Anyone ridden the MABDR solo?

[RCinNC]

It's tough finding another compatible rider who can spare the time off to do this ride, so I'm thinking of doing it alone. For those that have ridden it, did you encounter any areas along the way that you'd feel were pretty sketchy if you were solo? I'd probably bypass the water crossings unless they were really low. I've ridden Tub Run Road; how does the rest of the dirt parts of the trail compare to that?

 

[Dirt_Dad]

I've done all the WV section and most of MD. On the day I did ot water crossings were fine heading south. I think they'd be a little more challenging going north. But water level is everything. Overall I'd list WV and MD as insanely easy...depending on water level.

Plan to do PA in a couple of weeks.

P

 

[RCinNC]

Thanks Dirt Dad. I'll be going south to north when I do it. I figured I'd be pretty conservative when it came to the water crossings: it's a long walk if the bike goes down and I either can't recover it or can't get it running again.

I used to live and work in the area of PA that the MABDR passes through. The leaves are already starting to change up there, so you should be in for a nice ride.

 

[BaldKnob]

I just rode the Pennsylvania sections (Little Pine SP to MD border) a couple weeks ago solo. Zero water crossings and mostly hardpack gravel. The only sketchy area was near State College, in the Poe Paddy SP... kinda steep and super rocky. I wouldn’t want to be riding it when wet. If going S to N, you’ll be headed downhill and should be easier. Of all the BDRs, MidAtlantic is the least challenging from what I’ve read. Making a wrong turn and getting lost or finding primitive camping will be your biggest concerns. Go for it.

 

[BaldKnob]

Little Pine SP...

 

[Dirt_Dad]

Thanks Dirt Dad. I'll be going south to north when I do it. I figured I'd be pretty conservative when it came to the water crossings: it's a long walk if the bike goes down and I either can't recover it or can't get it running again.

If I remember correctly the water crossings were in VA just north of Rt 33. If they are low, should not be much of any thing. My experienced buddy turned around back in May because the area felt too sketchy to him. There are 3 or 4 crossings within a few miles of each other. I believe those are said to be the only crossings on the entire route.

 

[RCinNC]

When I was preparing some maps that would be compatible with my Garmin Nuvi, I found 10 water crossings in three different sections of Section 3. I mapped bypasses for them and included them as alternate routes in the map overlay. I imagine that some of them might even be dry, depending on the amount of rainfall. When I was up on Tub Run Rd last month, even it had some water filled low areas that turned them into water crossings, but they weren't bad. I've seen some Youtube videos of the MABDR, and it looked like some of the water crossings could get pretty gnarly depending on weather.

I'd heard that part of the Poe Paddy section was pretty rough, but wasn't sure which part. Is it the part that goes east after leaving the Penn's View Overlook? The part with the arrow is what I'm referring to:

I have my route set up to go up to Penn's Overlook and then turn around and go back down, if the part marked with the arrow is too sketchy.

 

[BaldKnob]

Your pin looks like it’s in the right spot. Hard to estimate but it might be less than 2 miles of rocky terrain before the road merges into the Park.

 

[s.ga.rider]

I didn't see anything that would have concerned me from going alone besides no cell service on a lot of the trail and it is kind of desolate in places.

 

[bluescycle]

When do you plan to ride the mabdr I was planning on going up there in October around the 12 th

 

[RCinNC]

At this point it looks like it's going to be a 2021 project, bluescycle.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

When do you plan to ride the mabdr ...

Started a solo ride this morning. Doing the PA section this trip. Completed sections 6 and 7 today.
Great so far.



Be aware, the rocky section is 33 to 35 miles south of the end point of section 7. Anyone considering it should be comfortable with needing to pick a line through unavoidable rocks. It is not for a Tenere rider who is slightly comfortable riding off pavement. You need to be very comfortable handling a big bike in rough stuff. Very doable, but I was glad to be on my little bike and not the Tenere.

The rocky part


More like a small snippet of the rocky parts.

 

[RCinNC]

Yeah, I might skip that part on the S10.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

Honestly, best I can do on the 690 is tolerate it. I don't find any joy in rock crawling. Just not my thing.


Suggest considering going to just the south side of where that crap starts. Some of the best vistas seen in PA so far were just a few miles south of that rocky crap.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

Did section 8 above Rt 192 today... outstanding! I'll get below 192 on the way home tomorrow. What I saw of 8 was my favorite part of everything I've done on the BDR so far.

Fun whoops, amazing woods sections, great views.


According to my GPS, at 58 to 60 miles south of the end of section 8, there is a stony section. No where near as challenging as the rocky section i mentioned yesterday, but still not as carefree as everywhere else. I probably did no more than 20 mph here, and I heard a lot of rocks pinging off the skid plate. Not an overly difficult section, but skid plate highly recommended.


At 23 miles south of the end of 8, the sign said between 20 and 30 September expect up to 1 hour delays due to construction.

Section 9 is mostly lovely scenery. It got a little sketchy with several miles of freshly graded road (like done today). Actually had to ride it fairly slow.


There are a couple of missed sections i need to hit on the way home, but I've pretty much done everything from Rt33 in Virginia to the end. I can say, what I've seen, in my opinion , the overwhelming majority of the MABDR is Tenere friendly for riders with basic dirt skills, and a real gem of a ride. Hats off to BDR organizers. They did a truly great job stringing together dirt roads and awesome paved sections in Pennsylvania.

Looking forward to seeing what they've done south of Rt 33.

 

[s.ga.rider]

I did the rock section on the s10 and agree with the above comments. I made it through fairly easy on the s10 with no issues besides me being out of shape. Definitely a work out.