GAP C&O Trip – Day 5 -Harpers Ferry to Georgetown

Posted on by Rich Sharples

After very convenient coffee and breakfast across the road from our hotel, we packed up our wet gear, loaded up on snacks and water and loaded up the minivan of the hotel manager who offered to ferry us back to the C&O to avoid the sktchy road detour. FWIW – you can get six people + gear and five bikes in / on a minivan with a 3 bike rack. Not pretty, probably not safe, but doable.

The last leg was less than 70 miles but we were all feeling pretty knackered after four days of riding. We stopped at White’s Ferry for sandwiches about half way then cruised into the suburbs of DC. The highlight was Great Falls so we stopped a few times for some sight-seeing.

Finding mile 0 of the C&O in Georgetown was a little challenging – unless you know where to look it would be difficult to find. It’s tucked away on the river bank behind the Georgetown University Boathouse.

After a few photos and celebratory fist-bumps, we then had to ride another 5 miles or so to pick up the truck and our gear we’d stashed at a friend’s house in the DC suburbs. We had a quick beer in the sun while I checked into my flight to London that same night. The other four guys we’re staying overnight so I borrowed a hotel room for a quick shower and a change of clothing. We went out for a well deserved celebratory curry and then I went straight to Dulles for my red-eye to London.

We were very lucky with the weather, had no injuries and the only mechanical issue was a blow out which sealed itself after spraying a few of use drafters with tire sealant.

Huge thanks to the gang – David, Iain and Sean and especially Bryan and ChatGPT 🙂 for managing the logistics and to Tim for letting use his house as a staging post. I’d definitely recommend the GAP C&O – it’s not just a trip through some amazing scenery but also a trip through time – from Civil War battlefields to America’s industrial revolution – there are few places in the US so steeped in it’s history.

Strava route is here.

GAP C&O Trip – Day 4 – Hancock to Harpers Ferry

Posted on by Rich Sharples

We ate left-over pizza for breakfast as nothing else was open. Stopped in Williamsport to find a bike shop, coffee and food. Bike shop was closed but we found a decent little cafe and loaded up on carbs and caffeine.

The weather forecast wasn’t looking good and we wanted to get to Harper’s Ferry before the rain caught us so we hammered through the morning with just a few short stops. Passed pretty close to my namesake – Sharpsburg – famed for being the site of the Battle of Antietam, the bloodiest single day of American Civil War. By lunchtime the rain had caught us so we pulled off the C&O to eat a decent lunch in the little college town of Sheppardstown. For the first time – pulled on my rain jacket and we spent the next few hours getting pretty soaked. When we reached Harpers Ferry we had to do a pretty hilly and very sketchy detour in busy traffic as the bridge over the Potomac was closed for repairs.

Arrived at our funky little hotel pretty soaked and tried to get everything hung up to dry before venturing out for dinner and re-hydration. The detour added a few extra hilly miles – topping out the day at 74.2 miles.

View this segment in Strava.

Day 5 – Harpers Ferry to Georgetown to Falls Church (70.2 miles)

GAP C&O Trip – Day 3 – Frostburg to Hancock

Posted on by Rich Sharples

Did a quick recce into town to find some decent coffee (Clatter Cafe) and warm up the aching legs – it seems that every road in Frostburg us uphill in both directions. A hearty breakfast and a chat with the owner of the Allegheny Trail House about the trail ahead of us. Then re-packing, a bit of bike maintenance and we were off – at 77.3 miles – this was our longest distance but having crossed the continental divide we were mostly heading downhill or flat.

It was a pretty damp start but we managed to dodge the rain. First stop was Cumberland where the GAP and the C&O connect and there’s a well stocked bike shop right on the trail. Cumberland is a good place to stock up on snacks as there aren’t too many food options for the next 50 miles or so.

