C&O In One Day?

[Jimbo]

Hi Folks,

I’ve been a lurker for a while and finally find that I need to reach out to the wisdom offered here. My basic question: Has anyone done the entire length of the C&O in one day?

As background, a few neighbors and I are recreational riders and are planning to ride the full length of the C&O in one day this spring. We are long time recreational (non-race) riders and ride year round, at least once, sometimes twice a week. Winter rides are shorter, about 30 miles on average, with summer rides being somewhat longer (and more frequent when we can squeeze in a mid-week ride), with at least a few rides in the 80 mile range, sometimes doing a full century. Thus, we are not novices but have never tried anything like the C&O in one day before.

We are knowledgeable about nutrition and hydration. We are planning a June trip to minimize higher summer temperatures (though the tree canopy helps reduce that issue a bit) and hydration issues. We all can or will be able to carry extra water (I have the seat-post mounted dual water bottler holder – best thing since they invented the bike). One rider in our group has ridden the full length of the C&O on a typical, multi-day trip and I have ridden ½ the towpath in a 1 ½ day trip and we routinely ride the lower portion so we are familiar with the course. On board will be spare tube, chain, basic tools and simply first aid stuff). There are obviously pros and cons of starting in DC or Cumberland, but we are leaning toward a Cumberland start (sometime before dawn, probably around 4:00 or 4:30 and yes, we have front and rear lights). We will begin training with longer rides in the spring to prepare. Our estimated pedal time is about 14 hours but that’s not a deadline or time to beat; it’s just our estimate based upon what little information I can find from others who have done this. If it takes longer, so be it. We know our pace and average cadence on longer rides and know to pace ourselves.

In addition to my general question about whether anyone on this forum has done this before, does anyone have any times or are there issues we are missing. I read the post from Dirt following his dual rides totaling 200+ in October (one was the Sea Gull Century that I did with my 9 year old daughter, though we just did the metric) so we have some additional information on the post-ride issues. Any other tips would be appreciated.

Thanks and apologies for the long post but I wanted to emphasize this is not a hair-brained stunt.

James

Topic

[CCrew]

Did it in one day on a bet. We left Cumberland @3am and ended at National Harbor at 7:45pm. Aired down cross bikes on 35’s to take the hammering from the rocks (and there are a lot) and other than that just basic repair/hydration necessities. There are actually pretty well spaced places to stop that don’t require that you pack heavily and we had a SAG vehicle that met us in Williamsport with an incredible lunch.

I will say that if you’re talking the Profile Design bottle holder bring some bungies to keep the bottles in place or they’ll be ejected like a mortar. Don’t ask how I know that!. We did it in May. June can be hit or miss on the heat.

[Marcella]

Check out the yahoo group for the towpath:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/coTowpath/

Lots and lots of information there. Also the Bike Washington site:

http://www.bikewashington.org/canal/index.php

[Mark Blacknell]

Yeah, if you’re confident in your legs, the place I’d be concerned about is your seat. That’s definitely a beating you’re looking at. So I’d definitely make sure I got in some good 8+ hour efforts on the path in prep for it. A few other thoughts:

1) Eat, eat, and eat some more. I rode with Dirt on that 200 miler, and (cue Coneheads) consuming massive quantities was definitely key.

2) If I were going with you, I’d vote for starting in Cumberland. Forces you to make sure you’ve got everything you need before you leave, and gives you the very nice mental space of “hey, it’s all downhill from here!” Also? I prefer to collapse in my own bed, no matter how nice the hotel.

3) Be prepared to bail if it has rained much before your planned ride date. Don’t know if you’ve ever ridden the towpath (outside of DC) after rain, but if you haven’t, it can *really* slow you down. Enough so that doing it in a day very well may not happen.

Last time I looked (a couple/few years ago), there were still a couple of good posts/blogs up about doing the C&O in a day. Worth search around for.

Good luck!

[Dirt]

As mark said, there are some soul sucking sections, that if damp, will increase the effort you must put out in order to hold a speed 5mph less than you want.

Salt is your friend. On your training rides start using salt supplements to get used to using them. I use Salt Sticks brand. Others use Sport Legs. Both are good.

[MCL1981]

From my experience on the tow path (which is only between Swain’s Lock and Georgetown), BUG SPRAY. And do it when there aren’t bugs. Forget the heat. The bugs will kill you before the heat does. They don’t bite or anything. But picture your car after driving through a huge swarm of knats. That will be your face and frankly the rest of your body too. When you get home, plan a decon shower with a garden hose outside.

[creadinger]

I also used bikewashington for my 3-day canal trip and found it to be pretty useful. And I just noticed that linked from the bikewashington site is a link to an app on itunes. Sheesh.

If you’re an iphone user, this may be useful!
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/c-o-companion/id457469128?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

[americancyclo]

@creadinger 13326 wrote:

If you’re an iphone user, this may be useful!
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/c-o-companion/id457469128?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

That is AWESOME! although I don’t have any idevices.

[MCL1981]

Also, what exactly do you define as “one day”. If you mean daylight, you have about 15 hours from say 5am to 9pm. Subtract 2hrs minimum for breaks, food, repairs, etc. You’ll need to be moving along at 15mph the whole way. That’s rough. Literally. Stretching it out over 24hrs would let you move at a much easier pace, more like 10-12mph. Batteries and lights.

[rcannon100]

Toured the C&O once. LOTS of vibrations. Had to cannibalize screws to get my pack rack back on. After a while your hands (and butt) can be numb from the vibrations.

That said, and I am not nearly the big biker as others, the C&O remains one of my favorite rides and I am longing to do it again (wish they let bikes on those damn trains).

[Jimbo]

Thanks for the replies and advice and suggested threads. That will defiitely help. Interestingly, one of my concerns too was my seat and how long it will be in the saddle but breaks, balm and stretching should help, tough there is no getting around the pounding it will take. I know carbs and salt (and electrolyte tabs) will be key. I intend to see a nutritionist at my physical therapy outfit to get some more personalized information and tips.

Yes, I have been on the path after rain both close to DC and around mile marker 99 (we camp often in Williamsport, MD just a few miles from an entry point to the C&O at MM 99). We intend to have alternate weekends just in case it rains before our first attempt.

Also, yes, by one day we mean one day, early rise and start (about 3:00 or 4:00 am) and all the way to MM 0 (or we collapse, which ever comes first). We have lights for the AM start. That’s another reason we are considering a start in Cumberland – if it looks like we won’t make it in a reasonable time, we are closer to home for a bailout.

Thanks again for the information.

I’ll post back in June with an update if we make it and any additional thoughts are appreciated.

James

[CCrew]

@rcannon100 13409 wrote:

Toured the C&O once. LOTS of vibrations. Had to cannibalize screws to get my pack rack back on. After a while your hands (and butt) can be numb from the vibrations.

Little trick I learned. On drop bars pipe insulation foam on the flats will give you a nice cushy place for some vibration relief. Less than a $5 relief mod.

[pfunkallstar]

Like others have already said, the mileage isn’t the main factor, it is your comfort with posterior numbness and riding on the trail in the dark. My advice would be to stock up on some chamois cream!

[mstone]

@MCL1981 13323 wrote:

From my experience on the tow path (which is only between Swain’s Lock and Georgetown), BUG SPRAY. And do it when there aren’t bugs. Forget the heat. The bugs will kill you before the heat does. They don’t bite or anything. But picture your car after driving through a huge swarm of knats. That will be your face and frankly the rest of your body too. When you get home, plan a decon shower with a garden hose outside.

+1 … my bike has come off that trail looking kind of furry.

[Author]

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