Electric Bicycle - E-Bike Lovers DC - MD - VA - Cycling

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38660175
28 miles. Flat. Plenty of toilet stops. Picnic at Terrapin Nature Park, 10.6 miles into the trail.

This is the very first E-bike Lovers island ride! Specifically, we'll be biking the entirety of the Cross Island trail, which is a paved multi-use trail on Kent Island. The highlight of the ride is Terrapin Nature Park, where we'll take some packed earth trails straight down to the sand beach, which is open to the public, and has an incredible view of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.

Wear shoes that are appropriate for walking in the sand!

Please find the routes listed below...

long version, 28 mi, 400 ft elevation gain, 0.1% sand, ~8% packed earth, ~5% gravel
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38660175

short version, 21 mi, 300 ft elevation gain, 0.1% sand, ~10% packed earth, ~6% gravel:
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38660135

The routes are identical up until the very end, where the longer routes takes an additional loop out through the marshy flatlands in a more remote part of the island. The routes are extremely flat and will be appropriate for any type of bike and will not be taxing on your battery, assuming you walk your bike through the sand. The road to the Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center (our parking location) is a short, well-maintained gravel lane.

Terrapin Nature Park's trails are very easy to ride on, and even a road bike would be fine; however, there is a very short section of the trail that is actually on beach sand! Most bikes will not be able to ride through the sand, but it's easy enough to walk your bike.. the sandy portion of the trail is only about 50 yards. You could technically just turn around before the sandy part, but you would miss the best view of the Bay Bridge, and also... what fun would that be :)

Pack a lunch, as we'll stop somewhere in Terrapin Nature Park for a relaxing break with the sounds of waves gently crashing in the background. Believe it or not, there are multiple port a pots (year round) on Terrapin Beach. Typically, this is not a very busy area.. it truly is a hidden gem.

The Cross Island trail itself is an extremely smooth paved trail with tons of rest rooms along the way. There are a lot of board walks on the trail, and you'll ride over water, past marshes, and through loamy wooded areas.

The parking area is at the Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center, which has a restroom year round. Do consider visiting the environmental center before or after the ride, which is a really fun place all on its own.

You will cross the Chesapeake Bay Bridge on your way to Kent Island, which has a toll, but the tolling is entirely automated now, even if you don't have EZ-Pass.

Terrapin Nature Park:
https://www.qac.org/Facilities/Facility/Details/Terrapin-Nature-Area-97
This award-winning 276-acre nature park features a 3.25-mile oyster chaff walking trail, which meanders through wildflower meadows, wetlands, tidal ponds, woodlands, and sandy shoreline. The trail provides a unique vantage point for viewing an incredible variety of waterfowl, wildlife, and plant species. A gazebo is located along the sandy shoreline afford a spectacular view of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. Park benches located along the trail provides a brief respite for the weary. The trail, which wanders over several bridges, across marshlands and through woodlands, features two observation blinds overlooking the tidal ponds. The trail connects to the County’s Cross Island Trail system. Nearby parking for the Cross Island Trail system is available at Old Love Point Park.

Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center:
https://bayrestoration.org/

Cross Island Trail:
https://www.qac.org/Facilities/Facility/Details/Cross-Island-Trail-134

Chesapeake Bay Bridge:
https://mdta.maryland.gov/Bay-Bridge

The group stops a few times for slower riders to catch up.

For the E-bike Lovers group to be successful, we need to grow our membership carefully. Please feel free to invite other E-bike lovers, spread the word, and let's have fun.

As usual, non-assisted bikers are most welcome.

DISCLAIMER
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY: TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMISSIBLE PURSUANT TO APPLICABLE LAW, NEITHER GREGORY MAASSEN, NATHAN MERRIS, TRIP COORDINATORS, THEIR AFFILIATES, FAMILY AND FORMER AND CURRENT EMPLOYERS NOR ANY OTHER PARTY INVOLVED IN CREATING, PRODUCING, OR DELIVERING E-BIKE LOVERS GUIDES, OUR MEETUP EVENTS, AND THE GPS E-TRAILS IS LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, INDIRECT, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF A USER’S ACCESS TO, OR USE OF THE E-BIKE LOVERS GUIDES, OUR MEETUP EVENTS, AND THE GPS E-TRAILS.

See for the full disclaimer: https://ebikelovers.com/disclaimer

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38660040
33 miles. Picnic is at Lake Elkhorn dam (20.7 miles into the route)
Toilets are in the beginning, middle, and end.
NOTE: GRAVEL AND GRAVEL ON THIS ROUTE

Please find the routes linked below.

