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60 mile per day
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The Riddler from Lexington park MD on 10/30/2014 2:12:23 AM:
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.
 
JJB from Fairmont, WV on 10/30/2014 10:04:37 PM:
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.)
 
Paul A on 11/2/2014 12:08:31 AM:
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.
 
John from Pittsburgh, PA on 11/2/2014 10:52:27 PM:
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.
 
Greg K from Chicago on 11/3/2014 1:18:10 PM:
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.
 
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