GAP + C&O in 2 days??

I'm considering this ride for next June, and would be interested to hear from anyone who has done it. I did the harder leg (entire C&O) in one day two years ago, so I have a sense of what one day will be like (16 hours 45 minutes, around 90 minutes of breaks included). And last year I did the whole thing in 4 days, so am familiar with the GAP piece as well (although in two leisurely days, ~75 miles per). Would be interested to hear from anyone who has done it in two, especially a peer (55 years old next June).

I have done the GAP + C&O in just over a day. Rode it Pittsburgh to DC. The following year I rode Pittsburgh to Cumberland and back in one day. And just this past Sunday I rode from Connellsville to Williamsport - 175 miles in less than 12 hours. I did these rides between the ages of 53-56. I'm fairly familiar with the trails. It becomes much more mental than physical. Let me know what you'd like to know.

The C&O in 1 day will be hard going 184 miles on the rough trail. I did it in 2 days fairly easily (DC to Williamsport to Cumberland). Doing the GAP in 1 day is easy. The trail is almost like riding on paved roads. I avg. 14-15 mph, stopped for resetaurent breakfast, a few other long stops and made it in 12 hours. I did both directions 1 day each way.

This question is for DG or anyone else. What style bike and tires did you ride when you rode the C&O in one day?

I rode a Gary Fisher Superfly... which is a hard tail. Rode a 1.90 lightweight tire. Why this bike?? It's what I had. I liked having the front suspension to dampen the vibration.

The Pittsburgh to DC ride took about 30 hours total with 24 hours riding time. Had some nasty weather and had to detour off the C&O in the middle of the night. Riding at night with a decent headlamp was not a problem. Didn't slow our pace down at all... The 200+ miles before dark did though.

Thanks for the responses so far. DG, nice going, very encouraging to hear your story! I guess having ridden the C&O piece in one day, I was just wondering how it is after doing the GAP in one day, to get up super early and do the even harder part the next day. From Bob James' comment, it sounds like doing the GAP in one day isn't so bad (around 12 hours means pulling into Cumberland no later than 7 pm). So, a decent night's sleep is possible, and maybe the tough next day will be doable.

There should be a website / log for those who do these kinds of rides, not just discussions forums like this. When I was training for doing the C&O in one day, all I found was a couple stray trip reports. But, all you really need to know is to carry as little as possible, potable water along the trail, get up early so you can get to G'town before it gets too dark, when to switch over to the paved trail to go down under the Key Bridge and along K St under the Whitehurst, and how to find the hidden Milemarker 0 obelisk on the far side of Tompson's boathouse! In between is easy (to remember): take only short breaks, stay hydrated, and just keep pedaling.

I'll describe my bike per Brian's request: a Cannondale "Quick 6" which is their low-end (under $400 when I bought it ~7 years ago) sports hybrid. No front or seat-post shocks.

I did the GAP again this weekend. 11 1/2 hours Cumberland to Pittsburgh on Thursday. Stayed in Pittsburgh and did 140 miles Montour Trail and some on Friday. Back to Cumberland on Saturday in 11 hours. Stopped in Connesville for 30 min breakfast. Thursday was all rain on GAP. Trail was in not best condition. The trail was like sludge and almost impassable from mile 95-97 and very rough from miles 93-97. They did something to the tail like put extra dirt and it was also rutted under the dirt/sludge. Also similar, but not as bad from mile 108-112 outside West Newton.

Oh yes, I have a Specialized AWOL Trail Bike with 42mm tires with all weather tread (not knobbies). It weighs about 35 lbs before adding bags, packs and water bottles. So quite heavy, but with tires pumped to 100psi it moves good with grades less than 1%