Any interest in a BF GAP / C&O tour 2019?
01-30-19, 11:57 AM
#51
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First BF C&O Tour
Can't believe its going to be ten years. I was part of that group. Today I still see and feel the day and day after that rain. It was the worst and in ways the best riding experience of my life. It was a test to push yourself to the limit and in the end win. I considered myself a very strong rider and to this day I don't know how some of the other riders survived that day. I think I told myself never again will I do that ride, but you never know!
Joel from Michigan
Joel from Michigan
01-30-19, 12:44 PM
#52
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That picture really doesn't show how bad that ride was. The rain must have washed most of the mud off. Some areas were the water was deep you just didn't know what you might hit. Many times I started on one side of the two track but in the end would be on the other. It was like a roller coaster ride without the rails. I only went down once but so very close many more. I do believe that most went down at some point that day. It was to wet and cold to stop so I think some of us did the ride without a break.
01-30-19, 04:20 PM
#54
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My muddy drive train that day and yes I ended up slamming into a wall outside Savage Tunnel ? Spent the evening in a hotel room re-truing a front wheel.
01-30-19, 04:27 PM
#55
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Fenders would help. Bike and lower legs would still get dirty, but not as much and not higher up on you. I wonder if the 4 amigos were a group I caught up to on a very rainy day. They were hosing themselves off in Williamsport as I rode up the hill to a hotel.
01-30-19, 04:34 PM
#56
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With all the water, mud, potholes, and the worst tree roots I'm surprised someone didn't end up in the hospital. I swore off dirt trails that day and have not rode one since that trip. But you never know!!!
01-30-19, 04:40 PM
#57
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As to a trail or road impasse, moral of the story, don't be silly and map out a route in early spring within 6 miles of the Mississippi river. When I hit this impasse, it cost me almost 30 miles that I had not planned on that day to get to the other side-very long day.
01-31-19, 05:18 AM
#58
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A bit over 21 years ago my wife and I did the C&O Towpath from Cumberland to Georgetown in 3 days - without a drop of rain and barely a puddle on the Towpath - 1997 was a dry year, or at least by November everything had dried out. Had one flat, forgot that by November the White's Ferry store would be closed, one unneeded hill climb outside of Harper's Ferry - outside of that, just a great trip.
Cycleblaze reposting of the trip blog here.
Cycleblaze reposting of the trip blog here.
