Jan 1993

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    Tim e sThe Newsletter For Alabama Mountain Bicycl ists From

    The Birmingham Urban Mountain Pedalers

    THANKS TO OURSUPPORTERS

    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

    CahabaCycles

    HomewoodCycle and Fitness

    River OaksCycles

    YlIabama

    cvvheelmen

    o/elosporfCycling 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

    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 Bi ll Garrett anindividual 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 isusually 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 ...

    Whither Low ImpactMost everyone has heard of

    the concept of "Low Impact"

    cycling and it seems that more

    and more people arebeginning 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 trailadvocacy group and there ar e

    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 tr ail 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 p art of the

    Low Impact concept is the idea

    of minimizing the impact of a

    rider hitting the ground or

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