Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Shake, Rattle and Roll - The Neils on Wheels Pittsburgh/DC Tour Thread

Ouch- heal fast, Neil! And kudos Neil F- not just for the finish, but for being a real mensch in bringing Neil B across the line. Good show!

It didn't, although I'm annoyed I didn't finish a tour I spent months arranging. Also, I landed on my camera, which ate the 500 images I'd taken. :-(

I got home today and gave my husband a big hug and kiss... and thanked him for every time he's provided support to Libby and me on our many adventures. You began the tour and ended at Mile 0. You had fun, saw sights that you would not have had you not taken the tour, you gained experience camping, you discovered what worked, what didn't and I'm sure you have a list of what you could/would change the next time. [You did tell me there *would* be a next time.] You have the my admiration (not that that means much) - you gave it your best try, and it must have taken great resolve to ride 90 miles with a broken rib and road rash (maybe we should rename the "wussy wagon"?). Oh, and that beautiful black, purple and blue bruise on your lower thigh - are they the new Clyde colors?

I came home enriched by the friends I've made and the people I've met. Thanks.

BTW - I told Libby about your pictures - she said, "That just sucks..."

Hey Neil B!

I'm so sorry that it was a broken rib......I very much admire your determination to go on with the pain....says a lot about your character....however, I absolutely understand your having to abandon the ride itself....man, 90 miles on a broken rib?....bouncing up and down the towpath? .... you are my hero!:D

Take some well deserved time off....rest the wounds .... and then get right back on Roark and do some more epic riding! We love to hear of Neils on Wheels exploits...:thumb:

Hey Neil B!

I'm so sorry that it was a broken rib......I very much admire your determination to go on with the pain....says a lot about your character....however, I absolutely understand your having to abandon the ride itself....man, 90 miles on a broken rib?....bouncing up and down the towpath? .... you are my hero!:D

Take some well deserved time off....rest the wounds .... and then get right back on Roark and do some more epic riding! We love to hear of Neils on Wheels exploits...:thumb:

From left to right, Neil F.. Barndoor, and Neil B. My broken rib is facing the camera.

From left to right, Neil F.. Barndoor, and Neil B. My broken rib is facing the camera.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3282/2562515617_e054828d0b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/neilfein/2562515617/)




a quickr pickr (http://quickrpickr.com) post

So is Jake ever going to post the photo of me on the recumbent? That should be good for a laugh.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3154/2542754464_7cbb11fd02_o.jpg

Congratulations on the tour to both of you. I hope that your able to heal up and come back better than ever. It's probably been said already but I am really looking forward to the ride reports, even without some pictures I can't wait to hear how Neil B narrates this.

Neil F, think there are going to be any songs from this adventure?

Neil, 90 miles with a broken rib? You ain't no wussie, that's for sure. :D

Neil B, man, all I have to say is that I'm impressed. More like, in awe. You lose weight, you learn to ride a bicycle, then you ride 90 miles all beat up WITH a broken rib?

*bow*

Congratulations on the tour to both of you. I hope that your able to heal up and come back better than ever. It's probably been said already but I am really looking forward to the ride reports, even without some pictures I can't wait to hear how Neil B narrates this.

Neil F, think there are going to be any songs from this adventure?

I don't think so, two songs about cycling is plenty for now. One never knows, though.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3099/2563337928_75a4c614a4.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/neilfein/2563337928/)
Neil B in front of the sign for the Eastern Continental Divide. It's all downhill from here... whichever way you're going.



a quickr pickr (http://quickrpickr.com) post

Neil B, man, all I have to say is that I'm impressed. More like, in awe. You lose weight, you learn to ride a bicycle, then you ride 90 miles all beat up WITH a broken rib?

*bow*

Unfortunately, I didn't know about the broken rib at the time. I thought I had some internal bruising, and that explained the occasional soreness I felt when taking deep breaths. My core muscles must have taken a beating, and I felt severe back pain as I 'compensated' by using other muscles for balance. And the C & O Canal towpath was very rough and muddy.

24 miles into the towpath, a volunteer on the bike patrol stopped and spoke to me. I openly said I wasn't sure I could make my destination of Indigo Creek campsite. He suggested I stop at Paw Paw, in four miles, and rest in town. I said I might, and I continued on. The volunteer thought I WAS going to stop at Paw Paw, waited for me, and when I didn't show up, had the NPS put out an APB for me.....

Congratulations on the tour to both of you. I hope that your able to heal up and come back better than ever. It's probably been said already but I am really looking forward to the ride reports, even without some pictures I can't wait to hear how Neil B narrates this.


