Road rides for the D.C. crowd

[Jen]

What is the Western Maryland Rail Trail like? I think I saw something for that in one of the books. How long is it?

[Kalidurga]

What is the Western Maryland Rail Trail like? I think I saw something for that in one of the books. How long is it?

The WMRT is a great trail (if you like flat surfaces). It's 22.5 miles and parallels the C&O Canal towpath from near Fort Frederick, through Hancock, and out to Pearree, MD. It's really beautiful out there. My goal for this year was to be able to ride the entire trail round-trip. Since I hit 37 miles on my GAP trail ride last week, I'm thinking I could hit that goal this weekend, provided the weather (and my own laziness) lets me get an early enough start.

If I don't do the road ride or the WMRT tomorrow, the other option I was considering is to head down to Purcellville, VA and head east on the W&OD trail. It's also a paved rail-trail, but has some long, mildly graded hills and more exposure to wind.

Ugh, I'm now realizing that in addition to cleaning my bike, I should probably put the smoother tires back on since I'm planning to ride pavement this weekend. Guess I know how I'm spending my Friday night...

[7rider]

Hey folks.
Yeah, Looks like a Saturday a.m. ride is a none-starter.
Bummer.
I can't ride later in the day and I've got plans on Sunday.
You're more ambitious than I, Kali, as you're planning on trucking somewhere anyway. I'm not looking forward to yardwork in the rain. Looks like an errand and shopping day instead!

[Jen]

Tomorrow AM, diffinately rain, maybe alot. Wind too. Sunday, sunny but very windy, 20 -30 MPH. That is too much. For your ride on the C&0 Canal, don't you need an all terrain bike or mountain? That is gravel, not road bike terrain. My riding buddy and I are considering buying a bikes for the canal ride. Great place to ride.

[Kalidurga]

For your ride on the C&0 Canal, don't you need an all terrain bike or mountain? That is gravel, not road bike terrain. My riding buddy and I are considering buying a bikes for the canal ride. Great place to ride.

Yeah, the C&O is an awesome place to ride and definitely one of my favorite routes. I'd recommend a wide, semi-knobby tire bike because of the crushed stone, tree roots and mud, but I have seen thru-riders (folks riding the entire towpath and camping along the way) doing it with thin, smooth tires on what appeared to be road bikes. I've even seen a thru-rider on a recumbent. Depends on how much of a masochist you are, I guess My 'cross bike has been great on the towpath this year.

You're more ambitious than I, Kali, as you're planning on trucking somewhere anyway. I'm not looking forward to yardwork in the rain. Looks like an errand and shopping day instead!

Sorry, Regina. Let's keep watching the weather on upcoming weekends, though, cause I'd really like to get out and do some road riding with you. As for my ambition, well... My ambition to get out and play is, unfortunately, such that my apartment has been only halfway re-painted for over a year now. At least you're planning on using a crappy weather day to do necessary stuff!

[HillSlugger]

Hi,

If you want to do this ride next weekend I can probably join you. At the moment either day could work.

Nicole

[aicabsolut]

I wound up going out today, because it was so warm this morning. Not a very long ride because I waffled about doing it for a while since it was dark so late this morning. But I did whirl around Mt. Vernon trail for a while. A few packs of runners but a very quiet trail for once. Kind of gross with the puddles and no fenders but much better than my original Rock Creek plan would've been. Decent workout and I'm getting better in traffic..had to deal with some road construction on M. My stops and starts are much improved. I still put it in a pretty low gear unless I'm racing to make a green (love those counters on the crosswalk signs) just in case.

I haven't ridden enough in the past few weeks though and it was hard to keep spinning smoothly on the smallest "hills" in a decent gear. But at least I got out there today. I'd like to meet up for a real country road ride if I can make it out to where y'all are (on time and the not getting lost thing) some weekend.