Prez Sez S7f A\ ICIDID/L!

Welllll. it's finally here .... these hot. sweltering Alabama days. As you are probably already aware, hydration is the key word if you are planning to do any aftemoon riding. You really need to be prepared for the humidity and heat with plenty of water to drink. and this Prez speaks from experience. I want to thank everyone who helped BUMP with the National Trail Day event held this past June 4th at Oak Mountain State Park. Bob Bruner really did a super job organizing our role, especially with all of the audio/video arrangements. Even though Mother Nature did her own show, BUMP was still able to remain visible. Also. thanks to Cahaba Cycles for their presence and Hardwick Gregg who brought out some snappy new bikes to display. In addition, any BUMP members who did not take advantage of Cahaba Cycles 25% off accessories coupon in last month's Grinder. really missed out. Touching lightly on the subject of "controversy" in the Grinder, please keep in mind-nothing that ever appears in our newsletter is meant to stir up any bad feelings. We have indeed been known to poke a little fun a various organizations or individuals, and although there may be a few readers who do not agree with the content, we are careful to be factual, fair. creative and appropriate ... from a mountain biker's perspective. We apologize to anyone who may have misunderstood the intent of anything that has been written. I would also like to point out that each month. Gossip Trail and any other articles that may be considered controversial, are reviewed. modified and approved by an editorial board consisting of the BUMP officers. including myself. Any questions or problems may be addressed to any of the BUMP officers. or feel free to write or fax your views for publication in "Real Life Letters To Hedda." I wish to bid farewell to long-time local BUMP member Sally Bilstrom. Sally has moved out west to reside in Denver. Please keep in touch Sally. we'll miss you. July 9th is our next Trail Maintenance Day and we'll need your support more than ever. Nearly all of

the BUMP trail sections are in need of some repair due to the extreme dryness. subsequent rain and extent of biking traffic. We will also be giving out prizes this time, I.e. tires, tubes, patch kits, water bottles, etc ... Please gives us a few hours of your time in retum for the many hours of benefit you have received from haVing such a wonderful trail to ride. HUGH, THE LEADER

D:L:LP TffOUf.1ffTS
139 Jac&- 13rano9
I keep forgelling to remember that when I get too attached to something, I just set myself up for being hurt...like when I get dumped by some babe or when some well meaning park workers cut out all the logs on my favorite trail. Don't you know that I'II...never love a log again.

f!J088tptreatl
by Hedda Rockhopper

What gross error in judgement was made by which editorial staff of what marvelous local mountain biking publication at the expense of which long-time mountain biking trail activist, and BUMP supporter? It must first be understood that when we anonymously recieved that finely crafted bit of literary excellence, we jumped impetuosly to the conclusion that it could have been written by no other than Mr. Garrett whose delicate nature predisposes him to such ponderances on a regular basis. But it seems that Mr. Garrett has been the brunt of cruel merriment and as a result has been baptised in embarassment. Putting that aside for a moment. ..experts have determined that the enigmatic poem which has caused all of this hoopla, was written, after all, about the experience of mountain biking (what did you think it was about?) So on behalf of the entire Grinder editorial staff, I sincerely apologize to Mr. Garrett for this faux pax and take full responsibility with utmost chagrin.

