Prez Sez

A Year Of Accomplishments
1993 has been a great year for BUMP-largely due to participation from mountain bike riders and local bike shops helping us achieve our goals. Bob's Bikes, Cahaba Cycles, Homewood Cycles and River Oaks Cycles have been very supportive of our club and continue to work with us to expand our membership and voice in the trail-using community. O'1eof the ways we are working together toward this goal is by placing tags on each new mountain bike in these stores, describing the BUMP Club and that store's offer to pay half of their membership if they buy a bike. This gives the buyer the option to sign up wit:l BUMP within 30 days of purchase and pay only $10 while the shop contributes the other $10. Members also receive a 10% discount on accessories at the above stx:>ps. Our November trail workday was very successful. Over 30 volunteers turned out to work on constructing the newest section. Afterwards almost as many came to our skills work-shop to hear William Owens of Homewood Cycles go over basic riding skills and log jumping, and Laurie DeShazo discuss racing skills-just in time for the upcoming Maddog Race. Our thanks to Laurie and William as well as to everyone who came to work or to learn. We will be holding similar activities in the near future. A number of BUMP members participated in the Maddog Race held November 13th in Springville. And several members placed very well in both the Duathlon and the NORBA races. The event was a lot of fun and very well organized by Team Magic. We look forward to participating in it again next year. We will begin holding open steering committee meetings monthly to plan trail maintenance days, group rides and special events. All members are encouraged to get invoived. Look in the Calendar of Events for the first meeting to be in late January. We will be incorporating in January as well, and the new officers elected at the December meeting will begin serving after the first of the year. In closing I would like to express my gratitude for having been given the opportunity to hold the position of President of the BUMP Club and make a contribution to our sport in Birmingham. It has been a fun and valuable learning experience.
In response to a request made by BUMP to the Oak Mountain Park-Manager Hayden Montgomery, the Park has installed Donation Boxes at the "Shrines" located at both North and South trailheads. We encourage all BUMP members and Mountain Biking supporters to donate at least one additional dollar each time they ride at Oak Mountain. The money collected will go into a general trail maintenance fund. All trail users hopefully will be contributing and will have access to the fund. To earmark Mountain Biking money. use the small envelopes marked BUMP or write BUMP on your check. Please be generous. We are working toward gaining credibility and respect in the Park Trail-Using community. We hope that we will eventually be awarded access to ride and preserve additional trails in the future.

AUCTION
Christmas will be coming a litlle early for those of us who only shop in bike stores .....There will be an Absolute Auction of the bike shop inventory of the Magic City Tri-Shop on Thursday December 9th at 5pm. The Auction held by Investment Recovery Auction, Inc. will take place at the Carriage Antique Village at Greensprings and Valley Avenue in Homewood. There is a preview of the inventory on Wednesday December 8th from Ipm to 6pm and a pre-sale inspection at 3pm on the 9th. There will be bikes, clothing, accessories, pans, tools and more. For more information, contact Hugh.

$ qJ~$$tJ1fJ:rltl $
by Hedda Rockhopper What local hiking club member was seen preparing to ride Ws bike on one of the trails closed to bikes? One of our membe'rs spoke with this hiker-type person who will remain unidentified, and our new mystery friend freely volunteered that this is how they (the hikers) "check the trails". He went on to explain that there are two factions in his particular hiking organization: the older hikers who dislike Mountain Bikers, and the younger generation, who like to mountain bike as well as hike. Perhaps it also follows that they like to "check their trails", you know, the ones closed to bikes, as much as they like to check our trail, you know, the one we had to build eleven miles of ourselves so we would have any place to ride at all. Our next course of action seems clear. .. Why, we have only to join the hiking clubs to explore the possibility of perhaps being awarded the arduous task of regularly "checking the traUs". So look for the dates of hiking club meetings to appear soon in the Grinder Calendar of Events, and let's show up enforce.

