Let's Go Cycling

It's flat, it's beautiful, and you can coast all day. That's what makes this part of Maryland a bicycle haven.

The wild beauty of Maryland's Eastern Shore beckons sports enthusiasts of all stripes, but the flat roads and wide-open spaces are particularly welcoming to cyclists.

Pedal Pushers on the Shore

Both novice and experienced riders favor the loop that circles through the small towns of Easton, St. Michaels, and Oxford. In fact, this picturesque stretch of highway ranks as one of the most popular bike routes on the entire East Coast, says Ryan Hickey, owner of Easton Cycle and Sport.

On this ride, cyclists enjoy vast expanses of rolling farmland and spectacular views of the Chesapeake Bay. But one of the highlights is crossing the Tred Avon River on the Oxford-Bellevue Ferry, the oldest privately owned ferry service in America. Depending upon how you map it, the entire loop can stretch more than 35 miles. -CASSANDRA M. VANHOOSER

Easton Cycle and Sport: www.eastoncycleand sport.com or (410) 822-7433. Find a bike route in your area by visiting www.railstotrails.org or www.singletracks.com.

The Eastern Shore's spectacular scenery invites bikers to explore at a leisurely pace.

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Apr 2007
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved