Wet weather alternates to Avalon?

[wa2be]

Are there any good trails in the Baltimore/DC area that can be ridden when Avalon is a sloppy, muddy mess? I hate to ride out there when it's in bad condition, but I'm not aware of any other trails around here that might drain better.

[bikerRob]

02/12/04>>Sent you an e-mail. Check out the "Daniels area of Patapsco". This is mostly an easy flat ride. Even when wet there's usually not too much mud. I do suggest using a clip on rear fender though. It will be wet and probably still has snow on it. I've included a picture of what the trail looks like in the fall. :cool:

[riderx]

Just prior to the snow, faced with the same dilema, I started searching out fire road rides. They are gravel and hold up in the wet conditions. You can hit one just downstream of Rt. 1 in Elkridge on the Baltimore Co. side of Patapsco river. The route is a cool part of Patapsco most people don't see, going by the two large ponds off 895 (nice little wild life spots). There are two large and deep stream crossings right now, but you can get around them if you are creative. I've taken this as far as Balto. Annap. Blvd. I do it as an out and back from my house and use my fixed gear cyclo-cross to make it more interesting since it's pretty flat overall.

I've spotted some similar routes around Savage, crossing Rt. 1 near Carmax and going past 95. Haven't explored yet, not sure what mileage you can get out of it.

[chunk]

The only places that can sustain any riding during wet conditions like this are Gambril and the ridge top trails in the GW.

Gravel roads are also an option. Lot's exist in Loudoun county west of Leesburg.

[fatoldguy]

OK, I know this may induce fits of apoplexy, but there is always that old stand by: road riding...I have even gone as far as to purchase a road bike (gasp!) and have been riding the hilly roads in and out of the Patapsco River valley. Keep in mind that as I spin one eye is always looking in the woods for clear, dry (semi-dry would do) trail... It has to clear eventually, doesn't it? I tell my single speed every day that I haven't left her for another mount - she doesn't believe me. Sigh. I miss the woods a lot. I have hiked it, run it, snowshoed it, XC ski it - but nothing can compare to riding it...

[bikerRob]

02/13/04>> Fatoldguy wrote: "OK, I know this may induce fits of apoplexy, but there is always that old stand by: road riding"... Yes this is true...if I have to do this I try to link up some good back roads. The closest good backroad rides to me are at least a good hour or so from where I live. Up towards the Fred./ Mont. Co. line there is a nice bit that surrounds the Sugarloaf Mt. area. Some of these roads are hard packed dirt/gravel, others are paved. I much prefer park forest roads that are usually hard pack dirt/gravel. The Frederick watershed has some good forest Roads. The last time I rode Fred.WS Forest roads was about a month and a half ago. Even then I noticed that the surface was a bit tacky and moist. I would imagine it would be quite the same right now. The tackiness makes it a go to head up-hills but it's still rideable and usually not too muddy. You can probably expect some water fly-up from your back wheel when going down hill. At least the scenery in the watershed is nice and that makes everything worth while.>>Meanwhile, for those of us yearning to at least look at some good trails...here's a picture of Cedarville when it's green. :)

[bikerRob]

02/13/04>>>Okay, this is cont. from my last post. One more great place to ride forest roads is up towards Michaux State Forest..( pronounced Me-shoe ) just across the Pennsylania State line. The bad part is it is quite a drive. From Frederick Md. another 45 to 60 minutes. Michaux is approx. 15 miles NW of Gettysburg Pa. I like to start my ride around Long Pine Run Reservior. This a great place to explore with lots of great scenery. It will help if you can find a detailed local map...(wish I had one )>>>I seem to have a problem posting photos. I know they are limited to size (102KB) so I will try again with the last one ( Cedarville St. For.>summer ) If it doesn't get thru, I give up. ;)

[cowboy00242]

I have ridden the roads around Sugarloaf on a cyclocross bike. They are mostly gravel and (really) bad pavement with at least one small stream crossing. I would not recommend an actual "road" bike for those roads. Black Hills has some paved path, plus park roads both paved and gravel (with a big gravel hill to pull if you drop down into the housing development nearby). Again, I would not use an actual road bike on these trails/roads, unless you stay completely on the pavement. The Germantown soccer complex, which is next to Schaeffer Farms, has some paved road/path areas, as well as being near a housing development with slow(er) traffic that can easily be ridden by bikes. Check out the C&O canal trail... most of it is gravel, although it has some soft spots. It tends to dry out pretty fast, but it's also really shaded by trees in most areas, so the snow doesn't melt quickly. I also have enjoyed Rock Creek Trail starting at Lake Needwood near Gaithersburg, and the Georgetown Branch Trail from Silver Spring to Georgetown (both of these trails are paved).