When most folks first hear the phrase urban mountain biking, they tend to scoff, "There aren't any mountains to ride around here." True, we live in an area where most commuters think of sea level not as a theoretical plane but as something that looks pretty on the drive home. But the elevations in topography that Mother Nature has neglected to bestow upon us, mankind's commercial development has provided: parking garages. The parking garages in downtown Tampa and St. Petersburg may not be as steep or high as, say, the Adirondacks, but you try riding up six stories — at a slope that only seems gradual when you're behind the wheel of a car — and you'll find your quads hard as anvils, suffused with lactic acid and trembling with fatigue. And that's if you're in shape. If you've been dining in too often on Cheetos and Michelob, you might find yourself sucking wind and coasting back down after huffing past your third floor of luxury sedans. Consequently, you'll also miss out on the nice, hard-earned views from on high. (Oh, look: there's a cute jogger. Her butt looks even cuter from up here.) If you're uncertain about tackling the concrete hills by yourself, there's a subgroup of SWAMP (South West Association of Mountainbike Pedalers) who meet every Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at the Davis Islands Tennis Courts and ride various routes throughout downtown Tampa, Ybor City and South Tampa. They typically cover anywhere from 10 to 15 miles and hit one or two parking garages, depending on the strength and will of the group. A number of guys like to sprint against each other on defined straight-aways. They allow the pack to catch up, but you need to be able to maintain a fair pace. You'll also need the appropriate gear: a mountain or road bike with front and rear headlight, a helmet and adequate water. For a complete schedule of SWAMP rides, visit www.swampclub.org. You can also call 813-689-5109.
This article appears in May 14-20, 2003.