Places to ride outside of DC Metro?

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  • April 29, 2012 at 1:54 pm #911286
    MCL1981
    Participant

    So I just bought this $400 platform articulating super-hitch-rack for my truck. I think it also doubles as a land mine sweeper. Now I need to justify it’s purchase by using it. I’m looking for places to ride that are within an hour of home (Bethesda). The kind of place I can do a loop type of ride at, since I will need begin and end at my truck. Suggestions?

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  • April 29, 2012 at 6:52 pm #939895
    SilverSpring
    Participant

    Matt,

    If you haven’t already tried it, the BWI Airport loop is pretty neat. It’s 40 minutes or so from Silver Spring (so a touch longer from where you are, perhaps) with at least a couple of places for parking. The loop itself is 12 miles and runs around runways (so like Gravelly Point), through a sculpture garden (so like Storm King), and by horses (so like Middleburg). It’s a fun ride. Plus, it’s the terminus of the WB&A (or is it W&BA) trail that goes most of the way to Annapolis (although I haven’t been on that yet).

    April 29, 2012 at 7:52 pm #939896
    TwoWheelsDC
    Participant

    I like the Poolesville loop. Hardly any traffic, decent hills, and great scenery. You can actually ride out there from DC, but it’s like a century ride to do it round trip, so I drive up there and park at the high school. http://bikewashington.org/ has lots of other routes with maps and cue sheets, so it’s a great resource.

    April 29, 2012 at 9:02 pm #939897
    off2ride
    Participant

    http://www.ridewithgps.com
    http://www.mapmyride.com
    http://www.garminconnect.com

    Type in the keyword of the ride and the location and badabing!!!

    April 30, 2012 at 2:32 pm #939907
    Dirt
    Participant

    Potomac Pedalers has arguably the best catalog of cue sheets in the area. Take a few minutes to drop some into RideWithGPS.com, drop them to your Garmin and go! Printing cue sheets old school style works too. Rides can be accessed by starting location. Loudoun County High School, Marshall Park and Ride, Thurmont, Poolsville and many, many more provide great starting points for rides and there are many loops available at each of these places.

    You have to join to see the cue sheets, but in my view the money is well spent. Their cue sheets are the only reason I stay a member.

    Pete

    May 11, 2012 at 9:32 am #940423
    PotomacCyclist
    Participant

    @TwoWheelsDC 18872 wrote:

    I like the Poolesville loop. Hardly any traffic, decent hills, and great scenery. You can actually ride out there from DC, but it’s like a century ride to do it round trip, so I drive up there and park at the high school. http://bikewashington.org/ has lots of other routes with maps and cue sheets, so it’s a great resource.

    BikeWashington can be a useful intro to cycling in the DC area. But the site hasn’t been updated in at least a few years. Some newer trails, bike lanes and connectors do not appear in the recommended routes.

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