TRAIL WORKDAY
We had over 30 people show up for our last work-day in November and we made a great start on the last leg of our trail. Hopefully we'll be able to push the last section through on the next work-day Saturday December 4th. As always, we'll meet at the Park Office on Terrace Drive at lOam. Bring work gloves, water and a snack. If you're late, we'll be parking on the Cabin Road near the North Trailhead.

GRINDER

()ak M()untaln Trail ~ames

For those of you who have just started riding our trails at Oak Mountain, or have been riding them all along but never knew what they were caJJed,or for the rest of us who are just tired of calling the unnamed trails: the New Trail, The Really New Trail, and The Top Of The BUMP Trail You Know The Section With Blood Rock In It....the following is a verbal ride through the 16 existing miles of trail that we as mounlain bikers have access to at Oak Mountain. Well go clockwise for those of us who like a more consistent cardiovascular work-out. Starting from the Picnic Area parking lot at the bottom of Peavine FallsRoad,pedalback on TerrnceDrivepast Ire Park Headquarters. The fIrst sectionof trail startson the right, across the levy, down from the boat rental dock. It is a winding and rolling singletrack called Seven Bridges. When you hit the Camp Road after the seventh bridge, you turn right and ride forabout a mile and a half. The next trail-head is on the left and is also a winding slightly rolling singletrack. The whole section is called the Three "R" Trail which has three parts, the first is Roller Coaster, until the big log when it becomes Rootless (we were going to call it Root Torture but then someone went in and stole all the roots.) And the third part which begins after the second bridge is called Rock Garden. The next trail section begins after you reach the RC Track road. This is your last chance for water. This trail, called Chimney Sweeps, is also a winding singletr'dckwhich is mostly a gradual uphill going in this direction until toward the em wherethere are some steepish switchbacksand then a sweeping downhill. You will come out on the Main Park Road at the intersection of the Cabin Road. Go to the right on the Main Park Road for about a mile mostly downhill, am the NorthTrailheadwill be on your right This is where the 5.8 miles of Original Red Trail begins. Be sure to stay on the Red Trail because this is also an intersection of the Yellow, White and Blue trailswhich are hiking trails closedto bikes. The fIrst part of the Original Red Trail is over two miles of rocky, rooty, relentless uphill, the highlight of which is Root Hill where the real climbing begins. After the first really steep endless climb, you will reach the Foot Bridge. From this point you have only a mile to go until the top, and only two bad hills left. This two mile stretch is also the favorite downhill for all the Careening Treads coming the other direction and is the section to be most vigilant and polite when encountering other bikers and hikers. While riding these two miles we are in constant Tread Dread. At the top of the last climb is an area where you will nearly always see other bikers resting from the smaller hill coming the other way. You will very likely want to stop a momeni or two to catch your breath too, or just socialize. This is called Shacklejord Gap. It is also the intersection of the Orange hiking trail, so remember to smile. The next several miles is the Red Road which is a fI.reroad with a couple of good downhills but is for the most part rolling. This brings you to the top of the BUMP trillion the right about a mile pa!>1 the green shelter, and a half a mile or SO before the scenic view at Peavine Falls Road This first pan of the BUMP trail is named Caution Wi:lding Trail unless you have a better idea ChaJJengingdownhill switchbacks will bring you to Blood Rock or some people call it The Notch. Past this begins The Old Quarry Road or Debbie Sprowll calls it the Terminator Trail because whether you go up or down-it will kill you. The point at which you see Peavine Falls Road and you make a sharp turn to the right is where Twisting Oak begins. This is a rollicking downhill of sharp switchbacks amid the hardwoods which will lead you again to Peavi.reFalls Road.

Take a right and you'll see the Johnson's Mountain trailhead on your left in about a hundred yards. You will encounter gut-busting uphill switchbacks right away, then some gradual climbing and pine-needle straightaways, more uphill switchbacks-not so bad, to the top. Then the descent which is rocky in sections and has severalbig logs will lead you again to the road. To shorten the ride about a mile, you can skip Johnson's Mountain and go to the next section by the road to the big gravel turn-around where the next tIail caJJedForeplay (named by Hughie) begins. This will lead again to the road and Ire irtersectirn of a horse trail. The last section is called Mr. Toad's Wild Ride and is a wonderful curvaceous on-camber singletrack which is great for a cool-down, or one last kamikaze sprint. Turn right when you come out of the woods and you are back where you started- 16 miles later. The final trail which will connect Otirnney Sweeps to the North Trailhead should be open by January. Well worr, about naming that one next year.

