First Impressions: Tom Bradshaw & Christina Chappetta Ride the Best Trails in Tallahassee, Florida
Tom Bradshaw and Christina Chappetta headed southeast across the continent to Tallahassee, Florida. Mountain biking probably isn't the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Tallahassee, but Tom and Christina spend a day being pleasantly surprised checking out the state capital's trails. Following a route plan from the President of the Tallahassee Mountain Bike Association (TMBA), they explore the miles of hand built singletrack, man made features and even a few laps of the Velosolution Pumptrack.
Their ride squeezed in two riding zones, Redbug on the Northern edge of the City, and Tom Brown Park connected via bike lanes to the East. Tom and Christina barely scratched the surface in their short trip with Visit Tallahassee, but left impressed, and glad to avoid any incident during the mid-ride gator encounter.
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Would I visit Tallahassee specifically to ride these trails? Uh....
And...the other part...this state has become so crowded..and so much development that driving certain areas is a major frustration and annoyance, so I don't even bother, and judging by the clear cutting on my way to some trails...the drive may become impossible in a couple years.
Aside from the absence of mountains, there's something different about riding in the South. Maybe it's truck culture - perhaps the sedentary, envious old white f*cks who haven't exercised since high school football team - that necessitates a much tighter knit cycling community that what we have out here. MTB is not a resort sport in North Florida. The trails we have there exist because the relatively tiny proportion of riders banded together to make them happen - in the face of a generally disinterested city commission and often hostile local population (NIMBYs, sometimes scary rednecks). I know this is actively changing for the better in some regards, but it's still a fight that most riders in the MTB meccas (think Front Range, Asheville, Bellingham, etc.) will never experience.
There is a level of respect, community, and frankly trail etiquette there you will not find among the entitled masses on Colorado trails. Granted, you could not pay me to move back to Tallahassee given a number of factors well outside of the MTB community, but it holds a special place for sure.
@kwl1 Comparatively though, dudes in Squamish roll a 40 degree slab into an 80 foot gap jump over a moat full of Grizzly's and crocodiles while wearing jorts and a half shell and talk about how there's no point in racing because they aren't even fast anymore.
I'm sure a large part of it is that TMBA membership, trail building, and general involvement in the community among Tallahassee riders is a WAY higher % than what is out here, but maybe that's a weak statistic given the sheer number of riders out here. Shout out to COMBA btw...
And I spent a long time in Gainesville...similar roots story...loads of trails cut all around and in town created by a core group of riders going back 30 years. If a trail gets destroyed by development, they grab a satellite image of the area and cut new stuff! There are some local races/gatherings that have been going on for a while..that will cover 70 miles(80% off road), and it's as fun as it is grueling. The city has gotten more involved, protecting land to keep the trails that have been made, and respecting the bike culture.
It is great to have that background and be familiar with the "hardcore" level of riding and culture...those guys and town shaped my ride lifestyle(which will always exist), which is obviously a very special thing. And though I've been lucky to have ridden many places around the world, I will still ride a 70 mile gruelfest in the middle of FL.--and mostly because the people(and some of the trails). (P.S>--I hate the truck culture! I'm sure it's worse since you've been here!)
Me too. Went to college there long long ago and appreciate that mountain biking was a completely raw, unmapped experience. Did a lot of fun night rides through the pine forest. But yeah the west/southwest....we have arguably the best weather and terrain for mountain biking. Back then mountain biking was riding your bike in the woods, not looking at trail forks or youtube to figure out your next adventure.
If picking on a group of people doing the same activity..that's something very different because they can be a mix of looks, ethnicities, religious beliefs. Maybe you're being a bit paranoid..or I guess it's "woke"
We can do online discourse about this all you want, but it seems really stupid coming from internet stranger who gets mad whenever they read something attributing whiteness to current social issues; in the case of Tallahassee - NIMBYism, general hatred towards alternate modes of transportation, segregation, agents of chaos at city commission meetings, lol.
