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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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