It was an awfully cold morning on November 6th when fourteen very hearty members of BUMP, including new member Amy Hunter, assembled at 8am at the Olive Garden near Eastwood Mall to make the trip up to Trenton, Georgia. Debbie Sprow II was our leader and had been there several times in preceding months to "map" the trail in that trail-mapping mind of hers. After about a two hour drive, our caravan reassembled on the top of Lookout Mountain and we began donning our layers of cold-weather gear. Off we went into the woods, and at the top of the first hill we all stopped to shed some of that cold-weather gear. We tried to get Karla Simpson to carry everything since she had a big knapsack, but she objected so we all wore little jacket skirts around our waists for much of the ride. It was a totally georgeous day, and the fall colors were glorious. We had been warned about the mud, and while Beth Ballenger and Debbie had switched wisely to toe clips, many of us stubbornly stayed with clipless and carried a small can of WD40. The trail was diverse and wonderful. We started out on singletrack with lots of climbs and technical challenges, and a few very steep hills we had to ride because they were too steep to walk. Then we were on sweeping, rolling wide trail with small ponds at regular intervals that Debbie called puddles. Greg Waldrup was observed plowing thrcugh most of them at speed, kicking up a big bow-wake before falling over, still attached to his new Onza pedals, into the slimy green water. This was very entertaining. We made a lot of stops to regroup and chat with deer hunters. The WD40 was passed around a lot and Jerry Akers was climbing trees to try to stay warm in the sunlight. Ken Hester inexplicably bent his stainless steel small chainring toward the end of the ride and had to run his bike out of the woods which was okay since he was training for the Maddog. Debbie did a wonderiul job leading us, and Todd was great as ever at shepherding the stragglers. The Trenton ride was just about as fun as it gets, so look for the next scheduled trip up there in the Calendar of Events early in the Spring--and don't miss it.

GRINDER

~(ID~U~ (ID[r1)(Q] [p~U[r1)~~

Dr. Juan Saxon on Sniffles
I don't know much about exercise induced sniffles, it's not my area of expertise and I don't have time to look it up ....but I mentioned something about it to Hughie at the last Grinder staff meeting and he said he knew all about it on account of how much he watches Alabama football. He said that it is a common physiological phenomenon that occurs during strenuous exercise in cold weather and its medical name is Athletic Rhinorrhoea. Simply put, the extra secretions our noses produce may be necessary to moisten the cold dry air. He went on to explain that secretions from both serous and mucous glands is thought to be increased by parasympathetic nerve stimulation. He further illuminated the matter by explaining that increased circulating catecholamines concentrations and adrenergic activity in the mucosal blood vessels during exercise may thus contribute to the production of these nasal secretions. In short, there is nothing we can do about it. Hughie sensed my feelings of helplessness at this point and soothingly assured me that while we cannot prevent Athletic Rhinorrhoea, we can deal with the problem by utilizing certain efficacious techniques perfected by the Alabama football team. In terms of Mountain Biking, Hughie advises that we wear gloves with terry cloth panels for quick wipes. We also should take a cloth handkerchief or bandana which will hold up better than tissues for blowing our noses during rest stops. The most effective measure however, he asserted, is called the Roll Tide Handkerchief. While riding at at least fifteen miles per hour, you compress one nostril and blow through the open one with great velocity to expel excess ,secretions and then hastily dab your nose with the back of your glove before smashing into a tree. On a personal note, Hughie confided that he salves his raw irritated nostrils with vaseline each night before going to bed.

RRCING TIPS
by l fIurie 0 eSh fIzo
Registering
It's best to pre-register through the mail especially since it's usually cheaper that way. I f you register the day of the race, go early.

