Prez Sez

B.U.M.P. encouroges members to uolunteer to leod rides either locolly or out of town. In the post we houe troueled os for owoy os North Corolino, or os close os Double Dole Mountoin. If you ore interested in leoding 0 ride, pleose mention it in 0 meeting, or coli me, to schedule when ond where. Here ore some bosic gUidelines to follow in leoding 0 B.U.M.P. ride: 1. Allow ot leost 0 20 minute groce period for strogglers ot the meeting ploce. 2. Prouide members with directions on how to reoch the troil-heod. 3. Estoblish 0 co-Ieoder who is fomilior with the troil, to ride with the slower riders. 4. Woit ot forles in the troil or tricley direction chonges to molee sure your group goes the right woy. In following these few guidelines, euery B.U.M.P. ride should be successful ond enjoyoble for 011 who porticipote. Jocle

THE TSHLI TRIP

On the last weekend of September, the B.U.M.P. club was successfully led on a weekend camping trip to the Nantahala National Forest In North Carolina by William Owens. About twenty in all, we camped at the Turkey Creek camp grounds where they have hot showers, and great camp sights by a babbling brook. Saturday was overcast and threatening to rain, but It was also fairly cool. We rode the two new loops-about 14 miles total-before the storm came (a number of riders rode the fITstone again in the rain,) and went out for an excellent late lunch at the Nantahala Outdoor Center. We spent the remainder of the afternoon watching the rafters and kayakers at the "water fall" a little up river. It looked like so much fun we vowed to come back and ride the river one day. The next day a number our group did ride the river In two-man duck rafts. Sunday was a beautiful day; our group was down to seven, and we rode the two longer loops totaling about 23 miles. All the trails were rolling wtth only a few long and somewhat steep hllls. About half of the time we were riding on a two foot ledge high above the lake which was at an extremely low level, adding to the precarious feeling. There were very few technical challenges and a lot of great downhills so the trails were fast and fun, sl.m1larat times to Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. No major crashes occurred, only a few traffic pile-ups. All in all it was a great trip and we wtll go back.

~1ID~~~ 1IDITDcQ] ~~~ITD~~

Dr. Juan Saxon on Lower Back Pain
I don't really know that much about lower back pain-it's not my area of expertise and I don't have time to look it up. But a friend of mine recently read that the abdomen muscles are responsiblefor the support of the lowerback. Soit seems that building strong abdomen muscles will diminish the problem of lower back pain and reduce susceptibilityto injury. This applies specificallyto mountain biking because the lower back is often a point of weakness and soreness even after a routine ride with no spills. Stronger ab muscles will contribute toward total endurance and better performancein bike riding.

Jack & Kim Against

mID &1mID mID @ 11rnJ mID 11!ill
The two of us set out on September 16th to ride In Mammoth Mountain Bike Park. We rented a couple of Paramounts from the park bike shop and took off. The first trail was called Beach Cruiser and It was like riding on the beach because the trail had been covered In gravel. it was a gradual up hili to the top of the mountain and It was a bear! After being completely blown on this first trail. we decided to take the gondola straight to the peak at 11.000 feet. The winds at the top were about 50 mph and the temperature was In the 40's. However. once we dropped a couple of thousand feet we were sheltered from the heavy winds and the temperature was very comfortable. Next we rode the famous Kamikaze ...the most outrageous trail In the world'. It Is a 10 foot wide gravel road which stretches a couple of miles. and It Is extremely steep most of the way down. During races held here In mid-July. the professionals ride this trail at speeds of up to 55mph. The last trail of the day was called Skid Marks. This was mostly slngletrack starting from the top of the mountain. Tight switchbacks hurled us down the mountain at a high rate of speed. The scenery was spectacular but the trail required so much concentration there was little time to appreciate the views. Everything considered. I would recommend biking at Mammoth Mountain. but start out at the top.

BUMP Takes On Kentuck

On Sunday September 5th sixteen BUMP members rode the Kentuck trail in Talladega. There was some confusion about the meeting time so many of us who knew the way drove up independently to the trail-head in the Talladega National Forest. We apologize to anyone who was unable to make the ride due to this misunderstanding, we will be more organized in the future. The day was beautiful and it was less hot and humid than it had been all summer. The trail is an all terrain vehicle trail but we saw only three motorized vehicles. It is a fun trail to ride because it is not technical and and is very fast with a lot of jumps on the down hills. This of course means that we had to climb up hills, and there was no shortage of long steep grueling climbs. Fortunately the trail was not too muddy as it is known to be even after moderate rains. There were no crashes or injuries, and everyone had fun.

TRAIL

WORK DAY

Please come to this month's trail work day on Saturday, October 9th. We all enjoy using the trails, so let's contribute to building and maintaining them. We will be meeting at the Park office at lOam, or just look for aU the cars with bikes on racks by the side of the road. We plan to ride after the work, around 2:00, and there will be a cook-out after the ride. Bring work gloves, a snack or lunch and water; and for the cook-out, bring whatever you want to cook and drink. Charcoal, condiments and paper plates etc. will be provided. Bring some friends.

