BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

I don't think I can manage the time off of work to drive down and back this year. I encouraged De'Anna, a new randonneur, to do this and kick everyone's asses.

i've never attempted the ctc before. maybe i will this year?

Adam of Thick Bikes is going to be talking about CTC  on Feb 11th at the shop. https://www.facebook.com/events/628422724027198/

I'm in. I did this in 2014 and 2015, but took off last year to mountain bike in NC. About 50 hours for me in 2015, but my goal this year is 40 (assuming average weather conditions). I'm 235lbs right now, so I need to drop some weight for that to be a reality. Hopefully, I can join some of the rando rides, but it's hard to get away from the family that long on the weekends for me.

Also, I live out in Irwin, so I'll probably get a hotel downtown the night before if anyone is interested in splitting.

I'll see you there, mmfs. No short detours on Interstate 70 this year, though.

I'm in, and recruiting a few Philly newbie randos. Never done it before. (CJ Arayata here. Just joined to post here. Eastern PA randonneur, Philly Cranksgiving organizer, and I came out once to that Pedal for the Pantry alleycat eons ago). Any advice for how to get to the start? Everyone's blog posts just say "one way rental" but the costs seem prohibitive. Amtrak won't allow checked/oversize baggage, Megabus needs it in a small box (too small?), etc. Trying to recruit a friend to drive my van with me + friends + bikes to drop us off and return solo, but turning out to be a tough sell.

You can ship the bike in a box via Greyhound, get here that way or another way, and assemble it at the Greyhound station. This is I'm pretty sure the cheapest way. You could also ship the bike to a bike shop and have them do assembly, and pick it up on arrival here. I don't think either of those options is much cheaper than one-way rental if you call around. Budget, for example, offers a $91.99 rate ($78.19 in advance) for one day rental at the 30th St train station in Philly, drop off at Stanwix Street here. (Though you'll have to pay for fuel + tolls, of course.)

I've done "one way rentals" with Avis previously between Pittsburgh and NYC for CTC and am doing the same this year.  I've paid a $50 to $150 surcharge for this.  Sometimes rentals from airport locations can be cheaper than in city. I have also done a one way 10' Uhaul truck rental for other bike events to more remote locations (Vermont 200 on 100).  That choice was not cheap but was the only practical option in that case.

As I recall, the car rental area at PIT is 50 feet from where you board the 28X Airport Flyer bus to go downtown. The bus ride downtown is $2.50, including the bike. 28X bus schedule The Wyndham Garden hotel is across Liberty Ave from the first 28X stop downtown. Point State Park is directly across Commonwealth Place from the hotel. And the hotel is quite tolerant of bikes, the last I checked. Not cheap, but definitely takes a lot of guesswork out of the equation.

A lot of counties tack on extra fees for airport rentals that aren't on non airport locations with the thinking that visitors will be more likely to pay the airport car rental tax. Although it seems that Allegheny county has $2/car/day tax on top of sales tax no matter airport or not.

I don't think that applies to returns, only to rentals. If you're driving from Philly/wherever to PIT, that would not be relevant.

Looks like PHL car rentals have extra $8/car/day tax than other Philly area rentals. So if renting one way this way get it from a non airport location.     http://www.trentonian.com/business/20140629/car-rental-fee-hikes-rates-at-philadelphia-airport

Got a friend to drive my van and drop us off! Phew. What are the best options for staying in PGH on Thursday night? Would anyone living closeby be willing to put us up? At least 2 of us, but no more than 3. Also, from what I recall from others' ride reports, going Eastbound, seems like Chambersburg is the most sensible sleep stop. About 225 miles in, which going by my speed [24hr 400k], would put me there around 3am. Shower, sleep, plenty of food for breakfast available before starting 'day 2' in the daylight. I'm not trying to race / not trying to ride straight through, even though I know it's regarded as great character-building....

Glad you got a ride into town! I'd offer up space, but I'm out in the burbs, so I'm planning on getting a hotel downtown myself. As for where to stay downtown, our CBD or "downtown" is pretty small... so anywhere you can get something cheap is no more than a 5 min ride to the start line. The closest hotel is the Wyndham Grand downtown. Basically at the start line. I'm going to do priceline/hotwire last second deal when we get closer. Did that two years ago and got a nice hotel for $89. Chambersburg makes sense if you want to go to 3am. I stopped shorter two years back and stayed at some $35 dive in Breezewood.

Also, there is a Facebook page "I Will Crush the Commonwealth" that someone started. People are posting on there, too.