The Baltimore ridin' dirty thread

There seemed to be enough interest in some dirt road oriented rides in the Baltimore area, so I'm starting this thread.

What I'm hoping happens here is that locals can post ride routes that include at least some dirt and we can plan/organize rides. Anyone is welcome to suggest a route or lead a ride, just remember it should include some dirt roads or at least some out of the way places.



I'll start. Here is a route I have been wanting to do for some time. Its 70/30 paved to dirt and is big bike friendly. I have ridden about 75% of it in order to do some scouting and planning. There are 3 WATER CROSSINGS, but all 3 have concrete slabs under the water, so you'll be fine on a street bike with decent tires... but you're going to get dirty.

"A" is my proposed meeting point, its a park and ride. "B" is Loch Raven Reservoir, you find your way home from there. There is parking along the road at "B", in case we want to stop and talk about how epic our ride was before everyone heads home.

https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=...9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22&z=13

I'm booked solid for the next 3 weeks, but would be happy to lead this ride sometime late April or early May. If you want to join, post up and we'll pick a day and time. I'm up for changing the meeting spot, to find a place convenient for everyone.

I'm looking forward to riding and meeting some fellow Bmore riders.

In all sincerity, you might want to rethink that beltway leg, and have the trip loop back to the starting point. Long Green to Manor to Monkton for example.

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and you cant ride through North Bel Air and not hit Grier Nursery RD.

Riding back to Monkton would be more fun, you're right 695 isn't great.

I was kinda thinking that the ride would end at Loch Raven Reservoir, and everyone would find their way home from there, so the beltway bit is really only included on the map for my benefit, since I live downtown.

*map is edited*

I've never been on that road, tell us a bit about it.

Its a winedy road through a nicely wooded area with so sweepers and some tight turns. Its right off RT 24 going north past Forrest Hill.

I used to live on Osborne pkwy.

Enjoy.

PS> You should also check out rock state park. Some fun roads in there as well.

Subscribed.

in.

Having a ride start and stop at the same place makes it more likely folk who would truck/trailer their ride in would come. May not be an important thing at all.

Having it start and stop at places that can handle the group, and have food/drink readily available can bring more people into a ride. Along those lines, might want to think about a lunch stop place, as well gas.

There's a cute bridge and some pretty roads up around Forest Hill and Rocks State Park. Even a tiny little suspension bridge. Been a while since I've been there, but some others might be able to hold modify the route for it.

Just added an enduro to the garage....

I'm IN!

Great shot of ya!!! ^^

SJ, I think you need to throw down some dates & routes, amigo! Looks like you got some traction.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone!

I'm hoping this is a continuing thing, so this ride doesn't have to cover every cool place near Bmore. I'm hoping we can organize a bunch of dirt-oriented Bmore rides this season!


New route, including some suggestions from this thread:
"A" is now start and "C" is stop, they are the same place. "B" could be our lunch break, its Conawingo Pizza. I have never been, but I have heard good things as far as little pizza joints go. There is also a Royal farms next door, so it can be our gas stop too:

