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.
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.
Don't be afraid of the dark...
A practical guide to riding bikes safely at night, covering lighting systems, visibility, and tips for road and trail riding in cold, dark conditions.
Winter is Coming…
An updated guide to winter cycling, covering layering systems, cold-weather gear, and practical tips for staying warm and riding safely in frigid conditions.
Little Bellas
The Little Bellas Camp is more than just about riding, their focus is not to churn out little racers; instead, the program is aimed at showing girls 7-14 the importance of living a healthy lifestyle, goal-setting, and building teamwork. All of it using mountain biking as the "fun" vehicle to build strong bonds with each other. Their hope is to ensure that the girls remain with the sport beyond their teenage years.
Ten Days (riding) in Perú:
I wrote this a little over two years after a few friends and I visited Peru. I’m Revisiting and sharing it here in anticipation of an upcoming trip back to the Sacred Valley.
Bryce: Lift Assisted - Road Complimented
D.C. Area cyclists are lucky to have a new and challenging venue where to test and hone their downhill mountain biking skills. Bryce Resort in Basye, VA (just over 100 miles from Northern Virginia) recently opened and is continuing to expand a network of lift-assisted mountain bike trails that offer runs for both beginner and expert riders.
Danger Panda! Riding for World Bicycle Relief
A profile of Pete Beers and his ride in the Dirty Kanza 200 in support of World Bicycle Relief, celebrating endurance, joy, and community.
20 years of Mountain Biking the Washington D.C./Baltimore Area
It’s hard to believe that we’re coming up on the 20th anniversary of my first book, Mountain Biking the Washington, D.C./Baltimore Area.
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays!
I'm gearing up for 2013 and hoping that the new book hits the shelves in the spring so that it is ready for you when you are ready to hit the trails. I've been quiet the past few weeks since submitting the manuscript, but that does not mean I have not been busy.
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.