See ya on the road.

1. Frederick Clustered Spires High Wheel Race. Aug. 15—The only high wheel race of its kind in America, it’s also one of the few in the world. Dressed in period clothing, sitting atop turn-of-the-century penny-farthings, riders race around downtown Frederick and draw huge crowds each year. Although this is purely a spectator event, the race is part of this weekend’s Tour de Frederick, a series of recreational rides benefitting the Boys & Girls Club of Frederick, with supported routes through the rural county and its covered bridges.

2. Larry’s Ride. Aug. 30—A fundraising event for Bike Maryland honoring Larry Bensky, who was struck and killed by a motorist in 2010, this is a beautiful—and challenging event—starting at Camp Milldale in Reisterstown with 22, 35, 50 and 75-mile options.

3. Civil War Century. Sept. 12—The popular Baltimore Bicycle Club ride launches from Thurmont and, with a limit of 1,600 participants, sells out—so register why there’s time. With breathtaking scenery, famous historical sites—Crampton’s Gap, South Mountain, Antietam and/or Gettysburg battlefields—low-traffic roads, this is a must for Maryland cyclists. Various ride options available for all levels, too.

4. Amish Country Bike Tour. Sept. 12—For those looking for something flatter than the Civil War Century, this 29th annual ride runs through Delaware’s Amish farmlands. Routes from 25 to 115 miles, with multiple rest stops, including one at an Amish schoolhouse where Amish residents serve home-baked pies and cookies. Sponsored by the Kent County tourism office to benefit local nonprofits.

5. Tour de Chocolate Town. Sept. 13—Pedaling through the “sweetest place on earth” hardly needs selling. Routes offered include 17.5, 35, 65 and 100-mile distances, with the unique opportunity to ride through a large portion of Hersheypark and pass by the town of Hershey’s landmarks. And, yes, registration includes a snack bag and a discounted admission coupon to the park.

6. Tour du Port. Sept. 27—Trek 13, 30, 35 or 50 miles around Baltimore City, launching from the Canton Waterfront Park. The 22^nd annual ride, another Bike Maryland fundraiser, includes a new, 36-mile urban adventure route, featuring miles of single-track, mountain bike riding within the city limits. The post-ride celebration includes a BBQ lunch and craft beer.

7. Seagull Century. Oct 3—One of the biggest century rides on the East Coast, the 27^th annual event leaves from, and returns to, Salisbury University, offering three route options. The most popular ride, obviously, is the Assateague trip—where you’re likely to see a wild horse or two. It’s always flat, but not always easy if the breeze kicks up.

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There are also other reasons, specific to Baltimore, why it’s good for our state of mind. Pedaling downtown alongside a 15-foot pink poodle and her friends is bound to make anyone smile, for example, and discovering the city’s amazing urban green spaces by bike enables us learn more about our community. Also, the fresh peaches at the Civil War Century are the best thing ever—although you do have to wait ‘til September for those.

So with summer here, consider these seven rides our local favorites this month:

June 14: Tour dem Parks, Hon!—13^th annual ride connects bicyclists with Carroll, Patterson and Herring Run parks as well as some tucked away gems. There are 14, 25 and 35-mile options, with registration offered online until midnight Thursday or in-person Sunday morning—all in support of Baltimore City parks programming. The event starts early at Druid Hill Park. If you hustle, you can finish and still make it to the next ride on this list.

June 14: American Visionary Arts Museum Kinetic Sculpture Race—free, 17^th annual, amphibious art-bike extravaganza kicks off at 11 a.m. and pretty much lasts all day as it hits Federal Hill, Canton and Patterson Park. Join for some or all of the fun. Check the spectator’s guide for details.

June 17: Bike Through History Series NCR Trail—this is a guided tour offered for six more successive Wednesdays through July on the Torrey C. Brown Rail Trail, formerly known as the National Central Railroad trail. Each tour, this one starts in Monkton, is led by a Maryland Park Service volunteer and local history expert and tackles about 10 miles on the trail.

June 20: Bikes & Beer—First-time event in Baltimore features a 15-mile ride, starting from Union Craft Brewing in Woodberry, trekking through the city to Heavy Seas Alehouse in Upper Fells Point. Riders will get a chance to taste two new beers at Heavy Seas—as well as down a full pint—before heading back to Union Craft for live music, food trucks, games and prizes. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Bikemore and Bike Maryland.

June 26: Baltimore Bike Party—the last Friday of every month event is always a recreational ride/costume party on wheels. Generally about 12 miles or so, each month there’s a different theme—June is “Baltimore Boastin’ & Maryland Mania!”—and meet-up begins at 6:30 p.m. at St. Mary’s Park. (Below photo courtesy of O’Doherty Photography.)

June 27: 45th Annual Flatlands Tour—a non-supported (meaning bring plenty of water and spare tubes), but awesome Baltimore Bicycling Club ride that starts in Chesapeake City in Cecil County and explores much of the Delaware River wetlands. Routes vary from 35, 54, 63 and 77 miles to a full century ride. Just $5 for BBC members and $6 for non-members.

June 27: Two Rivers Bike Ride—opportunity to pedal the gentle rolling hills of Maryland’s Eastern Shore while checking out the scenic Corsica and Chester rivers in Queen Anne’s County. Multiple distances offered, with the longest route leading through Tuckahoe State Park. This isn’t far from Baltimore, about 60 miles to the start in Centreville.

