Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling - C&O in a day

Well folks I have finally decided to do the whole enchilada in a one day bike ride. I have wanted to do this for 2 years. I hope to leave Friday night for Cumberland,Maryland, and then ride on Saturday at 5:00AM. For those that don't know this trail: It's flat(good) but a little rough(bad). It's a pack dirt trail with some mud holes, potholes, ped traffic, sometimes 2" gravel. I think I need to average about 13 mph with a couple of lights to make the entire trip. I'll post a TR if and when I finish. I plan on taking my touring bike(Miyata 1000) with 700x37 tires. This bike is my most comfortable ride. My biggest concern is my arse. I always ride a Brooks Pro but am beginning to 2nd guess myself. Perhaps lots of butt butter and a cushy seat might be a better choice(wishing I had a sprung seat). What do y'all think? A Thudbuster and Brooks? cushy seat and butter? Stay home;-) I am also going to put extra padding on my bars, bring lots of power bars, Gu, powder energy drink, space blanket(just in case), reg bike parts and tools. Some of you gave me great advice when I first posted this idea in the touring forum. No longer a dream, soon to be reality. I will look for your seat advice. Thanks Charlie

Good luck... That's a long, long ride for one day. I sure wouldn't even think about messing with any aspect whatsoever of my bike just days before embarking on a 180 mile ride. Leave the saddle alone!

I'm looking forward to reading your ride report when you get done :) Best of luck (don't forget a light for the tunnel). Are you going it alone? I spoke with a guy in the bike shop about three weeks ago that did ti with 2 friends...they did it in total of 17 hours including stops (leisurely lunch and none of them coordinated on 'bathroom breaks').

oh-- and HAVE FUN!

train safe-

A soft / cushy saddle will actually make things worse overall, as you're likely to chafe and cause other problems. If you're already used to it, a Brooks will be ok.

Softer grips will also be counter-productive, as you may wind up gripping a bit too hard and thus adding to hand strain. If you have flatbars you can go for the Ergon grips, they pwn. Not sure what you should do if you've got drops.

Thudbuster sounds like a better idea to me. You might also want to use tires with some tread and a lower PSI, you probably won't need knobblies though.

For what it's worth, you may want to check out a book on long distance cycling. I picked up one recently (iirc the one written by Burke?) which includes some discussion of mtb / offroad long distance techniques.

How long is this C&O thingee...?

Good luck!!!

Weather should be nice, path won't be muddy at all. It's too late to experiment with different saddles imho - use whatever your bottom is used to. Again, good luck!

When I rode the towpath last summer (4 day trip with Scouts), by the 3rd day, I was wishing I had aerobars (wide spaced for stability) or someplace to rest my arms and relieve my wrists. Expect lots of vibration and anything that can rattle or shake loose will! (You probably know that). Several people on our group used camelbacks and I'd bring one plus bike bottles. Oh - bring a warning bell - required by the Park Service and it's be a bummer if your trip got messed up by a zealous ranger! Have a great time and look forward to the TR.

OK Seems everybody says to leave the seat alone. Done! Handle bars left alone as well.
Bacciagalupe: C&O is 186 miles of flat (semi)pack dirt.
ks1g: Bell, Good point, especially since this is a weekend. I hate the damn things but they have their place.
buelito: I'm going it alone.
Bacciagalupe: Seatpost: might check out at lunch
I'll leave tonight, sleep at the trail head in my vanagon(hotel is $123.00!!), wake up and ride by 5ish. I'm psyched!! Thanks for the input. Trip report to follow, whether I make it or not. Charlie
PS I'm bring lots of butt butter!!

Way cool Charlie! Nice goal, I'd like to do that someday.