See the "For Martha" thread, my account of Neil F's century ride on gravel and dirt in 90 degree heat carrying panniers and, for some of the ride, a tent and sleeping bag. Lots of photos there - unfortunately those were some of the only photos to come out.

It didn't, although I'm annoyed I didn't finish a tour I spent months arranging. Also, I landed on my camera, which ate the 500 images I'd taken. :-(

I do have photos from the last day. Here's one of them, a fog-covered Potomac River taken at Taylor's Landing trailhead.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3003/2562190799_55e4d6bf3b_b.jpg

24 miles into the towpath, a volunteer on the bike patrol stopped and spoke to me. I openly said I wasn't sure I could make my destination of Indigo Creek campsite. He suggested I stop at Paw Paw, in four miles, and rest in town. I said I might, and I continued on. The volunteer thought I WAS going to stop at Paw Paw, waited for me, and when I didn't show up, had the NPS put out an APB for me.....


This in itself is quite the adventure! When I met Neil B at Williamsport, he could hardly get out of the car. This is an amazing feat to be able to bike 90 miles with a broken rib. This will be the legend of the Clyde forum for years to come. Stormcrowe may have the longest single day ride, but is anyone willing to try and break this record of 90 miles on a broken rib? I think I"ll pass.

This in itself is quite the adventure! When I met Neil B at Williamsport, he could hardly get out of the car. This is an amazing feat to be able to bike 90 miles with a broken rib. This will be the legend of the Clyde forum for years to come. Stormcrowe may have the longest single day ride, but is anyone willing to try and break this record of 90 miles on a broken rib? I think I"ll pass.

Yes, moving was a LITTLE difficult then. And now. :) Between moments of Neil-chasing I was given the chance to see the Sharpsburg battlefield on Saturday, and I wasn't strong enough to get out of the car. Judy had to cart me around on a non-stop auto tour, I snapping photos through the window.

Actually, it was 45 miles one day, 45 the next, with a night of camping in between. And yes, I did set up and break my own camp. Neil F. worked the camp pump for me, since I wasn't strong enough.

Seriously, while we are joking about it now, I was in very real danger of puncturing my left lung by riding, and I don't recommend anyone do as I did.

Ouch- heal fast, Neil! And kudos Neil F- not just for the finish, but for being a real mensch in bringing Neil B across the line. Good show!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3119/2562511471_73b4749f83_b.jpg

Sorry to hear about your bad luck.
Looks like you guys still had lots of fun.
Thanks for the pics and for sharing with us.

Neil B.

Man, I wish we had figured out how bad you were when you were here in Cumberland:(. I should have pushed at least a little bit more on the visit the hospital idea when it first came up. Your an amazing guy to keep pushing.

Niel F.

The determination to finish ride off in a truly epic manner and stick with your friend through the tough times is awesome as well.

You both make me a richer person for having been a very small part of the trip and I'll use your determination to help get me back on track with my training for a century ride here in 4 weeks.

Nathan

You both make me a richer person for having been a very small part of the trip and I'll use your determination to help get me back on track with my training for a century ride here in 4 weeks.

Do that century on the C&O! It's a lot more fun than long rides on the road, and I know you have a mountain bike. (I wish i had had mine. I'm considering building up one to replace the dead MTB, but that's for the future, perhaps 2009.)

Neil B.

Man, I wish we had figured out how bad you were when you were here in Cumberland:(. I should have pushed at least a little bit more on the visit the hospital idea when it first came up. Your an amazing guy to keep pushing.


You, Neil, and Hutch at Cumberland Trail Connection did all you could. Thanks, but the decision to keep going was entirely mine. However, both my experience and inexperience showed when deciding.

First, when I noticed the pain in my left side when breathing deeply, I thought it was merely bruising, and I'd have some soreness for a few days. I hate to brag, but living with scoliosis for me is living with pain management. I have never ridden a bike without some level of discomfort, so the soreness didn't bother me. Hutch asked about chest pain, and since it wasn't "pain" to me, but soreness, I didn't pay much attention to it.

Secondly, I'd never had a broken bone before, and certainly never a cracked rib, so I didn't notice the danger signs. Again, had I known how serious the problem was, I would have ended the tour there. I know Neil F. would have sent me home had he known.

This in itself is quite the adventure! When I met Neil B at Williamsport, he could hardly get out of the car. This is an amazing feat to be able to bike 90 miles with a broken rib. This will be the legend of the Clyde forum for years to come. Stormcrowe may have the longest single day ride, but is anyone willing to try and break this record of 90 miles on a broken rib? I think I"ll pass.

Our hero may remain humble, but I agree. I don't think anyone here will ever break the record, or have the steel cajones to do something as tough as that. Neil B is now our resident Ironman!