Long version, 33 mi, 1700 ft elevation gain, about 90% paved: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38660040

Short version, 25 mi, 1200 ft elevation gain, 100% paved:
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38660087

We'll take a tour around 5 of the largest lakes in the Columbia area using a labyrinthine network of paved multi use trails and neighborhood streets. This is a mostly flat ride, with short uphill and downhill sections throughout.

Highlights of the route include:
- Wilde Lake
- Centennial Lake
- Lake Kittamaqundi
- Sewell's Orchard Pond
- Lake Elkhorn (recommended lunch stop is on the dam)
- Patunxent Branch Trail (long route)

One of the most fun things about this route is that the scenery is constantly changing. It's also fun to explore some of these seldom used trails.. there are a number of places where you'll bike into a cul de sac and think to yourself, 'where do I go from here?', but look closely, and you'll see a little paved trail that will lead you down into the stream valley below.

This trail has more turns than just about any trail we've ever done, and it will be difficult to navigate without a GPS app. That being said, we typically stay in groups, so you can always stick with someone else who has GPS. Occasionally, you will have to hop or walk your bike over a curb: there are about 4 or 5 such instances on this route, and none of them are difficult.

The routes are identical, except the longer route makes an additional trek on the Patunxent Branch Trail from Lake Elkhorn to Savage Park and back. There are some sections of the Patunxent Branch Trail that are gravel.. the surface is similar to the C & O Canal towpath.

There are a few places along the route with restrooms, and at least one commercial center about half way through with a convenience store.

Free Ride With GPS for E-Bike Lovers

The Ride With GPS E-bike Lovers club membership is now free as www.ebikelovers.com generates sufficient income from ads to cover the costs.
Here is the link to activate your free membership:
https://ridewithgps.com/auto_approve/Club/6746/Zwa5jhttF5mJrFbN
More information about using GPS files:
https://ebikelovers.com/2021/03/15/download-our-trails-and-never-get-lost/
More information about e-bike ranges:
https://ebikelovers.com/2020/12/31/e-bike-longer-and-happier-15-smart-strategies-to-reduce-your-e-bike-range-anxiety/

Howard County Parks and Rec:
https://www.howardcountymd.gov/rap

A NOTE ABOUT RIDING ON GRAVEL ROADS (long route):
If you are riding a new bike, are new to biking generally, or have little experience on gravel roads, you should plan on taking your time. Please understand that gravel roads must be respected and navigated with an extra level of care, or you can seriously injure yourself. The key is to just take your time. We are never in a hurry, and you should go at a pace you are comfortable with.

The group stops a few times for slower riders to catch up.
For the E-bike Lovers group to be successful, we need to grow our membership carefully. Please feel free to invite other E-bike lovers, spread the word, and let's have fun.

As usual, non-assisted bikers are most welcome.

DISCLAIMER
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY: TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMISSIBLE PURSUANT TO APPLICABLE LAW, NEITHER GREGORY MAASSEN, NATHAN MERRIS, TRIP COORDINATORS, THEIR AFFILIATES, FAMILY AND FORMER AND CURRENT EMPLOYERS NOR ANY OTHER PARTY INVOLVED IN CREATING, PRODUCING, OR DELIVERING E-BIKE LOVERS GUIDES, OUR MEETUP EVENTS, AND THE GPS E-TRAILS IS LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, INDIRECT, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF A USER’S ACCESS TO, OR USE OF THE E-BIKE LOVERS GUIDES, OUR MEETUP EVENTS, AND THE GPS E-TRAILS.

See for the full disclaimer: https://ebikelovers.com/disclaimer

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/41482180
34.1 miles. Picnic on the Lovettsville Green (17.7 miles onto the route)
Toilets at the beginning, middle and end.

FYI: membership of the Ride With GPS E-bike Lovers club is now for free as www.ebikelovers.com is generating sufficient income from ads to cover the costs.

You DO NOT need a RidewithGPS subscription to use our GPS trails with turn-by-turn directions. Here is the link to activate your free membership:

https://ridewithgps.com/auto_approve/Club/6746/Zwa5jhttF5mJrFbN

This 34-mile ride is roughly 60% gravel roads, and it covers some stunningly beautiful country that will make you think you are in a J.R.R. Tolkien novel. Road bikes with super skinny tires will not be appropriate for this ride; that being said, any other tire should be fine.

This ride was scouted on a loaded steel frame cargo bike with 1.75" cyclocross tires, which was completely fine. The key to navigating gravel roads is to take your time, which you will want to do anyway, as you take in the scenery. We are not a speedy group, so this will not be a problem! We wait at intersections for slower riders to catch up, so there will be no pressure to go any faster than you are comfortable.