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on the ground in the park. We decided not to attempt removal of this last remaining portion of timber because its removal would quite possibly cause more damage than the timber would be worth. All of the timber was removed following generally accepted logging practices and was carefully monitored by our Natural Resources Section Chief, from Montgomery. The areas you refer to as "clear cut" were actually staging and loading areas necessary for the timber removal. These areas, as well as others, will recover rather quickly. The debris removal contractor is about 95% complete with their contracted work. This includes opening and clearing all of the trails affected by the storm and timber operation. Of the more than thirty-five miles of trails in the park, only a few hundred yards of trail were adversely affected, and these are now all open. It is unfortunate indeed that the tornado struck our park, but the value of the timber removed after t~e sto:m far exceeds the inconvenience of the temporary dlsruptIon of a small portion of the park facilities. I hope that you will continue to enjoy Oak Mountain State Park and all of our fine facilities. Sincerely, Hayden Montgomery Oak Mountain Park Superintendent Dear Hedda, After surviving the lightning storm while on the trail this past Saturday, I picked up a copy of the June Grinder. The newsletter is full of wit and informative. Obviously done on a Mac. Although I joined BUMP several months ago, I have not received any copies of the Grinder at home. I did receive some information from IMBA. Please put me on the list. Thanks! Dennis Funchess Birmingham, Alabama Thanks for the fax Dennis, you have highlighted a matter that may cause some confusion for many members, which is that the Grinder is not mailed to members in town. We have many members in other cities and even states who receive the Grinder by mail, but we rely on local members to pick up the Grinder at the BUMP meeting every first Wednesday of each month, at t~e trail head "shrines", at the bike shops, and at the MagiC Deli and Continental Bakery. If you or anyone else have any suggestions as to where else to distribute the Grinder, please let me or any of the officers know. Any retail business offering to distribute our newsletter will receive mention. We could also use a volunteer to help with administrative chores such as monthly mailing to out-of -town members, so anyone interested in making a small monthly commitment of time to the Grinder, please give me a call. Thanks,

~eal Life Letters B tf) tiedda B

Dear Hedda, I am writing you in response to the article in the Gossip Trail section of the June issue. The article dealt with the clean-up of the tornado debris and resulting clear cutting. I would like to say that I agree with you 100%. As a frequent user of all Oak Mountain trails, I find it disheartening to see the massive destruction the logging crews have done so far. I, like many other park users, would like to get some more information on how the clean-up process was established. I plan to contact the park service about this matter, and I urge other patrons to do so as well. See you on the trail! Mike Herring Pelham, Alabama Thanks for your letter Mike. I spoke with Park Superintendent Hayden Montgomery who has generously provided us with a similar letter he had received, along with his response. Dear Mr. Montgomery, As a frequent user of Oak Mountain Park's trails, I was upset to find the condition they were in following the removal of the downed trees. It appears to me that the company which removed the trees took more than the ones that had been knocked down by the recent tornadoes that came through the park. There are several areas that seem to have been "clear cut" as large amounts of smaller trees and bushes were removed or destroyed. The company also left tremendous scars across the trails that I feel were completely unnecessary. I understand that there are forestry management techniques to prevent the spread of fires and disease, but it doesn't appear to me that this was the reasoning behind the blatant destruction of our trails. I feel that the company and those responsible for causing the damage to the trails should be required to repair the damage. Sincerely, M. F. Hesse Birmingham, Alabama Greetings: Thank you for your recent letter complaining about the timber removal at Oak Mountain State Park. The primary purpose of the timber operation in the park was to remove storm debris from the grounds and to recoup some monetary renumeration from the marketable timber. All of the marketable timber which was blown down during the March tornado has not, and will not be recovered. There are still many tons of marketable timber

