C&O / GAP Forum

Hello all,
Does anyone have any experience with using Schwalbe Tires? They are a German company.
***
They offer several tires that are puncture proof and they also resist snakebite and sidewall punctures. One tire in particular, the Marathon Plus MTB provides protection against Glass Shards, Tacs, and Flints.
***
They are a little pricey, but if they perform as advertised, you have the peace of mind of not worrying about a Flat, so the price may be worth it.
***
Please only respond if you had direct experience with Schwalbe Tires.

Hi Randy, it is funny that you posted your question here. It is because of the C&O that I am very familiar with Schwalbe tires. On our first through ride,(we ride DC to Pitt), we were very close to Cumberland when I got a huge cut on my rear tire. Too large to be confident in any type of repair. We made it to the Cumberland Trail Connection bike store. They had a display that had a cross section of a Schwalbe with a thumb tack in it. The thumb tack did not reach the tube. I was sold. I believe it was $54.00. I was more than happy to pay it. Since then I have replaced my front tire with a Schwalbe. I believe it is a Marathon Plus. It too was in the $50.00+ range.

On our second through trip my wife got two flats on her rear tire in one day. Long story short, there was a thorn stuck and broke off in the tire. Had to unload the panniers from the bike and the rear tire was very tight on the rim. Would I have paid $50.00 bucks for a Schwalbe then? Oh yeah.

To my mind, they are worth every penny, for the very reason you mentioned. I truly have not worried about a flat tire at all. We have local idiots who feel it necessary to break glass on our paved trails. You cannot avoid the glass. I always take point and let others know where the glass is.

There is talk about the extra weight of the tires, performance, etc. I will worry about the weight of the tire when I lose my 30 pound spare tire....lol. Performance? I am mostly a recreational trail rider. I am all about comfort these days, not shaving seconds off my ride time.

I have joked about being a paid Schwalbe spokesman. I love them and would highly recommend them. Let me know if you have any other questions.

If I ever get to do a long distance ride Im going with the schwalbees. The ONLY thing I have heard is they are a bit difficult to remove from the rim.

Hello JJB,
Thank you very much for your reply. Your response is exactly the kind of feedback I was hoping for. I have seen the broken glass on the C&O Canal trail (and other trails) due to vandalism.
***
I had 2 flats so far this Summer, so I will be "upgrading" to Schwalbe.
Thanks again for your feedback.

I bought a pair of basic 35mm Marathons just before I went on my trip last October and to date they haven't let anything through after nearly 3100 miles. Not even glass from the city streets has managed to get through.

We ride a Longbikes tandem recumbent. I wouldn't consider any other tire than a Schwalbe Marathon Plus Tour. The last thing I want to do is change a tire/tube on our 11 foot limousine while on tour. As far as I'm concerned they are the best flat proof tire available. I also run Schwalbe tubes. I prefer their Schrader valves with threaded stems and SS sealing valve caps. The only threaded stem Schrader tubes I've seen are from Schwalbe.

Appreciate the feedback regarding Schwalbe Tires. There is a bike shop in my area who can special order them for me. I am using Kenda Kevlar tires, but had 3 flats in the last 2 months due to punctures.
***
Time to "upgrade" to Schwalbe. From the feedback it also sounds like they wear better also, which means I'll get more life out of them.

I installed my new Schwalbe Tires MTB, 26x1.75 and they are great. Nice smooth ride.
Thanks to everyone for your feedback! :)

My brother in law runs them and swears by them. I bought a set of gatorskins in may, and have had nothing but good luck. only downside is they dont come in bigger sizes. havent had any flats, and Ive put alot of miles on them.

I've learned that Raleigh will be buying out Schwalbe Tires. Raleigh Bicycles are beginning to put Schwalbe Tires on their Bikes.
This should increase the distribution of Schwalbe Tires and hopefully make them more readily available for consumers.

Two brand new Adirondac shelters have been completed along the trail near the glass archway, just behind Martin's Grocery Store. This brings the total to 5. They are available on a first-come first served basis.

They were very convenient when I did my hike of the GAP a couple of years ago. There was an Italian restaurant where I got dinner, I resupplied food from the grocery store, and got fuel for my alcohol stove from the auto parts store that is/was right there too. The only down side is I wouldn't leave anything unattended in the shelters for any length of time. But yes, a nice place to spend a night.

