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Reply to Steubenville to DC

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Anonymous on 8/31/2017 4:14:31 PM:

Trying to plan a DC trip to visit a friend in mid-October. Need a few suggestions/recommendations.
Currently, the plan is to leave (a friends house) Steubenville, OH early on Saturday morning, make stops in Connellsville (Saturday night), Cumberland (Sunday night), and Shepherdstown (Monday night).
Mileage:
Day 1 - 93, Day 2 - 90.5, Day 3 - 103, Day 4- 75.7

Spend 3 nights in DC (Tues/Wed/Thurs).
Amtrak to Pittsburgh. Hotel for the night. Ride to steubenville (~54 miles) and drive 2 hrs back to Columbus on Saturday. 1 buffer day before work on Monday.

I commute year round on a bike ~25miles so I'm used to the weather, bags being loaded, dark rides, and enduring pain. I'm wondering if the mileage is too unrealistic?

I typically average 15-18mph with stop/go traffic comfortably. Thinking I could step that up slightly on designated trails.

Thoughts?

tampabiker'swife from Tampa on 8/31/2017 7:30:31 PM:

That sound quite ambitious to me. My husband and I ride a lot slower than you (10-12 mph), but we found that riding the trails took a lot longer that we had planned. We usually ride on paved trails and the crushed limestone of the GAP and the gravel, dirt, and mud of the
C & O made for really long days! If we planned 5 hours to do 52 miles, it took us 7. If we planned a short day of 30 miles (3 hours) it took us 4 or so. The terrain, stopping for water, stopping to take pictures, talk to people, wait for a train, look at the map, duck inside during pouring rain, find a bathroom, etc. all added time. Maybe keep that in mind, But good luck with your trip.

Richard from DC on 9/1/2017 5:03:35 PM:

I doubt you can come anywhere close to that distance each day unless you plan to spend the whole day on the bike. The GAP is crushed gravel. It's good but a lot slower than pavement. The C&O Canal is in wretched condition much of the way. It takes the muddy spots, which may be twenty feet long, a week to dry after a rain. Those areas of the towpath cut my pavement speed almost in half. And then there is the traffic from bikers, runners, and walkers.

Anonymous on 9/1/2017 8:08:58 PM:

Just a thought if you have not done so already. If you have any trails that are grave near Columbus you should try it out on a rainy day to get a little heads up on what you could be in for.

Anonymous on 9/1/2017 9:51:18 PM:

Gravel. Forgot the L. My bad.

Dint on 9/2/2017 1:27:44 PM:

Not saying you can't do this but why? At those mileage distances you will be doing nothing but hard riding. If the Paw Paw tunnel is not open then factor that detour in also. Are longest day out of Cumberland 60 miles to Hancock took us close to 8 hrs. That part of the canal up to the last 10 miles was one mud hole after another. We did stop at several lock houses and the Paw Paw Tunnel but still the faster you ride the more difficult this part of the ride becomes.

Anonymous on 9/4/2017 9:11:46 AM:

Thanks for the suggestions everyone.
The people I know that have ridden the path, did so on nice days. They described the trail conditions to that of a decent dirt road. Wasn't aware of how bad it could get.
In reference to the hard days. I'm OK with that. I'm not a big sights type of person. I appreciate beautiful scenery but I don't typically stop for pictures. With only a week to work with and going solo, this ride wasn't intended to be more car-less travel than leisurely ride. Fully expecting long days in the saddle.
I will likely tack on an additional ride day and see where it goes.

Vinesy from Melrose, MA on 9/4/2017 5:53:38 PM:

Just finished a 3 day ride from Pittsburgh to D.C. Pittsburgh to Rockwood 106, Rockwood to Hancock 104, and Hancock to D.C. 124. This was pretty aggressive. The trail conditions were wet and muddy on days 2 and 3. As other people have commented - yes, you will not stop and smell the roses. And yes, you will be on the bikes ALL DAY. I avg 17 on the roads, but 10-12 on the trail. GAP is an uphill (doesn't seem like it, but it is). I commute via bike 18 miles round trip and will ride 50-70 on Saturday and maybe Sunday. Trail conditions will actually pace you ride, but your pace will drop

Stillriding from Pittsburgh on 9/4/2017 9:54:16 PM:

Vinesy. Congratulations on your accomplishment! That's amazing to do that distance in 3 days. Everyone has there own ideas of how they want or would complete this trip and you did it your way. In the end that is what counts. When the rider crosses that finish line in 3, 6 or 10 days, it's that accomplishment that is important.

Anonymous from Falls Church, VA on 9/5/2017 10:53:07 AM:

This is a very optimistic plan. Just finished five days from Pittsburgh to DC. GAP was in good condition for the most part, but C&O was very wet/muddy and an endless slog to get through. Didn't really get better until we approached Great Falls. We stopped in Connellsville, Cumberland, Hancock, and Harper's Ferry. I commute 22 miles round-trip daily, and this ride was tougher than expected.

tampabiker from Tampa on 9/5/2017 4:35:12 PM:

If you are camping, then an aggressive, optimistic ride is clearly possible.

However, if you are planning on staying in B&B's or Motels that require you to book in advance, you may be in trouble because it forces you to ride in what may be dangerous conditions.

I urge you not to go to fast through the standing water. You don't know what is under it. I was going about 5 mph through a puddle and hit a rut which stopped my bike dead in its tracks. I lunged forward and the pedal went around and hit my shin. Fortunately, I didn't break anything and only cut my shin badly. I brought stuff for insect bites but nothing like Neosporin for the cut. It could have been a huge problem if I was going even 10 mph.

The C&O is a wilderness trail. We had to stop several times to lift the bikes over trees that fell on the trail (no way to go around it).

Not trying to discourage you, just letting you know that weather can greatly slow you down. It is not like riding through the rain on paved roads.

Pray for no rain, and you will be just fine!

Whit1906 from Yorktown on 9/5/2017 6:20:52 PM:

Last year I did the ride (Pittsburgh to DC) in 4 days so it’s possible. My only suggestion is to consider slowing it down a bit and enjoy the ride/scenery if time permits. Enjoy

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