Williamsport to Cumberland
- + This stretch is to be done in one day, coming from DC, ending in Pittsburgh. Has anyone done this and what am I up against. Thanks
Discussion started 08/01/2013 06:28 PM by Timothy - 5 replies (last reply by JJB at 08/04/2013 08:25 AM)Timothy on 08/01/2013 06:28 PM
This stretch is to be done in one day, coming from DC, ending in Pittsburgh. Has anyone done this and what am I up against. Thanks
Anonymous on 08/02/2013 10:25 AM
That looks like 84 miles.In perfect weather I would think you could do 10/12 mph which would be close to 8 hours on the bike. Im sure its been done many times but it will be a full day. good luck and enjoy
JJB from Fairmont, WV on 08/03/2013 08:56 AM
Please note that I am assuming the 84 mile calculation is correct.
I know of two brothers who do the entire C&O / GAP in three days. They do this, (or used to do this), every year. It was a brotherly testosterone kinda thing. Every year the one brother griped and complained about it and paid the price physically. So why did they do it? Just to say they did. My point? Yes, you can do 84 miles in a day. My very non-judgemental question to you is why 84 miles in one day? Are you on a time restraint? Just my opinion but I don't think you will enjoy the ride. This is a rough trail and averaging 12 miles an hour over 84 miles will be hard to do. It is worse if you get caught in the rain or this has been a recent rain. Mechanical failures are also a consideration. Time of year is still another consideration.
I hope you are successful on your ride. It would be nice if you let us know how it went. Your experiences may be helpful for someone else.
Naismith from Florida on 08/03/2013 10:31 PM
One factor is whether you are willing to do part of it on the Western Maryland Rail Trail, a paved surface where you will make better time, or if you are a purist who insists on sticking to the towpath.
Timothy on 08/04/2013 06:13 AM
TO JJB, The reason for this stretch run is that there is not motels except approx. halfway between the two towns, 40 miles
JJB from Fairmont, WV on 08/04/2013 08:25 AM
O.K., I got you. My wife and I had to do a 62 mile day last year, (Hancock to Cumberland). We would normally stay in Paw Paw but there was nothing open last year. We got a late start due to a storm with plenty of lightning. The trail was a mess! It also got to about 92 degrees that day. We were fully loaded and could only do 8-10 MPH and we took plenty of breaks. We got into Cumberland late and ran into another scary storm. Wind was so strong it literally blew us off the trail. We rode single file so we wouldn't run into each other!
Again, I wish you luck on your ride. You can always ride the WMRT around Hancock. That should increase your speed and decrease your ride time.
AMTRAK and Bicycles
- + If anyone is planning to transport their bicycle to Cumberland via AMTRAK is in for a rude awakening. Yes you can ship your machine via AMTRAK to Pittsburg or Washington, DC, however you can’t in Cu...
Discussion started 03/17/2013 04:05 PM by Swagman - 14 replies (last reply by Naismith at 08/02/2013 08:38 AM)Swagman from LaGrange, GA on 03/17/2013 04:05 PM
If anyone is planning to transport their bicycle to Cumberland via AMTRAK is in for a rude awakening. Yes you can ship your machine via AMTRAK to Pittsburg or Washington, DC, however you can’t in Cumberland. The reason? There is no AMTRAK (Federal Employee) present to open the baggage car door . Does this sound like bureaucratic nonsense or what? One solution is to pepper your Congressman and Senator with letters demanding that at the next budget hearing, they twist those puny nitwit’s arms into providing a simple soul to open the baggage door or better yet just allow riders to stow their bikes in one of those lower coach sections they use for a crew lounge and occasionally handicap seating for a small fee. Wow! A reasonable solution to a purely simple predicament.
Roy from Middletown on 03/19/2013 07:09 PM
Simple and Federal are what the academics call "diametrically opposed" terms. Not even east can get farther from west than those two terms are apart.
Syd Hill from Elizabeth City NC on 03/31/2013 09:17 PM
Have you considered a fold bike. AM Trak policy is you can carry them on the train. Check their website. A tradeoff is u may have to go light. I've done touring on a loaded bike but not a fold bike. I may try this option.
lenny on 04/01/2013 04:25 AM
I don't believe that that is true of carrying on a folding bike. It doesn't fit the luggage model for AMTRAK. I has been said that some conductors will turn a blind eye to rolling on a bike, but that is taking a chance.
