GAP + C&O Training?

[btj]

@Bilsko 53998 wrote:

Oh Boy have I been looking for this! I’m hoping to be able to do the ride soon myself and this is route guidance gold right here

The GAP was recently finished (so there are no longer any detours) which is nice.

A couple variations from the GAP + C&O that we did (which are tracked in the strava rides): On day 3 we took the Western Maryland Rail Trail (http://www.westernmarylandrailtrail.org/WMRT/) for about 20 miles which was a great relief from the C&O. The WMRT is very smooth pavement and runs parallel to the C&O. On day 4 we took the CCT the last couple miles into Georgetown as our butts were glad to be done with the C&O (if I did it again I think I’d split up the C&O into 3 days instead of 2).

I’ll try to do a longer trip write up with more detail later.

[KLizotte]

I’m hoping to try out the WMRT for the first time this or next week. Do you recall if the cicadas were out along the route? I hate bugs.

[Jason B]

@btj 53953 wrote:

We did it! Four days, met lots of people, great trip, and I hurt all over. Thanks for all the advice, it is greatly appreciated and helped me get to the finish line.

Very, very impressive. Way to crank!

[Xarici]

@KLizotte 54036 wrote:

I’m hoping to try out the WMRT for the first time this or next week. Do you recall if the cicadas were out along the route? I hate bugs.

We did most of it over Memorial Day weekend (also a break from the C&O) and I don’t recall any, though not sure it being a bit chillier would be a factor.

[btj]

@KLizotte 54036 wrote:

I’m hoping to try out the WMRT for the first time this or next week. Do you recall if the cicadas were out along the route? I hate bugs.

I didn’t see any cicadas on the WMRT. I did notice plenty of mosquitos though.

[KLizotte]

@btj 54075 wrote:

I didn’t see any cicadas on the WMRT. I did notice plenty of mosquitos though.

This is outrageous! It is time for the Government to import bats into the area to eat all of these damn bugs. What is this country coming to?!

[btj]

@KLizotte 54097 wrote:

This is outrageous! It is time for the Government to import bats into the area to eat all of these damn bugs. What is this country coming to?!

Funny you say that because a fellow rider pointed out a bunch of bat houses along the trail. Just googled it and found an article about an abandoned railroad tunnel that has been preserved as-is for the bats instead of routing the WMRT through it.

http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2010-07-26/features/bs-md-indigo-bats-20100726_1_indigo-tunnel-white-nose-syndrome-western-maryland-rail-trail

To be fair, my fellow riders didn’t have as many mosquito issues as I did – I think I’m just tastier.

[ctankcycles]

@btj 54014 wrote:

The GAP was recently finished (so there are no longer any detours) which is nice.

A couple variations from the GAP + C&O that we did (which are tracked in the strava rides): On day 3 we took the Western Maryland Rail Trail (http://www.westernmarylandrailtrail.org/WMRT/) for about 20 miles which was a great relief from the C&O. The WMRT is very smooth pavement and runs parallel to the C&O. On day 4 we took the CCT the last couple miles into Georgetown as our butts were glad to be done with the C&O (if I did it again I think I’d split up the C&O into 3 days instead of 2).

I’ll try to do a longer trip write up with more detail later.

Hey, great ride! I rode Pgh to DC with two other guys and we started from Point State Park the day after your group. Our initial plan was 4 days but ultimately decided to break it up into 5. Ohiopyle was our first night, then Frostburg, Hancock, Harpers Ferry. The hardest day for us was Ohiopyle to Frostburg since it was cold and raining all day which made the steady uphill from Ohiopyle to the Eastern Continental Divide very wet and mushy. All in all we averaged just over 14 mph per day and had a blast (and no flats!). I highly recommend the Riverrun B&B in Hancock (Sinclair is great!) and I’d pass on the Town’s Inn in Harpers Ferry. The Yough Plaza Motel in Ohiopyle and Trail Inn in Frostburg were also great. If you’re interested in pictures of the trip, check them out here (no FB necessary): https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10200400526030218.1073741825.1067757839&type=1&l=07796c83ea

[Author]

Posts