Well, I drove from where I'm living in Indiana (Bloomington) back to my parent's house here in the Frederick, MD area and I'm selling my car and biking home.

Looking at the map, I can't see many options other than Route 50 through WV. Not trying to ruin the adventure, but I was just wondering if anyone else has biked it before and if it's a good road. I know there's a rail trail that covers a good portion of it on the west side of the state. Any advice or experiences are appreciated.

Willy Chill

Can be ugly. Many parts of it have narrow to no shoulders with limited visibility and high speed coal and log trucks. I wouldn't ride it personally, but I do frequently see it done. I travel it often in a car. WV drivers can make NY/NJ ones seem like angels.

-R

sorry, i just did a search and saw that this has been asked a couple times. lots of good info in those posts. the c&o route is looking good...

I don't mean to sound like a broken record but, if you could make it to route 40 then you could cross ohio that way. Then once in Wheeling, WV Route 2 north to Weirton, then the panhandle trail to the montour trail to the Great Allegheny passage to the C&O. I pretty familiar with this area so let me know if you want to know more about this option.

thanks,

monkd

I would only consider doing Route 50 on a Sunday when there are few coal/log trucks. On any other day it's a death wish to try that road. I grew up in that area and coal truck drivers are a surly bunch.

I rode Rt 50 on my old BMW Motorcycle...a number of years ago when I was living in Olney, MD and running to Michigan to see my folks. Left the house in a soft rain, and caught 50 and rode it all the way into Ohio. I remember the smell of burning brake pads from the coal trucks on the downhills into towns. I remember NO shoulders on the road, lots of gravel and FOG in the valleys. NOT the place for a bike, and that was about 20 years ago...

I guess I'd look for another route....

Tractor Tom in Okeechobee