Tim e s

The Newsletter For Alabama Mountain Bicyclists From The Birmingham Urban Mountain Pedalers

THANKS

TO OUR

SUPPORTERS
During the past year we have received much, needed financial support from some of the area shops and clubs. These funds have been utilized thus far to purchase tools and materials for trail construction at Oak Mountain State Park. Please support the organizations that support us. They are:

Bobs Bikes

Cahaba
Cycles

Homewood
Cycle and Fitness

individuals who have put in time helping to build and maintain the new trail sections at Oak Mountain. If you are not one of them, you should be and you will have your opportunity in '93. Also thanks to Bill Garrett an individual who has done the work of many. Watch the bulletin boards at the park for upcoming events or better yet come to the monthly BUMP meetings and participate in our efforts to expand the off road bicycle opportunities in Alabama. Meetings are held on the first Wednesday of every month at 7:00 at the Hoover Public Library. Admission is free and there is usually a slide show, video, or some other program of interest to off road bicyclists, as well as an opportunity to get in on some group rides/camping trips etc ...

River Oaks
Cycles
Whither Low Impact

YlIabama
cvvheelmen o/elosporf
Cycling Club
Without the support of these organizations we would be unable to pursue construction and maintenance of trails for you to enjoy riding at Oak Mountain State Park. Also thanks to the many

Most everyone has heard of the concept of "Low Impact" cycling and it seems that more and more people are beginning to gain an understanding of the concept. This article is written to the people who just don't yet have a grip on the "Low Impact" concept. The essence of the "Low Impact" concept is to tread lightly and leave no trace. This should be the goal of everyone who uses the public forest. The only acceptable evidence of a

passing cyclist, hiker, or equestrian is tracks on the trail tread. Short cutting switchbacks, riding/hiking off the trail, sliding tires, or littering creates an impact in the forest that is not acceptable to any trail advocacy group and there are many reasons for this. Those of you who have been involved with volunteer trail construction and maintenance know from your own observations the potential damage caused by heavy use of even a well constructed trail corridor and have seen your hard work scoffed at and taken for granted by ignorant and/or arrogant trail users. Sliding tires creates unacceptable erosion and if you think hiking indiscriminately off the trail does no damage to the environment, then you have not been to Pevine Falls or the Oak Mountain picnic areas and seen how a regular trampling of the forest floor will defoliate an area. These areas serve as testimony to the effects of years of concentrated "High Impact" use of the forest. Environmental impact is important and should always be a key element in your decision of how and where to ride or hike. Just as important a part of the Low Impact concept is the idea of minimizing the impact of a rider hitting the ground or

rock or tree and the impact left on the rider from that fall. If a rider constantly pushes his bike handling skills to the limits as if there were a perpetual race underway, then the odds are continually going up for the rider to be out-of-control. When that moment arrives, you can be assured th t there is going to be some "High Impact" in just a few milliseconds when gravity kicks in and the rider is sliding his head, shoulders, elbows, hands, knees, back, front, top, bottom down the trail creating unacceptable erosion to the trail and the rider. Or even' worse, flying through the woods off the trail, sans the bicycle, bouncing off trees and trampling the shrubs. If you don't believe it then you haven't been riding a mountain bicycle very long and may well be one of the idiots that is still rationalizing a way out of wearing a helmet. Are you still smoking cigarettes too? Injuries associated with mountain bicycling accidents pose a potentially greater threat to our sport than the perception of environmental impact. The Low Impact way is the best way for everyone over the long haul. Ride as fast as your abilities allow provided you can maintain control of the bicycle, and at the same time, be courteous to other trail users. A good rule of thumb is, can you enter and exit a turn, or can you stop when meeting another trail user, both without sliding your tires or leaving the trail. Remember, bicycles yield to everyone else on the trail including other bicycles. The only other way to pass on a single track trail (that everyone says they want more of) is to leave the trail tread and ride off the trail which is just not acceptable. Two

bicycles meeting should both stop if there is not room to pass. Riders going down hill should yield to a rider climbing up a hill. Maintain control, when you are riding "on the edge" just remember, your individual act are a reflection of the entire. mountain bicycling community. It's not just you that gets hurt, the entire sport suffers from the effects of "High Impact" riding techniques and benefits from positive, "Low Impact" behavior.

IMBA RULES
BUMP is an International Mountain Bicycle Association affiliated club and Oak Mountain State Park has adopted the IMBA rules of the trail for their multi-use trail.
RIDE ON OPEN TRAILS ONLY Ride only on trails marked with red blazes. All other trails are closed to bicycles. Respect trail closures. 2. WEAR A HELMET Always wear a helmet. STAY ON THE TRAIL RIDE SOFTLY. Do not shortcut the switchbacks. Practice minimum impact cycilng do not skid or slide tires. Stay 0 t the trails when they are wet and do not discard any object. 4. CONTROL YOUR BICYCLE. Pay attention at all times. Avoid excessive speeds. Always be prepared to stop. Be in control. 5. ALWAYS YIELD TRAIL. Be courteous. Pedestrians always have the right-ot-way. Make your approach known well in advance. 6. NEVER SPOOK WILDLIFE. Respect the inhabitants of the forests of Oak Mountain. The park is a wildlife sanctuary. 7. KNOW YOUR BICYCLE AND YOUR ABILITY. Plan ahead. Know your equipment and your capabilities. Be prepared and WEAR A HELMET. The new single track sections of the red trail are more suited to experienced cyclists, good bike handling skills are a must. 3. 1.

c."

NAME THAT TRAIL!

We continue to receive input from individuals regarding names for the various sections of the red trail at Oak Mountain. We would like to hear from you at our regular meeting or by mail at P.O. Box 590061 Birmingham, AL 35259.

ADOPT THAT TRAIL!

Oak Mountain State Park has instituted an "Adopt a Trail" policy for all of the trails in the park. Some of the local hiking organizations (although not all) have committed to adopting a "hiking only" trail. BUMP has adopted the "multi-use" Red Trail. Weare asking responsible bicyclists to adopt a section of the trail to care for. There will be an brief workshop scheduled in January or February to orient new trail "parents" to procedures and maintenance techniques. Come to the BUMP meeti g to claim your section of trail. Continued construction of new sections of trail will be significantly more attractive to those of us involved if we know someone is watching over the trails already in place. Did that sound like a hint?

Your failure to abide by these basic rules jeopardizes the future of off road bicycling on state land. Don't prove our sports critics right by being an irresponsible visitor to the parks and forests. Access to trails is lost much easier than it is gained. Point em down hill boys and girls!