Pre-ride
If you can ride the course the day before the race, that's the best, but get on the course if possible to warm up right before your race begins, to haue an idea of the immediate trail conditions and mak:e a plan about how to start according to the terrain and your strengths. Mak:e mental notes about trail conditions and places where you may haue trouble and places where you may haue an aduantage.

Philosophy
Get there fast-on or off the bik:e. whateuer

Technique
Mak:e the most off your strengths

they are. For instance, don't blow yourself up on the

hills if you're not a great climber. hue it for the downhills and mak:e up some time there. Go your own pace.

Strfltegy
Get to the singletrack: first wheneuer possible. If someQne is ahead of you, instead of mak:ing a moue right away, tail them for a while without letting them k:now you're behind them; wait for the right time to mak:e a moue where you can capitalize on your strengths and their weak:nesses. Find someone strong to ride with or behind to help pull you along and k:eep up your pace.

BUMP members turnec out for the Maddog in droves both to race and to che'Bf, The following are the results of participants from our club:

""""011

Race Resul,s

Etiquette
The faster racer always has the right of way. To pa~~, !>!!!,l "track:" and the slower racer will usually pull ouer or giue instructions on which side to pass.

Duathlon
Sally Billstrom-3rd female. overall Jerry Akers-3rd male. age group 25-29 Jenifer Jackson- 1st female. age group 30-34 Roger Byrd-1st male. age group 30-34 Lee Rivers-1st male. age group 35-39 John Griffen-1st male. age group 40-44 Ken Hester-2nd male. age group 40-44

Trflining
Conditioning is more important than technical sk:iIIs. Build your aerobic fitness by riding slowly some days. Build your strength and recouery capabilities by really pushing it other days. Rest is really important to rebuild your muscles, strength, stamina, energy and mental acuity. Ouer-troining leads to burn out. Upper-body weight training is uery important, especially strengthening your abs and back:. Stretch before and after riding.

NORBA
Laurie DeShazo-1st. Expert women Hardwick Gregg-3rd. Sport men Lee Rivers- 12th. Sport men Mark Richman- 19th. Sport men I<oger Keel-1st, Beginner men over 35 AI Pendergrass-3rd. Beginner men over 35 Jerry Akers-3rd. Beginner men under 35 Jeff Mills-4th. Beginner men under 35 Mike Herring-17th. Beginner men under 35

Karma
Racing is for fun. When you plan to participate in an euent, it giues you something to set fitness goals for. Your main goals race day should be: to finish, to fellowship with other mountain bik:ers and to haue a good time.

GRINDER
Needmur-e Tr-ails
The Land Access Committee--<:onsisling of Bill Garrelt, Barry Hair and Ken Hester-is doing an amazing job fmding more places for BUMP to ride. Our last BUMP ride on November 21st lOOkus to Bromplonjust east of the city off ofI oW. There were about fifteen of us, including local FitnessMogul Arleen Garrettwho barrelledino her very first moUllUlin bike experienceever, clipped ino SPDs 00 a diffirult trail,and did grea. Both Bill and Barry had spent a great deal of time aquainting themselves with the trail so we wouldn't gel lost or annoy the land owners. Barry provided a map of the trail complete with mileages. This is a tenific place to ride-primaril y wide uails with a lot of loose rock, hUghuphills and scintillating descents with boulderydrop-off~rfect for big air. Bill came 10 the rescue climbing a steep half mile hill to round up Jenifer Jackson and Arleen who were in the taboo wne wondering where everyooe else was. Sally Billslrom got off track too and met up with Bubba and his pals in a pick-up. Well be going back, but on Sunday Dxember 5th, Ken is leading a ride at the Telledega National Forest. And Barry and Bill have yet another new uail up their sleeve we'll be trying out soon. So many trails ...so little time. Good job guys, keep up the good work.

