This will be the first in a series of articles highlighting some exceptional places to ride in Florida. Perhaps I will write about a location that you have never visited. Maybe it will be a familiar location and you will remember some of the things that I write about from your last visit there. I hope that these articles will encourage you to visit or return to these riding venues for a taste of what they have to offer.
Hardrock Cycle Park is certainly a premier riding location in Florida. Whether racing or riding for recreation, cyclists of intermediate to advanced skill levels will find plenty of challenges at Hardrock. The terrain may be too difficult for someone just getting their feet wet in serious offroad riding. With that caveat, if you have a supportive partner or group to ride with, a beginner could have an exhilarating time at Hardrock as well. How to get there: Located just 30 miles South of Gainesville, Hardrock can easily be reached by I-75. Take I-75 to exit 71. Turn east (that's a left for the directionally challenged) on 326. Go ½ a mile to the first light and turn right on C-25A. The park gate is on the left after ¾ mile. The park is currently open from 10 AM to dark Thursday through Sunday.
What to bring: Admission is usually $5, but Dave Berger has agreed to offer a discounted admission of $4 to GCC members. Just show your membership card at the gate. Bring your helmet! Besides the fact that it is a really bad idea to ride anywhere (especially at Hardrock) without one, they won't let you ride at Hardrock if you don't have yours on. Bring more water than you think you will need. The sun can be brutal at Hardrock and you don't want to get dehydrated on that course. Bring an extra tube beyond what you usually pack and a well-equipped tool kit. Bring a positive mental attitude. Seriously! You are going to need it to get up some of those hills. Other things that you might want along: Some snacks and food to eat between laps, a first aid kit, bug repellent, a set of bionic legs and lungs.
What to expect when you get there: On weekends where there isn't a mountain bike race going on, you can expect to see some motocross bikes running a course at the front of the park. Don't worry, they race totally on their own separate course. Besides, it's kind of cool to watch their bikes jumping the hills when you are taking a break from your ride. Expect to see a good-sized group of other mountain bike riders in the parking area getting ready to ride or recovering. Hardrock usually draws a good number of people on any given day. I can't recall ever being there when there were less than 30 cars in the parking area. The course is currently a 7-mile loop that runs roughly counterclockwise. Try to ride in the same direction as the other riders are going to avoid unsightly bike on bike collisions. If you are not sure which is the right direction, wait for a minute and see if you can catch someone coming by. The course runs in, out, and around a couple of old limerock quarries. This is where the course gets the elevation differences that will almost make you forget that you are Florida. While the total elevation variation is probably less than 100 feet or so, the design of the trails make the most of what is there. You will go up and down, doubling back on yourself so much that you will feel like you have ridden much more elevation. The course takes you through dense tropical jungle-like foliage and opens up to dry, desert prairies. Sections of tough long climbs are interspersed with fun gliding turns and up and down whoop-dee-doos. Some of the climbs may seem undo-able and the descents too intense to try, but I assure you that there are people who can and do ride every single foot of trail at Hardrock. It isn't me and it may not be you, but we can keep trying. When you finish your ride at Hardrock, whether it was just one lap or several, you are sure to be greeted with a sense of accomplishment. You have ridden some of the toughest trail Florida has to offer. You may not have been able to ride everything that you saw, but hopefully you had a fun time trying. With Hardrock just a half hour drive away it is pretty easy to come back and try another day.