Our lunch stop was the School House Kitchen in Oldtown – very basic food but it did the job. I suspect this place only stays open due to it’s proximity to the C&O trail – like a lot of the towns you pass through on the GAP and C&O the collapse of the mining, steel, and coke industry is a big economic gap to fill. Reminds me of areas in the North of England – similar landscape, remnants of the industrial past and signs of economic distress.

The big event of the day was the Paw-paw tunnel (3,118-foot-long canal tunnel and significant feat of engineering). To ride this without lights would be very difficult – the surface is rutted and washed away in places. Stopped for coffee / break at Bills Place in Little Orleans only to find out it’s been closed for about 5 years. Hammered through to Hancock and our AirBnB for the night.

Hancock a decent sized town but it was mostly closed down (I guess it’s a seasonal town) so it was Pizza Delivery, beers from the gas station and a night of laundry and yup – you guessed it – Five Crowns.

Strava link is here.

Day 4 – Hancock to Harpers Ferry (74.2 miles)

GAP C&O Trip – Day 2 – Connellsville to Frostburg

Posted on by Rich Sharples

Despite drawing the short straw and sleeping on the couch, I had a pretty decent night’s sleep. Note – trying to find AirBnBs for 5 people is more challenging that you’d think. After coffee at the eclectic Crawford Coffee followed by a decent breakfast in the Valley Dairy we packed up and got back on the trail – rode the first few miles with a couple of riders from Texas and Canada. Today was going to be our 2nd longest day in the saddle (76.8 miles) and slightly uphill to the highest point of the ride at the eastern continental divide.

On the way we stopped for views of the river from the many steel bridges and stopped for a coffee break in Ohiopile then onto the Eastern Continental Divide (water at this point flows into the Gulf of Mexico on one side and the Atlantic on the other). Through the big savage tunnel (one of three long tunnels – you’ll be glad you bought lights!) then some history / culture as you cross the Mason-Dixon line. A punchy set of climbs off the GAP Trail got us to our rest stop for the night in Frostville – the very funky Allegheny Trail House. We were all pretty starving after a long day in the saddle – so a quick shower, hosed the bikes down and headed for dinner at the local Mex followed by the usual end of day entertainment – 5 Crowns !

Strava link is here.

Day 3 – Frostburg to Hancock (77.3 miles)

GAP C&O Trip – Day 1 – Pittsburgh to Connellsville

Posted on by Rich Sharples

We kicked off the start of the adventure with a decent breakfast and some Columbian coffee in the Northside of Pittsburgh then rode down to start / end of the GAP in Point State Park at the confluence of the Monongahela and Allegheny Rivers. Unfortunately the fountain was under repair so I guess we’re going to have to return for the group photo at some point.

First day’s riding was pretty easy (63 miles, flat to slightly up hill) and weather was perfect. We stayed in an AirBNB right on the trail in Connellsville, had a couple of beers, and dinner at the River’s Edge as the Youghiogheny River and freight trains on the railroad rolled by.

Strava link for more details is here.

Day 2 – Connellsville to Frostburg (76.8 miles)

GAP C&O Trip – logistics / gear

Posted on by Rich Sharples

This years boys biking trip was a bit of a departure from the usual red sandstone and desert of the South West – instead, we planned to ride the 330 miles from Pittsburgh, PA to Washington, DC on the GAP (Great Allegheny Passage) and the C&O (Chesapeake and Ohio) Canal towpath.

The 150 mile Great Allegheny Passage follows a railway corridor through wooded hills and small towns, reaching the Eastern Continental Divide before descending into Maryland. After Cumberland, Maryland, the route shifts onto the C&O Canal Towpath, traveling 184 miles along the Potomac River through peaceful forests and rural countryside all the way to Georgetown. Interactive map here.

Logistics

We drove gear and bikes to DC on the Friday and organized a shuttle to Pittsburgh on the Saturday – breaking up the trip over a couple of days avoided spending 10+ hours driving. We were able to leave a vehicle and post-ride gear at a friends house in the DC suburbs which helped tremendously.

