Gravel & Grass is a small blog about gravel riding, live music, and the places where the two overlap.
Most rides featured here happen around the Mid-Atlantic—Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and DC—on canal paths, forest roads, and singletrack that are close enough for a day trip but wild enough to feel like an escape.
But riding is only half the story.
A lot of these miles are spent listening to live shows—bluegrass, jam bands, and the kind of long improvisational music that pairs well with quiet roads and long stretches of trail. Many posts here follow that rhythm: a ride route, the conditions on the ground, and the show that became the soundtrack for the day.
Gravel
The Gravel side of the site focuses on riding.
You’ll find:
- ride reports and route notes
- trail and gravel road conditions
- Strava maps and ride details
- occasional gear and apparel reviews
- photo galleries from rides around the region
Most rides start somewhere in the Mid-Atlantic and explore places like the C&O Canal, Frederick Watershed, Michaux State Forest, Patapsco Valley, and the gravel networks of Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
Grass
The Grass side is the soundtrack.
Posts here cover the music and places that tend to show up around rides.
That includes:
• bluegrass and jam band shows
• concert notes and playlists
• venue experiences and reviews
• food and atmosphere around smaller venues and outdoor shows
• the music that ends up in headphones during long rides
Sometimes a ride post includes the show that played during it. Other times the music or venue becomes its own story.ust part of the wider culture around it.
Why This Site Exists
Cycling media often focuses on racing, performance, or the latest gear.
Gravel & Grass leans toward a different side of riding. The slower miles, the quiet trails, and the music that fills the space between them.
This site started as a way to document rides, shows, and the small moments that happen when those two worlds overlap.
If you enjoy good gravel, good music, and the occasional long wandering ride, you will probably feel at home here.
About Me
I am a rider in my 50s based in the Mid Atlantic. Most weekends are a mix of family activities, school events, and whatever small window of time I can carve out for a ride.
I was never much of a competitive athlete and that is still true today. Between work and raising kids, there has never been enough time to train seriously or chase podiums. The riding here comes from a different place. It is mostly about getting outside, staying healthy, and enjoying the miles.
A few years ago I realized I was not taking great care of myself. Like a lot of people juggling work and family, my health had quietly drifted in the wrong direction. Getting back on the bike became a simple way to reset things a bit and build better habits.
Cycling stuck.
My body type has never been the lean climber build you see in racing. I fall more on the sturdy side of the spectrum. That perspective shapes how I ride and how I write about it. Most of the miles here are not about speed or performance. They are about exploring trails, finding good gravel roads, and stretching out a ride long enough to feel like a real day outside.
Music has always been the constant.
I grew up listening to the Grateful Dead and other jam bands, and over the last few years I have fallen deeper into bluegrass. The improvisational side of bands like Kitchen Dwellers, Billy Strings, and others feels like a natural continuation of that same spirit.
Long improvisational music also turns out to be perfect riding soundtrack material.
These days a lot of rides include a concert playing through headphones. A good gravel route, a quiet stretch of trail, and a great live show can turn an ordinary ride into something memorable.
Gravel & Grass is simply a place to document those rides, the music that goes with them, and the occasional gear or venue that becomes part of the story along the way.
If you are another rider just trying to stay healthy, enjoy the outdoors, and maybe extend the ride a few more years while listening to good music, you will probably feel at home here.