C&O Home  GAP Home
The C&O Canal Towpath Trail and Great Allegheny Passage

Bike recommendation


Go to Forum
Lauren from Falls Church, VA on 3/14/2019 8:14:22 PM:
I’m just starting to research a ride for this summer. I’m interested in doing Pittsburgh to Cumberland and back. I have a mountain bike, but I prefer my road bike. Is it possible to ride this on a road bike? I’ve done Pittsburgh to Weirton and back on the Panhandle with a road bike without issue. Any advice would be appreciated! Looks like a beautiful ride.

 
Rivnuts from Munhall, PA on 3/14/2019 9:43:21 PM:
Unless there were a monsoon prior to or during your ride, you should have no problem riding a road bike from Pgh to Cumberland and back. I'd recommend 28mm or 32mm tires in lieu of 25mm or smaller. The GAP is generally smoother than some sections of the Panhandle especially the first 2 or 3 miles out of Walker's Mill where there is a fair amount of gravel. That said, the portion of the Panhandle in Washington County is virtually all paved which makes a road bike easy for that trail.

 
lenny from Blairsville on 3/15/2019 4:21:27 AM:
Road bike is ok on the GAP. If fairly dry.

 
Cenzo from Hatfield PA on 3/15/2019 11:23:12 AM:
I'd recommend a hybrid type. But I'm pretty sure you can do the entire thing on a road bike without a problem, especially if the towpath is dry.