The Adirondack Shelters are very nice and a welcome addition along the Gap Trail. Water and toilet are close by as well as a grocery store and a nice Italian Restaurant. I haven't stayed at the shelters yet as it was too early in the day to stop but they appear to be clean and well maintained. Last spring or fall a year ago there was a young homeless man frequenting the area. He had a dog and backpacking type gear. His behavior was very odd (jumping around doing Kung Fu moves and talking to himself.) My wife was glad we weren't spending the night. As the other poster stated I would not leave my gear unattended. I'm glad that there are more free overnight camping options springing up along the route. I also noticed several new shelters further west on our ride this past fall. Personally, I enjoy a mix of indoor/outdoor overnight stays. A nice shower every other along the route is just about perfect.

I am thinking about doing this as an alternative to our regular Katy Trail and Ragbrai excursion and I am curious as the what the veterans think is the best time to do this trail during the year? I want to minimize soft trail/muddy trail conditions and extreme temperatures.

Thanks

You will probably get different answers on this but basically any time of the year it rains the C&O will be muddy and can get aggravating but doable. Last year in May I ran into a flooded section that was almost 3 ft onto the trail and we had to go around via roads. Later in the summer may be better if you have to travel far to get here. Attidue is everything. Just have fun with it no matter what the weather.

Early Spring you could encounter Flooding and soggy conditions on the Trail. April and even May are volatile months on the Trail as far as the Weather. In any region of the Country April is typically the Severe Weather period and the C&O Region is no different (Thunderstorms, possible Tornadoes, etc.) Later in the Summer it tends to get drier in this region.

Summers are humid and miserable, but it's really not any worse than RAGBRAI in the summer and you'll be under trees most of the way without the hills. I prefer late fall for the lower temperatures without all the rain you can expect in Spring.

The GAP is pretty hard-packed and easy riding while the C&O is a bit more 'rooty' and will slow you down a bit compared to the Katy Trail.

If you're self-supported and can get to Chicago you can save a bundle on transport taking the train overnight to Pittsburgh and then overnight back from Washington.

Anytime of year can be good if you get 7 days of dry weather. Anytime of year can be bad if you get 3 or more days of rain.

If I had to make a forecast it would be the first 3 weeks of September.

August and September will generally be the driest months. I've ridden the C&O in damp conditions. No problems.

Next summer, my scout troop is considering a 3-day ride on the trail from Williamsport to Ohiopyle (150 miles). Is this a reasonable distance> My thoughts are 50 miles in 6 - 7 hours of riding a day. Thanks!

50 miles/day sounds aggressive to me - I'd think about 30/day might be more reasonable for kids, especially if they have not been routinely training by biking a few times a week for at least a few months. On long rides, you cross a line where it stops being fun and becomes a grind; most kids would probably cross that line well before 50 miles. Also, consider having other parents/leaders meeting you at trailheads along the way, as "sag wagons" for the kids who run out of steam. Regardless of what you decide, I hope you and the boys have fun.

Hi Shawn. Ray has some good words of wisdom. What are the ages of the kids doing the ride? What is their bike riding experience levels? What type of bikes? How many people in total are doing the ride? Are you setting up and breaking down camp?

All of these things will come into play. I am assuming that you will ride as a group, therefore you will only ride as fast as your slowest rider. And one thing that I always think of is this; are you doing this to have fun? Do you want to have time to sight-see? Take all of these questions into consideration when you plan this ride.

As Ray said, I hope it all works out for you and your troop. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Depending on age, bikes and support fifty miles a day may or may not be too much.

I'm more intersted in your choice of of start and stop points. How did you come by them? I'd think heading east from Ohiopyle would be a bit more dramatic since you start with Pinkerton leading to the Salisbury Viaduct, the Continental Divide, then Big Savage Tunnel followed by the dramatic drop into Cumberland.

Do all a favor and teach trail manners to the scouts before the ride: consistently enforce them during the ride.

Anon. made a good point. Trail etiquette is lacking. You can tell experienced riders from what I call "day trippers".

I would consider doing 2 things. Either shorten the daily mileage, or do a lot of riding with them between now and then. My bet is that none of them know what it is to ride 50 miles for 1 day, let alone consecutive days. And I assume they'll be carrying supplies too. Do a lot of pre-trip rides to assure that the trip is a success and they come home with a lot of good memories.

