Should You “RideBHM”?: Alabama’s First & Only Bike Park
I first learned about RideBHM when one of the founders reached out to me and invited me to come down to Alabama to check out their new bike park. I didn’t think the timing was going to work out any time soon, but after spending a month in Arkansas, I was pleasantly surprised to see that Birmingham, Alabama was actually en route to Brevard, North Carolina, my next destination.
Never one to give up an opportunity to ride bikes (especially since they promised me an e-bike!), I punched in the directions and made my way to RideBHM: a new state for me and a new bike park for Alabama.
Spoiler alert: It’s a blast!
I was really impressed with both the trails and terrain at RideBHM as well as the two founders behind it: Hobie and Emile. They are two friends with a vision to bring a new kind of mountain biking to their home state.
If you find yourself in the area, or you want to take a road trip, here’s what you need to know about visiting Alabama’s first and only bike park, RideBHM.
Why a Bike Park in Alabama?
Alamaba may not seem a likely place for a bike park, but that’s precisely why the founders wanted to build one. Emile and Hobie both grew up in Birmingham riding trails that were not purpose-built, lacked flow, and didn’t provide a great all-around experience. So they decided to build their own bike park.
RideBHM opened in November 2022 after many months of planning and digging with the help of the Kanuga Bike Park in NC and Dialed Dirt trail crews. It’s the first – and only – bike park in Alabama and features terrain that mountain bikers had to previously drive hours for.
RideBHM is a place where people can come ride and also build community through local races, events, clinics, and more.
Facts & FAQs about RideBHM
Q: Where is RideBHM located?
A: The park is located about 20 minutes southeast of Birmingham’s city center. Here are the Google driving directions.
Q: Are e-bikes allowed?
A: Yes! Very much so. I actually recommend bringing or renting an e-bike
Q: What’s the bike haul system?
A: There isn’t one – you must pedal up. Hence the recommendation for bringing or renting an e-bike…
Q: Are there food and drinks available?
A: There is a limited selection of snacks and beverages (including beer). They also try to get a food truck there on weekends, but no guarantees.
Q: Is there a bike shop or rentals?
A: There is no formal bike shop, but they do rent bikes (analog and electric) and might be able to help you out with minor fixes.
Q: Do I need to pay to ride?
A: Yes. Day passes are $29/adult and $19/youth. You can also buy 5-day packs and season passes or use your Loam Pass!
Get the most out of your lift-served summer!
Plan on road-tripping this summer? You need a Loam Pass! The Loam Pass is a new service for mountain bikers that allows you to visit bike parks and shuttled trail systems around the US. It’s kind of like the ICON pass but for mountain bikers.
The pass includes over 60 bike parks and shuttles in their network and they’re always working to add more.
So how does it work? Every pass holder gets two free days at each of the locations included in the pass as well as other perks like discounts on lodging. Some of these locations include:
- Ride BHM in Birmingham, Alabama
- The South Boundary Trail shuttle in Taos, NM
- Lake Leatherwood DH Park in Eureka Springs
- Cog Wild Mountain Bike shuttles in Bend, Oregon
And so many more! You can see all of the destinations the pass includes and check back often.
Q: When is RideBHM open?
A: Year-round, 7 days a week! But they do close for bad weather. The trails are open sunrise to sunset and the rental shop is open Satudray 10am – 3pm and Sunday 12pm to 3pm.
My Honest Review
Overall rating
I really enjoyed my day at RideBHM with co-owner Hobie as my tour guide. We hit most of the trails (minus the pro-only ones) and then I got to session the jumps on Kanuga with, Andrew, a very talented employee.
This little Birmingham bike park is still relatively new (it just opened in November 2022), but I was really impressed with the terrain, features, and scene they’ve built and are continuing to grow.
The trails are professionally built and very well maintained – not something you get at a lot of bike parks. I only wish I’d had a few more days to really get to know each berm and feature. You could definitely progress your skills quickly here!
Average difficulty
There is something for everyone at RideBHM, but like most bike parks, it does cater to more experienced riders. That being said, if you’re interested in progressing your skills, RideBHM is designed to take you from little jumps to big ones.
Lessons and coaching are also available.
Trail variety
I was expecting RideBHM to be pretty much all new-school with flow trails, jumps, drops, and features – which they definitely have. But there is some legit raw and rowdy stuff here, too! I was really impressed with the variety of trails packed into this small park.
Should you ride RideBHM?
What to love about it
What to not
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The layout of the park
RideBHM is built between two peaks (if you’re coming from west of the Rockies, redefine what ‘peaks’ are). You can see on the map below that the trails start from either Peak 1 or Peak 2.
Peak 1 is slightly lower than Peak 2 but both hubs access a variety of trails from beginner to expert to pros-only. It’s definitely worth checking out both sides of the park.
Here are a few stats about RideBHM:
Should you ride an e-bike or a regular bike?
While I haven’t switched over to an e-bike for my ‘normal’ mountain biking adventures, I sure was glad to have an e-bike at RideBHM. The elevation gain isn’t terrible – about 220 ft for Peak 2 – but if you plan on making full use of your day pass, I highly recommend either bringing your own e-bike or renting one. You’ll be able to do more laps, session more jumps, sample all (or most) of the trails, and really make the most of your day at the bike park.
An intro to the trails
One of the biggest things that surprised me about RideBHM was the variety of trails. They have everything from beginner-friendly flow trails to expert-only steep and gnarly old-school tracks. I was not expecting the rugged technical terrain, but that’s what I love the most so I was really impressed! Of course, they also have bike park features like jumps, tabletops, drops, and other features that I will never do.
Since I got to ride most of the trails, here’s a quick breakdown of what to expect:
Watch every trail in action
Camping at RideBHM
I got the feeling that the camping situation at RideBHM is still relatively new, but they are trying to set up tent spaces and there is plenty of room for van or small RV parking.
If you want to camp, I recommend reaching out before you arrive to make sure it’s an option.
If you find yourself in Alabama or are passing by Birmingham, I highly recommend stopping and checking them out. You can find up-to-date information on RideBHM’s Facebook page.
What questions do you have about RideBHM? Is it on your list of places to visit? Leave a comment below!
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