Mountain Biking This Weekend??

[kmehrzad]

Would anyone be up for mountain biking this weekend? Cedarville or Rosaryville?

It's been awhile since we've gotten together for a ride through the woods.

[Kalidurga]

I was thinking the same thing just recently. Weather-permitting, I could be up for this.

[7rider]

Sounds fun. Unfortunately (or maybe not), I'll be away for the long weekend.
Have fun if you go.

[ny biker]

Sounds fun. Unfortunately (or maybe not), I'll be away for the long weekend.
Have fun if you go.

I'm also out of town this weekend. My mountain bike does need to get off the balcony and onto some dirt one of these days, even if it's just a trip on the towpath.

[kmehrzad]

Sorry that you can't make it 7 or NYBiker. Hey Kali, try and round up a few others and we'll have some fun on the trails. I'll 'shake some bushes' myself.

[Kalidurga]

I come in here so rarely anymore, I don't know who's around to round up. Catriona? DB?

It'll be so weird to ride Cedarville or Rosaryville without you, 7Rider. I got used to following your lead at those places!


Oh, and what day were you thinking of, Kathy? Would pretty much any time on Saturday or early on Sunday work?

[kmehrzad]

DB said she's available on Sunday a.m. I don't think Cataboo is available.

[kmehrzad]

DB and I had a very nice time riding the trails of Laurel Hill Park. We're planning on doing it again sometime. For other TE'ers who are interested in joining us, we'll keep you posted as to a future date.

[divingbiker]

Hmmm...I had great fun, but now I'm wondering if my mountain biking career ought to be over. That fall down the hill really caused some damage, to the point that I went to the doctor today. Nothing's broken, but man does it hurt.

Only reaaaallly easy trails for me from now on.

[Kalidurga]

Oh my gosh, DB, what happened??

[divingbiker]

We stopped to let two people pass, and when I put my right foot down there wasn't any ground there, since it dropped off sharply. I tipped over and the bike came with me, and my handlebar poked me in the ribs. It hurts like hell. At least I didn't get poison ivy.:o

[Kalidurga]

Oowww. Wonder if you bruised the rib. I definitely hope it heals soon!


I felt lousy about not joining you, but I was down for the count both Saturday and Sunday, spent both days on the couch in the dark unable to even keep water in my stomach. Really wish I could have been out in the woods. Other than your incident, the ride was good? Would you say the trails there are comparable to Rosaryville or Cedarville? Harder...?

[divingbiker]

I was wondering how you were doing. Hope you're back among the living now.

There are three or four loops that interconnect. Parts of it are in the woods, on a very narrow single track. Other parts are through a meadow, in the hot sun. Some of it reminded me of Rosaryville, but not as hilly. Kathy and I didn't think it was really a beginner trail, but it wasn't technical either. There were just a couple of logs and a stream to cross. I think what made it hard was the narrowness of the trail, and not really knowing what to expect or where we were. We didn't see a map until near the end.

The prison was creepy. The place we started is not the part they've fixed up into an artist community. That part is on the other side of the woods. The trail head is by the guard tower and it was just, well, creepy. It didn't help that there was no one else around when we started. We only saw a few people while we were riding.

It was fun, and easy to get to. I'd do it again, but more cautiously this time.:)

[divingbiker]

Looks like there are actually eight loops (http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/PlanDev/Downloads/LH_Equest-trails.pdf). Should have looked at the map before we went riding.:rolleyes:

[Kalidurga]

Ah, the prison is exactly the part I'd like to see. Would definitely bring my camera for that. And would definitely ride cautiously, I'm too used to having 7Rider lead us along trails ;) Thanks for the map, that is indeed handy.



Better today, thanks. I've gone from walking like a two-bottle wino to just feeling a bit tipsy.

[kmehrzad]

Ah, the prison is exactly the part I'd like to see. Would definitely bring my camera for that.

Better today, thanks. I've gone from walking like a two-bottle wino to just feeling a bit tipsy.

LOL, I knew you'd love seeing the prison ... you seem to like things that are on the edgier side. :-)

Glad to hear that you're feeling better, too. You've gotta join us next time.

[7rider]

Geez, DB. We'll have to keep you confined to Cedarville. Flat. Wide. No drop offs! ;) "A bike ride through the woods" vs. "Mountain biking" - right?
Glad you aren't worse off.

Sorry I missed the adventure - and missed the chance to see pix from KD of the prison...feel better! Where is Laurel Hill, anyway? I presume this prison is no longer open??

Did a bit of off road adventuring with DH and my sister in CT on my commuter. That was a trick...especially on the section of trail where the water came up to the bottom bracket! :eek:

[kmehrzad]

Where is Laurel Hill, anyway? I presume this prison is no longer open??

Did a bit of off road adventuring with DH and my sister in CT on my commuter. That was a trick...especially on the section of trail where the water came up to the bottom bracket! :eek:

Laurel Hill was recommended to us by Cataboo. It's really a lot of fun to ride around and seems to have a nice variety of trails. It's in Lorton, VA right on the old prison grounds. The prison is no longer in operation (thank goodness). It was very creepy standing outside the guard tower and front gate of 'The Big House.'

So the water was up to your bottom bracket, eh? Yikes! Be sure to lube.

[divingbiker]

Geez, DB. We'll have to keep you confined to Cedarville. Flat. Wide. No drop offs! ;) "A bike ride through the woods" vs. "Mountain biking" - right?
Glad you aren't worse off.

Sorry I missed the adventure - and missed the chance to see pix from KD of the prison...feel better! Where is Laurel Hill, anyway? I presume this prison is no longer open??

Did a bit of off road adventuring with DH and my sister in CT on my commuter. That was a trick...especially on the section of trail where the water came up to the bottom bracket! :eek:

I don't want to give up on Rosaryville, but Cedarville is definitely more up my alley.

[Cataboo]

Sorry if I led you guys astray! Kathy said you guys were talking about a multisport day, and laurel hills is right next to the Occoquan - so popping on the reservoir or over to Mason neck would have been much closer than you guys driving from Rosaryville to the closest body of water to paddle.

I find laurel hills a lot of fun... There's almost no obstacles and the paths are maintained really well. I'd say it's far easier than Schaeffer farms. The caveat is that with no obstacles & good trails, it's very easy to pick up speed on the single track at Laurel Hills... So you find yourself going around tight corners or switchbacks faster than you'd do it if you were gingerly mountain biking looking for obstacles. For me, that's good training, because I really need to work on my tight corners & descending.

Sorry I wasn't along to show you guys around. The first time I went, I lucked out that there was another biker at the giles meadow parking lot and he told me how to get to the trails. i tried to describe for Kathy how to get to them and sent her a link to a map of the loops before you go. There's a trail map posted right after you cross the road after taking the left to get off the CCT. I generally take a picture of that to refer to later when I go.

[divingbiker]

How hard is it to maintain a trail that's 6 inches wide???:p

[Kalidurga]

Sorry if I led you guys astray! Kathy said you guys were talking about a multisport day, and laurel hills is right next to the Occoquan - so popping on the reservoir or over to Mason neck would have been much closer than you guys driving from Rosaryville to the closest body of water to paddle.

Actually, it's a hop, skip, and a jump from Rosaryville to Jug Bay and Patuxent River Park.


All this rain needs to go away. I haven't been on my bike in weeks and the more I come back to this thread, the more annoyed I am that I missed this ride with DB and KM. Bah.

[Cataboo]

huh. for some reason, I always thought it was in western md.