Gwynn Falls Trail

**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 29%, or wind speed or wind gusts are above 14 mph (per Accuweather) or if temperature is above 96*F at noon **

DESCRIPTION
Join us for a cycling adventure through Baltimore County. The Gwynns Falls Trail consists of a 10.75 mile long main-line trail with additional branches, giving it a total of 22 miles. The trail generally follows the Gwynn Falls stream southeast to the Middle Branch and the Inner Harbor of the Northwest Branch of the Patapsco River.

And the Trail is part of the Maryland state-certified Baltimore National Heritage Area and the National Park Service’s Chesapeake Bay.

BIKE INFO
Anything but skinny road tires will be comfortable. We rode this trail with our 28mm road tires and had to slow down while going through about 1.2 miles of the gravel path in Leakin Park. If you only have skinny road tires, you can skip biking through that section of Leakin Park and ride on North Franklin Rd instead (we can point that out, but you will need to wait for the rest of us to catch up if you want to ride with the group).

SKILL LEVEL
Depends on how far you want to go. Beginner riders will enjoy the first 5-6 miles down with only about 200 +/- elevation changes. Otherwise, expect some noticeable inclines on the way back.

PARKING SPOT & MEETUP SPOT
Use the public parking at trailhead #1 - the I-70 Park & Ride near Security Blvd at the City-County boundary. Don't leave anything valuable in your car! Meet us near the trailhead sign at the end of the lot (easy to see). After everyone has checked in, we'll do an icebreaker question

TRAIN OR BUS STOPS
There are a couple of nearby bus and train stops that can be used to get to the trailhead or get back to the starting point. Here is a helpful map

DISTANCE OPTIONS
These are just suggestions. Participants can choose to return at any point.
OPTION A: Ride down to the Leon Day Oval loop and return back. ~5.4 miles one way.
OPTION B: Ride down to Lower Gwynn Falls Park and back. ~7.2 miles one way.
OPTION C: Ride down to Carroll Park (mile 9) and back. +/- 820 ft elevation changes). Map to RideWithGPS map here
OPTION D: Ride down to Middle Branch Trail (mile 10) on Middle Branch Patapsco River. Go towards Locust Point neighborhood (one more mile) and/or Fort McHenry (which would be 13 miles one way +/- 970 ft elevation changes). Map to RideWithGPS map here
OPTION E: Add more distance by connecting to the Jones Falls Trail (~11 miles long).

PLANNED STOPS
The leaders will stop when there are confusing trail points on the way out. If you're returning on your own, be sure to have a charged phone to help navigate back. And we'll stop at restrooms and points of interest.

POINTS OF INTEREST
Leakin Park
Leon Day Park
Lower Gwynn Falls Park
Carroll Park Golf Course
Carroll Park

BATHROOMS

Bullwinkle's Saloon at .5 miles from the start. Opens at noon.
Leakin Park: Cardin Pavilion (turn left at mile 2.2), Winans Meadow (mile 2.3), Carrie Murray Nature Center,
Leon Day Park
Carroll Park (mile 9)
Burger King (mile 9, next to Carroll Park)
Westside Shopping Center
Subway (1800 Russell St)

BIKE RENTAL/REPAIRS
Bicyle Works - Falls Rd
Trek Bicycle Federal Hill
Joe's Bike Shop (closed on Sundays)

OPTION TO SOCIALIZE AFTERWARDS
If anyone is interested in going for ice-cream, drinks, or a meal, let the group know so we can plan accordingly.

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/