Tom from Denver area on 04/24/2013 07:00 PM
Sooo - if a "Rider" (Cyclist)JUST wants to say, GO AS FAR AS CUMBERLAND MD or even Sheperdstown - then ride over to Martinsburg WV and catch the train there, back to DC... THEN, what-do-they-do ?! doesn't DC "Mero-trains" allow ya to "roll-on" bikes? ... BUT, Amtrak does NOT [?] ! thx, to whoever can do a lil' elaboration / further commenting on this.
ed from clarksville on 05/14/2013 12:40 PM
This is a good discussion but on the latest post it's important to note that the train out of Martinsburg that's mentioned is, I believe, a MARC train and MARC only allows fold up bikes and no other types. I wonder: Is there ANYWHERE ON THE CANAL where one can take Amtrak and a bike in the baggage car, getting off to ride back to DC?
lenny on 05/14/2013 07:05 PM
NO. For the last time. Until Amtrak institutes roll on service.
Paul from Quincy, IL on 07/24/2013 09:52 PM
To Swagman: I’m as disappointed as anyone about the lack of imagination on Amtrak’s part when it comes to bicycles. But the last thing Amtrak needs is more micro management by congress. Besides, your congress critter is just as likely to try to kill the Capitol Limited as force Amtrak to change their bicycle policy. Now that I think about it, I don’t know of any state supported trains in Georgia.
To Syd Hill: My wife and I have done the Erie Canal Buffalo to Albany, the GAP Pittsburgh to Cumberland and several other tours on our Dahon folders – all via Amtrak.
To Lenny: You are incorrect. My wife and I literally have been all over the country with our folders. The most recent trip was Galesburg, IL – Denver – Oakland – Portland-Seattle - Chicago and back. Once a conductor said we couldn’t board the Southwest Chief in LA with the folders. I just smiled at him and let him solve the problem he had created for himself. He quickly relented.
Amtrak has been sort of promising that when the new Viewliner II baggage cars WITH BIKE RACKS finally go into service, the Capitol Limited will get roll on roll off bike service.
leeny on 07/25/2013 04:16 AM
Paul I am only referring to Amtrak in regard to the GAP and C&O Towpath, as this is a sight for those trails.
Anonymous on 07/30/2013 09:38 PM
To Leeny: Your post of May 14 2013 7:05PM is, of course, true. But I meant to respond to your post of Apr 1 2013 4:25AM, where it sounded like you were saying that folding bikes are not allowed on Amtrak in general. I forgot to include a include Cumberland to Chicago trip in 2010 on the Cap. Ltd. which did involve the GAP. The link to the policy is http://www.amtrak.com/bring-your-bicycle-onboard.
Paul from Quincy, IL on 07/30/2013 11:10 PM
Here is photographic evidence: http://biketrain.x10.mx/MOB/pics/handicap.jpg
The community luggage rack on the City of New Orleans was full; so the sleeping car attendant has us put our folding bikes in the unused handicapped room.
Naismith from Florida on 08/01/2013 12:40 PM
I dunno, I won't get excited about the train until it is scheduled for a more convenient time. Arriving in Pittsburgh seems late, leaving very early...
If I was traveling alone, I would do Greyhound instead, which has more reasonable timings. And if you have multiple people, a SUV car rental might make sense, even with the cross-state drop-off fees.
Paul from Quincy, IL on 08/01/2013 04:24 PM
Yes the 5:20AM eastbound departure out of PGH is less than idea. When come from the Midwest, I hope for a late arrival, but so far, no luck. The westbound arrival in PGH at 11:48 is also less than idea. But since I'm heading back to the Midwest, I'm usually sound asleep when we stop there.
It never occurred to me check out the dirty dog, but you got me thinking. So I did; and PGH to Cumberland changing in Baltimore:
Dep 10:30 AM Arr 10:25PM (seems late)
Dep 05:15 AM (seems early) Arr 02:25PM
The Greyhound site shows no service between Cumberland and PGH. But I checked Cumberland to Baltimore and Baltimore to Pittsburg and got:
Dep 09:20 AM Arr 05:50 PM with a 35 minute layover in Baltimore
Dep 05:20 PM Arr 02:25 AM with an 1:10 minute layover in Baltimore.
