Cycling Stories, Ride Reports & Route Notes
Stories from rides, routes, and places explored by bike.
This blog documents cycling experiences from the road, trail, and everything in between. Posts here include ride reports, route observations, and stories from rides that help shape Best Rides DC guides and recommendations.
While some posts focus on specific routes or conditions, others capture the broader experience of riding — the places, people, and moments that make cycling meaningful beyond the map.
How to Use This Page
Use the filters below to explore posts by ride type, location, or topic. Many posts link directly to routes or places documented elsewhere on the site.
Destination: Davis, WV
Davis, WV and Canaan Valley have been a regional destination for decades. The challenging trails in this regional destination never fail to disappoint.
Destination: Roanoke
The geographical location of Roanoke makes it one of the most unique cities in the Old Dominion.
Destination: Richmond
When I started work on the revised edition of Mountain Biking Virginia around 2015/16, there was a lot of work going on in Richmond to revitalize the James River Park Trail System and to improve the trails at Pocahontas State Park just southwest of the city.
Destination: Frederick
In the first installment of regional destinations I wrote about Harrisonburg, VA, this time around, we’ll hop over to Maryland and visit the city of Frederick.
Progressive Mountain Biking: Redeux
Advice on which trails to hit, and in what order, if you are a new mountain biker in the Washington DC region.
Locust Shade
In early May of 2016 Ryan Delany, then Prince William County Parks and Recreation Trail Manager, reached out to Martín Fernández, of the Mid-Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiasts, about the possibility of leading an effort to revitalize the existing legacy trail system at Locust Shade Park in Triangle, Virginia.
Progressive Mountain Biking: Local trails, from easy to hard
To ensure that you enjoy your first mountain bike to the fullest I’ve put together a list of regional trails and some information to help you get the most out of your new investment and understand where the trails you will be enjoying came from. That will help ensure the destinations you visit remain available for your enjoyment for years to come.
Getting Ready for the MoCo Epic
Tips for getting ready and riding the MoCo Epic or any other long distance bike ride like the Tour deFall Line or Patapsco 50k
20 years of Mountain Biking the Washington D.C./Baltimore Area
It’s hard to believe that we’re coming up on the 20th anniversary of my first book, Mountain Biking the Washington, D.C./Baltimore Area.
How These Stories Connect
Many of the rides and places discussed here are also referenced on the Where to Ride page and inform the route research behind Best Rides DC cycling guides.
Routes Referenced in Recent Ride Stories
The Ride With GPS interactive map below highlights routes that are referenced throughout recent ride reports and cycling stories on this page. Visitors can zoom in, explore different areas, and select individual routes to view additional details directly in Ride With GPS.
Some routes shown here are documented in Best Rides DC cycling guides, while others represent rides that are still being explored or shared informally through ride reports. Together, they provide additional context for the places, conditions, and experiences described in the stories above.
This map is provided as a reference to help connect ride stories to real-world routes, not as a complete or exhaustive catalog.map below highlights routes that are referenced throughout recent ride reports and cycling stories on this page. Visitors can zoom in, explore different areas, and select individual routes to view additional details directly in Ride With GPS.
Some routes shown here are documented in Best Rides DC cycling guides, while others represent rides that are still being explored or shared informally through ride reports. Together, they provide additional context for the places, conditions, and experiences described in the stories above.
This map is provided as a reference to help connect ride stories to real-world routes, not as a complete or exhaustive catalog.