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Find new Birmingham adventures with Oak Mountain State Park + Storyteller Overland
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In Birmingham, adventure is always right around the corner. Oak Mountain State Park is home to world-class mountain biking trails, so whether you’re a pro or newbie, there’s a place for you. Find out why Oak Mountain State Park is a mountain biker’s paradise, plus see how Storyteller Overland makes Birmingham’s mountain bike community stronger.
Riding through all 4 seasons
Oak Mountain State Park is Alabama’s largest park and a favorite for mountain bikers across the country. We teamed up with Storyteller Overland, a biz rooted in Birmingham that makes adventure vans, to explore the park and see for ourselves why it’s such a hot spot. Two local pro mountain bikers told us what exactly makes this park so special.
Meet Will Abner, Race Chair of Bump-N-Grind
Will Abner, the race chair of the Birmingham Urban Mountain Pedalers’ annual Bump-N-Grind race, loves that the park offers something for everyone. From a long loop to rocky terrain, every ride offers something new.
“We can attract multiple disciplines within the mountain biking community with the different types of terrain we have there at the park. It has this nationally recognized almost 25-mile loop, so if distance is your thing, you can get your fix. We can check off multiple disciplines within mountain biking itself at the park.”
Will Abner, Race Chair, Bump-N-Grind
The Bump-N-Grind race is one of the ways that local mountain bikers have forged a thriving community here in Birmingham. Proceeds from race registration benefit Birmingham Urban Mountain Pedalers (BUMP) as they build new trails and maintain the trails they already have.
- When: Saturday, May 29 | Sunday, May 30
- Where: Oak Mountain State Park, 200 Terrace Dr, Pelham, AL 35124
- Register here
Meet Lon Cullen, MTB clinic instructor
Lon Cullen calls Oak Mountain State Park his home office (sounds like a major upgrade from WFH, right?). As an MTB (AKA mountain biking) clinic instructor, he teaches clients how to become better bikers, no matter what skill level they are.
“While you do know how to ride a bike, I can help you to corner it better, to slow it down more efficiently or to ride more difficult terrain.”
Lon Cullen, MTB Clinic Instructor
Cullen’s clients range from hobbyists to experienced bikers, all with a goal of improving their sport. He told us that one of the reasons he loves biking at Oak Mountain State Park is that it’s open year-round, thanks to Birmingham’s milder weather.
Spreading the gospel of Oak Mountain State Park
Oak Mountain is truly a one-of-a-kind destination for mountain bikers. Both Lon and Will agreed that the park is something special—from its close proximity to the hustle and bustle of civilization to the top-notch infrastructure.
“While I love Oak Mountain, I also like to get out and adventure. When we do that we can spread the gospel of Oak Mountain and what we have here, because not every park has it all.”
Will Abner
Storyteller Overland makes Birmingham a better place for adventurers
Storyteller Overland knows how important a strong community is for mountain bikers. Because they’re founded and built in Birmingham, they give back to the community of adventurers around them. Their support includes sponsoring:
- The Bump-N-Grind race
- Lon’s MTB clinics to strengthen local bikers
- Oak Mountain State Park’s newest trail
- Two local high school mountain biking teams
- A professional mountain bike team with a former U23 USA National Champion in it
Storyteller Overland makes amazing adventure vans to turn each everyday experience into a meaningful story, but their impact goes far beyond that. They make Birmingham’s outdoor community even stronger.
Be sure to check out Storyteller Overland on Instagram and Facebook to find new ways to explore every day.
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