Outdoor Recreation Abounds in Mt Laurel, Meet the 41 Flyers Cycling Club
Unlike many other planned communities, Mt Laurel was planned with a respect for its natural surroundings. The Town Planners set out to create a traditional neighborhood development that would encourage residents to get outside and truly take advantage of their location in the breathtaking foothills of Birmingham, AL.
To achieve their vision, that team incorporated broad sidewalks throughout Mt Laurel, allowing residents to easily access the various parts of the community without ever having to use their car. The miles of hiking paths woven into the community encourage residents to experience the vibrant outdoor life just outside their front doors. Abundant parks and green spaces are also a result of an emphasis on recreation and an outdoor experience.
Today, Mt Laurel attracts residents who share a reverence for nature and want to live in a place that provides seemingly effortless opportunities to lead an active, healthy lifestyle. Brian Parker is one such resident.
“What I’ve found myself telling other people over the years is how in Mt Laurel you are so easily drawn outdoors on a daily basis,” Parker told us. “The community just naturally encourages residents to be outside and to be active.”
Drawn to the natural aesthetic and healthy way of life, Parker and his family moved to Mt Laurel in 2001. As he and his family settled into the community and began to develop friendships with their neighbors, Parker and several other residents realized they had a common interest in mountain biking.
“We all were avid mountain bikers back in the 90’s, but had stopped riding when we started having families. I suppose it all started with Mike O’Kelley, David Brush, and I dusting off our mountain bikes to see if we could ride up the super steep hill behind the lake to the top of Double Oak Mountain and back down.”
What started was a cycling club that would later become known as the 41 Flyers—an homage to the roadway that runs beside the Mt Laurel community, Highway 41.
“Cycling is a popular activity in this area, as Highway 41 is a desirable road bike destination for many Birmingham-area cyclists. There are a growing number of cycling enthusiasts who travel to Mt Laurel so they can ride on the roads in the area.”
Not long after conquering Double Oak Mountain on that initial ride, Parker and his friends started “exploring unknown trails around Mt Laurel and the Dunnavant Valley,” and they too discovered opportunities beyond mountain biking in the surrounding area. “Exploring the area naturally led to some riding on the road, and having “roadies” in the area join us,” said Parker.
As they expanded their repertoire, the 41 Flyers continued to grow and as they did, so did their experiences. “We started doing some long rides and races with friends from Highland Lakes and other surrounding communities.” Members of the club have participated in endurance bike races, like the Big Frog 65 miler and Cohutta 100 miler in Georgia, ORAMM 60 miler in North Carolina, Skyway Epic 60 miler in Sylacauga, and the Leadville 100 in Leadville, Colorado. This past April, 3 members of the club, including Parker, completed the Austin Rattler 60 miler in Austin, Texas.
When they’re not racing, the 41 Flyers still enjoy the boundless outdoor recreation activities available in and around Mt Laurel and are involved in ensuring that opportunities for local road and mountain bikers continue to evolve.
“A few of us ride regularly early in the mornings and we sometimes coordinate late afternoon rides at Oak Mountain State park, the closest designated mountain biking area. We are also looking into assisting in the development of new trails in the Dunnavant Valley area. Highway 41 and 43 are considered good road rides—particularly what we call “the loop,” which includes both of these highways connected by Highway 25 in the east and old 280 in the west. We are hopeful that the local government will continue to grow its support of cycling on these roads and help promote safety and priority for cyclists.”
The 41 Flyers are just one example of the active lifestyle that the Mt Laurel community not only affords, but also innately encourages. For residents of Mt Laurel, participating in outdoor activities is about more than just exercise—it’s about the camaraderie that is cultivated by engaging with their community, and the serenity that comes from truly experiencing their natural surroundings.
