoints, “you have to push,” Bishop explained in the documentary. Their journey traversed through old Arkansas, passing by working class folks, farms, local artists and the Ozark Ball Museum, which contains a collection of balls ranging from European sports balls to puzzle balls, all inside a local resident’s home.
The route began in Fayetteville, Arkansas, a town full of activities, food, art and charm. The route goes through the grueling, rocky trails of the Ozarks.
“The heat factor is supposed to be nearly 90 degrees,” Bishop said in the film. “We don’t know what our water is going to be, you also don’t know if you’ll find food out here.”
Each biker brought different gear and equipment for the ride. Both Bishop and Howes rode bikes suitable for gravel and off-road elements for their journey. Ryan West, owner of OZ Cycling Tours within the Ozarks, helped guide the videographers through the Mega Loop and managed to organize the best he could.
Personality and fatigue tested their teamwork throughout the route. Bishop described Howes as “calm and methodical, ‘like a Swiss watch.’” Howes said in the documentary that Bishop was “outspoken and stubborn.”
With Caldwell still pursuing a college degree, the intimidation of riding with pro bikers was tough but there was determination to prove himself, even through the recent knee injury compromised his training.
“This route was different from the others. The woods out here aren’t like other trips we’ve done, like Colombia,” Bishop said in an interview. “The history and the roots of the roads in Arkansas is what makes the Ozarks different.”
The pro bikers of the Impossible Route have gone through Death Valley, Virginia, Texas, France, and many more. With rides nine different locations and routes, the Impossible Route series showcases the grit and determination of riding partners Tyler Pearce and Jeremiah Bishop.
Pearce bikes all around the United States with Bishop but was not a part of the Ozarks ride.
Bishop and Howes explain in an interview that they “did not expect this route to be as remote as it was, but I had a blast.”
The Ozarks Mega Loop was a test of endurance and mental toughness of all three riders. With 40 hours to complete, they each proved themselves through teamwork and motivation. With endless rocky climbs, high heat and high speeds, not only did they finish the challenge, but ended with an experience through the Ozarks of Arkansas.
Three bikers, 300 miles, one Ozarks region. The impossible route became possible.