bobby c

Been there, done that. Sounds right, to a Californian a 6 mile city ride (albeit a beautiful one) is the best ride in America. Sure beats a nearly 400 mile path through nature along a path largely surveyed by George Washington.

If you double latte sippin', earth-shoe wearing, panty-waisted Californians ever want to do some real biking, there's a lot more biking to be found outside 3 blocks from a Starbucks.

https://www.atatrail.org/

Digital Gee

I posted my "best ride" post with my tongue squarely in my cheek.

And why didn't anyone give Big Paulie some grief? He started it!

Digital Gee

That place is sooooooo good! I have to wait until the ride's over or you're right -- I'd be tipsy!

bobby c

So - can't I post with my head squarely up somewhere?

Digital Gee

Only with pics, my friend! Only with pics!!!

Big Paulie

Ken Brown

I ride a Cannondale T-800 touring bike with 35mm tires. My friend rides a hybrid with similar tires. I wouldn't want to go much narrower on the C&O, which can be crude in places. The Allegheny Passage is limestone screenings and mostly very good.

MichiganMike

Glad to hear that. That's exactly the bike I have. I have some Schwalbe Marathon Supremes I bought for it, but am not going to put them on until after this Pittsburgh to DC trip in July. I don't think they wouild do all that well on that surface. Thanks for the info

Bill98006

Ken,
Thanks much for the post and pictures!! The wife and I would really like to do that ride and may go ahead and make the trip there to experience it.

Here is my entry into the "Best Ride in America" pageant. Actually two rides, one may be the best road bike ride there is and the other is hands down the most beautiful and enjoyable mountain bike ride there is. Best of all they are close together and very accessible.

Here's the web site for both rides: https://friendsofcdatrails.org/

The Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes is a 72-mile paved rail trail that runs from Plummer, Idaho across Lake Coeur d'Alene on the old railroad bridge and up to Mullan, Idaho just under the pass. It is wild and scenic and runs along rivers, between mountains and even thru wetlands.

The Hiawatha Trail is where I want to ride when I'm in Heaven. It starts in Montana just a short 2-mile ride up a dirt road from Mile Marker 4 of I-90. From there, it's a 2-mile ride thru a railroad tunnel (dark!!!), then it's a 13-mile descent down 1000 feet thru 8 more tunnels and 7 BIG railroad trestles (one is 450 feet long and 240 feet high). There is wildlife everywhere, deer, moose, I even had a Badger running down the trail in front of me. The trail is dirt/gravel but very well maintained. Check out the web site. It's so good people travel to ride it from all over the country now.

Bill

Terrierman

I have some nice memories of a couple of nights spent at the Hotel Del. It's a pretty good hotel with a decent restaurant too. The stay was not coincident with my MCRD action though.

Ken Brown

These look like wonderful rides! There are many wonderful rides across the continent but it is the 316 mile uninterrupted length of trail that makes this special. Perhaps I should have said "Best touring ride in America", because the Allegheny/C&O lends itself to tours of 6 - 10 days without having to retrace steps or use a car to get to the next section.

I am surprised that no one has suggested the Natchez Trace or Cabot Trail as the best. The Cabot Trail in Nova Scotia is very beautiful but hilly and you have to share the road with RVs. The Natchez Trace is 444 miles long and also has hills and vehicles, but sounds like a wonderful trip.

Ken

will dehne

I will try to talk my wife into that trip with our Tandem bike, soon.
Thanks for the pictures.

Ken Brown

I just realized that I mentioned Nova Scotia's Cabot Trail. While it is in the Americas, it is not really in "America". Incidentally, although it is called "trail", it is a road. It is very scenic though, perhaps similar to Hwy 1 through the Big Sur of California.