We arrive at 10 AM and leave at 10:15 AM. The group stops a few times for slower riders to catch up, and we typically average 12 - 15 mph, or slower depending on the terrain.

Mile 0 to 11: Rust Library to Taylorstown. We'll exit Leesburg and enjoy some shaded gravel roads as we make our way to Waterford, VA. We'll sneak past Waterford onto Loyalty Rd, which is a paved road that has many picturesque pastoral scenes. We arrive in Taylorstown, where we can take a quick break before our next leg of the journey.

Mile 11 to 17.5: Taylorstown to Lovettsville. We'll hop back on some gravel roads where we'll bike next to Catoctin Creek, and at some points you may think "How did I end up in the middle of this old farmstead?", but of course we'll be on public roads the whole time. We'll arrive in Lovettsville the back way, where we'll have our lunch break. We'll go directly by a 711, where there are restrooms. There are a number of other places to grab food in Lovettsville, all of which are in view of the suggested lunch stop. If there's any interest, we might stop at Backstreet Brews on our way out, where they have coffee, tea, ice cream, and outdoor seating that is bike friendly.

Mile 17.5 to 27: Lovettsville to Waterford. We'll traverse a mix of gravel roads and paved roads on our way back to Waterford, VA. Waterford is a little historic town that was one of the only towns in VA to be anti-slavery during the Civil War. It's a neat place because the town long ago decided to maintain it's historical look and feel, so expect to ride past old stone houses that were built eons ago. 64% of Waterford's 97 homes were built before 1861. There are a couple wineries around Waterford, so if there's interest, we might check one out.

Mile 27 to 34: Waterford to Leesburg. We'll head back to the parking area on the same gravel roads we started on.

Further reading:

Historic Waterford: https://www.waterfordvillage.org/

Loudoun's gravel roads: https://americasroutes.com/road-list-map/

DISCLAIMER

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY: TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMISSIBLE PURSUANT TO APPLICABLE LAW, NEITHER GREGORY MAASSEN, RICHARD CAMER, TRIP COORDINATORS, THEIR AFFILIATES, FAMILY AND FORMER AND CURRENT EMPLOYERS NOR ANY OTHER PARTY INVOLVED IN CREATING, PRODUCING, OR DELIVERING E-BIKE LOVERS GUIDES, OUR MEETUP EVENTS, AND THE GPS E-TRAILS IS LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, INDIRECT, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF A USER’S ACCESS TO, OR USE OF THE E-BIKE LOVERS GUIDES, OUR MEETUP EVENTS, AND THE GPS E-TRAILS.

See for full disclaimer: https://ebikelovers.com/disclaimer

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/34720080
35 miles - Picnic spot is at Roddy Road Covered Bridge (20.7 miles into the ride). Plenty of toilets along the route.

This trail is 35 miles in some hilly terrain. Please charge your batteries.

Download the trail here: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/34720080

If you want to bike a shorter version (24 miles), download this trail: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/34720079

We arrive at 10:00 and leave at 10:15 AM. The meeting place is at the tennis courts.

The group stops a few times for slower riders to catch up. The distance will be 35 miles or shorter any time you are fully satisfied with biking for the day.

Our bikes will always be in our sight. No additional locks are required to keep your bike safe on this trip.

FYI: membership of the Ride With GPS E-bike Lovers club is now free as www.ebikelovers.com is generating sufficient income from ads to cover the costs.

Here is the link to activate your free membership:
https://ridewithgps.com/auto_approve/Club/6746/Zwa5jhttF5mJrFbN

The group stops a few times for slower riders to catch up.

For the E-bike Lovers group to be successful, we need to grow our membership carefully. Please feel free to invite other E-bike lovers, spread the word, and let's have fun.

As usual, non-assisted bikers are most welcome.

DISCLAIMER

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY: TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMISSIBLE PURSUANT TO APPLICABLE LAW, NEITHER GREGORY MAASSEN, NATHAN MERRIS, RICHARD CAMER, TRIP COORDINATORS, THEIR AFFILIATES, FAMILY AND FORMER AND CURRENT EMPLOYERS NOR ANY OTHER PARTY INVOLVED IN CREATING, PRODUCING, OR DELIVERING E-BIKE LOVERS GUIDES, OUR MEETUP EVENTS, AND THE GPS E-TRAILS IS LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, INDIRECT, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF A USER’S ACCESS TO, OR USE OF THE E-BIKE LOVERS GUIDES, OUR MEETUP EVENTS, AND THE GPS E-TRAILS.

See for the full disclaimer: https://ebikelovers.com/disclaimer