Rails, Trails, and Ales Bicycling

Are you looking to do some casual bicycle riding on scenic trails in the MD, DC, VA, DE, and PA area? Do you look at a bicycle ride as more of a social event that includes exercise rather than the other way around? If so, this group is for you.

We tend to 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.

To summarize: this is not a cardio ride, we'll ride for enjoyment, socializing, and a nice food establishment at the halfway point or endpoint.

Although we are mainly interested in "day trips," We would also like to schedule at least one overnight each year.

Most rides will be about a 20-miles round trip 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!

You cannot be too old to join this group. We are all about enjoyable bike rides in scenic locations. Stop, take pictures, socialize, smell the roses on the way.

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: Hybrid tires, 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 work when seated/riding a bike.

Some other gear that is almost mandatory:

• Mask (still sometimes required for entering establishments, optional for riding)
• 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)
• Please read our group rules

Please Note
We place limits on the number of riders that can join any single ride. Please be aware of this when you join a ride. If you find you will not be able to make the ride, please move yourself from ‘Going’ to ‘Not Going’ as soon as possible 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.

The start time of each ride is the time we expect to hit the trail. Please 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.