Birmingham Urban Mountain Pedalers Club Newsletter

PREZSEZ
Good riddance winter, Spring has sprung, The leaves are just starting to return to the trees and some flowers are starting to bloom, Lately we have also been blessed with some great riding weather on the weekends, With the sun setting later in the day and the warmer weather. a lot of mountain bikers are trying to get more riding in to get into better riding shape (myself included). Some Bumpsters have spring NORBA races in their minds. others just want to get more time in the woods to get away from life's stresses, or gain rejuvenation from experiencing spring in the making. So play hooky from work when you can and take that weekday ride! Just recently Bump went for a group ride at Sandrock near Gadsden. AL. It was announced at the last meeting and about fifteen (15) people showed up for the ride, While the ride was twenty miles (only three more than Oak Mountain). it felt like doing two loops at the park. It was Great! Sandrock is a wonderful trail which while most of it isfairly smooth. parts of it are very technical rocky sections. The faster you take the rocky part. the wilder it gets and it becomes a split second scenario-uh-oh, a big rock. bunny hop!. ugh, a rock ledge, lay back! Forthose without a masochistic streak, a more reasonable speed through those sections just provides a temporarily bumpy ride. Slower is less expensive too. Larry Stanley and myself after slamming some rocks a little too hard both experienced problems, he a less expensive pinch flat, myself a more expensive tire sidewall/tube explosion. So much for that forty dollars worth of rubber! The great thing about Sandrock is it is close by and good for your reaction riding skills which can get

dulled from doing the same trail over and over again at Oak Mountain. So take that short drive to Sandrock and have fun. Bump group rides are starting up again. We are working on having a ride at the Trenton, Georgia Trails. Someone familiar with those trails has agreed to lead us. So stay tuned for details which will probably come out at the next meeting. Bump's first NORBA race is just a little over two months away. It should be exciting. Our race ad will appear in the next NORBAnews. Besidesthe race being on a great course. we have a substantial cash purse of S2,000.00 plus S3,000.00 in merchandise. Thanks to Cahaba Cycles, our sponsor. While I'm surethat many of you would like to race in this event, many people will be asked to set that desire aside and to volunteer to work on race day. We sat down the other night and figured out it will take between twenty five and thirty volunteers minimum, to put on a quality race.

[j]CAHABA
&~CYCLES
CAHABA 3120

HEIGHTS PLAZA

1927 HOOVER COURT HWY 31

967-2003

822-6600

In deciding whether to make a personal sacrifice in not racing in order to work the race please remember Bump's reputation is on the line. If this race is not staffed right, it will be a major headache for those that do volunteer (and therefore will never again), the racers won't be happy, and we will be know as a club who doesn't have it's act together. I think most NORBAracers have attended at least one event that was nothing but a disaster from an organizational standpoint. We don't want to be that kind of event. I am confident Bump members will put their personal desires aside, make that sacrifice, and volunteer. We have an opportunity to show the riders in the South the great trails we have labored so hard to build and to gain or reaffirm the reputation as being a club that puts on fun, quality events. At the next meeting I will be asking for volunteers to commit to working that Sunday. Your Officers, Board of Directors, and others have been working tirelesslyfor months on this event already. I'll see you on the trails and remember to keep the rubber side down. BARRY - THE HAIR

GET RACE READY

Hardwick Gregg's Sage Advice
Get Your Bike Ready Make Sure Your Wheels Are True Make sure your brakes will lock either wheel. If your bike is shifting slow fix it. Suspension course
n

check air pressure;

Set damping depending

on

Race Day Increase air pressure enough to avoid flats. Take off your Seat pack and other accessories and carry your spare tube in your jersey. Get a camel back or drink enough before you start. Its hard to drink during the race. Before the Race Warm up, Warm up, Warm up. If the reace is short, warm up longer. If the race is long, warm up shorter. Line up early. Warm up hard enough to get your heart rate up. Line up on first or second row if you are a contender, check your gear selection It is important to know the course. During the Race Start Fast and Don't Slow down (Well, at least start fast.) Maintain the fastest pace you can, hold on until the hole shot, first hard turn or top of the first hill. Then you can recover without losing places.

