Awesome place to ride. Nice trails!
It's on my bucket list to ride once in the US.
Are you on Strava ?
[edit: like the music]
Yes, I'm on Strava. Look for TJ Jones in Bonita Springs, Florida. I'm a Premium member. Thanks on the music compliment. That's from my original band 'A Persuasive Reason' I am the primary writer, bassist, engineer, and producer.... Yeah, I own the studio, LOL!
Where are those trails exactly?
Both are in Southwest Florida. The one around the lake is Willow Run Quarry in SouthEast Naples. It's definitely technical and today I bunny hopped 7 snakes - 5 black racers and 2 Water Moccasins. Unfortunately, I think the owner sold the land and thus this will likely be the last year we can ride on it.
The smoother place is CRP (Caloosahatchee Regional Park) in Alva which is just west of Ft. Myers. Yeah, it's more of a pedal track. I took my wife last week for her very first MTB ride on it and she did the 8 mile loop which excludes the advanced section which is about 2.2 miles. It's an interesting place because it's along the river and there is actually clay in the ground. So this time of year the trails there are really hard and fast... And soon the rain will come and bye bye for 3 months, LOL!
I found this place recently between a water management facility and a land fill just up the road from the quarry. Locals call it 'The Lunch Ride'. It's pretty much dirt and some sand through the Florida scrub palms and cypress trees. Another pedal track but the single track sections are super tight and speed makes them quite challenging. The ground is a bit softer, so although my average speed is down a bit, more like 11-12 instead of 15mph, the workout for endurance is awesome. I use that place as my training course for endurance. Here is a video with a more unusual camera angle. I have the 2nd place time for the Bobsled segment. The CS-MB01 is super quick and nimble, it has just taken me some time dialing things to find the sweet spot.... And the Fox Stepcast 32 helps a lot! However, I am dealing with a creaky headset. Ordered a new bottom bearing, so hopefully that will resolve the issue... Sounds like I have a woodpecker trapped in my frame... Grrrrr!
Depending on weather, I'm planning a trip to Alafaia this weekend. It will be my first time there and I'm sure it will be fun. I did Carter Road about 5 weeks ago. That was pretty insane! Super skinny trail across the tops of dirt hills with less than a foot of shoulder on each side... and I have vertigo! It was pretty crazy, but a lot of fun... kept telling myself I better not wipe out, I have a gig in 3 days for a wedding, LOL! Youtube search that one, you will see what I mean.
If any of you guys are ever in my neck of the woods, hit me up. I'll take you to some local trails.