All Levels: Western Maryland Rail Trail @ Lockhouse-49 (Pizza/Fire)

Hosted By

Gary W. and 3 others

All Levels: Western Maryland Rail Trail @ Lockhouse-49 (Pizza/Fire)

Details

The WMRT has been resurfaced/repaved late in 2024 so smoooth.
You can do the entire trail (50 miles)
Or just the front/back half of the trail (25 miles).
Pizza party /picnic afterwards at the Lockhouse!

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The Ride: Summary
(Must Read)
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RIDE NAME: Western Maryland Rail Trail @ Lockhouse-49 (Pizza/Fire)

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Front Half of Ride /OR/ Full Ride
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START LOC #1: Fort Frederick State Park
START GPS #1: https://goo.gl/maps/KKYewqYEVwM5Mekm6
PARKING: http://bit.ly/fort_fred_parking
PARKING COST: $3.00 MD Resident / $5 Other (Bring Cash)
ARRIVAL: 10:00am
SPEECH: 10:15am
ROLLING: NLT 10:30am
LEVEL: Medium(+) Level
DISTANCE: Up to 50 miles (do any mileage you want)
PACE: 13 to 15+ mph (do any pace you want)
TERRAIN: Paved (except for 2 miles on C&O Canal)
RIDEWITHGPS ROUTE:
CBG_WMRT_50_2025
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/33703323

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Back Half of Ride
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START LOC #2:
C&O Bicycle Shop - 9 S Pennsylvania Ave, Hancock, MD 21750
START GPS #2: https://goo.gl/maps/NJEPSY4mVLEbhywQ7
PARKING LOT: https://bit.ly/WMRT_HANCOCK
ARRIVAL: 11:00am
SPEECH: 11:15am = Whenever Gary arrives and gives the speech
ROLLING: 11:30am = Whenever Gary is done with the speech
LEVEL: Beginner(+) Level
DISTANCE: 25 miles
PACE: Own Pace (but figure 12 mph)
TERRAIN: No Hills, Paved Trail (unless you want to ride the C&O)
RIDEWITHGPS ROUTE:
CBG_WMRT_25_2025
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/40985748

Parking in Hancock:

1 W Main St. Hancock, MD 21750
https://gaptrail.org/amenities/co-canal-towpath-access-and-parking-hancock/
Meters: 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday
10 hour time limit
12 min each nickel / 24 min each dime / 60 min each quarter
Bring Coins or find Street Parking.

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The Ride : Detail
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For your cycling pleasure NoVA CBG presents: The Western Maryland Rail Trail (http://www.westernmarylandrailtrail.com/).
The Western Maryland Rail Trail is 25 miles (50 round trip) of beautiful paved rail to trail. The WMRT runs parallel to the C&O Canal the entire way. If you wanted to ride the C&O Canal instead of the WMRT (or make a loop of it) this is your opportunity as well.

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Full Ride /OR/ Front Half of Ride (50 or 25 miles)
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CBG will be meeting you at Fort Frederick @ 10:00am (rolling @ 10:30am). Maryland residents pay $3 to park, all others $5 to park. After the ride feel free to check out the Fort Frederick grounds.

The WMRT route:

Leaving the Fort Frederick State Park from the south we are taking the C&O Canal trail (unpaved) 2 miles to meet up with the WMRT which is all paved.
The C&O Canal trail, while unpaved, can be successfully ridden with a road bike as long as you are careful.
I am not sure if this part of the C&O Canal trail has been resurfaced recently so we will find out when we ride it.

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Back Half of Ride: (25 miles)
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CBG will be meeting you at the C&O Bicycle Shop @ 11:15(ish)am (rolling whenever Gary arrives there to do the speech).
Parking lot is located at 1 W Main St. Hancock, MD 21750
PARKING INFO: Meters: 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday. 10 hour time limit. 12 min each nickel / 24 min each dime / 60 min each quarter. If the lot is full, there is other meter parking available on Main St. or just find street parking.