We planned for 5 days of riding and here’s the day-by-day account:

Packing and Gear

As we were staying in rental house, B&Bs with washing machines and dryers and eating our meals out, we were able to pack pretty lightly. I packed about 13lbs of gear:

  • 2 days of cycling gear (with layers for different temperatures)
  • 3 days of non-cycling gear
  • spares and tools divided amongst the 5 of us
  • snacks, toiletries, first aid kit
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Instead of traditional paniers, I opted for a smaller saddlebag and bar bags, specifically :

  • Revelate Designs – Spinelock 10L saddle bag on the back for stuff I’d only need at the end of the day (clothses. toiletries, charging cables, etc)
  • Revelate Designs – Harness and Saltyroll on the front for stuff I may need during the day (tools, spares, warm clothes)
  • Revelate Designs – Mag Tank – for tool kit, snacks.
  • Outer Shell – Stem Caddy – for quick access to rain jacket, headphones, cellphone

I used everything in my packs except a down vest that was good for additional padding so not a complete waste.

The other 4 riders in my party opted for traditional racks and Ortlieb waterproof panniers and I’d say 70% of other riders we met did the same. My reason for choosing bar and saddle bags we’re, in no particular order:

  • keep the weight down
  • lack of mounting options on my Checkpoint
  • ability to use the same bags on my mountain bike

Bike is a pretty standard Gen 2.0 Trek Checkpoint SLR 6 AXS, with an ISM 2.0 saddle and a Garmin Edge 1050.

Grand Canyon North Rim 2024 – Part 3

Posted on by Rich Sharples

Day 6 Rainbow Rim south to Timp Point

The next two days we rode the Rainbow Rim Trail which 18 miles of trail and a mix of forest single track and cliff side trail with stunning views. There’s quite a lot of up and down which if you’re not used to the elevation makes it feel harder than it is – but it’s all easily rideable with good lungs and legs.

Friday’s ride was 20 mile loop from our camp at Locust Point, south to Timp Point on the rainbow rim trail and returning on Forest trails. There are plenty of places to stop for a breather and take in the awesome views. Strava Activity

Post dinner entertainments was provided by the sunset, campfire, and some evening star-gazing.

Day 7 – Rainbow Rim north to Parissawampitts Point

On Saturday we packed up our gear, had breakfast and the rode the northern section of the rainbow rim trail to Parissawampitts Point and then back via the same route. There was a bit more climbing and for some reason I found this the hardest day. Strava Activity

Back at the (now decamped) camp – we scarfed down some lunch, racked the bikes and started the journey back to civilization. Iain, Bryan and I all had red-eye flights that night and were hoping to get back to Salt Lake City with enough time to get dinner and a much needed shower in the Centurion Lounge at the airport.

All in all – this was a pretty awesome trip – we jammed a lot into our 3 acclimation days and the North Rim didn’t disappoint – great riding and incredible views. If you are interested in this kind of multi-day bike trip – I’d highly recommend RimTours – this is my 4th trip with them and I suspect I have more in the future.

Grand Canyon North Rim 2024 – part 1

Posted on by Rich Sharples

Day 1 – Travel and Zen

This year’s south west mountain bike trip started with a few days acclimating to the heat and altitude in St George, Utah. We picked up rental bikes pretty much as soon as we got into town after the 2 hour drive from Vegas. We rented the bikes and a 4 bike rack from Red Rock Bikes in nearby Hurricane – great shop with friendly staff who helped us get everything set up. We had a longer ride planned for the next day but after a day of travel were keen to get out and ride despite the 100F+ temperatures. After a bit of driving around we found the trail head parking for the Zen Trail – a fairly short, climby, technical trail just outside St George. The trail isn’t well marked and the whole area is covered in trails and not surprisingly we went off course a little and after all the climbing I managed to split my tire and couldn’t fix it on the trail so had to waste the wonderful downhill section. Strava activity.

Day 2 – Wire Mesa

On Monday (Memorial day) we met up with David and headed to Wire Mesa – it’s a smaller, less exposed version of the better know Gooseberry Mesa and in the same general area. Getting to the parking lot is a bit of an adventure but well worth it – I could ride this kind of trail every day of the week – technical enough that you have to pay attention and choose your line, but completely rideable. The views of Zion and surrounding area were stunning – photos just don’t do it justice. We dropped the bikes back to Red Rock in Hurricane and hit River Rock Roasters for lunch. Strava Activity

Day 3 – The Narrows, Zion

It was a toss up between hiking Angels Landing and The Narrows and The Narrows won. We got to the already fairly full main parking lot about 7am and jumped on the 45 minute shuttle to the start of the river trail (Temple of Sinawava). We’d already unwittingly made our first mistake in our rush to get on the shuttle – we didn’t rent hiking staffs – only Iain had hiking poles, Brian and I had to make do with whatever improvised walking poles we could find on the river bank. Unless you’re an aquatic mountain goat – I wouldn’t recommend hiking the narrows without a staff or hiking poles.

We didn’t quite get to “Big Springs” (the end of the trail) due to high water and strong currents – we’d already swam / waded chest deep in some sections and it was becoming cold and tiring. We did explore the smaller “Orderville Canyon” on the way up – a beautiful side canyon with fewer people and no wading. In all we hiked just over 12 miles in 5.5 hours. For hike that is pretty much flat – it was pretty strenuous and difficult underfoot – I’m still surprised my weak ankles and knees held out.

Note – you can see the sections where we had to swim on Strava as it sent the Altimeter on my Apple Watch haywire.

The Maze 2023 – Day 5 – Teapot to Lake Powell

Posted on by Rich Sharples

Final day and a long ride out of the Canyonlands to Hite at the north end of where Lake Powell used to be before it dried up and shrunk. We packed up camp – enjoyed the final views from our amazing campground, breakfast, and some stretching, then loaded the support truck to head out on our long but mostly downhill ride.

The riding was pretty easy, though on tired legs, even a small climb turns into a real effort, and there were plenty of climbs as we passed through washes and over rolling hills. The views were as spectacular as we’d seen over the last 5 days, with some broad vistas of the Henry Mountains to the North West.

We made a few quick stops to regroup and take in the views but mostly hammered toward our goal. The goal was Stan’s Burger Shak in Hankersville which serve the best / only milkshakes for a hundred miles – good to be back to cold and creamy civilization.

Strava link is here.

The Maze 2023 – Day 4 – Land of the Standing Rocks

Posted on by Rich Sharples

Another early start for a long day of riding. Heading back into The Maze and the Land of the Standing Rocks – some cool rock formations we could see in the distance from Camp on the first night.

Our guides had warned us about the out-and-back ride today – strenuous and very technical for the first 2-3 miles – with chunky rock gardens, punchy climbs, and numerous rock steps. I really like technical trails, and my personal goal was to ride everything cleanly. As it’s an out and back route – hitting the rock gardens the second time after a day of riding would be the biggest challenge,

After passing Mother and Child, we stopped for lunch in the shade of The Wall. Then continued a few more miles to Chimney Rock where we stopped for a little hike and climbed up a bit to get some more views of The Maze.

According to Strava it was only 27 miles and only 1700ft of climbing, but everyone was pretty crushed at the end of the day – it’s one of those epic rides that gives you a full body workout and apps like Strava really don’t capture the amount of exertion you’re under.

The Chimney

I didn’t quite achieve my clean run goal – I dabbed a foot a couple of times towards the end – a combination of exhaustion and very tight technical step ups that appeared around a blind corner and left no time to prepare or build up any momentum.

This was also our final night camping and my bladder forced me to get out and see the stars at about 2am – absolutely mindblowing.

Strava link here.