BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

Been a bunch of threads here.

http://bike-pgh.org/bbpress/topic/things-to-know-about-the-c-038-o-towpath

http://bike-pgh.org/bbpress/topic/dc-bike-trip

Here's a quote from what I wrote:

There are ways to bipass parts of the GAP trail to Cumberland, I guess, but the trail always seemed fine to me.

Not so the C&O.

It was originally conceived as a hiking trail and there are people strongly committed to historic accuracy and non-development, i.e mud not crushed limestone.

On the C&O, when it rains, it becomes apparent that you are riding on century-old mule shit. When the rain stops, you will learn why they use dead horses to make glue.

There are parts of the C&O where it would be hard to avoid the trail - particularly the first few miles out of Cumberland, with 1000+ ft climbs. Other parts, it is pretty good to take the roads.

Around Hancock, there is 20 miles of paved rail-trail that is parallel to the C&O and often in sight of it.

From Williamsport through the Antietam Battlefield, Sharpsburg, and to Antietam Creek is a lovely ride on the roads - and if you "stay on the trail" you have to take a hilly detour anyhow.

There is a ferry ($1 American) over the Potomac near Leesburg, VA, then a paved rail trail from Leesburg to DC.

All in all I've done about 600 miles "on" the C&O, but that was really about 370 on the trail and 230 on roads. I don't regret that one bit. There is about 20 miles of the C&O that I missed -both trips, both directions.

Maybe heaven is on that 20 miles, I dunno. Doubt it.

There seem to be plenty of places to stop for food, water, beer, or beds on the GAP, but far fewer on the C&O. Plenty of places to camp on the C&O, but if you are doing B&B's and motels, you have to plan.

Aside from the trail - which is a hiking trail after all - the canal is next to it. 300 miles of mesquito-breeding heaven. You want to avoid insect season - which starts in june.

The trail isn't bad if you don't get hard rains.

There is a tremendous amount of cool wildlife - turtles sunning on logs, blue heron, hoot owls, deer, snakes, red-winged blackbirds, "black-winged redbirds" too, a bad-tempered goose with 19 (nine-FN-teen) goslings following her.

Boredom wasn't an issue for me at all. Muck-filled potholes at the bottom of mudpuddles? Yeah. Boredom? No.

Take good maps.

http://www.nashbar.com/bikes//Product_10053_10052_173123_-1___

aside from reading, I have seen some people with smaller transistor radios strapped to their handlebars for listening. you could also buy (or make) a speaker system that will play your mp3 player. I bet listening to an audiobook that had some kind of ties to that area or history may make the time pass prettyy interestingly. I think as with anywhere else, as long as yo keep it to a level that really only you can hear and you are not listening to explicit lyrics around little kids you would be ok. Another possibility is geocaching (geocaching.com), Im not sure how many are along that trail, but it provides you with some good mini-destinations/ things to look forward to. My kids (6 and 3) will bike/ hike/ drive/ kayak/ etc for miles just to get a cache....getting them back is another issue.

Last I kept track, there were nearly 200 geocaches between Pittsburgh and DC. I haven't been keeping up on my geocaching so I don't have an updated list. Here are the older ones I had, though:

http://www.geocaching.com/bookmarks/view.aspx?guid=4413d9bf-769e-407b-ba12-d8a92e35a2d0

http://www.geocaching.com/bookmarks/view.aspx?guid=672ca8a3-fd10-40a4-bdba-36b6bf25c5c5

I say leave the electronic stimulation at home. I did the ride last summer, and, looking back, I enjoyed just letting my mind wander.

Thanks, everyone! I'm looking forward to experiencing the muck-filled potholes and the narrow mule track

rideshare/bikepool? hey, I'm looking for people to do this with roundtrip... hoping to arrive in DC for a show on June 22.

I'm going in July. I have my own "special" rideshare set up - my wife is visiting a bunch of spots on the way at the same time, so she's my logistics crew .

Spinballer - how long were you thinking of taking?

Waht show are you going to see?

If I were to do it, I would want to leave on a Saturday take 6 days down, layover for 3, then come back in 6 and have 1 rest day.

The 22 is a tuesday?

The time you picked is good in some ways and not so in others. You'll have good light at the summer solistice. Since the full moon is on the 26th, you'll have moonlight if you are out after sunset for most of the trip.

June is hot and rainy though, and bug season on the C&O canal is impressive.

Mick,

only scheduling consideration i've got to make is in regards to the MS150 on 6.12-13, which does futz with your 6day/leave on a Saturday plan.

having never ridden the trail, i've no expectations regarding timing. though i've a good bit of stamina, so long days in the saddle would suit me just fine. and am an avid reader, meaning longer rest stops wouldn't hinder my experience one bit. could totally adjust to the pace of whomever i find to ride with.

this is the show that's kindled the desire to jaunt on down to DC. with the prospect of 3days in town... there's plenty else to occupy the time.

to be fully honest, most of my info about the ride comes from hearsay + the past month or two on this here forum. it's just that i've an abundance of energy to expend, and not much going on this Summer.

dig how you're keyed into the trifecta of cycles; seasonal, lunar, and bikes

keen on meeting up if you'd want to talk seriously about making the trip.

Spinballer,

I won't be making the trip, this year, I think.

If you wanted to get together for a beer or coffee sometime, I could talk your ear off about the trip and bring maps and visual guides and stuff.

Distance/time?

The GAP/C&O is about 335 miles

My recommendation (others may differ). You want your longest training ride to be about 40% longer than your daily average for a multiday trip.

If a century wipes you out? But you can do it?

You'd be whipped in a 4 day, 84 mile per day trip, but kinda mellow with a 5 day, 67 mpd one.

A 3 day, 112 mpd trip would be a serious painfest. Do-able, I suppose. Maybe.

Me, I'd want 6 days each way.

Mick

been asking around, still trying to get a ride together arriving in DC the 21st or 22nd of June.

in my travels i've heard that Whole Foods is doing a supported ride leaving the 'burgh weekend of 6.12, if that tickles anyone's fancy, you might wanna get at your peoples connected there.

I did McKeesport to DC last August in 4 days, and being new to biking since 2008, I found 85 miles a day to be harder than I thought - especially after being loaded down with luggage.

One tip: Make sure you know how to find mile marker 0! It is HARD to find. I arrived in DC as it was getting dark, and we ended up looking for the marker at least for an hour before we quit. After I got home, I found it on the maps, and I was all around it. It just sucks going that far, and not being able to take your picture to prove you made it to the end!

Next time I do it I think I'll take a couple extra days (did it in 5) so I can stop to smell the roses a bit more. Boredom? I brought my mp3 player but never used it, found the sounds of the trail much more appealing.

I too never saw mile 0...started in DC and this is as close as I came to seeing the mile marker.

Just in case this helps anyone, the mile marker 0 is near the famous Watergate Hotel. Which, by the way makes sense because the hotel was named after the "water gate" at the beginning of the canal. Anyway, accross the street from the hotel is the Thompson Boat Center. Going away from the hotel, you enter a parking lot entrance and cross a small bridge over the canal... make a left to find the boat house. To your right would be a entertainment center similar to the SS works. Here is the tricky part: you have to go through the parking lot of the boat house and you will find a small trail on the side of it. That's where the marker is.

Man that's a beautiful pic. I could use me some of that.

Hello! My first post. Thinking of heading on down the trails as far as Hagerstown, MD on the 30th or 31st of this month. Turning east towards Baltimore after that... company is of course, welcome.