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~~u~ [fU~[F~U[fU~~
Dr. Juan Saxon on Poison Ivy
I don't know much about poison ivy, it's not my area of expertise and I don't have time to look it up ...but I found myself lying on my back the other day in a patch of threeleafed foliage beside the trail, and suddenly got the idea to write this column. So, just shooting from the hip, here are what I figure might be some pertinent facts for mountain bikers to consider in order to prepare for and recover from the pitfalls of summer riding. I sort of remember from a chapter I think I read sometime in medical school that the allergic reaction to poison ivy, oak and sumac are all forms of contact dermatitis, (i.e. irritation to the skin as a direct result of contact with an allergenic agent). If you are not allergic to it, it is because your body lacks the antibodies directed at the antigen, (that is, the cellular soldiers your system mobilizes to attack the antigenic interlopers). But for the rest of us, after being exposed to the antigen which in the case of poison ivy, oak and sumac is an oily substance in the leaf, the antigen is recognized by the antibody and an inflammatory response ensues. After the antigens are spotted by the little antibody scout, histamine is released which causes itching, chemical mediators signal the arrival of inflammatory cells which causes fluid filled pockets (blisters). After contact with the oil, the dermatitis can be spread to other areas by the spreading of the oil itself. Many experts believe you can spread it through the fluid that develops in the blisters. This form of dermatitis will run a self limiting course if you can stand it that long without spreading it allover yourself. Most people, however seek out a quick fix. Prevention: Learn to identify the foliage and avoid it. When encountering burning leaves, do not inhale the smoke because the oil in the plants can be vaporized in the smoke and can cause a severe reaction. Wear long clothing. Treatment options: if immediately available, wash with soap and water. Or take dirt and use it's abrasive quality and scrub the area and rinse with water (from a water bottle or camelbak) If you do break out, do not scratch. Some people recommend sleeping with socks on your hands so you will not scratch in your sleep. Over the counter oral antihistamines like Benadryl can help to relieve the itching. Avoid getting the affected area hot as in running hot water over it or being in a hot environment, because the heat tends to make the vesicles (blisters) increase in size. Over the counter topical cortisone preparations can be helpful in diminishing the inflammatory response. But of course, if you've got it bad enough, consult a doctor for systemic cortisone, either pill or a shot. While poison ivy is almost impossible to avoid during summer mountain bike riding, your best bet is to stay on the
bike.

TIiE SUMME~ 1\~()IjSC()~CIiE~ ()~ TIiE TSALI

By Hardwick Gregg of Cahaba Cycles
This year the summer Knobscorcher, previously held at the Nantahala Outdoor Center in North Carolina, was held "down the road" at the Tsali trail, on June 5th. It was a nice day, excellent singletrack and a tough race. Unfortunately the mountain bike gods did not smile on me this day. I raced Expert Veterans Men which started a few minutes behind the Expert Senior Men and Women. The race started smoothly as we sprinted the first 2 miles up a dirt road. I made it into the singletrack about 5th place and tried to pace myself since we had 32 miles to go. The singletrack was unusually narrow; in places there were bushes grazing my elbows on both sides. My fIrst indication that I was having a bad karma day was when a bee stung me on the knee. After the fIrst 13 mile loop I was still riding well in 4th place. In the next 10 mile loop I passed 2 Experts and one Vet to move up to third. Then I ran over the snake...right in the middle of the trail. The guy I had just passed was breathing down my neck so I had to make the split-second decision that if you're going to run over a snake you should run over it fast. Around mile 17. my body and my bicycle began to fail me simultaneously. My front deraileur started making a big racket that only went away if I shifted to the big ring or small ring. My back was already hurting and my legs were starting to go. I let the vet behind me pass and he quickly left me behind. I felt okay going down the dirt road to start my last loop since I could ride in the big chain ring and standing up temporarily eased the pain in my back. I began to think I would at least hold on to 4th, but another vet passed me on the singletrack. I killed myself to stay with him for a couple of miles, but I had to give it up when we came to the last hill before the dirt road. By this time I was sucking my camelbak dry, hoping these precious drops would carry me to the finish line. Finally, after a gruelling two and a half hours, I was grinding uphill toward the finish when I spotted Jenifer Jackson just ahead of me. I passed her about 20 yards out, but just as I crossed the line, Jenifer came through full speed, lowered her shoulder and tried to knock me out of my SPD pedals. So in this race I got stung by a bee, ran over a snake, and was introduced to full contact mountain biking. Oh boy! The Knobscorcher was a great race for anyone having a good karma day; like Laurie McClennan who came in 5th in Expert Women after a tough 32 miles, Debbie Sprowll who held on to 2nd in Beginner Women even after 14 miles fraught with mishaps and mechanicals, and Jenifer who was relieved to have fmished in the middle of the pack at 10th after 23 miles in her first serious Sport (cross country) race. The Tsali is a fast and exciting course, with the only disadvantage that parking there is very limited. The Fall Knobscorcher in November will again be held at the Nantahala Outdoor Center. The whole area is so beautiful it's worth the drive just for the drive, which is only 5 hours from Birmingham. This is one of the largest and best organized races in the southeast so think seriously about making it there in the fall whether you plan to race or noL

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ASK HUGHIE
Dear Hughie, I started mountain biking to relieve the stress of a demanding career by getting Wbackto nature" and Wstoppingto smell the roses". But every flower I stop to smell...smells like a sweaty riding glove and it's gross! I'm thinking of giving up mountain biking because of this. What do you think? Offended in Mt. Olive Dear Qffended.

