Croom 35/50 Off Road Challenge

Croom 35 Gator


February 6, 2010 8:30 am
Withlacoochee State Forest
Brooksville, Fl

35 or 50 miles of great single track
No pavement - No two-track

2010 Registration has Closed!
Please check back for our 2011 event.
2010 Attendee List



This annual off-road bike ride will test you with challenging climbs, some scary descents, and tight technical mountain bike trail. But mostly it’s just miles & miles of rolling single-track...

Croom 50 Gator

Learn more about Croom trails here.

Event Activities

  • Well marked ride utilizing 35 or 50 miles of off-road single-track
  • Breakfast, SAG stops, and fantastic dinner after the ride
  • Bike mechanic services (at HQ and on the trail)
  • Night Ride on Friday
  • Event SWAG

Rides

(Helmets are mandatory)

Friday:

A guided Night Ride will be offered from Trail head 3 starting at dusk. You will need good lighting (10 watts) that can last approximately 2 hours. (Limited to 50 riders)

Saturday:

Registration and Breakfast 7:30 - 9:00
You can start your ride any time between 8:30 am and 9:30am. Cyclists will follow the well-marked route, setting your own pace. At several points along the route, snacks and beverages will be available. Bailout points are marked if cyclists are unable to complete the entire ride.

Sunday:

For those staying the weekend, all 60 miles of trail will be open. A Croom map will be included in your event packet.

Sat/Sun:

The Withlacoochee Rail-Trail (paved) runs past the campground and the off-road trails. This 45-mile (each-way) scenic venue has virtually no traffic and very few road crossings.

 

Tips

Rain

Rain improves the trail conditions at Croom by packing down the normally sandy climbs. These trails handle rain very well and usually drain within an hour or so.
We show up rain or shine and members who know prefer Croom after rain. If it is raining the morning of the event, the start times may be adjusted based on conditions at that time.

Check in after your ride

Make sure you check in with the registration table after your ride, even if you are not eligible for swag. This will let us know you have returned and are not left out on the trails.

SAG Stops

There are 3 SAG stops along the route (only 2 for the 35 mile event) at about 11 to 17 miles apart. Snacks and water are available.
Riders choosing to start before the designated start time are advised they might arrive before the SAG stops are setup.

 

Meals

The registration fee includes a continental breakfast Saturday morning (7:30 - 9:00) with plenty of fresh fruit, high-energy carbohydrates, and coffee.
Dinner will be served from 1:00 to 4:30 pm. Proof of registration (wrist band) will be required at all meals and SAG stops.

 

Registration

Closed for the 2010 event. Look for another great event next year!

A complete schedule of activities, plus map, will be provided at event day sign-in. All registrants will be required to sign a Waiver/Assumption of Risk before riding.
Registration Deadline - January 21st. (or until event fills)

All entries must be postmarked no later than January 21st. Entries postmarked after this date but before January 23rd will pay a $10 late fee, and will not receive any SWAG.

There will be no event day registration.

Registration has Closed for 2010

SWAMP makes arrangements and expenditures based on the number of entries received by the last registration date. No refunds will be made after the January 11th deadline.

Croom-35/50 is sponsored by the SWAMP Mountain Bike Club, a nonprofit organization promoting off-road bicycling. All proceeds from the event are used to develop more off road bicycle trails and facilities.

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Schedule

7:30am Sign-in, pick up map, etc. Breakfast served until 9:00
8:30 - 9:30 am  Ride Start, you choose when
Check in when you return and pick up your SWAG
1:00pm - 4:30 pm Dinner served.

Directions

Croom Directions Map

Traveling from Ocala or Tampa on I-75, use Exit #301 for SR-50. Go east on SR-50 for 1-mile to Croom-Ridel Road (2nd traffic signal)

Traveling from Orlando on SR-50, continue west 2-miles past US 301 to Croom-Ridel Road (just past pedestrian overpass).

Turn north onto Croom-Ridel Road.

At 4 miles, Silver Lake Campground is on the right (just before overpass).

At 7 miles Croom Road pavement ends. Continue on rock road another 4-miles to Trail head #3, at the fire tower parking lot. Event is on left.

Click Aerial View of Parking lot to view a Google Aerial Map. Get Driving directions from there too.


Accommodations

Participants wishing to stay the night must make their own arrangements.

Camping

Silver Lake Campground is a short bike ride from the event trailhead. (23 electric sites, pets allowed) The Wild River loop of the campground accepts tents and campers, and has showers. picnic tables, and water.
Cypress Glen Campground. (34 electric sites, pets allowed)
Crooked River Campground (26 non-electric sites, no pets allowed)

Silver Lake Loop has a limited number of RV campsites with hookups for $15 (reservations not accepted at eitehr location)
Electric sites cost $15/site, non-electric sites are $12. All sites can accommodate 2 tents and up to 8 people.

Motels

The following are located at the I-75 interchange, approximately five miles from the event.

Best Western    (352) 796-9481
Hampton Inn     (352) 796-1000
Days Inn          (352) 796-9486

More Information

Check out these Croom photos (in a new window) from a past year's event.

For more information call the SWAMP Hotline at 813-689-5109
E-mail questions to: Events (at) swampclub org