The WMRT route:

For those starting in Hancock at the C&O Bicycle Shop, the WMRT and the C&O trails are both right there.

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The Meeting Spot:
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* Front Half of Ride /OR/ Full Ride
Fort Frederick State Park
11100 Fort Frederick Rd,
Big Pool, MD 21711
https://www.visitmaryland.org/listing/attraction/fort-frederick-state-park
GPS: https://goo.gl/maps/KKYewqYEVwM5Mekm6
PARKING PIC: http://bit.ly/fort_fred_parking

* Back Half of Ride
C&O Bicycle Shop
9 South Pennsylvania Ave
Hancock, MD 21750
https://www.candobicycle.com/
GPS: https://goo.gl/maps/NJEPSY4mVLEbhywQ7
PARKING LOT: 1 W Main St. Hancock, MD 21750
PARKING PIC: https://bit.ly/WMRT_HANCOCK

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The Ride After The Ride:
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Lockhouse-49
11042 4 Locks Rd
Clear Spring, MD 21722
Lockhouse GPS: https://goo.gl/maps/hcqcaYyLKYhBuPYx8
Parking GPS: https://goo.gl/maps/MRRnfGKX5Asd9vDw7
Parking PIC: http://bit.ly/Lockhouse49_Parking

Fire, Pizzas, and S'Mores @ Lockhouse-49 supplied by CBG for dinner.
When your ride is over simply drive your car from Fort Frederick (or Hancock) to Lockhouse-49 and park in the Four Locks Parking Lot which is directly next to Lockhouse-49.
Don't wait for a particular time, arrive at the lockhouse whenever you're finished with your ride. However, if you get there earlier than 5pm feel free to just hang & chill in and around the lockhouse and wait for others to finish their ride. You are welcome to use the lockhouse to change your clothes and freshen up (there is outside water, but bring wet wipes). Consider this our "base of operations" for the day and enjoy the grounds.
Bring your favorite beverage in a cooler & some chairs/blanket to enjoy the RATR in the grassy area behind the lockhouse.
Stay as long as you want into the evening. Many folks in previous years have stayed in local hotels so they can make a nice day/evening of it.

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Ride Level Chart
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NoVA CBG tries to accommodate all levels of cyclists by offering different types/levels of rides. We just ask that you come to the ride that suits your current riding ability the best.

Introductory Level: If you haven't ridden a bike in a number of years (or are uncertain of your abilities on a bicycle).
Beginner Level: You can ride for 10+ miles at a pace of 10+ to 12+ mph with potentially minor hills involved.
Medium Level: You can ride for 20+ miles at a pace of 13+ to 15+ mph with potentially moderate hills involved.
Advanced Level: You can ride for 20++ miles at a pace of 15+ mph with potentially major hills involved.

Both Medium and Advanced Levels might require handling various challenges such as reading cue sheets, using a Garmin or navigation app, night riding, out of town travel, or any other odd cycling situations.

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The Fine Print:
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An RSVP of 'YES' is your digital signature and means you have read and understood MEETUP.com's:

"Terms of Service : Section 6. Release" found at https://www.meetup.com/terms/
NOVA-CBG's "Assumption of Risk Agreement" found @ https://www.meetup.com/novacbg/pages/1942951/NOVA-CBG_Waiver/
NoVA CBG's "COVID Policy" found @ http://bit.ly/2021_NoVACBG_COVID19_POLICY

Helmets are required to participate in all NOVA-CBG rides. All riders ride at their own risk and with the understanding that cycling is an inherently dangerous activity. When coming to the meetup you do so voluntarily and are ready and able to participate in the ride as described under the conditions of the day. Be on time for the "pre-ride" preparation. If you do not attend the pre-ride preparation you will not be allowed to participate on the ride. There are NO exceptions to the above.

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BONUS Photo Scavenger Hunt FUN:
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