Cycling through St. Clair backroads well worth the trek
Story by Roxann Edsall
Submitted Photos
“Ride as much or as little, as long or as short as you feel. But ride.”
— Eddy Merckx, Belgian cyclist and five-time Tour de France winner
The popularity of biking, both traditional and E-biking, skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic as the need for social distancing peaked. Outdoor gear companies like Gadsden Outfitters report a leveling off of sales this year to a modest increase, more typical of pre-pandemic growth.
The newest trend gaining speed is gravel cycling. Sales of these gravel cycling bikes rose 109% from 2019 to 2021, according to New York Times. This sport is a bit of a mashup of both road biking and mountain biking. Despite its name, gravel cycling really encompasses riding on any surface that is not a paved road.
The bikes for gravel cycling feature the low gearing of mountain bikes with the lightweight frames of road bikes. The tires of a gravel bike are also narrower than those of a mountain bike.
The sport is popular with beginners because it is less technical than mountain biking and because gravel bikes are so versatile, they can be ridden almost anywhere.
“We’ve been looking at how to include the gravel rider in our events,” says Lloyd Maisonville, president of the Birmingham Bicycle Club. “It’s really up and coming as its own style of cycling. Many of our members have to travel a distance to do gravel events.”
Cyclists, whether their preference is gravel cycling, mountain biking or street riding, often list the adrenaline rush and beauty of the outdoors as motivators in their sport. And that ride often takes them on countryside treks through north St. Clair County to places like Ashville, Horse Pens 40, Chandler Mountain and St. Clair Springs.
Whatever the motivation, though, there is no doubt that cycling is a great low-impact aerobic activity. It’s also perfect both for those who want to be alone with nature and those who want to participate in cycling events with groups.
Nathan and Alex Tucker recently spent the day cycling at Oak Mountain State Park. The father/son duo list the trails there as some of their favorite in the state for biking.
“Oak Mountain has so many different trails. You’re always trying to do your best and get better and faster,” says Nathan. Alex agrees, adding that the variety of trails is good for all skill levels and different styles of riding.
There are many other options for cycling enthusiasts that include the Chief Ladiga Trail, Coldwater Mountain and Fort McClellan Multi-Use Trail, all in Anniston. In the Gadsden area, cyclists may want to visit the trails at Noccalula Falls Park. Other options include Red Mountain Park and Tannehill State Park.
This month, there are several events. The Eagle Rock Easter Classic is April 8 in Rainbow City and benefits Eagle Rock Boys’ Ranch. There is an event April 16 at Chief Ladiga Trail in Anniston. Bo Bikes Bama is April 22 in Auburn and benefits the Governor’s Emergency Relief Fund.
Get in touch with your local bike club for local rides. One such club is the Birmingham Bicycle Club (Bhambikeclub.org).
“We love hosting rides in St. Clair County,” says the BBC’s president. “The roads and scenery are safe and beautiful, and the drivers are very courteous. We can ride freely and safely, more so than on an inner-city type ride.”
The club’s century ride, the BBC 100, is one of the longest running bicycle events in the state. The ride is Sept. 9 and starts at Ashville High School. There are four routes, ranging from 25 miles to 100 miles, designed to appeal to the variety of riders and skill levels.
In its 50th year of existence, the BBC has recovered from a pandemic membership dip, up to nearly 300 members and growing. Part of their revenue from ride fees goes to helping local communities and into educational efforts to promote cycling.
Editor’s Note: For more information on the club, go to: bhambikeclub.org
