Originally Posted by
rm -rf
Even hard packed trails like the GAP take more power than riding on paved roads.
So, you might consider a 60 mile trail ride to be more like an 80+ mile road ride. It would help if you can do a test ride this spring on an unpaved trail -- to see if you want to cut back the daily mileage on the GAP.
Also consider that the bumps on C&O punish butt & wrists, even for fit riders. My 50mm/2"-tire Trucker has a fairly smooth ride but on C&O I have to ride slow to minimize bumps. I wouldn't buy a special bike just to ride the C&O but ideally I'd like a bike with suspension fork & seatpost.