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.
Where to Ride
Hard to believe that we’re into Spring 2025 and riding season is well under way! I hope that you are having the opportunity to enjoy the great weather we have been having.
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.
Destination: Harrisonburg
With the riding season starting to really kick into gear I figured I’d share five of my favorite destinations within a 2-3 hour drive of the DC Metro area over the course of the next few weeks. Here’s my first pick, Harrisonburg!
Revisiting Carvins Cove
It has been a little over seven years since I last visited Carvins Cove. The last time around I was working on Mountain Biking Virginia and my buddy Mark H. and I rode some of the tougher trails along this classic Blue Ridge destination.
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
My “NICA Why”
A first-person account of the growth and impact of the Maryland Interscholastic Cycling League, exploring youth development, community building, and the role of mountain biking in shaping young riders’ lives.
Route Library: Where to Ride
Introducing the new Where to Ride section of BestRidesDC.com and a new curated route library on Ride With GPS.
The Southern Traverse
Several friends and I spent this past Saturday tackling the Southern Traverse, an IMBA Epic ride along the southern spine of the Shenandoah Mountain Trail.
2023 MoCo Epic
Great weather, amazing trails, and awesome riding buddies. The 2023 MoCo Epic did not disappoint.
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.
Frayed Cable
Day one of our riding adventure at the Allegrippis Trail System at Raystown Lake.
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.
The Story of Martin
I was fortunate to have video guru Drew Geraci of District 7 Media put together this short profile of me. In it I talk about my books and my passion for riding trails.
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
Angry Mountain Biker
I spent the evening with Will Niccolls, host of the Angry Mountain Biker, to talk about mountain biking in the Washington DC, Maryland and Baltimore regions
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.