BROKEN BONES
Accidents do happen and BUMP wishes to remind the mountain biking community that good trail construction cannot overcome the lack of good judgement. According to park official Ira Holt, there have been no MOUNTAIN BIKE RELATED BROKEN BONES OR SEVERE INJURIES requiring park assistance that have occurred on our oak Mountain trail in the past month. We hope that this monthly notice has contributed toward the safety consciousneli5 eX IocallTlOl.l'ltai"l bl<e riders CJ'ld1hat this trend will conmue.

Wellll...atjirst I was ... lets just say ...concemed that you may have, ah hmm. ..experienced aflower related trauma in your early childhood which expresses itself in....wellUl...negative transference on the olfactory level. But then I took the liberty of. ..that is, consulting with Dr. Juan. ..who despite having no expertise in this area, ventured to suggest that you. uhhh, weIlL might want to try washing your gloves.
Dear Hughie, My girlfriend thinks she knows me so well, but she doesn't even know important things like what kind of lube I use, what air pressure I run in my tires and how much toe-in and pad clearance I like on my brakes. This insensitivity is beginning to get to me. What should I do?

Future Shock Blowout!

Future Shock SE
Adjustable air spring with preset oil damping

Reg $329.95

NOW $239.99

Future Shock Sp_o_rt __

Long column elastomer spring with adjustable damping

DearTaken, The woman obviously cares for no one but herself. But .... before making any, welUl, rash decisions ... especially if she's, well ....anyway .... try opening the lines qf communication. I might suggest you take advantage of the couples counseling offered by many of the better mechanics at the better bike shops. Your dUferences may still be irreconcilable
but at least you bikes will be in good shape.

Reg $219.95

NOW $199.99
fork legs and 3120 Cahaba Heights Plaza

Both have magnesium dust boots

r IHltIDIDA'
'O/f/I2/H/fA\/I2'S

967-2003

t
Copper-

"I've figured out there's a connection between toe-clips and head injuries. So if you don't ride with toe-clips you don't have to wear a helmet." Bruce ???? Not a BUMP member "Watch Moccasin'" out! It's a Rattle-Headed

~CAHABA ~CYCLES

1927 Hoover Court HWY 31

822-6600

CONSUMER NOTI CE ON MRNITOU SHOCKS:

Answer Products has found that a small percentage of the 1992-93 season Manitou 2 and M-Spon fork crowns may develop crncks during use. Trerefore, trey are requesting that all of these forks be visually inspected by Dealers for cracks and the crowns replaced if necessary at no charge. If you own one of these forks, please take your bike by Bob's Bikes or Cahaba Cycles soon for an inspection.

Carla Simpson. long-time BUMP member, Upon seeing a snake while canoeing in the creek at Rockford

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AvoldlnQ the Accidental ~ountaln 1131k.e lrourlst 5yndrome

