[ctankcycles]

I ran the same setup last year for Pgh-DC minus the VO front rank and rando bag and found the more evenly distributed weight to be ideal for anything more technical than a sealed road (first day on Skyline Dr was the only day we didn’t ride any gravel roads). Plus I prefer to keep the weight off the rear wheel and with the huge seat bag that doesn’t necessitate a rack the overall setup is much lighter than running a rear rack and panniers. Honestly, the front end is super stable at high speed (40mph+ on numerous switchback descents) but the heavy front end took a little getting used to on the long, steep climb at the beginning of Skyline Drive. After a few miles of adjustment we became used to it and it was smooth sailing the rest of the way.

[ctankcycles]

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More to come…

[ctankcycles]

@Tim Kelley 67445 wrote:

http://bikearlingtonforum.com/showthread.php?5346-Issue-on-4-Mille-Run-trail-just-before-Mount-Vernon

Thanks, missed that one somehow.

[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

[ctankcycles]

The difficult part here is getting over to the other side of the Beltway, but at least you have one option. You have to get down Franconia which isn’t ideal but there’s a trail that goes under the Beltway just off of Oakwood Rd, which runs next to S Van Dorn St. From there you can take the trail along Eisenhower heading east until you reach the Holmes Run Trail. Head northwest along Holmes Run and then hang a right towards N Howard Rd., which you can take all the way to W Braddock Rd. Take a right on W Braddock, left on N Early St, right on Menokin Dr, right onto King St service road, left on Wakefield Dr into Fairlington, left on 34th St S crossing over 395, right on 31st St S and down the hill into Shirlington.

[ctankcycles]

Poe Rd, while not technically accessible by bike, connects between Pohick and Old Colchester. If you have a cross bike or road bike with something like 28c tires it’s doable if you’re up for a bit of adventure. There’s a little hike-a-bike at the end where it connects to Old Colchester. Just the other week I entered through the pedestrian access (the gate is locked to vehicles) and a soldier was coming the other way in a truck and we exchanged friendly hellos and I went on my way down the road.
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