B & A Trail: Glen Burnie down to Annapolis

**Check back to see if the date or start time has changed. This ride will be postponed (possibly replaced with another ride) if the chance of rain is above 49%, or wind speed or wind gusts are above 15 mph (per Accuweather) **

Train or Bus Options - ?

PARKING
Park in Sawmill Creek Park. Plan to arrive by 9:15 so you have time to ready your bike and gear by 9:30. If the parking lot is full, you may need to park on the street or at the adjacent activity center.

MEETUP SPOT
Meet near (or in) the pavilion, which is adjacent to a paved connector trail, at 9:15-9:30. After check-in, we’ll do an ice-breaker question. We’ll bike north easterly on the connector trail for about a mile. Then we'll turn right onto the B&A trail. If you’re running late, post your ETA in the event comment section and try to catch up at one of our regroup spots.

BIKE ROUTE SUMMARY
This route starts in Glen Burnie (mile 13.3) and goes south towards mile 0 in Annapolis. The organizers will stop approximately every 2 miles to regroup for a couple of minutes. Faster riders are welcome to go ahead, and we can meet up at the Earleigh Ranger Station for a decent social break around the picnic tables and then again at Big Bean Café (pictured at the top) and mile 0.

SKILL LEVEL: All skill levels can enjoy this trail. It is mostly flat and well paved.
PACE
It's up to you. Most of us are casual riders. Some of us like to get a cardio workout. Since paved trails can sometimes be crowded, we don't have expectations of being able to go very fast.

DISTANCE OPTIONS
Participants can choose to return at any point. These are just suggestions:

OPTION A: Bike ~5.1 miles south through the Planet Walk sculptures (covers a 4.7 mile segment) and then return. This segment of the trail features two sculptures and 10 information stations representing the sun and the planets of the solar system, with each planet’s station spaced at its proportional distance from the sun. Here's the approximate miles to bike to each one from the northern end:

• 0.4 miles: Sun
• .4 - 1.0 miles: The inner planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth & Mars).
• 1.5 miles: Jupiter
• 1.75 miles: Saturn
• 2.75 miles: Uranus and Neptune.

MILE POST 10 (~3.3 miles south) The Big Bean Cafe. *First optional regroup here. Last optional regroup on the return*

• 3.5 miles: Neptune
• 5.1 miles: Pluto *OPTION A turnaround point*

MILE POST 7 (~6.3 miles south): *OPTION B turnaround point. And second optional regroup and social break here at the picnic tables

• *Earleigh Heights Ranger Station (mustard yellow color)

• Built in 1889 as a general store, the building style is an example of Second Empire-style commercial architecture and was popular throughout the country between 1850 and 1885. While formerly it served as a train station, store and post office, it now serves as the ranger station and railroad museum. Bathrooms & fountains are outside. Museum and ranger station are inside.

MILE POST 3 (10.3 miles south) *OPTION C turnaround point*

MILE POST 0 (13.3 miles south): *OPTION D turnaround point with optional social break* [The organizers plan to do this option. They will stop to regroup at the Earleigh Heights Ranger Station and at the Big Bean Cafe on the way back up.]

OPTION E: Add on the BWI Loop trail after returning to the northern end. This adds another 10.5 miles for a total of 26.6+10.5= 40 miles

BATHROOMS
Bathrooms are located at local retail establishments near the trail and at the Earleigh Ranger Station at mile marker 7.0, where we'll be stopping to regroup and socialize.

BIKE RENTALS
BWI Bike Rental
Pedal Pushers Bike Shop
BIKE REPAIR
Trail Werks Cyclery

FOOD & DRINKS
There’s a lot of food spots along the trail- just 1-2 blocks away. Big Bean cafe at mile marker 10 has an extensive drink menu, snacks, and good reviews from bikers. I plan on stopping there for a break.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Bring: Water bottles, snacks, biking gloves, bike bell, bike lock, helmet visor, sunglasses, bike tube, pump, patch, first aid kit, mobile phone with nav app installed (e.g. Google maps, we use RidewithGPS). If you get leg cramps during or after a ride, take electrolytes before and during your ride (or add salt and magnesium to your water). A change of clothes for your ride home or a car seat cover to absorb sweat.
Clothing: Wear biking gloves and durable clothing so that if you do fall, your skin is protected. Avoid wearing all black, all grey, all dark brown, or all dark blue, which blends in with pavement, especially while riding through a shady segment. Consider wearing something lighter to help others notice you.
REQUIREMENTS
Participants must wear tightly secured helmets when on their bike.
Be proactive to avoid a fall/crash and minimize injury:
· Keep a distance between yourself and other bikers. If the biker ahead of you suddenly stops, you should be able to avoid hitting them.
· Don’t make stops on the trail. Pull over to the side and use hand gestures to let people know you’re slowing down to make a stop.
· Yelling out “Passing on your left” and/or ringing a bike bell as you approach people ahead of you, so they don’t inadvertently move in your line of travel.
· Slowing down to wait, rather than speeding up when trying to pass people at the same time walkers/bikers are approaching you from the opposite direction.
· Avoid potholes and debris and slow down when approaching bumps
· When approaching road crossings and iffy situations, triple-check before crossing and don’t let yourself be distracted by talking, etc.
· Ensure your helmet is tightly secured so that it won’t move if you hit the ground.
MEETUP POLICIES
Participants should understand that biking is an inherently dangerous activity, and an accident could happen at any time. Participation is at your own risk.
An RSVP of “Yes” to an event is your digital signature acknowledging that you have read, understood, and agree with Meetup’s and MD Rail Trail Biking’s policies, esp. section 6 “Release” and section 8.2 ” Limitation of Liability,” found at https://www.meetup.com/terms/