Ride Report & met up w/Raiyn!
03-03-03, 08:56 AM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Parrish, FL
Posts: 7,963
Bikes: Lots
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Ride Report & met up w/Raiyn!
Rode Sunday March 2nd, at the Alafia State Park in Lithia, FL. The closest "actual" town is called "Picnic", but it's so small it doesn't appear on any maps. If you're looking for the closest town of any size, look for Brandon, south of Brandon is Lithia, southeast of Lithia is where the trails are!
Back to topic! Got there a little after 9:00 a.m. and met up with some other riders. We hit all levels of the riding spectrum. I was on my burly Freeride bike, had a couple of lightweight XC bikes, a single speeder, and a trailbike. Raiyn and his S.O. were there and after quick introductions, we hit the trails!
Temps were near 80, but the humidity was 100% ++++, (it was HOT!) Very overcast, and a breeze that was very much appreciated. (Thanks GOD!)
If you're ever in the Tampa Area, this is one trail system you should do. There are all levels, yellow, blue and red!
We started by taking a singletrack through some trees and FL scrub, then hit a section of "Blue" trail that winds it's way around the park, with a small stop off at a quick "Red" loop.
We rode the "blue" for awhile, hit some low lying areas and had to slosh around in some mud. With the humidity, my heavy FR bike and the "energy sucking" mud, I was getting tired fast!
Headed back toward the "red" trails and myself and two others did a section while the others waited. I was doing stupid things (indication of tiredness) and crashed about 3 times. Nothing major, just stupid mistakes! Had a lot of fun and worked up a good sweat!
We hooked back up with the crew and hit some more trails on the way back to the cars. We hit the first (or last) red trail, which is a fun loop with some sweet rollers and some decent drops and jumps!
Three of the crew went again and the rest of us, went back to the cars. Got to the cars, took off the helmets and it started raining! Of course the keys to the truck were with one of the guys still riding! We laid under the truck till the other guys came back, which of course is about when the rain stopped!
All in all a good day! I finally got to meet Raiyn. I brought my digital camera, and again left it in the truck, so no pics were taken. I realized I'm still too fat and outta shape. (Diet starts today!) Summer is already here, and I am wishing for another month of FL winter. (Low's in the 50's).
L8R
Back to topic! Got there a little after 9:00 a.m. and met up with some other riders. We hit all levels of the riding spectrum. I was on my burly Freeride bike, had a couple of lightweight XC bikes, a single speeder, and a trailbike. Raiyn and his S.O. were there and after quick introductions, we hit the trails!
Temps were near 80, but the humidity was 100% ++++, (it was HOT!) Very overcast, and a breeze that was very much appreciated. (Thanks GOD!)
If you're ever in the Tampa Area, this is one trail system you should do. There are all levels, yellow, blue and red!
We started by taking a singletrack through some trees and FL scrub, then hit a section of "Blue" trail that winds it's way around the park, with a small stop off at a quick "Red" loop.
We rode the "blue" for awhile, hit some low lying areas and had to slosh around in some mud. With the humidity, my heavy FR bike and the "energy sucking" mud, I was getting tired fast!
Headed back toward the "red" trails and myself and two others did a section while the others waited. I was doing stupid things (indication of tiredness) and crashed about 3 times. Nothing major, just stupid mistakes! Had a lot of fun and worked up a good sweat!
We hooked back up with the crew and hit some more trails on the way back to the cars. We hit the first (or last) red trail, which is a fun loop with some sweet rollers and some decent drops and jumps!
Three of the crew went again and the rest of us, went back to the cars. Got to the cars, took off the helmets and it started raining! Of course the keys to the truck were with one of the guys still riding! We laid under the truck till the other guys came back, which of course is about when the rain stopped!
All in all a good day! I finally got to meet Raiyn. I brought my digital camera, and again left it in the truck, so no pics were taken. I realized I'm still too fat and outta shape. (Diet starts today!) Summer is already here, and I am wishing for another month of FL winter. (Low's in the 50's).
L8R
__________________
"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, "WOW, What a Ride!" - unknown
"Your Bike Sucks" - Sky Yaeger
"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, "WOW, What a Ride!" - unknown
"Your Bike Sucks" - Sky Yaeger
03-03-03, 09:18 AM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Gainesville, Florida
Posts: 1,791
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I rode out at Haile's trails.. my first time there. It's wierd I never knew those trails existed. It just sucks that they're only open during race days which is like twice per year.. it's an awesome course. It was SO muddy and slippery... I fell once when my back tire slid out, causing a tree to clip my handlebars and throw me. I landed on my feet and tried to run to a stop, but ended up slipping in a mud puddle and falling down anyway 
I saw a guy get the skin ripped off his arm when he crashed in the same place, so I got pretty lucky. Instead of bailing that guy just endoed face first into the ground and bashed his arm all up. My friend I was riding with crashed early and got hurt.... he fell onto a tree stump and his entire right leg is one massive swollen bruise.. so I had to take him home and then came back later. I had a great time... I just wish it had been a little less muddy.
I saw a guy get the skin ripped off his arm when he crashed in the same place, so I got pretty lucky. Instead of bailing that guy just endoed face first into the ground and bashed his arm all up. My friend I was riding with crashed early and got hurt.... he fell onto a tree stump and his entire right leg is one massive swollen bruise.. so I had to take him home and then came back later. I had a great time... I just wish it had been a little less muddy.
03-03-03, 09:30 AM
#3
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Parrish, FL
Posts: 7,963
Bikes: Lots
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Arrgggghhhh!
I forgot about the race up there this weekend! I usually make a special pilgrimage to Haile's Trails on the Sat. before the race just to ride there!
Next time!
L8R
I forgot about the race up there this weekend! I usually make a special pilgrimage to Haile's Trails on the Sat. before the race just to ride there!
Next time!
L8R
__________________
"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, "WOW, What a Ride!" - unknown
"Your Bike Sucks" - Sky Yaeger
"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, "WOW, What a Ride!" - unknown
"Your Bike Sucks" - Sky Yaeger
03-03-03, 08:31 PM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Gainesville, Florida
Posts: 1,791
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Yeah, I posted in the racing forum about it, but nobody replied. It was really wet and technical... most of the trail was unrideable when I first arrived that morning... there was so much mud... really DEEP mud that made many of the climbs impossible. As it dried out the course got much faster, though.. you really missed out!
03-06-03, 01:42 AM
#5
I drink your MILKSHAKE
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: St. Petersburg, FL
Posts: 15,061
Bikes: 2003 Specialized Rockhopper FSR Comp, 1999 Specialized Hardrock Comp FS, 1971 Schwinn Varsity
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
That mud SUCKED. I was quite impressed with your buddy taking on all of that with a rigid singlespeed. All in all I learned one very important thing. I need to ride dirt more often. This was my first "real" ride in months. <shakes head> definately not in race shape. Let's see what I'm up to next week. AWW shoot you had your cam the whole time? People have been bugging me for shot of the 'Hopper!
__________________