Be honest, are you more upset I put a spicy label on the demographics of the responsible parties or the fact that remnants of the Jim Crow South are visible plain as day in my hometown? My guess is your inner reactionary says the former because you don't know anything about the area.
Well, who knows. Maybe you know of a secret population of nonwhite, nonboomer Good Ol' Boys intent on keeping the North Tallahassee suburbs as white as possible via secret Facebook groups.
*clears throat*
Let it be known henceforth, @kleinschuster does NOT see color, has NO dislike of anyone on the basis of sexual preference, and again, is definitely NOT racist! Also, he rides bikes with people with blue skin - big ups to the argyria community!
So glad you used this nuanced, local discussion to let everybody know you're 100% NOT racist.
It's ok to dislike certain kinds of people, and it doesn't have to be a big thing..I'm sure a lot of people don't like you, and I doubt it's because you're white. Great, you say you won't step foot in FL. and you'll be on mountains..good for you! Your choice! I go to actual mountains also, and have traveled around the world riding bikes and surfing..but yeah..I live in FL.--my family is here, my work partner is here..I live at the beach and have a pretty cool life...but....so many people from up north have moved down here that the area does kind of suck now....traffic is insane..lots of people(mostly white--yeah, I said it), are complete and utter turds and I wish they'd go back home, but they moved here. Stop being a baby and realize some people suck, and it doesn't have anything to do with appearance. Character is all that matters, and until people stop looking at color/ethnicity then nothing will change..and by you bringing up "race" in a discussion about hometown memories that said nothing about ethnicity..you are keeping the problem going
The more you know……
"The smell from the top is pretty impressive. "
fixed it for ya
The highest point (elevation wise) is natural rolling hills in the North part of the state...and you cannot even reach the real summit because it sits on private land. When you stand at the faux 'high point' marker you realize the area to the North is higher.
Santos and Alafia are definitely the two best mtb spots in FL
All in all, FL actually has some really great riding
Flatcountry is more apt-it does describe riding on a narrow dirt trail…….that’s flat. Riding in Florida isn’t mountain biking, it’s Flatcountry.
A Flatcountry bike will work best if it has short travel and a slacker seat angle; no reason to put the hips way forward on level ground. A Flatcountry bike also doesn’t need double casing tires or inserts-no blasting down gnarly, rocky descents on the flats. Gearing can be taller-a 45 tooth low gear may already be too low for the Flatcountry connoisseur.
That said, I think the UK has done a great job of showing the rest of us how to utilize fairly uninteresting topography in many cases and come out with some amazing riding zones (mostly bike parks with jump lines). Turns out, you can build a lot of that stuff anywhere if you know what you’re doing.
Good on PB for giving Florida some spotlight!
Mountain biking is still underground in Tallahassee, despite the hundreds of miles of trails accessible directly from it's urban core. Several times a year I encounter folks on the trail that are dumbfounded by the beauty and access - "I've lived here for 20 years and never knew about the mountain biking". I always tell them the same: "tell everyone that riding in Tallahassee sucks, there's enough folks on the trail already."
"In partnership with Visit Tallahassee"
One thing about Florida is ya better make sure you check with the weather man bf you make the drive. The afternoon thunderstorms can make things a lil more fun imo as long as it passes quick enough but the lightning that can come w/em not so much. Alafia’s usually my go to just bc of the distance and amenities plus it has a decent amount of trail maintenance, but from my experience most people say Alafia and Santos are definitely two of the best.
I've ridden Alafia..loads of fun but massive hassle for me to drive there..and been riding Santos on and off for twenty years and still go pretty often.
I've been making the trek to Tom Brown and it's got a different feel...a bit of elevation for more speed...enough techy stuff and a little prettier..reminds me a bit of N. Carolina spots. I put Tom Brown as one of the tops when taking the whole thing in
Super cool you went and did the video BTW, after all the comments about it.
Temple of the Dog "All Night Thing"
Perhaps a Flatcountry bike test????