Looking for an easy 25 mile ride in DC Metro area

[DismalScientist]

@KS1G 64087 wrote:

A more ambitious loop (overkill for the 50 miler) would be W&OD to Leesburg, Rt 15 (briefly) and White’s Ferry Rd, take ferry across, ice cream & snacks at general store, than back via C&O. Adjust start and end points for mileage if someone can provide transportation.

Good luck!

I would go the other way around. You will want the faster riding at the end.

[mstone]

@DismalScientist 64097 wrote:

I would go the other way around. You will want the faster riding at the end.

For someone not used to distance riding, the W&OD overpasses, those two weird dips toward Reston, and the long false flat into Vienna would probably not be the best way to wind down a 50 mile ride. Let alone Arlington if you’re heading all the way back to the city. The W&OD is generally downhill from purcellville, but it’s not a particularly smooth grade for a railroad (largely because of places where the trail doesn’t follow the original ROW).

[CPTJohnC]

@Tim Kelley 64049 wrote:

Does it have to be on trail? And on just one trail? How is the distance/time measured?

Time is total time, not ‘moving’ time – so within 8 hours, need to pedal 50 miles, including all stops (at least, that’s my understanding.) Not necessarily on one trail, but one continuous ride (so no hopping in the car to get from one place to another. Reasonable road sections connecting two trails would be fine).

@TwoWheelsDC 64054 wrote:

Would laps around Hains Point work?

Only if I want him to hate cycling forever more. 50 miles of tiny laps is, well, dull.

@CaseyKane50 64060 wrote:

I think you might be referring to the Baltimore and Anapolis Trail. My wife and I did the ride earlier this summer. It is nicely shaded, the riders on the trail were very polite, calling out passes and slowing down when passing. It is relatively flat with just a few short climbs. Park headquarters has restrooms and there are places to eat along the way. There is an easy connection to the BWI trail. The trail is 13.3 miles in length.

The B and A trail was recommended to me for other reasons, and if there’s an easy connection to BWI, that might make it ideal. Another plus is that my oldest goes to college in Annapolis, so we could probably make time for a visit with her, too.

[CPTJohnC]

@eminva 64064 wrote:

I just shepherded 15 scouts to completion of the Cycling Merit badge this summer. Here are my recommendations:

-Indian Head Rail Trail — flat and quiet, lovely scenery. It is only 13 miles so you’d have to do a couple of loops.

-The Torrey C. Brown & Heritage Trails — these trails together are about 40 miles, so you could go 25 out and back. We found them much quieter than the W&OD, Mount Vernon and other local trails.

-W&OD from Purcellville to Four Mile Run Trail to Mount Vernon Trail (whatever distance you need to get to 50 miles) — yes, there are some uphill sections, but net downhill (this requires someone to do drop off and pick up).

-I wouldn’t rule out the C&O; we had 14 scouts and eight adults ride 54.2 miles on the C&O from Brunswick to DC in 7 hours, 37 minutes elapsed time (5 hours, 22 minutes moving time per Strava) on the fourth day of our C&O Trip. That was the leg we used for the 50-miler for the badge.

Is this just for you and your son, or a whole group of scouts? If the former, where are those other boys?!

Let me know if you need blue cards signed.

Liz: You are a font of knowledge! I am unclear on what happened with the other boys who were working on the badge – the gentleman who was coordinating for our troop essentially told me that at this point, it would be easiest if Max and I just found a way to complete this (his final requirement) on our own, and he would ‘trust me’ — he knows my penchant for cycling and technology, so I think he figures I won’t cheat. My plan was to offer the ride to any other scouts who might want to participate, contingent on getting at least one other adult.

I’m not ruling out C&O, but I would need to figure out how to start in a place that bypasses all the screwed up crossings, or determine that they’re all fixed. We wound up walking the bikes up and over several bridges — it might not really be a big deal if it was a smaller group of us, but the first trip we had 25+ scouts and adults, with a trailer, and it just took FOREVER! to get through those areas. Thanks for confirming that Cross County and FX County Pkwy are out. I was half thinking about just riding down 123 to Occoquan and back (or from Occoquan up to FX and back to put the hills on the right side of the ride) early some Saturday morning despite the relative hilliness, but I don’t think he’d enjoy it.

[CPTJohnC]

@KayakCyndi 64065 wrote:

Ok. This ride is NOT 1 hour from DC but well worth the drive in my opinion.

Go camp at Chickahominy River Front Park in Williamsburg VA. From there bike the Greensprings trail to Jamestown Island, loop the Island. Then ride along the Colonial Parkway to Colonial Williamsburg. Have Lunch. Keep riding out the Colonial Parkway until you hit the mileage you need (it goes on to Yorktown). Then turn around and ride back to Chickahomiy.

Very few hills on the Colonial Parkway although few small ones near Williamsburg. While it is a road it is a “colonial” and touristy road with very few cars and most travel slowly. Ride hybrids or road bikes with big tires the Parkway is bumpy pavement. Lots of stuff to look at along the way.

PM me if you are interested and need details/routes etc.

Good thought! I’ve ridden colonial parkway a couple of times so I know what you mean about the surface, but other than that it is a perfect ride for this! My other daughter goes to college in Newport News, so that might be a justification for the trip to tidewater.

@mstone 64100 wrote:

For someone not used to distance riding, the W&OD overpasses, those two weird dips toward Reston, and the long false flat into Vienna would probably not be the best way to wind down a 50 mile ride. Let alone Arlington if you’re heading all the way back to the city. The W&OD is generally downhill from purcellville, but it’s not a particularly smooth grade for a railroad (largely because of places where the trail doesn’t follow the original ROW).

Those are actually things he’s done, but they are also the reasons I’m trying to avoid too much in the way of climbing. He does not love the ‘big’ (for him) hills heading out of Vienna into Reston. The false flat doesn’t bother him so much, though. I think it is the look of hilliness that bugs him, not the actual climbing.

Thanks again to all that responded. I will be looking at all the advice and seeing what works. I may use some of the shorter suggestions for some additional prep rides.

[Mikey]

Another nice ride is the North Central Railtrail/York Heritage trail between York PA and just North of Baltimore. It’s flat, with nice scenery and has enough trailside towns with icecream and food along the way. You could easily get 50 miles in an out and back.

[CPTJohnC]

@Mikey 64201 wrote:

Another nice ride is the North Central Railtrail/York Heritage trail between York PA and just North of Baltimore. It’s flat, with nice scenery and has enough trailside towns with icecream and food along the way. You could easily get 50 miles in an out and back.

thanks! That also sounds like a good option!

[mello yello]

Not your 25 mile ride, but…
A nice half-day ride that is close, flat, (mostly) newly paved, and relatively less crowded than comparable trails in N.Va is the Anacostia Riverwalk trail system loop from S. Capitol St. Bridge to Benning Road Bridge. I like adding Kingman Island for some gravel, and it adds a mile for a 10-mile loop.

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6092821

Once they complete the trail through the Aquatic Gardens you can connect up with the rest of the Anacostia Tributary trail system / NW Branch trail, which would be a great all trail loop with very few roads / crossings.

[Greenbelt]

This is my favorite loop for 20-25 miles. There are lots of alternative start/end points (Greenbelt Metro, Ivy Lane parking lots, Old Greenbelt Center).
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/896301

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