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Bicycle Trails’ Easy Riders

The Washington Post May 6, 1994 | Kevin McManus AS SOON as the weather warmed up, my 6-year-old caught the fever. Bicycle fever. When are you gonna buy your bike, Dad? When can we start riding?

We took off his training wheels not long ago, but I’ve continued to limit his travels to the sidewalks near our house. Street riding is out of the question for him, and frankly it scares me too – which perhaps is why I’ve put off buying my bike. What both of us need this summer is a nice, peaceful trail.

So I’ve consulted the trail boss himself, John Pescatore.

Pescatore is an engineer who lives in Montgomery County and rides frequently with his wife and two kids. A couple of years ago, curious about area bike trails, he did some investigating. The result is “Family Bicycling,” a $10.95 paperback that’s available in most local book stores.

The book is packed with maps and descriptions of 28 area trails, plus advice about buying equipment, safe-riding tips, bike club lists and other useful info.

The trails Pescatore describes are all suitable for family rides, though kids on bikes with training wheels may not be comfortable on some of them. “On any of the straight, long, paved ones, you have a problem where some bicyclists will go really fast. So, like on the Washington and Old Dominion, you get a mixture of real gearheads who want to do 20 miles an hour, and kids on training wheels,” Pescatore says. go to site bike trailer

The best trails for the littlest riders tend to be the ones in the parks: “Accotink, Burke Lake, Baltimore’s Druid Hill Park, Seneca Creek – you see a lot of people with kids on training wheels there.” Pescatore says a child is ready for a bike trail if he can ride in a straight line and brake quickly. In preparing any youngster for a trail ride, it’s important to emphasize that sudden turns or swerves are definite no-nos. The child should know it’s critical to look before making any change in direction. You should also explain that “On your left!” – the familiar cry of cyclists approaching from behind – means you should stay right. Plus, of course, you should make sure that every rider in your party wears a helmet.

In his book, Pescatore focuses on what he calls family-length trips. “I’ve found that anything more than 20 miles is iffy with kids,” he says. “So, for instance, in Rock Creek Park I have a 13-mile loop that goes from Candy Cane City in Chevy Chase down to the zoo and back. That’s a good kid trip.” The book describes a number of more obscure trails as well. And Pescatore’s descriptions always go beyond basic stuff such as where to begin and which landmarks to look for. Like every ambitious guide writer, he provides the sort of details that make you curious about a place. For instance, here’s a bit of what Pescatore tells about Lake Artemesia in Prince George’s County:

“More commonly known as Lake Metro, this 38-acre lake was created as a result of construction for the Metro subway system Green Line . . . When Metro needed sand and gravel to construct the track bed and parking lots for the new stations, it was determined that the soil in the Paint Branch and Indian Creek Stream Valley Park was of the right type for construction.” Metro excavated, then turned the scarred land into a park. The name comes from Artemesia Newman, the wife of Edmond Newman, who stocked the lake with bass and goldfish. “Today,” the text continues, “an enlarged Lake Artemesia is the centerpiece of a beautiful park, with hiking and biking paths, rest rooms and a concession area, a model-boat basin and lovely landscaping.” The trails in “Family Bicycling” are grouped in six sections: Washington area, Baltimore area, Maryland suburbs west, Maryland suburbs east, Northern Virginia and “Weekenders.” The last group includes the Youghiogheny River Rail Trail in western Pennsylvania, Blackwater Refuge near Cambridge, Md., and an 11-mile loop on Chincoteague Island.

To research the book, Pescatore rode every trail he could find in the region. He was often accompanied by his wife, Carole, and his two kids, Kevin (now 13) and Lauren (3 1/2). Some trails were pleasant but a little too short or too far away to merit a special trip, he felt. These are grouped in a brief “honorable mention” section.

What about pre-pedal-age toddlers? Since Pescatore’s daughter falls in this category, he’s given plenty of thought to accommodating them. Mainly, he says, you should use a bike trailer. You don’t need any special equipment, as trailers have a clamping arrangement that attaches to your bicycle. “The downside is they’re pretty expensive,” Pescatore notes. “They run about $300 to $350 at any bike store.” Kiddie seats mounted on big bikes are dangerous, he believes. “They put the child’s weight way up high, so it throws off the handling of the bicycle. What can happen is when the parent’s getting off the bike, the bike may fall and the kid isn’t very well protected. Even if they have a helmet, they usually land on their arms. With the trailer it’s really much easier to take care of them.” Trailers, Pescatore explains, can accommodate one or two kids, plus toys, food and a diaper bag. go to site bike trailer

“You can pull them along anywhere you want to go at a fairly rapid rate,” he adds. “And the kids can just kick back and have a good time. We’ve done 20-mile rides with Lauren without a problem.” PEDAL PUSHERS For novices, a good way to try trail riding is by taking a jaunt with other families. The following groups have organized rides scheduled on area trails. Participation is free.

BURLEY BIKE GROUP – For parents riding with kids in trailers or on bikes. Summer rides in Maryland include St. Michael’s on May 22, Columbia on June 15, Quiet Waters Park (near Annapolis) on June 18, Columbia on July 20 and Aug. 17, Patapsco Park on Aug. 20, Brunswick (to Harpers Ferry on the C&O Canal path) on Sept. 17 and Glen Burnie on Oct. 15. Call 410/381-0768.

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE – Annually sponsors a series of Saturday bike rides along the C&O Canal, led by park rangers Fred Viers and John Frye. The rides all start at 10 a.m. Riders are responsible for their own lunch and drinks. Wear hats and bring sunscreen and bug spray; tool and tire repair gear is recommended. Some rides cover 40 miles or more and may not be appropriate for preadolescents. The next one is scheduled for May 14. For information, call 301/739-6179 or 301/739-4200.

Kevin McManus