Fifty Plus (50+) - Bike Trip

I was in Pittsburgh this past week for work. I figured out how to do two trips this summer and now I am really psyched. I have to be in Washington DC on July 18-26. So, I am going to rent a car, drive to Pittsburgh then bike the bike path that now runs all the way from Pittsburgh to Washington DC. It's the Allegheny Trail, which connects to the C&O Canal Trail. Since I am going for work, I'll get reimbursed for the price of a round trip airline ticket which will pay for a lot of the trip.

Then I'll rent a car and drive back to Michigan from Washington. I can ship the clothes I'll need and my laptop to the office in DC, and I'm good to go. Have my room reservations all made on the stops along the trail and even ordered a new Ortlieb Handlebar Bag and their rack pack from Wayne at TheTouringStore.com to go on the back. Have a smallish set of Ortliebs for the front. Only time I will be on a road is from the Avis Office in Irwin PA down to McKeesport PA. I do mean down. I drove it last week to see what kind of road it is. Not bad. It's about 6 miles and probably 5-5.5 of it is downhill. In DC I can get off the path and go to the Hotel pretty easily which is in the general vicinity of the White House.

I have the month of Sep off so I can do a bigger trip then. I broke the news to my wife today and THAT even went over pretty well. The stars are aligned I tell you.

Life is good.

I am interested in such a trip. Can you post any links?
Thanks, Will

Sure. Here are both the links:

Allegheny Trail (http://www.atatrail.org/)

C&O Canal (http://bikewashington.org/canal/index.php)

I've done the C&0 and can say from that experience, I think you're gonna love this ride. Would very much like to do the Allegheny Passage part.

That trip is one that is on my "to do" list.

If you have some extra days in DC, let me know, there's lots of great road riding here not far from town.

Wow!! What a great bike trip!! Let us know how it goes.

Sounds like a wonderful trip. I would love to do the entire trail someday.

My daughter and I rode the trail near Ohiopyle a couple summers ago and loved it. Of course we'll be expecting a trip report with plenty of pictures:)

Last May a friend and I cycled the C&O canal, this May we will do the Allegheny Trail. The last section, between Cumberland and Frostburg, was just opened this past December.

Anyone doing this trip should consider a shuttle service to get from one end to the other, or anywhere in between. We used Freedom Trail Riders (http://www.freedomtrailriders.com/) and they were very dependable.

I have biked part of the C&O canal bikepath. Definitely not for skinny tires as it is not paved, but it is a wonderful ride. A mountain bike, touring or cross bike will be fine. My brother and I particularly liked the segment from Harpers Ferry, WV up to Sharpsburg, MD where we pedaled thru the Antietam Battlefield.

I have biked part of the C&O canal bikepath. Definitely not for skinny tires as it is not paved, but it is a wonderful ride. A mountain bike, touring or cross bike will be fine. My brother and I particularly liked the segment from Harpers Ferry, WV up to Sharpsburg, MD where we pedaled thru the Antietam Battlefield.

That's what I have heard. I have a Cannondale T800 with 700X35cc tires so I should be in good shape. Thanks for the info. I am cranked!

That's what I have heard. I have a Cannondale T800 with 700X35cc tires so I should be in good shape. Thanks for the info. I am cranked!
Me too. There had been a lot of rain 2 days before we started, which worried us, but it dried sufficiently. Photo shows my T800.

Wow! Great trip! How many miles and how long do you think it will take. Camping out or credit card camping? Keep all us jealous people informed!

Wow! Great trip! How many miles and how long do you think it will take. Camping out or credit card camping? Keep all us jealous people informed

I credit card so stops are dictated by where there is lodging (and sometimes where I have free rooms for). I will spend 4 nights on the trails. Staying in Ohiopyle, Frostburg, Hancock, and Harpers Ferry.

I believe it's right around 340 miles the way I have it figured. I'll ride 5 days total so the average mileage is pretty light at just under 70 per day. I am using this to kind of break in my bike and some new toys for a 15 day trip in Sep. This one is a freebee!

I am thinking of putting it on Crazy Guy on a Bike (www.crazyguyonabike.com) and combine it with my September trip.

Be aware that 70 miles on gravel is more work than on asphalt.

Be aware that 70 miles on gravel is more work than on asphalt.

Yep. I did the Katy Trail in Missouri a few years ago. It's around 220 miles in length. Did it out and back. NICE ride, but like you say the miles on that type of surface are a bit "longer" than road miles. Appreciate the feedback though.