therossinator

I am a college student and I only have a couple weeks free this summer. I bought a 2007 Trek 1000 about a month ago and added some panniers. I have a tent and sleeping bag. I have never ridden more than maybe four hours in one day, but I am a rower and physically, should easily handle the task. I guess I am just ambitious. I want to ride from Annapolis, MD to Blowing Rock, NC(just an arbitrary destination that looks interesting to me, any better suggestions?) and back during the second half of July. I will, like most students, be traveling on extremely little money.

I have Armadillo tires, REI panniers, very basic lights, a tiny pump, and a couple extra tubes. I figure if I pack my sleeping bag, my one man tent, some clothes and some food, print off maps of the east coast greenway or bicycle route one and I should be good to go.

The two questions I have are:
Is there anything I'm missing? I realize I need a more comprehensive packing list, but I can't afford big ticket items like a GPS.

Would anyone like to join me? I live in a school that has no virtually sociability with the region around it. I don't know of any touring clubs or anything around the Annapolis/DC area, but I haven't really been looking. Are there?

I hope you guys can help and appreciate any and all advice.
V/R
Jeff

B. Carfree

I did that ride in '86 as part of a ride from Pittsburgh to Atlanta. I never thought I would hear of Blowing Rock again in my life.

The only real advice I can give you in the present tense is to take care of your saddle/hindquarters. No matter how fit you are, if your bum goes you're toast. Get some nice cycling shorts and make sure your saddle is comfortable.

By the way, beware the apple cider at the roadside stands. Or, at least don't drink a gallon at one sitting like I did.

ezdoesit

therossinator , could you supply a little more details such as:
how many days,how many miles a day,camping or hotels/hostels
I might be interested.

The Human Car

Hmmm, cycling + tent camping + low cost + inexperience = C&O + GAP IMHO

It's a well traveled route so in case of trouble you can usually find a helpful sole. Camping is free on the C&O and lot's of flexibility on miles per day. Lots and lots of green and mostly no cars. Thought parts got washed out after our winter storm and I don't know what the latest status is.

the sloth

I also recommend the C&O / GAP. Great tour especially in the summer... camping is easy, plentiful water sources, lots of swimming opportunities, and it's in the SHADE. I rode C&O from Cumberland to DC last month and the trail is in pretty good shape. Take the fattest tires your bike will fit... I rode 32's and would have preferred fatter.

Touring at this time of year is hot... some friends and I rode from Baltimore to the NC Outer Banks a few years ago, one friend had to be put into the hospital for severe dehydration. I remember carrying two gallons of water on my bike, one to drink and the other to pour on myself...

maxine

Hmmm . . . sorry for the thread hijack, but what was your route? I live just south of Baltimore, and I spend a week at the Outer Banks every year in a big house with a group of friends. I've toyed with the idea of riding down there.

To the OP -- there is a big bike club in DC, Potomac Pedalers Touring Club. https://www.bikepptc.org/ Check them out. The Bike Washington site also has a lot of good links to trails and routes. https://www.bikewashington.org/ I have to agree with my pal The Car, though -- -- if your tires are fat enough, the C&O/GAP is a great place for a relatively inexperienced rider to get the very first taste of touring. https://www.bikewashington.org/canal/ https://www.bikewashington.org/trails/gap/index.htm

the sloth

We used the ACA Atlantic coast route - it was a nice route but we did end up deviating in several places, especially where the back roads route had us crisscrossing over Route 1 in VA where there was very little traffic and a wide shoulder. Camping was mainly in the woods on the roadside, including one sleepless night by Fort AP Hill (stupid!), as well as some really nice people's farmland. It was also a lot hillier than I thought it was going to be...

Jerry L

Another thought is to take the W & OD trail out of Washington D.C. to Leesburg, Va., then make your way to Skyline Drive in Front Royal, Va. and follow that south to the Blue Ridge Parkway and then you'll end up in North Carolina. All free camping on the drive and parkway.