Recreation: Cyclist finds own heights to scale

OUT OF ROB MAPLE’S POST

SEEKING FELLOW MOUNTAIN BIKERS

TO RIDE WITH, A CLUB WAS BORN

By ADAM HIMMELSBACH

Rob Maple has a job and a family, and he knows that sometimes it’s just not easy to drop everything and find a group to go mountain biking with.

But he also knows there are plenty of people like him in this area.

Just over a year ago, Maple started a Facebook page for area mountain bikers. It was meant to essentially serve as a place to notify others about upcoming rides.

If, for example, one wanted company on a ride through the Fredericksburg quarry on a Sunday morning, the rider posted it on the page as an open invite. There were no pressures to RSVP or juggle schedules, but most often, most invites were accepted by several riders.

“It’s tough to plan true rides,” Maple said. “If you post it, generally someone will come, which is always cool.”

The page has since blossomed into something bigger; it was the impetus for Maple forming the Fredericksburg Area Mountain Biking Enthusiasts organization.

Maple said there are about 150 members, and membership does not require fees or even commitments. Rather, it is simply a way for a community of bikers to come together.

The rides take place throughout Northern Virginia. But a number of nearby trails are used most frequently, including the Fredericksburg quarry, Lodi Farm in Stafford County and Burke Farm outside Culpeper.

“I like being out on the trails, mainly just because you’re in the woods, off the beaten path,” Maple said. “And when you’re out on the road, there are a lot more dangers.”

Maple said each trail offers unique terrain and scenery.

At the quarry, Maple and the other riders enjoy taking in the sights as they wind along the Rappahannock River’s banks. There is also a 300-foot elevation change, making riders feel like they are truly amid the mountains.

“It’s definitely enough of a change where it really gets your heart rate up,” Maple said.

The Lodi Farm trail is a 9.5-mile course filled with tight, twisty turns. The classic course is known for being pocked with roots and rocks, but that is part of the challenge and the charm.

Maple, who works as a tactical mapper with the Army, has continued this pursuit as a trail mapper.

He brings a GPS to trails and navigates the courses on foot, documenting bridges, streams and other notable aspects.

He said this mapping system can deliver details and results that online mapping programs cannot.

“One might argue that you don’t need that kind of accuracy when you’re riding,” Maple said. “But if you’re lost, it helps you get to where you need to be.”

Maple said he would ultimately like to map all 32 Virginia state parks.

For now, he is focused on continuing to grow the mountain bike community in this area.

He would like to develop family rides that include bikers of all ages, and he is hoping to add some scheduled events, complementing the current come-if-you-can system.

“There’s a lot of people that like to ride bikes but aren’t necessarily considered mountain bikers,” Maple said. “I want to open the doors.”

Adam Himmelsbach: 540/374-5442

ahimmelsbach@freelancestar.com

Permalink: http://news.fredericksburg.com/sports/2012/07/21/recreation-cyclist-finds-own-heights-to-scale/