Baltimore offers superb rail trails, nearby mountain biking, and popular cycling events.
According to some historians, James Stewart invented the first American velocipede — the ancestor of the modern bicycle — in Baltimore in 1818. Since then, Charm City’s relationship to the bike has only grown.
Today, the fifteen-mile Gwynns Falls Trail and 10-mile Jones Falls Trails both link cool neighborhoods with quiet spots and pretty streams, and Herring Run Park is a great place to spot wildlife. The rail trails (B&A, Capital Crescent) here are excellent, mixing history and scenery with flat, manicured pathways. Within an hour of Baltimore City, you’ll find the flowy intermediate trails of Patapsco State Park and the technical trails of the Frederick Watershed and Gambrill State Park.
World-class professional racing arrived in Baltimore in fall 2022 with the inaugural Maryland Cycling Classic, which brought pros through the countryside and finished downtown. Beyond racing, there are some great organized rides here, including Bike to the Beach, the Civil War Century, and the hugely popular Bikes and Beers.