What we’re about
The purpose of this group is to give our fellow Maryland bike riders opportunities to:
- explore familiar and new bike trails mostly in MD, and occasionally in DC, VA, DE, PA, NJ and NY.
- socialize and make new friends.
- have fun while exercising.
- travel with a familiar group to participate in day trips and weekend getaways for bikers
- travel with a familiar group to participate in larger bike events such as "Bike Philly"
- volunteer for bike events
- support bike advocate groups such as Bike Maryland and WABA.
Although most participants have been in the over 40+ age range, we welcome bikers of all ages, as well as all skill levels, gender identifications, ethnicities, races, etc.
Most of the events are for casual bicycle riding on scenic trails. We target rail and greenway trails, which are bicycle-friendly trails that tend to parallel old train tracks, canals, and rivers. Since trains did not do well on anything over a 3% grade, these trails are amazingly flat. They go through some beautiful areas and quaint towns, often where food and drink are plentiful.
We avoid streets as much as possible, although some of the trails may include a bike lane or shoulder for a small portion of the ride. Only a small number of routes use roads more than 25% of the time. Any route that is mostly on roads will be titled with "ROAD RIDE " so they can be easily identified.
Although we are mainly interested in "day trips," We also like to schedule at least one overnight each year.
Most rides will have distance options such as 10, 15, 20, etc., that you can choose from. And we'll range between 8 - 15 mph (some of us are slower, some are faster). This will make for a pretty laid-back ride and riders of just about any skill level should be fine. This is not about performance!
Group Fees
At this time there is no event fee or annual group fee. But please consider making a small donation to offset the $300 annual Meetup fee, the $80 annual Ride with GPS fee, and the huge number of hours the organizer's use to research destinations, check for trail construction, parking, writing, answering member questions, etc. in lieu of doing their personal errands.
Volunteer organizers are needed
If you’re in the mood to ride a particular trail and would like to let others join you, let me know and I’ll gladly add your event and put you as the organizer - even if there’s already a bike trip listed the same day. The more the merrier!
What do I need to bring?
Bike details: A proper-fitting bike that has had a maintenance check. Hybrids, mountain bikes, and road bikes (as long as they don't have the ultra-thin tires); the trails tend to be a mixture of asphalt, crushed limestone, and gravel.
Helmet: Required to be worn when seated/riding a bike.
Some other gear that is almost mandatory:
- Water (water bottles or a backpack style hydration system)
- Spare tube: Even if you don't know how to change a flat, someone in the group will be able to do it for you and it's MUCH easier to change a tube than to patch one
- Bike tools (a tire repair and patch kit and spare tube is always a good idea)
- Bike lock (we do stop for food and drink and the bike is not always in view)
- A payment method
- Good attitude (we're fun people!)
Other things to consider:
- Bug spray
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Small first aid kit
- Bike bag to hold everything
- Biking shorts (padded shorts may look strange to the uninitiated, but they sure do the trick)
- In cooler seasons, wear an upper layer that can be removed when you get warmed up.
- Please read our group rules
Please Note
We place limits on the number of riders that can join any single ride. Be aware of this when you join a ride. If you find you won't be able to make the ride, please move yourself from ‘Going’ to ‘Not Going’ ASAP and no later than 24 hours before the event start time to give others the chance to join. If you wait till the day of the event then you’re not giving others the time to take your place. Please don’t RSVP to an event just to add it to your calendar; only RSVP if you truly feel you will make it.
Make sure you get to the Meetup location before start time. Give yourself enough time to get your bike off/out of the car and ready by the start time (at least 15 minutes). Especially in summer, it’s too hot to stand around waiting for late arrivals to get ready. If you’re running late, please message the group on Meetup so we know whether to leave or wait a bit.
Upcoming events
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•OnlineNew PBS Documentary "From Rails to Trails"
Online“From Rails to Trails” is a new documentary by filmmaker Dan Protess that airs on PBS and local networks nationwide beginning Oct. 15, 2025.
This is not an in-person event. An RSVP to this event will only create a reminder for you to watch the show.
The link to the PBS webpage where you can watch it at a convenient time is: From Rails to Trails | PBS
Otherwise, look at your PBS schedule to see when it's live streaming.
- The documentary explores the origins of America’s trails movement, a political movement that emerged from the enthusiasm and passion of citizen activists who sought to protect unused rail corridors to create safe spaces for people to walk, bike and be active outside.
- Rails to Trails Conservancy’s co-founder and executive producer of the film, Peter Harnik, shares insights into the origins of America’s rail-trails, while RTC vice presidents, Liz Thorstensen and Kevin Mills, expand on the complex issues and current realities that the organization and the movement face, including protecting railbanking and addressing the interests of land owners and local residents, as communities nationwide work to create, connect and maintain the country’s trail system.
12 attendees
WABA Fundraiser: Annual Cider Ride (10, 30, or 60-mile route)
Metrobar, 640 Rhode Island Ave NE, Washington , DC, USThis ride is a fundraiser for WABA (Washington Area Bicycle Association), a very active organization that works for the benefit of bikers.
Volunteers are needed - see the second event.
Registration fees support WABA’s work in the DC region and our mission empowering people to ride bikes, build connections and transform places.
- Please note, the routes are subject to change.Final route maps will be released in the week prior to the ride
All details, including maps, can be found on the WABA webpage: 2025 Cider Ride presented by Amazon « Washington Area Bicyclist Association
Ride Information
Saturday, November 1st.
CHOOSE YOUR ROUTE AND REGISTER EARLY…
Honeycrisp Ride (60 miles)
Youth $40, Adult $90
Ride on trails that take you up to the Patuxent Research Refuge and all the way back past Kenilworth Gardens on the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail before winding north through the neighborhood streets of South and Northeast DC.Check-in time: 8:30 AM
Group Start: 9:30 AMMcIntosh Ride (30 miles)
Yourh $40, Adult $75Cruise around Lake Artemesia to College Park and then back down to the Anacostia River Trail, ending with a ride through the neighborhood streets of DC.
Check-in time: 9:30 AM
Group Start: 10:30 AM**Candy Apple Ride (10 miles) **
Yourh $30, Adult $65Explore trails and neighborhood streets with a stop at Bladensburg Waterfront Park.
Check-in time: 10:30 AM
Group Start: 11:00 AM1 attendee
WABA Fundraiser: Annual Cider Ride VOLUNTEER GROUP
Metrobar, 640 Rhode Island Ave NE, Washington , DC, USThis is a WABA fundraiser event.
Ride marshalls and volunteers are needed. I’m hoping some of you will volunteer with us.
()We haven’t decided which type of volunteeringg we will do yet - we will update here soon
See the WABA webpage for more details: 2025 Cider Ride presented by Amazon « Washington Area Bicyclist Association
Ride marshalls are needed for each of the three routes.
Volunteer Roles
A. Pit-stop helper: Proteus Bikes
B. Pit-stop helper: Buddy Attick Lake
C. Pit-stop helper: BladensburgRide marshalls and volunteers are needed.
See the WABA webpage for more details: Volunteer info
Ride marshalls are needed for each of the three routes.
Volunteer Roles
A. Pit-stop helper: Proteus Bikes
B. Pit-stop helper: Buddy Attick Lake
C. Pit-stop helper: Bladensbug Waterfront Park
D. Bike Valet helper: Metrobar
2 attendees
Past events
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