I used to do triathalons and had a trek 63 cm road bike. I traded that on a Fisher Opie XL and belong to several clubs in the Tampa/Lakeland area.
I spent all day today on a mini excavator with the trail crew building a new trail at Boyette Scrub Preserve. The best trails around here are built in the old phosphate pits. Some of them are SCARY. I mosty ride the intermediate trails but try the black diamonds occasionally and have the scars to prove it.
This is one of our local guys. He has great videos of Fla mountain bike trails. http://proedgebiker.com/
This is my favorite trail. It's only 5 min from the house. http://www.singletracks.com/bike-trails/loyce-e-harpe-park-carter-road.html
As far as the "Bike Monkey" goes. I only have about $600 in the bike but I have spent at least that in a superlite helment, crank bros candy pedals, shoes, ergo grips, gloves, glasses, camel back, etrex gps with handlebar mount, ect,ect,ect...