Originally Posted by
Tourist in MSN
A group of three of us did GAP and C&O in early May 2013. Wow, that was almost 10 years ago.
It is a good idea to be ready for wet weather.
One of our group did not have fenders, his tours since then included fenders.
He also bought Ortlieb Backrollers after that trip.
Don't feel bad. I did it going from Pittsburgh to DC during Hurricane Irene. Talk about downpours. I had a great tome though and enjoyed every minute of it. I especially enjoyed the C&O. I would highly recommend fenders though. (I know it wasn't you without fenders.) They make all the difference int he world. They help on trails like the GAP even when it is dry, preventing all the crushed limestone dust from getting in the drivetrain.
I encountered very few people on that trip, due to the hurricane, and they were all going away from DC. I did see a guy with no fenders, and he and his gear were covered in mud. Not the way I like to ride.