Another Great Ride: Schaeffer Farms Edition

So with my kids still at the in-laws for the week, I took advantage of some extra time and headed to Schaeffer Farms for the afternoon.  The trails are probably my favorites in the area.  I would rank them as intermediate trails with some easier sections great for beginners and some sections with advanced level obstacles and climbs.  Most of it consists of fast and flowy single track with some highly technical, rooty and hillier areas.  If you just want to have fun, you go to Schaeffer Farms.

Because of a hectic work and home schedule, it's been a long while since I had enough time to ride the entire trail system.  I wanted to do it this time and I did.  The weather was hot and extremely humid, with thunderstorms and rain threatening.  Plenty of rain fell the night before, making the trails muddy with a lot of wet roots and missing sections of trail as a result of uprooted trees.  Mmmm...my favorite.

The riding was fun, but I hopped off the bike more than I otherwise would due to the wet conditions.  A lot of it was just dangerous.  I still got in almost 13 miles and was soaked with sweat afterwards.  I still had a great time and got plenty dirty.

Another good day on the rig. I regret not taking pictures on this ride. I saw some pretty cool things along the trail, including deer, old broken down cars etc etc.

Below is the strava recording from the ride and a picture of the trail system:

Patapsco Trail Map

I wanted to put this trail map on here for future reference for all of us.  I wish I would have had this with me yesterday.  I started along 195 and dropped down on the Soapstone trail, connected with the Vineyard Mill trail down to Grist Mill.  Had I known there was a way to connect with the trails on the other side of the river, I would've taken them rather than riding the same thing twice.  Next time I'll know, I guess.

My first ride at Patapsco

With a little time on my hands this beautiful afternoon, I decided check out the trails at Patapsco State Park in the Catonsville, MD area.  I've heard a lot about the trails but since they are on the other side of the state, I haven't been able to check them out...until today.

They are all I've heard that they are.  Most of the trails are rocky, rooty and fast.  There are some major climbs and some spin-off trails that are, I would say, in the "advanced" range.  I would say most of the trails are intermediate level.

They put my bike to the test.  In fact, going down one more difficult section, I attempted going over a log with a two foot drop on the other side...I went over and my bike followed and ended up down the trail about six feet away.  The crash broke my saddle rail in half.  I had to finish the last quarter of the ride with no saddle.  I had so much fun before that, though, that it didn't even matter.

I definitely recommend the trails and I hope to be going back soon.  The in-laws have the kids this week, so I am trying to get as many miles as I can in.  Stay tuned for my next riding adventure!

Here's a link to my strava recording of the ride:



And pictures...