Like riding mountain bikes? How about building and clearing trails? If so, you might be an ideal sign-up for the Southwest Association of Mountain Bike Pedalers (SWAMP), an off-road bike club of cyclists of all skill levels.
The club, founded in 1992 by Wes Eubank, organizes weekly rides that rotate through eight locations in the Tampa Bay area, hosts special events and festivals, maintains four area trails, goes on weeklong cycling tours and gathers for socials (usually at Four Green Fields).
SWAMP's next ride takes place out at Wilderness Park (Flatwoods/Morris Bridge/Trout Creek) at 9 a.m. Sunday, July 7. The 50 expected riders meet at Trout Creek Park in North Tampa (half a mile east of I-75 on Fletcher Avenue), then break up into groups according to experience, how far they want to ride and how fast.
The six or seven groups, each with a guide, then ride anywhere from 10 to 25 miles. The advanced group rides the most technical trails at a strong pace. The intermediate groups also take the more technical trails, but at a moderate pace. The novice groups follow easier trails at a more relaxed pace, often stopping to practice riding skills.
All a participant needs is a bike, a helmet and water (at least one bottle). The ride is free, but SWAMP membership costs just $20, and with dozens of guided rides each year it's well worth it.
Benefits to joining SWAMP include a bimonthly newsletter with the locations and times of weekly rides, night rides, ladies only rides and special events; riding classes and bike maintenance workshops; and (for you single riders) two to three couples get married out of the group each year.
The club also sponsors maintenance days two Saturdays a month at one of four trail systems: Boyette Mountain Bike Park, Croom Forest, Wilderness Park (Flatwoods/Morris Bridge/Trout Creek) and the entirely new 10 miles of technical single-track that SWAMP and the Alafia Land Managers have built in the Alafia River Recreational Area.
For trail maps and more info, such as a list of all upcoming events, visit www.swampclub.org.
This article appears in Jul 3-9, 2002.