Riding in Tampa Area Report

[Tim845]

A few years ago IMBA named Alafia State Park an "Epic" ride, about the time my folks got a nice timeshare on the beach near Tampa. This year I made it down for a week. Thanks to the http://www.swampclub.org site I had made some arrangements, and gained some local trail knowledge. I picked up an '07 Trance1 for the week and joined the SWAMP club's Sunday ride @ Croom. About 60+ riders turned up and we split up into groups based on ability. Croom's alot like Stewart: many (many)miles of twisty haul ass singletrack. This time of year the club has 3 endurance events, I was flying out the day of the Croom 50 unfortunately. The club runs a top notch affair ~post ride was a cookout.
http://www.fatsinthecats.com/photos/albums/userpics/10007/yc1.jpg
http://www.fatsinthecats.com/photos/albums/userpics/10007/ycberm.jpg
http://www.fatsinthecats.com/photos/albums/userpics/10007/yccape1.jpg

Click on the pic for full screen, and check out more of them in my Florida Gallery
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Pedal, b*tches!!

[Tim845]

Im grateful to the SWAMP members for all their efforts, and also the Swamper who generously showed me around Balm/Boyette Park. This park is a large land preserve with about 17 miles of narrow singletrack that twisted and rolled through slightly more dense terrain. There was also an increase in the amount of G-forces in the dips, though to be fair I only saw about half of Croom. Beautiful and challenging.
http://www.fatsinthecats.com/photos/albums/userpics/10007/ybtrail1.jpg
http://www.fatsinthecats.com/photos/albums/userpics/10007/ybtrail.jpg
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Pedal, b*tches!!

[Tim845]

Next up was Alafia State Park, another large (6000? acres) park thats nearby Balm/Boyette. There are camping facilities, and its very clean and first rate. The trails just knocked me out so I rode there twice. An amazing amount of trailwork had been done in each park I rode. At Alafia this was really evident in the degree of bench cutting/ side hilling, bridges (x/c wide), and general fun nature. So much fun to ride its a thrilling blend of rollercoaster and scenic safari. The trail surface has just enough loose sand over hardpack to get a little slide into the slight berms. A trailbike like the Trance was perfect, there are nearly as many roots as you'd find up here. The pics dont quite do justice, I had a heckuva time.
http://www.fatsinthecats.com/photos/albums/userpics/10007/yakiosk2.jpg
http://www.fatsinthecats.com/photos/albums/userpics/10007/ya9.jpg
http://www.fatsinthecats.com/photos/albums/userpics/10007/ya10.jpg
http://www.fatsinthecats.com/photos/albums/userpics/10007/ya6.jpg
http://www.fatsinthecats.com/photos/albums/userpics/10007/ytrance.jpg
Gallery:
http://www.fatsinthecats.com/photos/thumbnails.php?album=53&page=3
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Pedal, b*tches!!

[g60dude]

that looked like a great time down there Pedaler. Alafia looked like it was VERY bike friendly with some cool trails

You dont see this at parks very often.


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greg

[Kevin]

Nice Tim

I'm headed down there (Tampa area) in March. Where did you rent the bike from? Hell, I may just bring my own.

[Tim845]

I rented from http://www.ajsbikesandboards.com in Valrico, about 20 minutes from Tampa airport. I would've had a choice of 07 Stumpjumpers or Trances, but the Stumpys were out already. The bike was in great shape.They rent no hardtails, but the Trance I found to be fine. They were about $40 daily or $150 for the week. They seem to have a great reputation, and I have no complaints with them.
Here's a video of another nearby park that I didnt get to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mc3AlgVkj4
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Pedal, b*tches!!

[Kevin]

Thank you for the info! Very helpful.

I was just going to bring my road bike, but hell, this may change everything...

When I was down there last year, in December, people were riding around BUNDLED up in cold weather gear! poo, I'm wearing shorts and all of the old people at my grandmas church are saying, "You must be from up north".

Kevin

[bike this]

I was just down there for the week of Christmas.....Dam..!!!!!
It's nice to ride somewhere's new. It changes everything.
Nice pix.
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Shut up and ride.!