Final thoughts on our bike trip from Pittsburgh to DC along the GAP and C&O.
It all felt uphill. People talk about which direction to go and even though it is a low grade up from west to east (Pitt to DC) with net downhill after continental divide it sure did not feel like it. Would it feel the same way the other direction? I'm guessing yes.
Prepare your body for the trip: get a good saddle, get miles in, get rest. Ride the bike you will be using on your trip. I usually ride a road bike and only rode my mountain bike a week before the trip.
Be realistic on how many miles a day you want to ride. I really wish we had at least one if not more lite days in the middle of our ride. It would give us time to recover some and also explore the town we were in. Also be aware of the weather and sunlight available. Also off-season several places seemed closed, although the hurricane could have played a part, along with bad luck - certain bike shops were closed on a Monday or Thursday, the days when we visited.
Study the maps. Note that there are less town stops on the C&O versus the GAP. Have a good plan of getting between Homestead and Pittsburgh as it is unfinished. There truly is no good way to get there on bike. There are bad ways. There are also shuttle services but you will definitely have to plan ahead. Find a friend if you have one to drop you off there. If we go all the way again I would wait until the GAP is finished, which should be next year?
Most useful items we brought: wet ones/wipes, multitool, lights, food and water
Wish we had: nail clippers and more pain killers, more food in the end
While riding I was thinking of making this blog as a cautionary tale. Even though we had a lot of pain and suffering in adverse conditions, it was a great epic adventure. If it was easy and was 60 degree sunny weather maybe I wouldn't have as much to talk about.
Would I do it again? Maybe several years (decades) from now. My dad wants to go on the trail now. I would do parts of it again for sure but to put on the pain for a week again so soon seems crazy. I also was thinking I would have a vacation from biking but the next day I wanted to get on again. Why!?
We are thinking of another bike adventure. :) Maybe Amsterdam. I'm hoping it is a "why, this is awesome" type adventure.
Feel free to contact and comment. Hope you get on your own adventure.
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