As those of you who subscribe to the mailing list already know, I cracked the frame of my mountain bike recently. I did complete the recent race in Gainesville with the cracked frame. But now the frame is on its way out to the manufacturer to hopefully fall under warranty and be replaced. So I am without my off-road rig and suffering through a little bit of withdrawal. Sure I have my road bike that I could ride (and I will) but it is just not the same. So what do I do when I can't ride my mountain bike… well, sometimes I look for mountain bike information on the Internet. This time I will take you along for the trip.
I couldn't start an internet tour without first visiting our own homepage. If you haven't seen the homepage yet or haven't been back to visit it lately, it is definitely worth a look. Thanks largely to our own Roger Pierce we have a very well organized and useful web presence. I heard a comment recently from a non-member that our club web site was one of the best that he had seen. You can find out about what rides are meeting where and when, club special events, and links to other clubs and cycling sites around Florida.
http://members.aol.com/FlaMap/bargeC.html
One of the links from the GCC homepage, but definitely worthy of its own mention in my column, this site focuses on the offroad trails at Barge Canal/ Santos Trail Head just south of Ocala, FL. If you haven't ridden at Barge Canal, you are missing a wonderful experience. There are trails there for all types of riders whether you are looking for a family outing or some more challenging technical riding. With the recent extension of the Spider Kingdom trail, I would estimate that there are at least 30 to 40 miles of beautiful trails to be ridden. The trails are well marked and maintained largely through the efforts of the Ocala Mountain Bike Association. Best of all, the trails at Santos are free to ride. That's right! Just drive down, park, and ride to your heart's content… or until your legs give out. This web site will give you all sorts of information about the trails including directions of how to get there and maps of the trails for when you are there. There are also stories of people's experiences riding there as well as a few choice photos.
This web site is from the promoters of the Florida State Championship series of off road races. Since I participate in the series, this web site is a fairly frequent flier for me. You can find out about race results and upcoming events. Maybe you are thinking of racing sometime and want to see how you might stack up against the competition. Grab your cyclocomputer and compare your average speed with some of the racers. Maybe you want to check on the point standing of that racer that you know from the bike shop to see how hot he or she really is. This is the place to find out. There is also a links page with sites of interest to racers.
The last site for my column is also one of my favorites. I keep finding useful information at this site. It is a resource that I keep coming back to again and again. I can't say enough about this site, but let me give it a try anyway. The heart of the site, or at least where it started, is a cross referenced list of bikes, bike parts, accessories, and toys with reviews written by real riders. If you are wondering whether to buy this bike or that one, whether to upgrade your fork or not, or just what is the best type of clipless pedal, this is the place to look. The reviews are all written by regular riders who rate the equipment that they have used. The quality of the reviews does vary since they are written by every rider from the 12 year old kid down the street to experienced bike mechanics and serious racers. From there, the site has grown and now offers so much more. One of the most valuable sections for me is the Marketplace. Mountain bikers and roadies alike post messages here for items they have for sale or things that they want to buy. All of the postings are free and the interface is like a bulletin board and pretty easy to use. The deals are there to be had… with a caveat. You are dealing with individual people so a little caution is suggested. COD works well and is the method of choice for most transactions. That said, I have bought several items from different people through the marketplace and have found people to be very friendly and accommodating. The site also features many other sections dealing with other areas of interest to all cyclists. Definitely put this site on your list to visit. That wraps up the report for this time. Hopefully my bike will be rebuilt and I will have a much more active report next time. Rides will continue to be announced through email. If you don't have email and want to ride, just give me a call at 338-4594 and I will tell you where and when the next ride will be.
Ride on, Brian Raisler
GCC Offroad Director