*We also want to note that there are a number of informal, but regular Baltimore group rides, including the women-only Crank Mavens Monday Night Riders, the Thursday Night Indeterminately Named Baltimore Social Bike Rides, and Fun On Bikes! Weekend Distance Rides.

*Nearly all local bike shops organize group rides of one sort or another, too. The Biking in B-more meetup.com group is another good place to find rides, especially recreational-paced rides.

Just pedal.

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Sponsored by the Baltimore Bicycling Club, Heavy Seas, Zipcar, Seawall Development Co., Evergreen Health, and Johns Hopkins University, proceeds from the festival benefit Bikemore, Baltimore’s nonprofit bicycling advocacy organization.

This year’s event—running from 4-9 p.m.—features free live performances from Rye Rye, Labtekwon, and Chester Endersby Gwazda, plus food trucks and recreational bicycling through the park. 

Chris Merriam, Bikemore’s executive director, told the Baltimore Sun that last year’s event drew about 1,500 people. Turnout should get a boost this year with Rye Rye, Baltimore’s nationally acclaimed female hip hop artist, on board.

We also need to note that Music To Your Gears coincides with Charm City Cyclocross, the Mid-Atlantic’s premier two-day cyclocross race, this weekend at Druid Hill Park. This is the sixth year that Charm City Cyclocross, which features international pros and top regional cyclists, has been a UCI-sanctioned event. Men’s and women’s races are held both Saturday and Sunday.

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1. D.C. to Pittsburgh: I bought panniers from Baltimore Bicycle Works, camping gear from REI, and loaded my hybrid commuter bike for a 5-day, 330-mile trek from Washington to the Iron City. Here’s the beautiful part: The C&O Canal Towpath and Great Allegheny Passage meet in Cumberland and I slept out all four nights on the trails. Swam in the Youghiogheny River, chased a coyote on my bike, and rode through the 3,118-foot Paw Paw Tunnel in Allegany County.

2. New York City’s Five Boro Tour: Registered months in advance for a good starting spot, covering 40-plus traffic-free miles from Central Park to all five New York boroughs during a blast of weekend riding in the suddenly super-bike friendly city. Also included: a trek over the Queensboro Bridge to catch The National’s six-hour show at MoMA PS1.

3. Monument to Monument: On a freezing morning, I tagged along with a hearty group from the Baltimore Triathlon Club and rode from Baltimore’s Washington Monument in Mount Vernon to the other Washington Monument in D.C. — 103 miles. Having lived in both cities, traversing the distance by bike for the first time was a transcendent experience. As was the giant burrito lunch on the steps of the Library of Congress.

4. Civil War Century: I took the easy way out and did the metric century (64 miles) and not the full 100-mile route. An awesome ride, organized by the Baltimore Bicycle Club, that includes the Gettysburg Battlefield — and fresh peaches at the rest stops.

5. Tour Dem Parks, Hon!: The diversity of the bicyclists, of all ages and abilities, and terrain, makes this my favorite annual Baltimore recreational ride. Joined with the Baltimore Heritage group this year and learned some history along the way, too. Go just to ride and see historic Dickeyville.

6. Major Taylor Club Ride: Jumped in on a Wednesday night summer ride with Pittsburgh’s Major Taylor Cycling Club — and got my rear kicked on the city’s steep hills. A great group, though, that leaves no one behind. Met at the OTB (Over the Handlebars) Bicycle Café and then returned for burgers and beer afterwards. Don’t miss the warehouse-sized Bicycle Heaven museum in Pittsburgh, either.

7. Baltimore Bike Party’s Superheroes and Supervillians Ride: The last Friday of every month rides are always a chance to don a costume and ride with about 1,000 friends. This edition was my favorite. Perfect weather and outrageous outfits — not just talking Batman and Superman here — but Frank the Bunny from the “Donnie Darko,” Jack Black’s masked Mexican pro wrestler from “Nacho Libre,” and even then-brand new Pope Francis (kind of a prescient choice) in a towering white mitre.

8. Corn Roast Ride: A Baltimore Bicycle Club event, there’s a bunch of different distances to choose from, all ending at the Union Mills Homestead in Carroll County for the 43^rd Annual Corn Roast Festival. Fried chicken, juicy local tomatoes, lemonade, live music — and a truckload of Maryland corn, roasted on the spot. I had to cut myself off at three ears.

9. York County Heritage Trail: Connects to the old North Central Trail (now called the Torrey C. Brown Trail), which runs from Cockeysville to the Pennsylvania border. On one of the warm late winter days last year, I threw my bike in the back of my pick-up and drove to New Freedom for a fast 40-mile roundtrip to York and back. Still remnants of snow in the fields, the trail was wet and muddy in parts, but it all just added to the feeling of a midday, winter blues escape that I needed. Perfect for when you need to get off the concrete for a couple of hours.

10. B&A Trail: In April, for the first time, rode the Baltimore & Annapolis Trail for much of a 50-mile roundtrip to the state capital, reconnecting with an old friend and making two new ones in the process. Sixty-degree temperatures, clear blue skies, and halfway through the trail park rangers at the Earleigh Heights station were handing out big, homemade, chewy chocolate chip cookies. Doesn’t get much better. 

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