by Bill Harrington
So you want to go out west and do some mountain biking? You've heard too much about places like Moab, Durango and Crested Butte and you can't stand it anymore. Maybe one of your buds has made the pilgrimage and now you feel obliged to do likewise. You've just got to come out and see for yourself. But how do you go about planning your trip? Do you just hop in your car, or better yet, talk your riding buddy into driving his, and haul ass west until you hit the Rockies and then just start riding? Well, that is what this article is about. How to plan your trip so you can get the biggest bang for your buck and the most out of your time out West. First decision is where to go. The West is full of trails on public lands so you don't necessarily have to go to one of the mountain biking meccas to find great riding and scenery. However, it is fun to go where there are people from all over the country and the world, to meet new people and make friends. Another advantage of going to the well traveled locales is that it is much easier to find info about the trails, lodging, camping, etc... Mountain bike magazines are continually running travel articles about the famous destinations so if you've got a stack of old issues, thumb through them because that's a good place to get started. Two important factors a lot of people don't consider enough before they head west, are season and altitude. For example, Moab has incredible weather in the spring and fall, but the summers are very hot The average July high temperature is 99 degrees which is a little on the warm side for fun riding. If you just have to go to Moab in the summer, be prepared to do your riding at daybreak and if you're camping, consider staying up in the La Sal Mountains-it will be a lot cooler. Places like Crested Butte and Durango have relatively short, mostly summer riding seasons, especially Crested Butte. Snow can still be on the higher elevations well into June and by mid-September, snowfall is not an uncommon occurrence. July and August are the best months to hit the higher altitudes to insure the likelihood of good weather and snow-free trails. So check on the weather of your destinations beforehand and avoid unpleasant surprises. Before you go, also consider that altitude is not equal opportunity. Some people are affected by it more than others although your general aerobic fitness level can be an indication of your probable performance at higher elevations. It can be quite frustrating, not to mention damaging to your ego, to find yourself pushing up grades that you can easily pedal back home. And who wants to travel great distances just to be discouraged? The whole idea is to have fun, right? In Crested Butte, the rides start at 9000 feet and go up from there. Most of the "classic" rides top out at over 11,000 feet! Gasp! Whereas in Moab, most of the "classic" riding is between 4,000 and 6,000 feet and most people seem to be able to handle these lower elevations relatively well. Once you've decided where you're going, now it's time to pack and take off. Right? Wrong. What you need to do now is gather as much information as you can about the trails, lodging, camping and so on for your destination. The more info you get before you leave means the less time you'll spend trying to find

what's where once you get there. Chambers of Commerce, the Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the bike shops are all good sources for information. Request information about the trails (ones open to bicycles), campgrounds, motels and other services in the area where you are interested in going. Then use your accumulated knowledge to help you plan the logistics of your trip. If nothing else, get a feel for your destination even if the very thought of planning makes you feel anal retentive. It is even a good idea to get a hold of trail maps and guidebooks before you hit the road. If you are going to be organizing your own rides, I cannot over-emphasize the importance of investing in the best available maps and guidebooks as well as a bike computer to keep track of distances. It amazes me how many people will invest the time and money to drive across country and then skimp on trail info. When you talk to them later they'll tell you that they didn't do a ride because they couldn't find it or they did only part of a classic ride because they had no idea where they were going and what to expect...or worse yet, they got lost. And don't tell me that a guidebook is too bulky to carry with you on rides. Simply photo-copy the pages you need before you ride. Having advance knowledge of the trails will also help you plan not only which trails are best suited to your ability, but which are logistically possible. For example, what if the trail you were looking forward to riding requires a shuttle, such as the Hermosa Creek Trail above Durango, and you only have one vehicle? That is another advantage of going to one of the meccas. Often you can find other visiting riders who are in the same predicament and are more than happy to arrange a shuttle ride with you. It helps to know stuff like this beforehand to avoid disappointment as well as lost time when you suddenly discover you need to formulate plan B. There are alternatives to having to plan your own rides. Tours are a great way to be introduced to new areas and new people without the hassle of having to fmd your own way around. However you do pay for this luxury. Fully supported camping tours generally run well over $100 a day while festivals are more likely to be in the neighborhood of $10 to $20 a day, depending on the length. Besides the week long festivals in Moab and Crested Butte, many areas have weekend festivals. The events sections and cIassifieds of bicycling publications are the way to find out about both festivals and tours. The downside of organized rides is that they attract riders of all skill levels. So if you are fast and impatient, don't sign up because you won't enjoy waiting for the slower riders. So there you have a quick and dirty primer on travel planning to help you to start thinking ahead. The bigger and longer the trip, the more you will benefit from advanced planning. Of course if you don't mind wasting your time and money ...and if the thrill of being totally spontaneous and totally lost is what really excites you, then don't listen to me ...just go for it. Either way have fun-'cause that's what it's all about!

TRAIL ~ORKDAY
Please come out and contribute to keeping the trail you love maintained up to BUMP standards. Our next Trail work-day Is Saturday July 9th. Meet at the Park Office on Terrace Drive at 1Dam. Bring work gloves, water and a snack. The work-days for the rest of the year are:
August 7, Sunday Nov. 5, Saturday Sept. 10, Saturday Dec. 11, Sunday October 9, Sunday

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[alendar of EventS
July 9th-Saturday Mountain. 1Oam. Trail work-day. at Oak July 9th-Saturday 9pm. BUMP SUMMER COOK OUT / POOL PARTY AT HUGH THE LEADER'S HOUSEl BYOB. Call Hugh at 942-9128 to find out what to bring. Directions will be available at the June meeting and at bike shops. August 3rd-Wednesday 7pm. BUMP Monthly Meeting at the Hoover Public Library, downstairs in the second meeting room on the left. Dinner afterwards. August 6th-Saturday 10am. BUMP ride at Oak Mountain. Beginners welcome, skills instruction from ride leaders available. Meet at south trail head. Call Barry for more info, 987-8510/969-6356.

RaDel and ~eltiyall

July 17th-ATB Dual Slalom in Ellijay, Georgia. 635-2524 am/635-2726 pm. (706) July 16th-24th-Fat Tire Festival in Crested Butte, Colorado. Includes all types of races and events. Call Chuck Whited at 956-3767. July 23rd-Cross Country Race, Newnan, Georgia, sponsored by Newnan Schwinn. (404) 251-5384. July 30th-31st-Mud, Sweat and Gears, Carrolton, Kentucky. (502) 484-2998. July 29th-31 st-Wild Hare Mountain Bike Festival, Snowshoe Resort, West Virginia. (304) 572-1000. August 6th-Beach Fork Mountain Bike Race, Cross Country, Huntington West Virginia. (304) 736-0682. August 13th-14th-Mountain Bike Challenge, Snowshoe Resort, West Virginia. (304) 572-1000. August 19th21 st-3rd Annual Cumberland Mountain Bike Championship, NORBA sanctioned, Oneida, Tennessee. (615) 933-8354. September Championship. 1Oth-11th- The Kentucky (502) 484-2998. Open, State Mountain (304) 572Cup,

199Ci Cann()ndale M()untain Eik.es are (()minl! in

~~# ---n ... ~ ~{)= DHUIE -_\.;' t' v

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September 17th-16th-Master the Weekend. Snowshoe Resort, West Virginia. 1000. October 14th-16th-Specialized Atlanta, Georgia. (408) 779-6229.

Cactus

~Pe rsonal s(l

For Sale-BUMP T-Shirts are available agai1l, only $10! BUMP sweatshirts only $15. See Hugh or call 942-9128. For Sale-New 14"mountain bike with 24" wheels. Aqua and purple-cool paint job. Eclectic components including XT and LX. $350.00. Call John Hodgkins at 324-0235. Wanted-Ideas or connections [or club and race sponsors. PromOlional informalion is available. Call Barry 987-8510 or 969-6356. Consumer Notice-1992-93 Manitou fork crowns must be inspecled by Dealers for cracks. See page 4.

November 12th-Maddog Duathalon and NORBA sanctioned Moutain Bike race, Springville, Alabama, Therese Bynum, 930-0097.

SMOOTHER

BIKES

1910 11th St., So. Birmingham, AL 35205

JIIU ~lr JI () II~ It II)

Todd French John Pearson Stephen McConnel Mike Herlevich Beverly Powell Thanks to our new members for your support of BUMP, of Mountain Biking in Alabama and of IMBA. We look forward to getting to know you. Our membership now numbers 192.

Submissions
Write to: The GRINDER City Office, 5401 9th Ave. S., B'ham 35212. Fax or phone Editor and Chief Hedda Rockhopper at 591-0990. Entire contents 1994 by Jenifer Jackson.