https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Unknown+road&daddr=39.6235642,-76.6141129+to:39.6495453,-76.5825803+to:39.6806387,-76.5485432+to:39.7370702,-76.5275511+to:39.7485253,-76.5161125+to:39.7784927,-76.4779327+to:39.798873,-76.4758282+to:39.8201499,-76.4522122+to:39.8471316,-76.4428271+to:39.8739631,-76.393581+to:39.859029,-76.381294+to:39.8270163,-76.3808792+to:39.8211341,-76.359506+to:39.8038617,-76.2489255+to:39.763781,-76.226428+to:39.7572983,-76.2073123+to:39.7329003,-76.1812001+to:39.7226893,-76.1249747+to:MD-222+S%2FU.S.+1+S%2FUS-222+S%2FConowingo+Rd+to:39.613718,-76.2029+to:39.6086278,-76.2254463+to:39.5938172,-76.2911739+to:39.5957238,-76.3102252+to:MD-137+W%2FMt+Carmel+Rd&hl=en&ll=39.606217,-76.431885&spn=0.429566,0.543823&sll=39.572616,-76.630154&sspn=0.107444,0.135956&geocode=FdQiXAIdWQtu-w%3BFYybXAIdIPZu-ymHzjmNjXHIiTEneHaUdLtnmg%3BFQkBXQIdTHFv-ylBQThPHXHIiTGplXqhYSTj2A%3BFX56XQIdQfZv-ymXr1PHrHDIiTGo_DoD9bpOtw%3BFe5WXgIdQUhw-yk3WGf-bXnIiTEoub7V2QX5NA%3BFa2DXgId8HRw-ykxTBthO3nIiTEuVReIHQ0elA%3BFbz4XgIdFApx-ykXHEx1QH_IiTHN-VWeMngVrg%3BFVlIXwIdTBJx-ylrlvHFn3_IiTFOka7YewLCqg%3BFXWbXwIdjG5x-ymLU6cmXtXHiTE7jeV--OysqQ%3BFdsEYAIdNZNx-yn5ErZ7sCrGiTHYSjc38DcelA%3BFattYAIdk1Ny-ymROFbdpivGiTFPAyFZcnXDHQ%3BFVUzYAIdkoNy-ykTy5EIbivGiTG3a3wZV53L4Q%3BFUi2XwIdMYVy-ymBub-ptNTHiTFfzgc4uO82Vg%3BFU6fXwIdrthy-yn3YkiDVtPHiTGbAbeBEJwFbQ%3BFdVbXwIdo4h0-yknlXBmNs3HiTFW9iIP5PJDHQ%3BFUW_XgIdhOB0-ynJph9DrM3HiTHWKoTFhWNlSg%3BFfKlXgIdMCt1-ymRx3xrTszHiTH5MHeGx4c0Bg%3BFaRGXgIdMJF1-ynpMZ5LBszHiTFfEryqNP8j_w%3BFcEeXgId0mx2-yk5cLaGh8nHiTHRh0EYIwqolg%3BFd9pXQIdH9t1-w%3BFRZ1XAIdbDx1-ynBGwBzt8XHiTHkZnyjnB8uNA%3BFTNhXAIdWuR0-ykZOPsvAMXHiTHkEfON_Kh72Q%3BFVknXAIdm-Nz-ymPCxfwQNvHiTFIhI5q9RWJUQ%3BFcsuXAIdL5lz-ymxv7Rtc9vHiTFpbUOrn2Ujhw%3BFckgXAIdbgxu-w&t=h&mra=dme&mrsp=24&sz=13&via=1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,20,21,22,23&z=11

Do folks like this route better?? It still hits all the cool places I wanted to go, but includes pizza and the same start and stop, for people who might be trailering in.

Tentative dates: April 26 or 27. Which works for everyone?

In summary:
1) April 26 or 27?
2) Lunch stop for Pizza? yes or no? If we meet around 10 am, then lunch would be around 1 pm.

lets make this happen!

27th!

I say pizza! Though Royal Farm chicken is good... and they have seating at that Royal Farm.

Gas at that Royal Farm too, which makes the general area a good stop/break/refuel/lunch spot.

I like the pace, it's leisurely and fun. Frantic or exhausting rides aren't often repeated.

Either date works for me. Be aware you've chosen the weekend of Spring Carlisle. There's also a Harley swap meet that Sunday. There's always a conflict with any date.

Route looks fine and fun. Might even try it on my venerable Road King :huh just to awe some.

Subscribed!

for April 27, we have 3 confirmed so far: Me, Chisenhallw, and Foxtrapper.

That's enough for me to say the ride is a GO for the 27th. The more the merrier though.

If you want, I can send out GPX files of the route so we can take turns leading. Or, I can lead the whole time.

If I'm home and not working that weekend, I'd like to go too!


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