Topic: Croom aka "Dune" the movie (1st ride impressions)

[hygieneboy]

Well I just got back from riding Croom for the first time.

 I did a long (for me) 40 mile road bike ride yesterday that left me a little dehydrated and totally worn out by 10 AM Saturday the 31st.
 
By 3pm yesterday I felt 100% again and accepted a request to ride Croom at 7am Sunday morning the 1st of August w/guys at the Chainwheel Drive bikeshop in Clearwater.

My day started with bad directions to Croom courtesy of Google maps(Martha Fockers!). It got me to Croom road but since I've never been to Brooksville I had no idea where I was or where I needed to go. And at 6:30 am on a Sunday theres no one to ask for directions(I'll be buying a GPS now)  I finally just drove each direction about 10 miles and found it. Well the guys from the shop tell me they're doing their endurance ride this time(great news..ugh!). It was a pretty quick pace and after about 8 miles of constant uphill sugar sand my little legs had no more juice left  ;(   I bid them farewell and turned around for my solo ride back. Even with a map I got turned around and totally lost at least 3 times. I ended up doing at least half of the blue trail again and most of the yellow too. Who knows how far I ended up going when it was all said and done(no computer). I took a shortcut back down forest road 7. The sand was so thick and deep on the forest road that I could barely walk and certainly not ride. It felt like Clearwater beach sand(no exaggeration) And then when I was almost back to my car I took a giant Golden Silk Spider to the face, legs in my mouth and everything! It was a helluva day and all this by 10AM. The sugar sand rumors are very true and exhausting.

P.S.  I now have a free fabric Croom map for anybody who wants it.

[Jonesy]

Another satisfied customer. The legend continues.

[mksandoz]

Sounds like an awesome ride!!!

[Redriderpro]

The really good rides allways are a little to hard, to long or to fast, that's how one gets better.
 
Try again, but only after considerable rain has hit the forest... or sign up for the Croom Enduro thats coming soon, and ride it on a rented KTM with at least 35-40 hp.
 
Both of the above options make for a much better Croom experience.

[hygieneboy]

The scenery was gorgeous and the smell of the morning dew and fog was unbelievable! 

I think I would need to upgrade from 2.1 to 6.3 tires to brave the sugar sand there again.

[Paintboy]

Femininehygieneboy,, the summer is no time to pop your Cherry at Croom. Don't give up on it .. come out again in the fall....
 
 Cheers
   Bill

[Dan-o]

Id gladly take that map of your hands, Im a sucker for Croom!

[Alan]

Croom is tha devil.

[ProEdgeBiker.com]

CROOM IS COOL! STAY IN SCHOOL!

[Scott]

I told you fools Croom suckzzzzzzzzzzz, stay away

[Darrinw2001]

Riding Croom during deer season in brown clothes with antlers on is a real challenge... gets your blood pumping! 

[drb81]

Riding Croom during deer season in brown clothes with antlers on is a real challenge... gets your blood pumping! 

you need a white saddle bag too!

[jimn213]

the summer is no time to pop your Cherry at Croom. Don't give up on it .. come out again in the fall....

Yes, in the fall...AFTER the rainy season has ended.  LOL.  It gets pretty dry up there when there are no daily thunderstorms.
 
Seriously, ride it when it's been raining almost every day (summer).  If you can stand the heat.  Bring lot's o' liquids!
 
Did the club ride there yesterday and it was pretty frickin nice. Hot? Hell yeah!  Sandy?  Not so much. Was actually wet in a lot of places. If it's any indication, we all rode right up heartbreak hill with no problems. Dave White rode his single-speed all morning, and he's one of the older Swampers.  Also, they are in the process of adding new trails to bypass some of the perpetually sandy areas, so it should be sweet when that is all done.
 
Anyway, the moral is:  Don't let one bad ride there sour it for you forever. 
 
Jim
 

[Scott]

Croom ai'nt for everybody

[Triple T]

Croom ai'nt for everybody

So true.  I'd rather have hot metal pokers shoved in my eye than ride out there again.