Well I did it!!! It was brutal. I started at 5:02 AM!!! It’s really dark in Cumberland at that time. I used a cheesy hiking headlamp for this first hour. Had to go real slow. I wanted to save my good light for the final section. The first 100 miles were smooth as silk. I felt strong. I was averaging 15mph once the sun was up. I had to make myself slow down. Hardly took any breaks. Around mile 100-120 I was beginning to have serious doubt, legs cramping, stomach was tired of gu and bars, neck was in pain, feet falling asleep, hands going numb. My “Georgetown ride home” was on this part of the trail and flagged me down. We road for a while, he fed me potato chips and ICE water. I rested 20 minutes for my first real break and put on fresh clothes. I was rejuvenated! I rode easily to mile 140 with him (before he went to Georgetown) and then I was alone for the final 50. I popped a few ibuprofens. I never felt good for the rest of the ride but knew I could make it. The pills really helped my neck but my stomach wasn’t pleased. It took a lot longer to finish the last 60 miles, as I had to rest almost every 15 miles. Quite a shock arriving in Georgetown, cars, people, noise. I was ringing my bell all the way to Thompson’s Boathouse.
Weather: perfect
Trail: dry, rut free, fast and dusty (coated my legs, bike and water bottles), very very dark at 5:00AM and 8:30PM.
Bike: flawless (I had tighten every screw, clean and lubed the whole beast, replaced the chain/rear cassette and left the seat alone)
Food: I may never eat gu again though I am sure it helped. 3 peanut butter sandwiches, 2 blueberry muffins, 2 bananas, strawberries, peach, gu, gu ,gu, cliff bars, cliff bars, cliff bars, cytomax powder energy drink
Body: I am in some pain today with a couple of numb toes, sore and slightly numb a$$, hands have slight bruising, neck is sore, legs tired but good. Stomach was never feeling good after 100 miles. I think more real would have been better. I filled it up today.
The numbers: departure 5:02 AM, completion 9:22PM, total 16 hour 20 min. avg speed 13.89mph, distance 188.7 miles, total time on bike 13:35:52 hours (apparently I took more breaks that I thought-most came in the final 60).

This was one of the most physically demanding adventures I have ever put my body through. I am very thankful for y’alls advice. It was great to have some extra clothes, leaving the seat and handlebars alone, info on trail conditions, parking info. I wanted to park in the trailhead lot and sleep in my van. Cumberland was having a huge street party so this plan was aborted. Anyway I think I planned it well, training, bike maintenance, food (could have been a little better) and clothes. Even had a shot of Irish whiskey at the end. The stomach was happy to finally recognize something. Later Charlie

congratulations!!! great that you could do it--and I am doubly impressed as you did it alone... :)

train safe-

Well I did it!!! It was brutal. I started at 5:02 AM!!! It’s really dark in Cumberland at that time. I used a cheesy hiking headlamp for this first hour. Had to go real slow. I wanted to save my good light for the final section. The first 100 miles were smooth as silk. I felt strong. I was averaging 15mph once the sun was up. I had to make myself slow down. Hardly took any breaks. Around mile 100-120 I was beginning to have serious doubt, legs cramping, stomach was tired of gu and bars, neck was in pain, feet falling asleep, hands going numb. My “Georgetown ride home” was on this part of the trail and flagged me down. We road for a while, he fed me potato chips and ICE water. I rested 20 minutes for my first real break and put on fresh clothes. I was rejuvenated! I rode easily to mile 140 with him (before he went to Georgetown) and then I was alone for the final 50. I popped a few ibuprofens. I never felt good for the rest of the ride but knew I could make it. The pills really helped my neck but my stomach wasn’t pleased. It took a lot longer to finish the last 60 miles, as I had to rest almost every 15 miles. Quite a shock arriving in Georgetown, cars, people, noise. I was ringing my bell all the way to Thompson’s Boathouse.
Weather: perfect
Trail: dry, rut free, fast and dusty (coated my legs, bike and water bottles), very very dark at 5:00AM and 8:30PM.
Bike: flawless (I had tighten every screw, clean and lubed the whole beast, replaced the chain/rear cassette and left the seat alone)
Food: I may never eat gu again though I am sure it helped. 3 peanut butter sandwiches, 2 blueberry muffins, 2 bananas, strawberries, peach, gu, gu ,gu, cliff bars, cliff bars, cliff bars, cytomax powder energy drink
Body: I am in some pain today with a couple of numb toes, sore and slightly numb a$$, hands have slight bruising, neck is sore, legs tired but good. Stomach was never feeling good after 100 miles. I think more real would have been better. I filled it up today.
The numbers: departure 5:02 AM, completion 9:22PM, total 16 hour 20 min. avg speed 13.89mph, distance 188.7 miles, total time on bike 13:35:52 hours (apparently I took more breaks that I thought-most came in the final 60).

This was one of the most physically demanding adventures I have ever put my body through. I am very thankful for y’alls advice. It was great to have some extra clothes, leaving the seat and handlebars alone, info on trail conditions, parking info. I wanted to park in the trailhead lot and sleep in my van. Cumberland was having a huge street party so this plan was aborted. Anyway I think I planned it well, training, bike maintenance, food (could have been a little better) and clothes. Even had a shot of Irish whiskey at the end. The stomach was happy to finally recognize something. Later Charlie


Congrats~!

Nicely done. Sounds like you'll be starting a brevet series next year? ;)

Did you go through Haper's Ferry? One of my favorite spots...

Congrats on a serious accomplishment!! I rode the whole canal earlier this summer over 4 days and my arms & a** were a little sore at that pace. I'm glad everything worked out so well for you.

Sounds like you had tons of fun! Congratulations!

For next time, try to eat more solid food at the beginning of the ride and save the gu until later when you really need faster pick me ups...

Great riding! Congrats. That is a lot of miles for one day

Fabulous job!! Although the C&O is flat it is NOT pavement.
I grew up right off Falls Rd (Potomac was a sleepy 4 corner town in the sticks and none of those mansions were built). I have hiked the entire C&O (not in one day) so I do admire the feat!!!

Great ride. Riding 180 miles on the C&O is like riding 270 on the street on a road bike. I've ridden the C&O but never in one day...or two.....

Congratulations Charlie! I wish we had trails like that over here on the west coast.
I know it's late now but regarding you Brooks saddle and your butt.....I was going to suggest you take with you a gel seat cover, just in case.....:)

Thanks everyone
2 weeks later report: The body has healed except slight numbness in my big toe. It is getting better but is taking it's time. Most body parts that were numb, returned to regular within 2 days. My neck was tight(not painful) for about a week. Stomach was better after a HUGE breakfast the next morning. I was back on the bike the Monday after the Saturday ride. A few butt issues that a seat cover took care of.
Looking back I need to work on my food intake as was mentioned by Extort. How do y'all deal with the neck pain. I was so tired of looking up. mnt and hybrids bikers would not have this kind of problem. Perhaps aero bars???
as to doing it alone. I rode about 20 miles with my return ride and it was wonderful, a godsend. One doesn't think about the pain while making simple conversation, time goes by much quicker. Looking for a new adventure!!

Charlie

balto charlie...for my BRP trip, I took Tylenol Arthitis Pain formula caplets twice a day as a preventative measure, since sometimes my lower back bothers me. I was pain free the whole trip. The caplets are 650mg, and the first layer is a normal quick dissolve, and the second layer is time release. I got a giant bottle of it at Costco very cheap.

If you neck was bothering you I bet adjusting your position to more upright on long rides would help alleviate that as well.

I think I ate too much on my BRP trip as my gut seemed to widen out towards the end of the trip. I actually came back heavier than when I started, although within a week of my return I was 5 lbs. lighter than before the trip. I think I was trying too aggressively to replace all the calories I was burning. Nex time I will just try and eat normal.

I marvel at your tenacity.
I elate in your audacity.
I despair at your lunacy.

cc