Hey everybody.....another thing that is amazing about these touring Neils....

Did anyone notice what type of bikes these guys rode on this tour? .... no, not mountain bikes with suspensions......they rode road bikes(comfort-type bikes , actually)....if you've ever ridden on the C&O canal on a road bike, you know what I'm talking about.

...it's a wonder either of them have any teeth left! .... amazing....

Hey everybody.....another thing that is amazing about these touring Neils....

Did anyone notice what type of bikes these guys rode on this tour? .... no, not mountain bikes with suspensions......they rode road bikes(comfort-type bikes , actually)....if you've ever ridden on the C&O canal on a road bike, you know what I'm talking about.

...it's a wonder either of them have any teeth left! .... amazing....

Actually, mine is a touring road bike. 26" knobbies would have been best for the C&O, but my Randonee is built to haul stuff comfortably. I was amazed at how nimble it was danciong with roots and potholes. It doesn't handle mud all that well, though, and I was a little nervous about wiping out on the mud. Neil seemed to have similar problems; his hybrid also runs 700cm wheels, with the addition of not being designed to carry a load, let alone haul a 1-wheeled trailer.

Actually, mine is a touring road bike. 26" knobbies would have been best for the C&O, but my Randonee is built to haul stuff comfortably. I was amazed at how nimble it was dancing with roots and potholes. It doesn't handle mud all that well, though, and I was a little nervous about wiping out on the mud. Neil seemed to have similar problems; his hybrid also runs 700cm wheels, with the addition of not being designed to carry a load, let alone haul a 1-wheeled trailer.

Actually, Roark handles the trailer OK. It was more a problem of the rider's skill level and the trailer being poorly loaded that caused the problems. The first two days of the tour I was lugging far too much stuff, including a guitar. The last two days I was riding with a fractured rib. And our loading of it left something to be desired.

Ouch- heal fast, Neil! And kudos Neil F- not just for the finish, but for being a real mensch in bringing Neil B across the line. Good show!

Thanks! Neil planned this tour, and he's my friend. Of course I did! Judy joined us in the ride to mile 0 for similar reasons; without her and Neil as SAG, Neil would have had a rough time getting home, and my ride to DC would have been a lot harder and slower.

Sorry I missed you guys...

Headed out from DC to meet you and ended up turning back around 1. Trail was muddy and it was scary HOT. I got in 75 miles and it was tough -- so kudos to Neil for sticking it out.

Sorry I missed you guys...

Headed out from DC to meet you and ended up turning back around 1. Trail was muddy and it was scary HOT. I got in 75 miles and it was tough -- so kudos to Neil for sticking it out.

One PM saw Neil cooling off in Brunswick. He's fast, but not THAT fast. Next time we ride the Passage and Towpath, or when we visit DC, we'll try to hook up.

BTW, before Neil F. saw the weather forecast, I suggested the W&OD Trail as an alternate to the towpath. I understand that trail is good for centuries. :)

And kudos Neil F- not just for the finish, but for being a real mensch in bringing Neil B across the line.

I had my bike out and was going to walk it to the milepost as a show of unity with my partner, but I was surprised that Neil F. urged me to ride it. It was about a hundred fifty feet, but still, I did ride, as best I could.

You can tell all is not well with me in the Milepost 0 photo. I'm using Neil F and the milepost to stay upright.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3039/2562516885_dd478c1fcf_b.jpg

One PM saw Neil cooling off in Brunswick. He's fast, but not THAT fast. Next time we ride the Passage and Towpath, or when we visit DC, we'll try to hook up.

BTW, before Neil F. saw the weather forecast, I suggested the W&OD Trail as an alternate to the towpath. I understand that trail is good for centuries. :)

It's an awesome trail -- let me know anytime you're interested.

As for Saturday, my timeline was determined by a family commitment -- needed to be home by 4, alas. As compelling as meeting sweaty neils was, it's not as compelling as a 4-year-old and a date at the pool. :rolleyes:

Good luck guys!! If you could post some of your planning notes and tips learned along the way that would be great - that route will probably be my first multi day tour at some point in the future.

OK, here's what I should have considered before the trip:

The Great Allegheny Passage - the GAP, or as the locals call it 'the Passage' - is a very different trail than the C & O Canal Towpath. The GAP is well-maintained crushed limestone, and passes through a number of towns that offer trailside services. The towpath is an underfunded National Park, and is a bumpy, muddy, narrow trail with tree roots, rocks, and potholes. Towns aren't as close, and services are much less plentiful. Also, the scenery is a lot more varied on the GAP than the towpath. You are climbing a mountain range on the GAP, and there are a lot of high bridges and three tunnels.

