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 10/16/25 Martin Fernandez 10/16/25

5 of the best mountain bike trails in Virginia

Five of the best MTB Trails in Virginia

Martin Fernandez 6/15/25 Martin Fernandez 6/15/25

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.

Martin Fernandez 6/1/25 Martin Fernandez 6/1/25

Destination: Roanoke

The geographical location of Roanoke makes it one of the most unique cities in the Old Dominion.

Martin Fernandez 4/15/25 Martin Fernandez 4/15/25

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.

Martin Fernandez 3/31/25 Martin Fernandez 3/31/25

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.

Martin Fernandez 12/29/23 Martin Fernandez 12/29/23

Looking back on 2023, forward to 2024

Personally, 2023 was a good year. Like any other, it had its ups and downs, but overall, most of the habits and patterns I developed are worth repeating.

Martin Fernandez 10/3/23 Martin Fernandez 10/3/23

Pelicanos

I spent a few days down in Lima visiting family and managed to escape for a day of riding south of the city along a new destination, Pelicanos

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.