ASK HUGHIE
Dear Hughie. I have this friend who Is so noncommital about making plans--even for rides, and when we do make plans, half of the time he's late or doesn't show at all, but he always has such a charming and contrite explanation, I have trouble staying mad. Do you think I should take a stand with him? Miffed in Mtn. Brook
Dear Miffed. II1II'm not so sure you'd ...welllll ...it's not so much that, oh, I probably shouldn't say this ....weU. since I've started ..oits just that there's really something to be saidfor .... I mean if he's contrite, qfter all ..,uhhh, I'm sure, weIll II, you krww ....that is, take itfrom there. Enough said.

Dear Hughie, There Is an annoying click in my first I thought it was my bottom bracket made sure my cranks were tight. But next time I rode. I'm sure it's not my me crazy. What should I check next?
Dear Sqfferlng, The 94 modeis.

bike when I ride. At so I repacked it and it was still there the headset. It's driving

[alandar of Evan t I
December 1st-Wednesday 7pm, BUMP meeting at Hoover Library. Slide show of Chuck's Mondo trip to Moab. Dinner afterwards at Smokey Joe's. December 4th-Saturday for Trail work day at Oak Mtn. lOam, meet at the Park Office

Dear Hughie, I wrote a couple of months ago about the crotch discomfort I've been ex- periepcing from riding, and your advise, if you can call it that, hasn't helped a bit. I'm going to have to quit riding If I don't get some answers and it will be on your head. Give me something I can use this time. Still Hobbling In Hoover
Dear Still Hobbling, Hughie has taken a sudden unexpected sabbatical. He was muttering in broken phrases about something being on his head. So it is left to me to tackle your problem. Now, let me explain, I don't know much about bicycling induced crotch discomfort, you see. it's not my area of expertise and I don't have time to look it up-but afriend of mine read in the Homewood Cycle Newsletter that you shouldn't wear underwear with your riding shorts, and I inadvertently read in one of the Mountain Biking Mags that all the professional women racers use some kind of lubricant to cut down on friction. My personal recommendation is that when you purchase riding shorts, choose quality shorts with natural leather chamois pads. Use neosporin on areas already irritated bfifore you ride and use powder to keep the area dry the rest of the time. For a lubricant, special creams are soldfor this purpose but vaseline works just as well. Here are some other things you can try: Maybe your seat is too high. You want your legs to bend very slightly at the bottom of your pedal stroke. Also, you might be on the seat too much. Leant to keep your weight on the bottom bracket more than on the seat even when you are pedaling, and make it a habit to stand in a semi flexed position with your cranks horizontal when you are coasting. Next, take a look at what kind of seat you have. Bigfat gel-padded seats aren't the answer. Try upgrading to a good seat like a Specilized Prolong which MBAtouts as the most corrifortable seat ever. Lastly, check the angle of your seat. You'll probablyfind level to be the most corrifortable. Let me know if these solutions help any. DrJuan

December 5th-Sunday, meet at Olive Garden next to Eastwood Mall at 9am for an exploratory ride on the Tallade~a National Forest Blue Trail. This will be an approximate 20 mile loop. Call Ken Hester for more information. December 9th-Thursday, 5pm Auction of bike shop inventory of Magic City Tri-shop, See" Auction" on front page or call Hugh. 942-9128 December 11th-Saturday 9am to 4pm fitness testing by NEWtrition Connection at Homewood Cycles. Call or stop by to make a reservation or for more information. 879-3244. December 12th-Sunday 9am, The Triple Crown Of Fat Tire Racing will be held in Greenville AL, just south of Montgomery by the Montgomery Area Racing Consortium, Inc. There will be three events: Seven Miles of Bad Road, 2.2 Mile Time Trial, and Go For Broke Downhill. Information is available at Bike Shops December 18th-Saturday 8pm, BUMP Christmas Party at Jenifer and Juan's. 5401 9th Avenue South. Maps will be available at the meeting or call 591-0990.

~Persona/s<J
For Salc-:fitanium Diamond Back Frame, call Tony. 646-2522 Thursday . Found keys Auctlon-Bike Shop Inventory of Magic CityTri-Shop December 9th at 5pm. See "Auction" on front page. For Sale-Blue Mazda Mlata with bike rack, cheap. on trail. Can't guaranty odometer. Call 942-9128.