MARCH MEETING MINUTES

President Barry Hair called the meeting to order. Barry brought us up to date on race preparation activities. BUMP is diligently working on proposals that will attain sponsors, dollars, and prizes. the club voted to set aside $2200 as a race fund. Hopefully, this money will be more than replaced by the proceeds from our incredibly successful race. Barry talked for a really, really, really, really, long time. Hugh Leader asked many, many, many questions, but failed to talk as much as Barry. However, as reward for his inquisitiveness, Hugh was "hughnamiously" elected chair of the BUMP Banner and Barbeque Committee. Be sure to congratulate Hugh the next time you see him. Committee meetings are at his house. Everyone is invited. Please bring a guest. Jack Bransdorf volunteered to lead a ride.at Sand Rock. At the end of our meeting we were treated to an informative presentation by two representatives of the Shaklee company. We all came away from the meeting with an increased body of knowledge about exercise nutrition. At the end of their presentation, the nice Shaklee reps gave away a water filter. The winner of the water filter was none other than Barry Hair. I guess the filter was the award for talking the most. (Any nominees for chair of the water committee?) The meeting ended when we overstayed our welcome at the Hoover Public Library. There's nothing quite like getting in trouble with a librarian.

cannondale
Special of the Month Cannondale F700 2.8 Series Front Suspension Mountain Bike
Regular Price: SpecIal Price

$1194.00

1440.00

~VI ~
"\w@IL)\~ 1-: .. 't':"1

----71

Anlythe See.

Stream Crossings. Steep Hills, Technical Stuff Don't be afraid to get off your bike and run (or walk). Many times it is faster than riding. Practice dismounting, and running getting back, and getting back on. Make sure you are completely through the rough stuff before getting back on. Don't let your pride keep you from getting there faster.

Page 2

Down Hill Gravity can be your friend, Use it 1!!! Use your handle bars to control the bike not your brakes (There is no speed only a braking limit.) Up Hills Pick the right gear and stay with it. Short Hills-- Middle ring, crank hard. Long Hills-- Small ring, spin it all the way up. As long as the track is rideable stay on your bike. Riding Through Sand Go in as fast as you can, stop pedaling, and unweight the front wheel. When the bike slows shift down and pedal out the other side. Follow the deepest track you see. Passing & Being Passed If someone is on yom wheel let them go by, then follow them. Then the pressure is off of you. If someone in another race is over taking you let them by ASAP. If you are passing someone in single track tell them when and do it ASAP. After you pass them you must put a gap on them! Otherwise just stay behind them and wait for your chance, especially late in the race.

6.) After finally patching the tube, you will place lhe tire on the wheel in the wrong direction. 7.) You will not have any food in your house, nor will you have gas in your vehicle. You must stop twice on the way to the meeting point. 8.) You will arrive at the meeting point in time to meet your party, but not in time to use the bathroom. This insures lhat the road to lhe trail will be technical, and the parking site crowded and treeless.

BUMP NORBA RACE UPDATE

Here are some of tha recent developments in preparing for our race to be started on June 11 at Oak Mountain: -105.9 "The Bear" raido station has agreed to "on the air" promotion including a live remote broadcast. -Birmingham News has tenatively agreed to give BUMP'S Race a centerpiece article in their paper prior to the race. -NORBA executive director Phil Milburn in a letter has identified our race is a "quality event". -We have secured timing equipment and safety barriers. -The Pavillion at the south trailhead is secured for registration and running the event -We have been offered race communication raidos and a PA system -We will be sending race flyers to every NORBA Racer in a six state area -We are placing two ads in the NORBA news, a national publication promoting our event.

