Mo-Co Alliance
  • Home
  • About Us
    • What We Do
    • A Brief History
    • Board & AC
    • Staff & Volunteers
    • Contact
    • Buy MCA Gear
  • About Ag Reserve
    • Growing Legacy Film
    • History of the Ag Reserve
    • Benefits of the Ag Reserve
    • Agriculture Education
    • Farm Facts
    • Threats to the Ag Reserve
    • A Place with Purpose
  • News
  • Events
    • Local Events
    • Royce Hanson Award
    • Ride for Reserve
  • Support Local
    • Agricultural Guide
    • Local Food Connection
    • Good Fences Grant
    • Community Supported Agriculture
    • Restaurants & Retail
    • Artists of the Reserve
  • Community Resources
    • Land Link >
      • Labor Link
    • Re-leaf the Reserve
    • PLENTY Magazine
    • Producer's Resources
    • BIPOC Farmer Guide
    • Directory of Local Services
    • Friends of Ten Mile Creek
  • Membership
    • Sponsors and Partners
Picture

Choose Your Route

We found a few lumpy spots to let you know about and one wayward sign at Willard and Westerly - plus free cold drinks for Reserve Riders. Check out these route hazards here. 
Please note: These routes are for our "virtual riders" that are taking on a route at a time/day of their choosing. If you signed up for an in-person ride you are meeting your ride leader Vivien at a specific time and place and these routes do not apply. You should be getting emails from us with all the info - if not- please email Kristina@mocoalliance.org and she will get you sorted out. 
Every route is a great ride past farms, along Rustic Roads. Here is more information on the stops, views and terrain to help you decide. 
Moderately hilly routes of approximately 8, 12, 22, 28, 40 and 62 miles depart from Poolesville High School (17501 W Willard Rd, Poolesville, MD 20837).  All routes offer beautiful scenery and stay mainly on quiet roads. All routes have a mile or two where the traffic is slightly heavier, such as Route 28 and Comus Road approaching Sugarloaf Mountain, but even there, the traffic isn't overwhelming. There are no bike paths or trails on these routes. There will be no spray painted arrows or signs. A majority of these are on rustic roads.
 
A Few Notes:
  • If you are using Cue Sheets, do not use the ones on the GPS files but print out the PDF ones that will be linked separately below.
  • Ride with GPS can be used on your phone - you'll need to download the app.
  • Cell service is notoriously bad in parts of the Reserve, its a good idea to have a cue sheet just in case your technology fails you.
  • Please wear a helmet - and bring a mask for going into farms/markets/shops.
A word on timing: The earlier in the day you go, the less traffic you'll encounter. This is key for weekends and any routes near Sugarloaf (routes of 28 miles and longer). Specifically, after noon on weekends the Sugarloaf Winery has many folks driving on Comus road. 
Picture
Oh, Hello Sugarloaf!
Picture
click to see all the routes on a map on Ride with GPS
  • The full collection of routes can be found on Ride With GPS Right Here this is the best way to view all routes together to decide which one works for you, clicking on each one allows you to see the terrain and elevation. You may also want to check out which routes hit which open farms by taking a look at the stops page.  You can of course visit farms after your ride as well. 
We also did a review of all these routes and stops on Zoom - the recording can be found here. 
  • 62  miles- GPS Here /Cue Sheet This is it - the Metric Century. 
  • 40 miles - GPS Here / Cue Sheet A ride up to Sugarloaf Country  and then looping back down toward the Potomac and up toward Poolesville. 
  • 28 miles - GPS Here / Cue Sheet  A ride along  Peach Tree Rd and its orchards then up to Sugarloaf Country 
  • 22 miles -  GPS Here / Cue Sheet Two loops south and east of Poolesville to Rocklands Farm and back.
  • 12 miles -   GPS Here  / Cue Sheet  South of Poolesville, along the river and back up to town.
  • 8 miles - GPS Here / Cue Sheet  Head out of town for quiet roads with few climbs. 
(Novice riders are encouraged to try one of the shorter routes)

**Routes subject to minor updates due to changes in road conditions. We recommend waiting until shortly before the event to download GPS files and cue sheets. Please keep checking your email as we will  alert you to any hazards we find as we check over the routes.**  
ABOUT US
What We Do
A Brief History
Board & AC
Staff & Volunteers
Contact
​​Buy MCA Gear
ABOUT Ag RESERVE
History of the Ag
Benefits of the Ag
Farm Facts
Threats to the Ag
​A Place with Purpose
NEWS
EVENTS
Local Events
Ride for the Reserve
Royce Hanson Award
SUPPORT LOCAL
Ag Guide
Local Food Connection
Community Supported Agriculture
Restaurants & Retail
​Artists of the Reserve
COMMUNITY RESOURCES
​Land Link
Producer's Resources
Directory of Services
Picture
Montgomery Countryside Alliance
P.O Box 24, Poolesville, MD  20837
301-461-9831  •  ​info@mocoalliance.org
Picture
Picture
Picture

Picture
MCA is proud to announce that we have been recognized for a third time as one of the best small charities in the D.C. region by Catalogue for Philanthropy: Greater Washington. A panel of 110 expert reviewers from area foundations, corporate giving programs, and peer non-profit organizations evaluated 270 applications.

​MCA is known as an effective and innovative non-profit whose efforts to preserve and promote Montgomery County’s nationally recognized 93,000 acre Ag Reserve have brought increased public and governmental support of local food production and farmland and open space preservation. Most importantly, MCA’s efforts are putting more farmers on the ground and keeping them there.
COPYRIGHT © MONTGOMERY COUNTRYSIDE ALLIANCE 2008