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. 

[ClintonRH]

My cyclocross bike with 38mm tires is a blast. Corners can be sketchy but there's usually a bit of a lip that you can push into and rail it around. Take the corners wide, catch the lip, and it's all good. Come in too shallow and the wheels slide in the sand then when they catch the outside lip it will pitch you. Only time I don't like the cross bike at Croom is on some of the sandy descents that have root stairsteps. Haven't figured a good way to do those since you can't really brake with the skinny tires (they just lock up and skid in the sand). Best I've found is to just let it go and pump the lips to try and keep it smooth. Kinda scary. But I love that bike out there because it makes the climbs fun. You have to work them hard and you can't lose momentum because the skinny tires don't grip if you lose the speed. Cross tires plow through the sugar sand really well so long as they can cut in a bit and find something solid underneath.

[ProEdgeBiker.com]

NOVEL ^^

[jimn213]

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

It's even worse with broke-ass pedals....

[Triple T]

It's even worse with broke-ass pedals....

I'm sure it is 

[Garry]

Croom ai'nt for everybody

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

Wow, that's a true hate statement right there.  Croom isn't that bad.  Learn to embrace the sand and the rest of it is a blast.  In the rainy season it is the place to be. 

[SandPine]

...Croom isn't that bad.  Learn to embrace the sand and the rest of it is a blast.  In the rainy season it is the place to be. 

Lies.... stay away please.   

[Big-E]

There is no Fish at Croom.

[Redriderpro]

****** Public safety message*****
All week,unfit,easily lost girly men should stay away from Croom trails, the hills are mountain like, the downhills are terrifying, the tech sections are totally gnarly and the Forest is so large you will get lost for weeks.
 
The hills and trees are so large that your GPS will not work there,nor will your cell phone.
 
The Deer flies, Hawks and Buzzards will eat you before you find your way out or the various locals will be playing their favorite "Deliverance" scene with you until they get hungry and use your remains for stew.
 
The Sand can only be compared to the Sahara Desert after a 100 year drought.
 
Riders of Carbon Fiber bikes have been known to be cowered after just one visit during the "good season", so you poeple with lessor bikes certainly would regret ever attempting the mighty Croom experience.
 
PS. Don't even consider the Croom 50 as that would humble even a Giant rider.

 
 
 
 
Sanpine? You that will keep them out of our favorite Forest?
 
 

[SandPine]

Sanpine? You that will keep them out of our favorite Forest?

No...  YOu forgot so much... let's see
 
- there are ghosts and you will hear them sing at you as you ride certain trail where you can hear windchimes.
- There are also ghosts over by a hidden cementary if you are lucky enough to find it
- there are is a certain spirit of a guy name Skip that will whisper at you if you stop by his memorial and leave something... preferbly gels, bars, or beer ... by his side or tell him an MTB story. 
- there is a gaunlet of bmx riders that will make you lay flat on the trail so they can do jumps over your and your bike as you go by their turf.  Specially if you wear spandex
- there is a certain withlachoochee river that if you stop by it you will be chased by a ton of skinny dippers
- as you ride by certain areas you will be mistaken by deer and be shot at
- You will get chased by crazy motorcycle enduro riders
- you will hear banjo music playing by some guys driving their 4x4 if you get on their soft sand bail out forest roads..
- There are trail maps that if you stand next to them, you will also be used as target shooting practice...
 
...
 
wow, i have so much more... basically, RIDE SOMEWHERE ELSE please...

[Redriderpro]

Amen brother!
 
I somehow forgot the Spirt Tree and Skips place.... Oh, and the Indian Burrial frounds where many have parished.

[Triple T]

Riders of Carbon Fiber bikes.....

Carbon Fiber and Croom sand don't play well with each other. 

[Big-E]

Big-Foot lives out there too...And you forgot when you stop for a second and your all alone that you feel someone starring at you....I'm going to have to make a good effort to get out there Saturday.....

[Darrinw2001]

and when you cross fire road #9 for the 5th time, your almost to the 12 mile bail-out... I swear the 1st time i did the north blue I thought I was caught in the movie "Ground Hog Day"...

[noble]

Sandpine is right--especially about the BMXers!!   Dumb guys trying to ride kids bikes!!

Plus you forgot---there is a good chance you might get passed like you were tied to a tree by Dave and Bob on their SS's!!