Railbiking
Pedal, make tracks while sightseeing in Frostburg
RFROSTBURG,Md. ailbiking is a fun activity that anyone, no matter their age or ability, can do. Luckily for Western Pennsylvanians, it’s only a day trip away,in Maryland. Located alongside a stretch of the Great Allegheny Passage, Tracks and Yaks offers a 10-mile-tour from Frostburg to Cash Valley on former Western Maryland Railway tracks. The tour traverses meadows, woods and public areas, beginning and ending in tranquil places that made me miss small-town living.
Riders don’t need to pedal hard to enjoy railbiking. During the almost twohour tour, I pedaled steadily for only about 10 minutes. A battery-operated, pedal-assist mechanism helps on hills so even toddlers, seniors and people who use wheelchairs can enjoy railbiking.
“That’s the beauty of it — anyone can do it,” said company co-founder Adam Forshee, from Indiana, Pa.
The tour began with safety rules from Forshee, who told us what to expect, including
the track’s terrain, the speed we should strive for at certain points and where we should look for help — the three tour guides he supplied. Riders can speed up by pedaling or slow down with hand-operated brakes.
Most of the tour is meant to be taken slow and easy, as some of the terrain is steep and curvy. This allows for not only a safe distance between railbikes but also a chance to enjoy the many views. Believe me, you’re going to want to take in as much of the scenery as you can.
The tour takes riders by a Mount Savage overlook, Helmstetter’s Curve and Brush Tunnel and includes deer, squirrels and other wildlife. You may even be lucky enough to see a bobcat among the rocks.
Tracks and Yaks runs three trips a day on the same track used by the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad, which runs between Cumberland and Frostburg at different times than the railbikes. The train’s passengers are often intrigued to see railbikes sitting idly by the tracks when they stop at the Frostburg train depot.
Tracks and Yaks offers bikes for two riders for $89 and ones for four people for $149. For groups larger than four, the railbikes can be linked together. Up to 30 people can participate in a tour at one time.
The ride ends in Cash Valley, where guests catch a 20-minute shuttle back to the Frostburg train depot. However, the tour doesn’t stop there. Mark Bowling, one of the tour guides, gave us an entertaining rundown of what to do in
The start of the railbiking tour at Tracks and Yaks sits close to Frostburg’s Main Street restaurants, various shops and a historic hotel can be explored along this strip. The Beach Club of Frostburg and Dan’s Rock Overlook are located close by as potential stops for an eventful day trip.