Quality of C&O for cycling

Is the quality of the C&O sufficient for an ordinary cruising bicycle? About 7 years ago I cycled the GAP from Pitt to Cumberland. The quality of the trail was very good along the entire length for my small folding bicycle. However, after Cumberland, on the C&O, the quality of the trail was very poor; only wide enough for the bicycle wheel with many muddy ruts. I could go only a few miles then I aborted the trip. Now in 2019, has the condition of the C&O improved? Is it now as good as the GAP was or is the C&O still a muddy mess?

2018 was brutal. I was fortunate to go when it was relatively dry last week of August. It was really wet and muddy in sections and many people abandoned or cancelled trips outright. It was a bad year.

The GAP (Pittsburgh to Cumberland) is rail trail and it drains really well and only gets soft when it’s been super rainy. The C&O (Cumberland to DC) is an old mule path and is covered in tree canopy and takes a long time to dry out. It is always the muddier of the two. It could have rained three days ago but the C&O could still be wet. I always assume I will get muddy and just plow right through the mud and water. Part of the adventure I guess.

An ordinary cruising bicycle should be fine . I wouldn’t use thin racing tires though. I have Bontrager Race All Weather 700 x 38 tires and was fine. I’ve used 32 in the past and made it through the mud also. I guess I would just keep and eye out for weather. If it looks like a huge storm is imminent I can see people not bothering. If you’re arriving right after a massive storm I would expect mud.

2018 was unusual. It’s not always like that. Nobody knows what 2019 will bring. It’s a crap shoot really.

Happy Riding!

It's worse if anything. The maintenance has deteriorated. The last 25 miles between Violette's Lock and Georgetown is pretty good except for some thick spots of gravel. The rest of the trail is nearly impassable in spots particularly if it had rained within a week.