If you wanted to spend an extra night in Cumberland, the early departure would work. If not Amtrak's 7:26PM to 11:48PM would be my choice.
Paul from Quincy, IL on 08/01/2013 04:30 PM
Sorry for the typos in the last post. You are probably right about a 1 way car rental for one person. I booked a "compact" one way back to PGH for about $65. But when 2 more joined the trip and I had to change to leaving Cumberland on a Sunday when Hertz is closed, a shuttle from Grouseland tours made sense.
Naismith from Florida on 08/02/2013 08:38 AM
I wasn't going to Cumberland, so wasn't tuned into that specifically, just the general idea--for those going all the way to DC or one of the Maryland stops (we are going to Frederick) then the bus is an option that should be considered.
Of course with multiple person parties, another option if you have time is to send one person on the train back to the car, and then have them pick everyone else up.
pittsburg to cumberland
- + Hello.My wife and i are going to this part of the trail in 3 days.We would like to camp.can anyone give me the best places to camp and any other info i might enjoy.Thank you for your time
Discussion started 07/30/2013 07:01 PM by bob - 3 replies (last reply by Paul A at 08/01/2013 11:21 PM)bob from windsor on 07/30/2013 07:01 PM
Hello.My wife and i are going to this part of the trail in 3 days.We would like to camp.can anyone give me the best places to camp and any other info i might enjoy.Thank you for your time
Anonymous on 07/31/2013 07:30 AM
Check out Rivers Edge Campground 2 miles before Connellsville then Husky Haven in Rockwood.they both are right on the trail and both have showers,laundry,store,. Very nice.That should get you into Cumberland just fine.
bob on 07/31/2013 01:51 PM
thank you very much
Paul A on 08/01/2013 11:21 PM
I don't know if you'll see this in time, but, none of the official camp sites are bad, just some better than others. The shelters at Connellsville are right on the trail and have a supermarket near by if you're carrying food. Ohiopyle is all uphill from the trail, about 1/4 mile. The Outflow campground has a separate area for hikers and bikers that is pretty nice. Husky Haven is very nice and just a short distance from town. It seems there is now a camping option in the town of Meyersdale. Check at Donges Drive-In Restaurant for details. And camping in Frostburg is right near town but down hill from the road so you don't hear most of the noise.
Erie Canalway Trail
- + Let me pick the collective brains of this group of cyclists. I've recently started looking at websites about the Erie Canalway Trail. If any of you who have ridden that trail would post your impress...
Discussion started 07/21/2013 11:58 AM by Paul A - 3 replies (last reply by Paul at 07/30/2013 10:00 PM)Paul A on 07/21/2013 11:58 AM
Let me pick the collective brains of this group of cyclists. I've recently started looking at websites about the Erie Canalway Trail. If any of you who have ridden that trail would post your impressions of it, I'd appreciate it. Maybe use the GAP and C+O to compare it to.
JJB from Fairmont, WV on 07/21/2013 12:55 PM
I cannot add to this but I will be watching this thread. This is one of the trails we are looking at too.
Randy on 07/22/2013 02:09 PM
There is a great website that should help get you started. The canal is 524 miles long! It's open May to Nov. You may need to copy and paste the link to your Browser. Just Bing or Google Erie Canal Trail and you'll find tons of info.
http://www.eriecanalway.org/index.htm
Paul from Quincy, IL on 07/30/2013 10:00 PM
I did it in 2009 and put together a lot of pictures and detail commentary at http://biketrain.x10.mx/index.htm. Click on "Bicycling the Erie Canal"
I hope the Erie Canal Trail websites have improved in the last 4 years.
Spring Gap Recreation Area
- + Can anyone comment on this area? The towns and services link for Oldtown lists this as having camping for $10 and some form of groceries. My google search doesn't pull anything up.
Discussion started 07/19/2013 10:41 AM by 2Bbarefoot - 1 reply (last reply by Paul at 07/30/2013 09:08 PM)2Bbarefoot from Mechanicsburg, PA on 07/19/2013 10:41 AM
Can anyone comment on this area? The towns and services link for Oldtown lists this as having camping for $10 and some form of groceries. My google search doesn't pull anything up.
