SamDaBikinMan

OK so me and my wife and our daughter spent the week with a friend in Tampa. A2phsyclenut was nice enough to meet me at some trails to show me some Fla. biking.

We hooked up at Alafia river park and rode. What a blast. It was great! Drops galore and short intense climbs out the ying yang. Even thought I saw a gator but it was a log. I did see a spider big enough to eat a small frog.

All in all it was not what I expected. I did some spins on the road as well around Tampa and out at Ft Desoto and the wind makes for a good workout.

A big thanks to Vic for being there to show me around. I am looking forward to meeting ya up here at the horse park dude, and then on to North Carolina.

I'll be back to check out some more Fla trails in May.

killerasp

sounds like it was a blast. i wish i had my car so i can take myself to the mountain ranges in ny.

Jim311

Awesome.. Sam you should let me show you around the trails in my area next time man! Ocala has some sweet trails, and it's right near the interstate as well. When are you guys riding at the horse park and north carolina? Maybe I could come up for a few days to ride with you guys?

SamDaBikinMan

Jim, sorry I took so long to reply. Been busy cleaning up after the trip and today I went up to Tsali to do a few hours of riding there.

I am not sure of the dates etc.. but will pm you when we know. But I am always up for the horse park if you come up.

Jim311

Awesome. I wish I got to ride at Tsali. Everytime I go up north for some riding I'm always disappointed to go back out and ride the same old trails I always ride here. Sometimes you just have to have some fast fireroads and mountain singletrack

a2psyklnut

The wife and I are discussing an October visit to NC, but then again, we may wait and do a LONG weekend for Turkey Day! Also, probably rent a cabin over the Christmas break. My office closes from Dec. 23 through the 2nd. So, I could take two vacation days (the 22nd and 23rd), and have two weeks off!

I'll keep you all posted.

L8R

SamDaBikinMan

Sounds cool. I rode Tsali yesterday, could not resist an opportunity to go.

Hope everyone is doing OK.

a2psyklnut

Can I say it? You SUCK!

I went back up to Alafia yesterday morning, had a good ride. The hurricane in the Atlantic is drying things out here, so the humidity was "tolerable".

Crashed pretty good! Was coming down a trail onto a 2x6 bridge, front tire hit, then immediately slid out from under me. I slammed hard onto my left side and was sliding toward the PermaGreen water. My knee hit a lag bolt and washer used to screw down the planks. I took a nice scallop of skin right off!

BTW, Sam IS the MAN! Was killing me on the ride! Had a blast regardless of how piss poor shape I'm in! Watch out though Sam, I'll be ready by Christmas!


L8R

oxygen_77

I'm really surprised to hear that Florida has such good trails... After working in Ft. Walton Beach for several summers I couldn't find anything worth riding. The whole area was so flat... Too bad this forum didn't exist back when I worked there... I could've asked here and found out about the trails...

Jim311

No joke.. Sam smoked us at the horse park too, and he said he considered himself to be out of shape!

Geraldo

Any of you Florida guys know of any good east coast (treasure coast/Ft. Pierce/Stuart area) trails?

BigHit-Maniac

Wait a second.... isn't florida *flat* ?

SamDaBikinMan

Sorry, I am lucky enough to live within reasonable driving of some of the best the southeast has to offer.

But I could not really go all out riding alone if that is any consolation.


Jim, your too kind. I guess I was not in all that bad condition after all.

Jim311

Did you ever race in that 24 hour race you were talking about? Seemed like a damn good time to me!

a2psyklnut

Hey Geraldo, I don't know of any trails in your area. Seems like most of the trails are either further south, Markham Park, Oleta and Quiet Waters. Or, they're in North Central FL., in the Ocala area. I ride some decent trails called Carter Road Park which is west of Lakeland in Mulberry. Close to this is an area called the TOE (Trail of Experience) which has stunts and drops built on it. Carter is public, TOE is private land and you must be a member of RidgeRiders to be able to ride there. (www.ridgeriders.net).

Tampa has some trails right near the Interstate.

South of Tampa is an area where I ride mostly. (Closest to Home), called the Alafia River State Park. That's where Sam and I met, lots of quick up and down and some decent trails.

L8R

SamDaBikinMan

It is coming up in Oct. Getting ready for it now. Come up and race!

Jim311

Ooooh.. tempting. Any idea of the dates? I think I'm still registered with GAP too. I thought you were going to run a loaded team... didn't want to hold anybody back. I've been wanting to run a 24/12 hour race, just haven't had the opportunity around here. The Florida racing scene really sucks.

miamijim

The Florida mountain biking scene, surprisingly, is very good. Down here in Dade and Broward counties we have some trails that will challenge almost anyone who has ridden on 'real trails'. My first time out in Oleta State Park I fell at least ten times. Trails have names like "Robinson Ridge", "Gator Bank", and "The Boneyard." I'll try to get some pics off the trails to post....

TampaBmxer

Some other good mountian bike trails are in an area called Croom, See this link for more info on Croom,https://www.swampclub.org/locations.htm
Very good trails long and short.

joshe236

I am also a South Florida rider. You have numerous parks down here with ranging difficulty. Oleta, Quiet Waters, Amelia and Markham are all amazing parks. I believe Markham has the most difficult of trails. Though Oleta is still a lot of fun, they have wussied it out a lot by fillings roots and climbs with dirt.
Talking about first time at Oleta St. Park, I was riding my manga and managed to break the handlebar, the seatpost and crack a pedal while doing the first novice trail, didn't even last 2 minutes there.
It is very cool, I'm a regular to all 4 parks and have been doing this for 3 years. Hope to see ya down here sometime!

a2psyklnut

Yo Tampa BMXer, let me know when you go riding, and we'll hook up.

I'm going tomorrow (uh oh, today - now 12:30) and I'm meeting Raiyn (if he isn't too hung-over after celebrating the Lightning game).

The more the merrier!

L8R

Go BOLTS!!!!!

Jim311

Holy old ass thread Batman!



I'm hoping to do some riding tomorrow myself

TampaBmxer

I won't be treking out on the moutain bike till next weekend.
Where do you ride a2psyklnut ?

Maelstrom 

Getting quite the florida clique going on

a2psyklnut

I ride at Alafia River most of the time. It doesn't take much to talk me into going to Carter Road in Mulberry.

I suck and STILL haven't joined Ridgeriders, but I intend to and want to ride the TOE again!

If I have a long weekend, I'll head up to Ocala and hit Santos and Razorback.

Let me know!

L8R