Hello Awesome Riders, Me and my friends are planning to do the C&O trail next yr about spring or late summer/early fall.Planning to do a 60 mile trip everyday for 3 days, We start in Georgetown Stop by Harpers Ferry then in Hancock and Cumberland.Is this ok.Age braket is 20 yrs old to-50yrs old.And in Harpers ferry, is this the place where we have to carry our bikes by the over pass? Thank you all and happy riding, Be safe.Cheers.

Hi Riddler, I will give you the same answer that I give to everyone with this type of question. 60 miles per day on the C&O is do-able but you will be pushing it. The C&O is a rough trail in spots and if you hit any rain or even a day or two after a rain you are going to ride through mud and mud puddles. If you plan on stopping and enjoying the scenery or the towns you'll be riding through, you will be pushed for time. The good news about late summer is the longer days. There are other factors to consider if you are camping, etc.

If you are asking about getting to Harpers Ferry, you can take your bikes up a spiral staircase, cross a bridge and you'll be in Harper's Ferry. (I may not have understood your question.)

Harper's Ferry is on the other side of the river. So, yes, you'll have to cross the walkway on the railroad bridge to get there. Don't worry, there's a fence between the trains and you.

I agree with JJB. The C&O is muddy in spots even days after it rains, has lots of tree roots and rocks to look out for and, bar the locks, is totally flat. You'll pedal a lot but hardly ever coast at all. You are constantly looking out for something to trip you up, send you tumbling to the ground. I didn't enjoy the actual riding here as much as the crushed limestone and smoother GAP from Cumberland to Pittsburgh. Unless your credit card camping (hotels), you'll be carrying a lot of extra weight with you and this really affects your daily mileage. I once did the same three nightly stops you mentioned and felt like I didn't enjoy it because I was pushing so hard just to get to town. And because you're in the saddle all day, you're not stopping to enjoy the sites as much. It's not that three days is unrealistic, it's completely doable, but I would recommend making it a four day trip. Also, bring a bright light for night riding in case you get caught out late. It's extremely dark.

I rode from Cumberland to DC stopping at Hancock and Harpers ferry. According to my tracker it was 61, 67 and 66 miles, though that includes a bit of a ride to my stops at Harpers Ferry and Washington. I rained all three days but as long as you keep going sixty miles is all right even in worst times. The real downer is seeing the mile markers slowly sliding by giving you enough time to calculate how much farther you need to go.

By contrast I rode the bone-dry GAP in two 75+ mile days. But that was with fantastic weather and the nice downhill coast into Cumberland. At 150 miles you can break it into a very nice three day ride, too.

Hello all! We are planning a complete bike trip from pittsburgh to DC. I was wondering if someone could give me insight to the incline from Pittsburgh to let's say the divide. I know it's on a rail trail with a 1% grade. Just want to know what to expect! Thanks!

I don't remember the grades, but the trail doesn't start climbing noticeably until Connellsville. It's not steep but you notice you're climbing. Connellsville to Confluence felt like the steepest part to me, though I guess that's only because it was the start of the climb and after Confluence you hit all the big sightseeing spots. http://i.imgur.com/rmtMxC5.jpg

We recently rode from Pittsburg to Paw Paw. My wife is 64, and I'm 59. We ride often and generally distances of 35-45 miles at a time. Although your personal fitness and endurance play a part I didn't feel that any portion of the trail was that difficult. The incline west to east is always "there" but apart from the final climb from Meyersdale to the Divide (maybe 8-9 miles?) The route isn't difficult at all. We were not carrying camping gear just clothing and toilet items as this was a credit card ride. We have also done the trail self contained and still it wasn't difficult.

As n example: 1st day was 36 miles to West Newton, started at appx. 2pm and was there by 6pm. The next day was 44=45 miles to Ohiopyle. We started around 10am were there by 5pm including lunch in connelsville which was almost 1 hour. We also took plenty of breaks, stopped to read trail history signs, talked to anyone we met, just enjoyed the day. On Sun. our big day we rode 75 miles from Ohiopyle to Cumberland. We started early about 7am and were in Cumberland by 5 or 6pm stopping for lunch at Rockwood and a visit to the Meyersdale Visitor Center. Once again we stopped often for a snack, water, or to talk with other trail users and people who lived near the trail. Our normal pace is 8-13 MPH pretty much the bulk of the day. My wife isn't quite as strong as I am but she pedals steady. Overall, I don't think that any of the route could really be called tough just a slight uphill grind in some spots and more level than not in others. Hope this helps.