Paul from Quincy, IL on 07/30/2013 09:08 PM
There is a post entitled "Spring Gap Store Closed" on the Old Town page.
I ate at a restaurant called the Schoolhouse Kitchen in 2008. The latest review (Google) I could find was a year ago.
IMHO Google can be less than useful when you are researching small town establishments.
Stuff on bike--safety issues?
- + We've never done a trip for more than one night, so we wonder about people's advice regarding best practices for the safety of our panniers and contents when we go into a restaurant, museum, or some o...
Discussion started 06/01/2013 12:06 PM by Naismih - 8 replies (last reply by JJB at 07/29/2013 08:46 PM)Naismih from Florida on 06/01/2013 12:06 PM
We've never done a trip for more than one night, so we wonder about people's advice regarding best practices for the safety of our panniers and contents when we go into a restaurant, museum, or some other stop. Of course any money, medications, ID, etc. are in our Camelbak packs which are with us at all times, so if someone wants to steal our dirty laundry and granola bars, it isn't a huge loss.....
But we wondered what other people do and what to expect.
JJB from Fairmont, WV on 06/01/2013 12:29 PM
We had the exact same concerns as you. In all of our bike trips, not only on the C&O/GAP, we have never had a problem with someone trying to take our panniers or anything in them. We also carry money, ID, etc with us when we go into a business. I actually worry about my helmet and gloves as those are just hanging on the handlebars. We do try to park the bikes where we can see them. We always try to make it a little bit difficult for someone to try to steal our things. We only lock our bikes up at night. I guess if you are going to be in a building, (museum?), for a long period of time you may want to lock up your bikes.
I have to say that out on the trails and trail-towns, everyone has been very pleasant and "like-minded" and usually willing to help, (i.e., flat tire, asking for directions, etc.) I'm sure there is always a bad apple out there but we have been lucky and not come across him or her.
lenny on 06/02/2013 06:38 AM
I concur with JJB. But at night I take the bike-bikes into the room.
Ken from Burton, Ohio on 07/20/2013 07:50 PM
We have bicycle toured in Arizona, Idaho and Montana (a GREAT 180 mile loop there), Ohio, Michigan, New York, Ontario, Pennsylvania and others. We have never had anyone touch our bikes or packs. We occasionally lock them in more urban areas or if we are going to be away for them for several hours but we can't really lock the bags and we have never had any problem. Can't say it won't happen, but it never has.
JJB from Fairmont, WV on 07/21/2013 10:37 AM
Ken, what is the name of the trail in Montana? I am interested in checking it out. Thanks!
James on 07/22/2013 02:13 PM
I met a guy on the trail who said he experienced theft while in Harpers Ferry. Folks, the world is populated by Saints and Sinners. Take all possible precautions. A prudent man (or woman) never assumes or takes anything for granted. Enjoy your ride.
Angie on 07/29/2013 02:58 PM
James,
I am wondering if you mean the rider and his bike were in Harpers Ferry, or if he locked his bike on the other side of the bridge, and the theft happened while he was over in Harpers Ferry without his bike. If you know, could you specify? ...We are trying to determine the best way to deal with our plans to do a day over there.
Rick Hancock from Grafton, Va on 07/29/2013 06:04 PM
Getting you to the Harper's Ferry side of the Potomac isn't too difficult. But...maneuvering your pack laden bike up that skinny spiral staircase is a HASSLE! I've fought and cussed those stairs several times but I wouldn't leave my gear that far out of sight for an extended period of time. Most people are honest but there's always chicken thieves in the hen house. If I were you I'd bring my bike across maybe park it at the AT Conference Center.
JJB from Fairmont, WV on 07/29/2013 08:46 PM
Angie, I agree with Rick. I have posted this in other topics here but I'll say it again. I have been to Harper's Ferry as both a biker and a tourist/hiker. My experience is that it is always "busy" around the path at Harper's Ferry. There are bikers, short trip hikers, AT hikers and tourists there, (in the area of the bridge and stairs). I would make several trips to get my bikes and gear to be near me so I could keep a better eye on them. It would not be hard to get someones bike up from the trail to the road and tossed in a truck and down the road it goes....But that is just me.