SWAMP Club Alafia Fat Tire Festival
Nov 12-14th, 2010
Riverview, FL
The SWAMP Club of the Tampa Bay area is a mountain bike advocacy group and the builders of what many may think simply does not exist: amazing purpose trails in Florida. The Alafia Fat Tire Festival is a show case of their work wrapped in a gathering of mountain bikers from all over the southeast.
I arrived Friday evening to camp ground of 16 sites packed to the gills with 400 some eager cyclists. Luckily my brother, Dan, and nephew, Kyle, were there ahead of me to secure site and set up camp. Kyle and I missed the organized night ride, but went out on our own anyway. The woods were filled with the sounds of festival: laughter, music and loud voices and random lights pierced the otherwise dark swamp.
Eddie O drops in on the Bridges Trail. - Photo by Wes Eubank
The trails were in great shape. Florida can be sandy when dry, but everything was packed in and smooth. The natural landscape here is flat, 20 feet above sea level with a high water table, not exactly what one thinks of when they look for a cycling destination. A phosphate mining operation gave up this land to the state in 1996. This was an old site which did not receive the reclamation and restoration that sites today receive. This left deep trenches now filled with water and 15-40 foot ridges which are now covered in trails. This unique terrain makes for technical trails with flowing sections of momentum adding hills which reward a lack of braking. Fun!
A SWAMPer gets way off the back. - Photo by Wes Eubank
Saturday started early with breakfast provided and organized rides. I set up the Topeak booth in the expo area, answered loads of question and even worked on a few bikes. As the crowd shifted their focus to hitting the dirt, I quickly changed and joined them. I rode through a few groups before I caught up to my nephew, Kyle, and settled in. The morning ride was at the nearby park of Boyette. It has similar terrain described above and with a short cut opened for the weekend it’s only a mile or so away. We really enjoyed the new sections of Pandemonium, the Abyss and the brand new Ridgeline.
We made it back by noon for a lunch of sandwiches with all the fixings. Once again I manned the booth while participants wandered casually through the expo area. The over all atmosphere was very laid back. No one was in a hurry, such a refreshing change from the racing scene.
The center of attention. - Photo by Wes Eubank
Again in the afternoon the crowd thinned while everyone was out on the trails or napping. I opted for some more trails. I mounted up my Epic cam and headed for some of the more technical sections. Rabbit Ear and Bridges are two of my favorites so looped through them a half of dozen times each. I’d fall in behind a group to record. Here is some of the highlights:
Back at the camp ground it was a quick change and back to the booth. The crowd was gathering for the Crazy Crit. Topeak provided the prizes and as I was delivering them I was invited to join in. I protested about my lack of a qualifying “junker” bike and was quickly handed on by the announcer. With little more to protest about I went prepare my steed for battle, i.e. lower the seat so I could touch the pedals. I would soon learn that brakes barely worked. No worries, this was not your average crit. There was changes of direction, swapping of bikes and finish amounted to a full contact track stand competition. It was a lot of fun.
Soon after dinner was served. Steak, salmon and veggies, all delicious. I broke down the expo booth and spent the rest of the evening camp fire hopping, catching up with friends and meeting new ones. Sunday, Kyle and I did one more short ride before I was packed up and headed for home.
Festival goes get there eat on. - Photo by Wes Eubank
One Comment
Nice Eddie! Sorry to have missed the FTF this year, but the mountains were calling.