Thanks guys for the feedback! Puts my mind at ease knowing I'll be able to handle the pace we have set! I can't wait to ride it!

I think the big factor here is how much gear you're carrying. On my trips, I've always camped on the trail. I usually lug about 40lbs of gear (too much I know). As such, even on a slight grade I can really tell the difference between going uphill and going downhill. I'm lucky to maintain 8 mph going uphill.

Hello, everyone,
My husband and I would like to ride the GAP and C&O next spring. What would you say is the best time of spring to (hopefully) avoid rain and mud?
Thanks for your help.
Noreen

Speaking in generalities I'd say the later in spring the better. I hiked the trail the end of March, beginning of April in 2011 and it rained almost every day. I don't know if that is typical or not. I'd say check weather dot com for monthly averages.

I did it in the middle of May and the weather was perfect. I had a couple of hotter days and a couple of cooler days but NO BUGS and the trail was dry.

It can vary. We have wet Springs and normal springs. The best is to wait until late Spring.
Weather in general is more volatile in March and April. You can have a lot of Thunderstorms and Severe weather in April. There can be significant Flooding in early Spring especially if we have a harsh Winter. I would wait until late May, even going into June.

My wife and I just completed a ride from Pittsburg (Point State Park) to Paw Paw. WE stayed at the Wrenwood B&B and were treated very well by Carol. We arrived early in the afternoon and were greeted by Scott who let us rinse our bikes before storing them in a locked garage. Carol arrived shortly afterward and greeted us like family. Pumpkin Cookies and tea were available as was a hot shower. The B&B is in an older home but was very clean and well kept. Carlo is an artist and had quite a few pieces on display. Another biking couple arrived and Carol offered to include the 4 of us in her dinner plans (breakfast is included in the cost)for a small additional fee. I'm not sure how often she would offer supper but it was very good. Our room was very clean and comfortable. There are I think 3 rooms with a 4th waiting to be furnished? WE needed to contact the shuttle service with final plans and I couldn't get cell service Scott let us use the house phone to place a call. I can't say enough about how well we were treated in this small out of the way location. I would like to point out that the road access from the C&O is at/near MP 156.2 and not MP 151. At the Rt. 51 bridge just before Paw Paw Campground if heading east bound go up the hill to the right (if you go under the bridge you've gone too far)and follow the road toward town. There is a paved trail almost completed that will take you to Paw Paw and you don't need to ride on the road/bridge which I didn't feel was that dangerous or busy. I also noticed on the side of the bridge a faded sign for the old Red Rooster which you'll pass as you ride into town. Great Stay.

Am riding Pitts to DC starting the 21st of Oct. Been following the weather and it looks to be cold and wet. Leaving dry and warm weather here in Ca and wondering what the conditions of the trails are and how are the colors ?

We did the trail in May and it rained rather hard one day. It was terrible to say the least. Pot hole of water and slowed up down considerably. The next day the trail improved considerably but if it is going to rain be prepared.

It has been unseasonably cool lately (most all of Sept). Here in October it has been 70s during the day, 50s at night. By the time you arrive Oct. 21 the peak color in Pennsylvania will probably be a little past prime (but still pretty), however WV and MD should be just fine. If you wish, ask again a couple of days before you leave and I'll give you an update.

I'm always inquiring of guests who stay with us what the conditions on the trail are like. Remind me about conditions and I'll relay what other riders are saying.

Thank you everyone and Carol I will touch in next week. Also Paw Paw will be my lunch stop if all goes as planed. Any food or local interests I should check out? Thank you in advance :)

Just came off the trail yesterday. Pittsburg to Paw Paw. Passage is in excellent condition and the C&O between Cumberland and Paw Paw is rough and muddy in spots but not too bad. You will get muddy and with the approaching storms the trail may be in worse shape. Of course your ride is another week away so the trail may dry up. There will still be rutted areas along the route. As far as stopping for lunch in Paw Paw...the Liberty Gas Station is IT. There is a road side sign for Big & Tings Best Wings in Town...don't bother riding up the hill. Please see my review of Wrenwood B&B in another post. My wife and I greatly enjoyed our stay.