8th avenue

8th avenue

	8th avenue
Location:	Florida
Nearest Town:	Gainesville
Directions to Trailhead:	From the UF campus, take University Avenue west until it intersects with 34th st. Make a right, and continue for a few blocks until you reach 8th avenue. Make another right. Along the stretch of 8th ave, there are a bunch of trails on both sides of the road. The right side is more rideable, but I reccomend exploring
Trail Description:	This is not really a big place to ride, but it makes a nice study break and is very close to the UF campus. There are a bunch of single track and washout trails that wind around the creeks. There is a good amount of sand and roots, so be prepared. Some parts are frustrating, but others are fairly fun. There isn't anything really technical, but the place offers some good areas to practice control, log hopping, and other things and it is a nice place to get away into the woods. On the right side of the road, there is a dry pond that has some very nice jumps. It is seasonal, and is sometimes full of water. But, it is nice when dry. Also On the ride back to campus, you can hit the Fraternity Row downhill and include it in a loop.
Trail Length:	Variable
Trail Type:	Singletrack
Skill Level:	Intermediate
Submitted By:	Beau

Ed.d from Gainesville Date: May 27, 2003 Trail Ridden: Once a month
Recommended Route: Ride downhill on 8 Ave. from 22nd Street. Its a nice thrill. catch trailhead close to 34th. Its a bit hidden. Other recommended trails in the same area:
Review: This trail is nothing but fun. Not difficult at all but a good training ground for beginners, a romping for intermediates. Do it! Twice at least. The steepest drop is before a creek crossing. IF too steep carry your bike.	Overall Rating:

GT from CAL Date: July 10, 2002 Trail Ridden: Ridden Once
Recommended Route: Don't go Other recommended trails in the same area: nothing
Review: This sucks my 7year old told me ( Dad this sucks can we go this is not Mt.biking)He is 7 that should tell you all what its like.	Overall Rating:

Anthony from Gainesville,Florida Date: March 25, 2002 Trail Ridden: Once a week
Recommended Route: from The University of Florida head west on University ave to 34th st then make a right then you should see the main entrance on your right. Other recommended trails in the same area: Gainesville does not really have any good bike trails. just head to Santos in southern Marion county, it's only about 40 miles south of UF.
Review: the bowl can be fun and jumping some of the creeks is cool, but for the most part this is not much of a trail. there is nothing very technical besides the few jumps.	Overall Rating:

Justice from Gainesville Date: February 20, 2002 Trail Ridden: Ridden Once
Recommended Route: Other recommended trails in the same area: Same old same old. Santos, etc.
Review: I didn't explore very far, I just found the bowl and stayed there until blood was shed. It took an hour but my friend planted his face into the ground pretty hard so we went home. The "bowl" area has been modified by riders to have lots of ramps, jumps, dropoffs, and ledges. The skill level of the dropoffs go from basic to a little thrilling. The hardest dropoff that I saw was about 6-7 feet at an 80-85 degree angle, with roots being your gripping surface. There are bigger drops in elevation but the angles were laughable to me (I wouldn't consider myself a great rider, either). There is lots of loose sand in the bowl, but not where any of the dropoffs and ramps are. Some of the bowl was covered with leaves making traction more difficult while trying to climb to the top. As a mediocre rider I will be able to use this area to hone some of my skills (climbing w/ really poor traction, specifically). I learned an important lesson too. If you are going to gain speed and jump a ramp, make sure your clips are tight enough, because there is nothing more uncomfortable than being about 2 feet above your bike's pedals, knowing that you have one place for your weight to land.	Overall Rating:

Aaron from G'ville Date: September 27, 2001 Trail Ridden: Once a month
Recommended Route: enter across from Westside park on 8th ave.just look for a sign Other recommended trails in the same area: Go to the powerlines!Don't let them grow over.......F**K a trespassing ticket,they gotta catch you first!
Review: there are some nice parts on these trails,the jumps in the bowl are really nice and I've been trying to "revive" a few trails back there to make it faster.If we all go and ride them,they won't suck so bad,put in some effort man!	Overall Rating:

TX CHRIS from uh.... Date: September 21, 2001 Trail Ridden: Once a week
Recommended Route: if you want to do it right, then come from the top of the hill that is 8th ave, you can drop right into the trail from the sidewalk at blazing speed(recommend riding on the road, then crossing and hopping the curb, then doing the drop off into the trail) Other recommended trails in the same area: i am wondering if the jump across the walkway just down the hill from UPD going to shands is still going, its actually been four years since i live in g'ville, at one time you could get some serious air over that thing, with ample landing area on the other side.
Review: i have wrecked so many bikes and parts here, it is fun to reminisce. this is mainly due to the large amounts of water and high jumps to flat landings that can be found by riding around a bit. there are some fun places to jump across streams and some fun log crossings.	Overall Rating:

CEAS from kansas city/miami Date: March 26, 2000 Trail Ridden: Once a year
Recommended Route: hmmmm - go wherever u want Other recommended trails in the same area: u know
Review: when i lived in gainesville i rode around in these woods a few times. it gets old quick. i wouldnt really call them bike trails at all and they're mostly boring and flat. But if thats all u got to ride then have at it.	Overall Rating:

fabfive from Gainesville, FL Date: September 27, 1999 Trail Ridden: Once a month
Recommended Route: none...just explore, but definately hit the dry pond (when it's not full of water). Other recommended trails in the same area: The Park Place Jumps...if still in existence. The Archer trails....best in Gainesville.
Review: This place has been a bike haven for years, at least since I was a kid. The trails are not hard, just really rooty. The best part is the dry pond, which has some major jumps, if you hit them right. It's not the mountains, but it's a good start for Florida.	Overall Rating:

Daniel Hall from St. Pete, FL, USA Date: September 21, 1999 Trail Ridden: Once a week
Recommended Route: Listing above is fine. Other recommended trails in the same area:
Review: Used to ride this trail all the time when I lived in G'ville. Folks, pay no attention to the review that says don't go. There are plenty of trails if you know where to look, and you can create a five mile loop pretty easy. Sometimes it seems that all the trails don't connect, but that is because of water damage during the rainy season. You just have to know how to get around. There are several spots where you'll be jumping a ditch. If this is a problem, uh, you won't enjoy this place as much as I did. There is a LOT of area with no trails whatsoever. Just head out into the woods and trailblaze. Watch out for children and watch out for the water in the ditch. It's red because it's definitely not clean. It's okay for splashing through. During the dry season the 'bowl' can be a lot of fun. And that's just what it is. A big natural bowl. You can ride the rim all the way around, but it better to jump down into it and fly out the other side. Not too far from the bowl is an inverted bowl, a sharp hill. I challenge you to climb it. It can be tough because it is soft and there are roots.	Overall Rating:

HoNeY_BLunT from GanjaVille FL Date: August 7, 1999 Trail Ridden: Ridden Once
Recommended Route: Don't Go. Other recommended trails in the same area:
Review: This trail sucks.	Overall Rating: