Mountain Biking in Florida!

The Frank's loop extention is currently Closed while major repairs on the corner by the lake take place.

All other trails are open and in great condition. River Loop is dry and cleared, Sand Pine is sandy and cleared. All the intermediate and advanced trails are open and cleared. The sections which are usually sandy are getting sandier from lack of rain (beginning climbs of Gatorback, whoops in Sand Pine, couple turns in beginning of Rollercoaster)..

The trails are in fairly good shape. In some of the areas it is starting to get a bit soft. The area before the small bridge crossing past Loch Ness. The drop on the last part of the Abyss. It's obvious that people are riding it and dragging their rear tire.

The Southwest trail has some hog damage, and Southeast may be a little muddy from the recent rain, but for the most part these sections are good. Gator Pit is in good shape. North Abyss is getting ridden in nicely. The teeter totter was removed for safety reasons.

The trails are in some of the best shape they have been in.

"Looks like they could use a workday out there. Some overgrowth and general untidiness. The beginning portion had quite a bit of sand, which I guess there's not a whole lot that can be done about. But overall, the trails were ridable. Did not attempt all of the out-and-backs, skipping the last two on each go around. Lot's o' roots and rocks in all of the usual palces, which is just the way the Ridge Riders like it, I suppose.

Most of the trail was very hard packed. A few of the crossings along the fire roads were a bit rough. Without any real markers it is difficult to tell where the problems were. Beginning around the pit and along most of the red trail the area was scorched from the controlled burn. Several areas were still smoldering. I recall one tree that was burned to the ground and it went across the trail. It was too big to ride across. I also recall about 3 more trees that spanned the width of the trail (I think they were along the north blue trail). There is a tree that is hanging fairly low along the blue trail going toward Croom #1.

A group of us camped at Santos trailhead last weekend and rode Santos on Saturday. We went a few miles, from the main trailhead all the way to the end at CR484 and back, 42 miles. We rode a few red, some of the blue and and most of the yellow. The trail was in excellent shape. We did have to get off the bikes a couple times for some downed trees. We saw Valerie there putting in some new trail on the south side of the gravel pit.

All Trails are open. Recent rains have improved all of the trails. Most are hardpacked and fast. Some parts of the inner portion of Flatwoods is a little rough from the recent hog damage. But it is starting to get packed down and back to normal. Squiggy is really bumpy and there is a little mud in one spot. Misery is a little damp and has no major problems. A few wet spots on Piglet. Bayshore is squishy in a few areas. Nothing to worry about. The area between 4 and 5 is getting sandy as well as the portion connecting Gator Bait, Misery, and the Main Trail. Most trails are well groomed and clear.

We rode San Felasco 2 weeks ago. It was a little dusty but with this recent rain, it should be in good shape. They have been having work days getting ready for the Tour.