~ "~ggfptrrlfl ~
by Hedda Rockhopper What father/son local bike store owners were seen riding on the Red Trail Sunday September 19th? Solid citizen Senior was riding a good solid bike, wearing good solid gear, getting a good solid work-out. Good solid example Dad. remind me to spend a lot of money at your store. Meanwhile handsome debonair "ladles' man Junior was a walking billboard for his shop, sporting some of the latest, trlckest prototype, not yet available to mere mortals accoutrement-such as those new Shima no clipless fllpflops we've been hearing so much about (soles could be stiffer. he was observed experiencing some technical difficulties not unlike John Tomac), and Specialized's new ultralight Nlke Alr ... lnvlslble helmet. Rounding out the whole 'Rebel without a closed head-wound' look was his stylish cool-max-not T-shirt jersey and fleldsensor-hardly shorts. He was also touting the latest In high carb energy drinks called 'A-Bottle-OfWine", We don't know who makes It yet but rest assured we won't be caught on the trail without It-at least not on a Sunday we might run Into Junior (slgh).

RSK HUGHIE
Dear Hughie. I ride with a friend who yells at me every time we get on Mr. Toad's Wild Ride "Don'thit a tree!" and every time I hit a tree. What should I do? Georgeof the Jungle Dear George, I'mmmm not saying this friend of yours is wellll ...actual/y causing you to hit a tree. It's uh...probably a matter in which some degree of introspection might ... well, give you necessary insight into what might really be going on. In the mean time, IIII'd ... uhhh ...ride out of earshot of that particular friend. Dear Hughie, I really like this guy at work and had been telling him about mountain biking. He said he'd like to ride with me and went out and bought a bike. When I saw it my heart sank. It was a Huffy! I don't understand, he seemed so together. How can I tell him I can't go riding with him now? Turned Off in Trussville Dear Turned Off, llllI can't help but think your friend's faux pas was an unconscious move to sabotage any possibility of a future with you. This clearly indicates he is comfortable-even addicted to failure. There's really no doubt that he is from a dysfunctional background; IIII'd say, well...he was beaten by his father. This of course would point to your friend having an abusive nature and at th.e very least, a drinking problem. Under no circumBtances become involved with this human abyss of self rlestruetion unless you'd rather attend Alanon and Coda meetings than hang out with the BUMP crowd and swim in my pool. As far as telling him-wellll, don't bother. llllI'm sure he already knows it in his heart. P.S. I have nothing against self help groups. I plan to join the Cracked Frame Support Group if anything ever happens to my bike. Dear Hughie, My friends and I get so confused when we talk about our biking experiences on the unnamed trails at Oak Mtn. When are we goingto name these trails? Inarticulate in Inverness Dear Inarticulate, Illll know what you mean. We do need names for these trails. But ...if we don't get around to naming them any time soon, you're welcome to use the little names I have for them. There are three sections that are as yet officialJJ unnamed. I call them: The New trail, The Really New Trail, and The Top Of The Bump Trail You Know The Section With Blood Rock In It. When I relate my biking stories using these names, uhhhh, I find my friends are no more confused than they would be otherwise, if I were, oh...sa;[, talking about anything else. You know, Illll go so far as to submit these might make good official names. Maybe we should vote on it at at upcoming meeting of the BUMP club. Bring $20.00 for your membership dues well see you there.

Calendar of
EventS
October 2nd & 3rd-Chickasabogue Fat TireRacein Mobile,Alabama.Registration Oct. 2nd, 10am to 12pm. More info availableat Homewood Cycles. October 9th -Trail Work day. Meet at the Park office 10:00am Saturday morning. Therewill be a rideandcookoutafterward. October-The week before Halloween, trip to Moab,Utahfor the FatTire Festival. For moreinfo call ChuckWhitedat 956-3767. November 13th-The Maddog Mtn.Bike race held in Springville. Alabama. Race applications areavailable at Homewood Cycles.

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For Libra (Sept. 23 to Oct. 22)
Day dreams can bring valuable insights. You have reason to feel confident about the future. A lack of warmth or openness affects certain relationships now. Romance tacks a dramatic turn. Now is the perfect time to move forward, backward, or stay the same. Changing to a generic ultra-light handlebar could bring disastrous results in the near future. A Specialized More Extreme 2.5 S on the front and a Tioga Psycho Kevlar Beaded on the back will be your best combo for bumpy trails without suspension this month.

Support Group tormtng

Where do you turn for compassionate understanding when you realize it has happened to you? What do you do with your angst and anxiety during all those days and weeks of waiting, wondering and hoping? We know, we understand, because it has happened to us. Please join us for the Cracked Frame Support Group meeting at a time which will be announced. We will be addressing such sensitive issues as: "What can I ride while waiting for the warranty frame to arrive?" Or, "Should I pay the difference and upgrade to a lighter frame?" We'll tackle guilt issues like "Could it have been my fault? We'll also explore the question "Is there anyone I can sue?" This is a complex emotionally charged time and you should not go through it alone. For more information call group co-leaders Barry at 987-8510 or Jenifer at 591-0990.

~Personals~
Tree Trimming free estimates, call Leader Tree Service. 942-9128 Wrongfui Crash? Have you ever been riding along just you and your endorphins and some green hanunerhead comes busting out of nowhere and creams you head-on? Don't take it lying down in the poison oak. Contact the Law firm of Barry, Barry and Hair for a free consultation. 987-8510 Manitou II Front Suspension Fork only six months .old. $200.00. Call Jenifer 591-0990

Submissions
If you wish to write Hughie to solve your mountain biking related quandaries, to place an ad in the personals, or to submit information of any kind, write to: The GRINDER City Office, 5401 9th Avenue South, B'ham 35212.