That said, if you want to do both, here are my suggestions:

1. Don't start or end in Pittsburgh. The roads are not bike friendly. Until the trail is complete to Pittsburgh, use McKeesport or Boston as the start.

2. Be prepared for the absence of cellular service. Much of the time in the less populated areas you will not be able to get a signal. This applies to other services as well - it's 19 miles between Confluence and Rockwood on the GAP, for instance, and 18 miles between Connellsville and Ohiopyle. If you run out of water....

3. Decide the type of lodging you want to have. Both trails are great for camping. Many, but not all, of the trail towns have inns or B & Bs.

4. There are free campgrounds on both trails, but they are primitive, meaning no running water. There are some commercial campgrounds that are a little more civilized. Also, there are hostels in Meyersdale and Harper's Ferry.

5. Both trails are near active rail lines. If you are a light sleeper, bring earplugs.

6. Bring bug repellent and sunscreen.

7. The further you travel from the trail, the more climbing you will do. Frostburg, MD, is a good example, and a bad choice for Neil and I for lodging - the city is on top of a mountain.

8. Bring lights for the four tunnels - Big Savage, Brush, Borden, and Paw-Paw. The shortest is 900 feet, the longest nearly a mile.

9. Decide if you are sightseeing or recording mileage. We met someone riding the Pittsburgh to Cumberland trip in a single day. That's 150 miles. He probably rode it all and saw nothing. That's his loss.

10. Speaking of sightseeing, the closer you get to DC, the more pedestrians you will find on the trail, especially on weekends. Around Great Falls is particularly bad.

11. When you are ready to ride it, please invite me along. I'll promise to be more careful on train tracks in the future.

11. When you are ready to ride it, please invite me along. I'll promise to be more careful on train tracks in the future.

Absolutely!

Ouch- heal fast, Neil!

So far so good. I had planned today as a recovery day for the ride, but it turned into a recovery day for the fall. The bruises are fading, the swelling on the heels of my palms has subsided, and a day of sleeping and no cycling or extensive car travel has made me feel much better. I still have discomfort when bending, stooping, turning awkwardly, or breathing deeply, but that is to be expected. I'm 1000 per cent better than I was riding the C & O.

Broken rib. Off the bike for up to 8 weeks. More when I get home.

Best response so far:

Me: "I had to stop riding because I broke a rib."

Dennis: "Yours or Neil's?"

Absolutely!

One last point: if you are riding with others, and they ride at differing rates of speed, work out how you are going to deal with the problem. Neil and I never found a satisfactory solution, and it was a constant source of tension between us. He thought I was too slow, and I felt like I was being dropped on a tour I'd spent months organizing.

It is tough sometimes when you have much different speeds. I usually have about 12.8 AVS on the gravel trails.

Hey everybody.....another thing that is amazing about these touring Neils....

Did anyone notice what type of bikes these guys rode on this tour? .... no, not mountain bikes with suspensions......they rode road bikes(comfort-type bikes , actually)....if you've ever ridden on the C&O canal on a road bike, you know what I'm talking about.

...it's a wonder either of them have any teeth left! .... amazing....

Two other points:

Neil's touring bike was new, and he was breaking in a new saddle on a 350 mile ride. OUCH!

My bike had a carbon fork, which I imagine isn't common on the towpath.

It's an awesome trail -- let me know anytime you're interested.


OK. If I decide to return to complete the ride, I may use some of the W&OD instead of the towpath.

I got home today and gave my husband a big hug and kiss... and thanked him for every time he's provided support to Libby and me on our many adventures. You began the tour and ended at Mile 0. You had fun, saw sights that you would not have had you not taken the tour, you gained experience camping, you discovered what worked, what didn't and I'm sure you have a list of what you could/would change the next time. [You did tell me there *would* be a next time.] You have the my admiration (not that that means much) - you gave it your best try, and it must have taken great resolve to ride 90 miles with a broken rib and road rash (maybe we should rename the "wussy wagon"?). Oh, and that beautiful black, purple and blue bruise on your lower thigh - are they the new Clyde colors?

I came home enriched by the friends I've made and the people I've met. Thanks.

BTW - I told Libby about your pictures - she said, "That just sucks..."

Yes, I did reach Mile 0. But I didn't RIDE to Mile 0. I went by car for 100 miles. I can't help but feel I cheated myself by not riding all the way, even though I was clearly unable to continue.

That said, I was finding the towpath boring compared to the Passage. So my feeling that I need to complete the remaining 100 miles to DC could be compared to wanting to finish reading a book you find boring, simply because you started reading it.

