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.

Martin Fernandez 11/3/25 Martin Fernandez 11/3/25

Howison Homestead

Shortly after moving to Prince William County in 2001 I discovered we had a little bit of a gem close to home, the Howison Homestead Soccer Complex.

Martin Fernandez 6/13/25 Martin Fernandez 6/13/25

New Toy - DJI NEO

Playing with a new toy, a short video with my new DJI NEO

Martin Fernandez 4/9/25 Martin Fernandez 4/9/25

iPhone Action Photo Tips

One of my favorite features of the iPhone’s Camera app is the camera’s control slider/button that allows you to capture bursts of photos at 10 frames per second. Learn how to do the same

Martin Fernandez 3/23/25 Martin Fernandez 3/23/25

Where I Ride

This weekend I was tooling around in Photoshop with one of the trail images and it occurred to me that it would be cool to make a stylized version of it and make a “Where I Ride” poster that I could offer people as a download.

Martin Fernandez 9/16/24 Martin Fernandez 9/16/24

Out of This World Locust Shade Rides and Jump Fest

A small gallery of images from the Out of This World Locust Shade Rides and Jump Fest on September 15, 2024

Martin Fernandez 6/2/22 Martin Fernandez 6/2/22

Trail Pics

A handful of pictures from yesterday’s shoot at Locust Shade

Martin Fernandez 11/15/13 Martin Fernandez 11/15/13

Cycling and Shooting (pics)

The advent of digital photography, and the advancement of sensor technology, is making it easier for just about everyone to get high quality imagery with very affordable gear, here are some tips to make your biking and shooting more enjoyable.

Martin Fernandez 6/20/13 Martin Fernandez 6/20/13

Wednesday's at Wakefield

A few shots from yesterday's Wednesdays at Wakefield #W@W races.

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.