<tIcrosa from '-ef"\1Ic.e MrchAodiu -

J704Iooroa1\.d.-

988-0930

Just The Facts Mam

BUMP is a not for profit corporation. This newsletter is produced by members of BUMP for the purpose of promoting safe and responsible use of mountain bicycles. The officers may be contacted at the following. 987-8510 Pres. Barry Hair 917-3786 V .P. Bill Garrett 933-1952 Sec. Amy Hunter 879-8373 Treas. Ken Hester

MURPHY'S Rtlle~ Of The Trail

1.) The night before a big ride you will stay out much too late. 2.) When you are meeting a group for an out of town ride, you will wake up late. (See #1) 3.) When you do awake you will discover a flat on your bike. This flat will be on the back tire. 4.) You will not have a spare tube at your home. 5.) Your boyfriend will decide this is a good time for you to learn to patch a tube by yourself.

NATIONAL TRAILS DAY

June 11th is the date for National Trails Day events at Oak Mountain State Park. There is a concerted effort underway to encourage all of the different groups of the trail user community to take part in this event. Your participation as a BUMP member is highly encouraged. There will be plenty to do in additiion to staging the bicycle race.

SOItlOF WHAT'S HAPPNEN

iiMF
Lt' .... .

Cumberland Mt. Bike Classic, Sewanee, TN P.O. Box 822 Sewanee, TN 37375 615-598-1564 Georgia Pines Mountain Bike Race 1570 Holcomb Bridge Road, Suite 530 Roswell, GA 30076 404-993-2626 Bike Rack Mt. Bike Points Race (1st of 4) The Bike Rack 5050 Parkway Drive Jackson, MS 39211 Birmingham Alabama Mad Dog Mountain Bike Race Springville, AL Sponsored By Team Magic 205-930-0012 Birmingham Urban Mountain Pedalers & BUMP Trail Work Day Oak Mountain State Park Norris Challenge, Norris, TN 1016 Calen Lane, Knoxville, TN 615-675-4261 37932 Royal Robbins lecture to benefit ' + , Friends of the Locust Fork River $20 Entry Fee Before June I - $27 After B'ham. Zoo Auditorium 7:30 PM for infrormation call Martha Hunter 871-3252 NORBA ~iscense Required Earth Day Event & 5K Run Includes ~me of ~e best sI~gIe track anywhere, includes 600 ft Linn Park, Birmingham, AL clImb. For .mform~tlOn telephone (205) 967-2003 Knob Schorcher Spring Circuit, 3120 Cahaba Heights VIllage Road Birmingham, AL 35243 Bryson City, NC 1927 Hoover Ct. Hwy 31 Birmingham, AL 35244

.....;t.................................:;;W

NATIONAl. TRAILDAYRAC

~IND

State

OAK MOUNTAIN
June f f

Park

CA HABA CYCLES $2 000 purse $3 000 Prizes

13077 Highway 19 West, Bryson City, NC 28713 704-488-9735 Fresca Twilight, Athens, GA .257 Broad Street, Athens, GA 30601 706-549-6632 Big South Fork Spring Challenge, Oneida, TN P.O. Box 4129, Oneida, TN 37841 Bike Rack Points Race (2nd of 4) The Bike Rack 5050 Parkway Drive, Jackson, MS 39211 Cotton Row Run 10K & 2 mile Huntsville, AL 533-4757

GD
:

1
\~\.
\

VnKlMIJ
5PIlA.LllIJJ

TREK

J1

~
~~%;;i

June 10thBUMP & GRIND Pre-registration

Oak Mountain State Park 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM

~~t Ymlf ~eel~ run~O!

f
JJ JJ

Best Tune Deal In To\\~1.

June 11thBUMP & GRIND MTN. BIKE RACE

& NAT. TRAIL DAY EVENT AT OAK MOUNTAIN State Park Cahaba Cycles 967-2003

CtestJiDe CYCIF
Mon.Fri.: 106 SalUrday: 95 # II De.\ter Alfnue Crestline Village 8i9-6255