One last point: if you are riding with others, and they ride at differing rates of speed, work out how you are going to deal with the problem. Neil and I never found a satisfactory solution, and it was a constant source of tension between us. He thought I was too slow, and I felt like I was being dropped on a tour I'd spent months organizing.

Over a mile or two, my partner is faster than me. Over long miles, I come out faster. So on a lot of trips, I trail along behind him, even if it's short enough that he's the speed demon. Doesn't hurt me any to practice sprinting, and unless I'm very tired indeed, I don't mind being dropped. He *does* mind being dropped, and gets a lot of joy out of being fast enough to lose me :). I think having someone in the relationship who doesn't mind being dropped makes it work better for us.

A lot of the time tho, we prefer to ride side by side. We can talk for hours and then neither one of us cares about the speed.

Over a mile or two, my partner is faster than me. Over long miles, I come out faster. So on a lot of trips, I trail along behind him, even if it's short enough that he's the speed demon. Doesn't hurt me any to practice sprinting, and unless I'm very tired indeed, I don't mind being dropped. He *does* mind being dropped, and gets a lot of joy out of being fast enough to lose me :). I think having someone in the relationship who doesn't mind being dropped makes it work better for us.

A lot of the time tho, we prefer to ride side by side. We can talk for hours and then neither one of us cares about the speed.

On the day after the crash, I rode alone for nearly 5 and a half hours.

OK, here's what I should have considered before the trip:

You are climbing a mountain range on the GAP, and there are a lot of high bridges and three tunnels.

:twitchy: How do these compare to my favorite bridge in your area? Will I need to crawl across these also:o

That said, if you want to do both, here are my suggestions:


11. When you are ready to ride it, please invite me along. I'll promise to be more careful on train tracks in the future.

This trail is on my list of places to ride after retirement. I'll be sure to invite you along:)

:twitchy: How do these compare to my favorite bridge in your area? Will I need to crawl across these also:o



This trail is on my list of places to ride after retirement. I'll be sure to invite you along:)

A few of the bridges are wood planking, which is a quite durable material when it's not being treated with salt to keep it clear for motor vehicles. All the bridges are much safer-looking than the "Betzwood Boardwalk" in Valley Forge, which is the pedestrian/bicycle bridge you refer to. I doubt you'd have any concern about the bridges on the Passage.

Another fellow riding the towpath took this photo of me at Fort Frederick. When I go back, I want to tour the fort - Neil and Barndoor blew by it and I didn't have time to tour it.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3274/2569967211_2f5edcb20b_b.jpg

That's an EASY one! Ride a Tandem!

One last point: if you are riding with others, and they ride at differing rates of speed, work out how you are going to deal with the problem. Neil and I never found a satisfactory solution, and it was a constant source of tension between us. He thought I was too slow, and I felt like I was being dropped on a tour I'd spent months organizing.

That's an EASY one! Ride a Tandem!

I can always ride in Neil's trailer.

ON a tour? Speed? I generally don't worry about speed if I don't have to be somewhere by any specific time or if I'm on a long ride. On shorter rides (<30 miles) I like to kick it up a notch to get my exercise in, but on longer rides, eh. Then again, everyone is different and I have no idea what your concepts of "slow" are in comparison to mine.

ON a tour? Speed? I generally don't worry about speed if I don't have to be somewhere by any specific time or if I'm on a long ride. On shorter rides (<30 miles) I like to kick it up a notch to get my exercise in, but on longer rides, eh. Then again, everyone is different and I have no idea what your concepts of "slow" are in comparison to mine.

The best reason to me to keep up a good pace is to get to the campsite early enough that we can set up the tents before sunset, and just plain have time to unwind. When staying in a B&B, having time for laundry and a two-hour bath is always nice.

I think the fastest rolling average I kept up was on the last day, 10.4 mph. Since I was doing so much distance, I really didn't stop to see much. That day was more of a stunt than a tour. Fun, though.

Have a busy week and stay away from the forum and look what happens.

Hey Neil B. Heal well dude!!! To push through 90 miles with a broken rib shows what you're made of... and it is good stuff!

And congrats to both Neils for getting the "job" done!

So far so good. I had planned today as a recovery day for the ride, but it turned into a recovery day for the fall. The bruises are fading, the swelling on the heels of my palms has subsided, and a day of sleeping and no cycling or extensive car travel has made me feel much better. I still have discomfort when bending, stooping, turning awkwardly, or breathing deeply, but that is to be expected. I'm 1000 per cent better than I was riding the C & O.

Great- keep it up! You'll get your range of motion without pain back again. Good to see you representin' the BCP in some of your pics.