Baltimore tips?

[Kalidurga]

If you do rail-trails, the Northern Central is an excellent one. It can be very crowded at the southern end, so it's worthwhile if you can drive to one of the parking areas further up. I usually go to either Monkton or all the way up to Freeland and ride across the border into PA.

The only other riding I've done in the B'more area is Tour du Port, which went through a great variety of neighborhoods last year, but I don't know if you want to be on the city roads during weekday traffic.

[withm]

If you do rail-trails, the Northern Central is an excellent one. It can be very crowded at the southern end, so it's worthwhile if you can drive to one of the parking areas further up. I usually go to either Monkton or all the way up to Freeland and ride across the border into PA.

This sounds good... my bike has 700x28 - do you think those tires would be ok on the crushed stone surface?

Thanks,
Martha

[Kalidurga]

I've never ridden anything as narrow as a 28, so I couldn't say for sure. Are your tires totally slick? I assume it'd be ok, the stone is definitely more crushed than chunky. It's much smoother than any of the gravel sections of the C & O towpath. It's more like the Great Allegheny Passage trail, if you've ever ridden any of that.

[7rider]

FWIW, the last ride I did on the C&O was on 28's and it was fine.
Of course, I've never been on the Baltimore trail, so I don't know what it's like.

[aicabsolut]

I've ridden some gravel on my race tires, which I hated doing, but I survived with only a bit of fishtailing. I have heard good things about the crushed stone on that trail, but I haven't seen it in person.

B'more streets are crappy (at least when I've driven there!). I'm not sure about routes, but I'd look for ways to get out of town as soon as possible. Aren't there some good roads to ride over near BWI? Where did I see that....?

[aicabsolut]

maybe i'm thinking of this: http://bikewashington.org/routes/bwi/index.htm

[withm]

A friend in the Balt Bike club sent me this one - it looks perfect for a quick ride and I don't even have to drive anywhere which makes it even better. And it's paved - woo hoo!

http://www.gwynnsfallstrail.org/map.cfm

It goes right by the Inner Harbor area.

Now he did not say how crowded it might get, but I'll try it and report back next week.