Newbie

[eminva]

For those of you with an iPhone doing the C&O self-supported or semi-supported, please download the C&O Companion app; it got rave reviews from all of us on the scout trip last summer. Helps you find the nearest lodging/food/water/bike shop. It wasn’t available for other phones then but it may be now.

Liz

[culimerc]

My thoughts on stretching the mileage up front is that the GAP trail is more well maintained with a crushed limestone surface vs the dirt/mud double track of the C&O. I thought the lower rolling resistance might be where I should put the longer days, even if they were “uphill”.

[DismalScientist]

You can always bail out at Harper’s Ferry or Leesburg and take the W&OD.

[Geoff]

@ShawnoftheDread 76894 wrote:

But Bilsko has assured us that this ride can be done in one day. Is Bilsko just crazy?

I’ve heard of people doing the C&O in one day. I expect it can be done, but not by most people. Also bear in mind you won’t be doing this on a road bike. I have seen people do it on a road bike, but you really want wider tires on the packed dirt and gravel surface.

Concerning the comment that the scenery gets boring after a while. Oh, maybe, depending on your disposition. But good travel companions can help with boredom.

[sethpo]

@Geoff 76917 wrote:

I’ve heard of people doing the C&O in one day…

After reading about the Race Across America, I’m starting to reevaluate what is and isn’t possible on a bike. These guys go from California to Annapolis in eight days. EIGHT!!

But yeah, I know.

[Geoff]

@sethpo 76918 wrote:

After reading about the Race Across America, I’m starting to reevaluate what is and isn’t possible on a bike. These guys go from California to Annapolis in eight days. EIGHT!!

There’s what’s possible and there’s what’s advisable. The guy who organized my C&O + GAP trip took part in RAM. For training, he once (maybe twice, don’t remember) averaged 200 miles per day for 14 straight days. Sound insane? Twenty years later he still had stress injuries that limit how much riding he can do.

[Geoff]

@eminva 76900 wrote:

For those of you with an iPhone doing the C&O self-supported or semi-supported, please download the C&O Companion app; it got rave reviews from all of us on the scout trip last summer. Helps you find the nearest lodging/food/water/bike shop. It wasn’t available for other phones then but it may be now.

Liz

That does sound useful. It would definitely help with the issues I raised.

[PotomacCyclist]

@sethpo 76918 wrote:

After reading about the Race Across America, I’m starting to reevaluate what is and isn’t possible on a bike. These guys go from California to Annapolis in eight days. EIGHT!!

But yeah, I know.

The documentary “Bicycle Dreams” followed some of the competitors of the 2005 Race Across America. You might find it interesting.

I have mixed feelings about the movie and about the solo RAAM. The event is just as much about sleep deprivation as it is about cycling. Personally, I think it’s reckless to be riding on public roads while severely sleep-deprived. (Minimal sleep, perhaps only 1 hour a day.) I’ve done many all-nighters, but never on a bike. I find it difficult to walk around after staying up for more than 24-30 hrs. Even if I had a brief nap, I don’t know how well I would be concentrating by the 2nd or 3rd day. I certainly wouldn’t notice traffic and road hazards that I might normally detect when rested. It would be extremely difficult just to stay balanced on a bike, at that point.

The Tour de France is also an extreme physical challenge, but at least those cyclists get a full night’s sleep every day, plus rest days during the Tour (even if they continue to do training rides or trainer sessions on those rest days).

I’m not so sure that the solo RAAM is what anyone should be aiming for. (Beside the physical danger, some of the competitors nearly destroyed their lives financially by training and participating. There is no prize money and few prospects for endorsements after winning. I doubt that even most cyclists could name a single winner or solo participant of RAAM. I can’t, and I watched the movie.)

[PotomacCyclist]

@eminva 76900 wrote:

For those of you with an iPhone doing the C&O self-supported or semi-supported, please download the C&O Companion app; it got rave reviews from all of us on the scout trip last summer. Helps you find the nearest lodging/food/water/bike shop. It wasn’t available for other phones then but it may be now.

Liz

It doesn’t appear that there will be an Android or other version (Windows Phone, Blackberry, can and strings). He says this on the BikeWashington site. Too bad, considering that Android is now the most popular mobile OS.

I would also caution that the info might not be completely up-to-date. I’ve noticed that the BikeWashington site has not been updated for at least a few years. New trails, closed trails and other important developments are not reflected on the site. When I first started cycling as an adult, I found it to be a great resource. But I quickly discovered that while it was a pioneering D.C.-area bike website, it is no longer updated or as complete as other newer sites. I remember reading on The WashCycle about one section of the C&O trail that was washed out a few years ago. An on-road detour was in place for quite some time. I think that section was finally repaired, but I’m not sure. Items like this would be important for trail users to know. The app may not include all of these new changes.

[DismalScientist]

@PotomacCyclist 76927 wrote:

I doubt that even most cyclists could name a single winner or solo participant of RAAM. I can’t, and I watched the movie.)

Lon Haldeman
Pete Penseyres
Susan Noterangelo (later Haldeman)…

Stupid? Sure. Dangerous? Apart from what you are doing to your body, not particularly. Racers are supported by a trailing RV.

(An unsupported rider was killed in an auto accident near Tucumcari, NM (I think) during an early race though.)

[PotomacCyclist]

@DismalScientist 76929 wrote:

Lon Haldeman
Pete Penseyres
Susan Noterangelo (later Haldeman)…

Stupid? Sure. Dangerous? Apart from what you are doing to your body, not particularly. Racers are supported by a trailing RV.

(An unsupported rider was killed in an auto accident near Tucumcari, NM (I think) during an early race though.)

That’s what I was referring to. He had a support vehicle, I think. If you’re out there riding in the dark, and completely sleep-deprived, you are still going to put yourself, and maybe others, at risk. A support vehicle can help, but not completely, and not every second. It only takes a second for a collision to occur.

[KayakCyndi]

Eric Strasser … what he did last year was simply phenomenal.
Chris Ragsdale … riding a Volagi.
Bill Woodruff … personal friend of mine who rode it years ago.

Last year the RAAM site had great video coverage. Its fun to watch the live tracking.

[Phatboing]

@culimerc 76912 wrote:

My thoughts on stretching the mileage up front is that the GAP trail is more well maintained with a crushed limestone surface vs the dirt/mud double track of the C&O. I thought the lower rolling resistance might be where I should put the longer days, even if they were “uphill”.

A valid point.

But!

The GAP’s prettier, so you should totally stop and look at things.

[Author]

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