Gator Logo courtesy of theswamp.org

Behind the amazing 200 feet drops and hills of The Swamp Mountain Bike Club trails is an amazing history which leads to an off road cycling destination that involves the collaboration of motorcycles, bikes, and horses for many years. Also, private citizens (the first members of The Swamp Club), the government (local, state, and national agencies), and investors (on every level) helped to preserve and maintain lands that are now an outdoor adventure destination just outside of the Tampa Bay area. People from around the nation are starting to flock to Florida’s largest off-road biking destination that is geared for all levels. Many vacationers are bringing their bikes to ride these trails or turn to The Swam Club trails when looking for a place to ride their bikes while on holiday. These trails add to Tampa’s what to do when visiting.

In a series of blogs, I will tell the fascinating history of committed individuals and groups who have come together to form not only the physical trails but a community that educates, entertains, supports, contributes, and helps support people of every riding level, health and fitness, community, and our earth. Comradery, grants, and volunteers help to build and maintain all of the things that The Swamp Mountain Bike Club trails behold.

In the late 1980s, most cyclists were road cyclists. Wes Eubanks and his wife were road cyclists and ran the local road riding clubs. During this time, the small trails were for multi-use purposes. Road cycling keeps you bound to a road versus off road cycling allows you to, according to Wikipedia, experience different terrains and conditions. But biking on the roads was the big thing back in the 80s.

However, in the 1990s off road cycling became extremely popular and as these trails were for multi use, there were conflicts between the bicyclists and the equestrians. To find a solution, property owners asked equestrian groups and cyclists to get together to decide what to do regarding these trail encounters. This was quite a task and a commitment because cycling is all about biking and as, forequestrians.com would agree, equestrian is all about horses. The two groups did set off to be a unified group and this is how The Swamp Club was formed in 1992 to oversee a mere fifteen members and six miles of trail.

Read about the gator-filled lakes on some of these trails. Then check back for the new writing of how motorcyclists became involved and how many members the Swamp Club now has and the number of miles you can ride on the largest trails in Florida!

Prepare for mountain biking with awesome biking gear: