C&O Canal - Which Bike To Take?

I think I've only done one post on here but I'm on here almost every day getting some great tips and advice which I've used. I started biking again over a year ago. I was riding a Raleigh Passage 3.0 hybrid and did some charity rides of 30-50miles and a metric century when I decided I needed something a bit lighter and got a Trek 7.5fx wsd in December. I love it, rode it all winter and use it on MD's paved roads doing about 70 miles a week. In Sept. because of my turning 50 this year(and having to prove a point) my sister and I have decided to do the C&O canal over a 4 day period. I'm not sure whether to take the Trek and put different tires on it for the trail which the LBS assures me can be done(it now has 700x32c) or to go back to the Raleigh for this ride which seems to be more made for the trail(700x38 if I remember right). I know a few of you did the trail last fall - does anyone have any ideas or suggestions for which bike to use? If I'm going to switch back to the Raleigh for this ride I'll probably need to start riding it again in a month or two to get ready.

I ride the C&O on cyclocross bike with either slightly knobby 700x30's or semi-slick 700x32's and it's fine. But then, I've been riding there for years and am used to the surface, and I'm not usually loaded down with panniers and stuff.

A lot of it depends on how many miles you're going to ride each day, how much gear weight you're hauling, and how much bumpiness and vibration you can tolerate. Can you do a few day trips on each bike fully loaded to see which is more comfortable for you? Also check out the Mid-Atlantic portion of the forum, a bunch of us get together for somewhat frequent C&O rides, including the ladies who did the thru-ride last year. Joining us for a ride or two (or three :D ) would be a great way to test your bikes and get some advice.

Either bike would work.
We pretty much covered the spectrum in our little procession.

I would add though, if you're not clipped in to at least use mini-cages like these. Maybe some fenders too.

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/b...CN1372copy.jpg


What area of the towpath is nearest to you?

I should have said that we are credit card touring but will have panniers for the daily stuff like some food and of course water. I don't use clips because of too many knee operations and an orthopedic surgeon just waiting to do a knee replacement - don't want to give him that chance with a crash. I use BMX pedals now and ride in MTB shoes which works pretty well. I'm 3-4 hours from either end of the canal but might take the Trek to the Delaware Raritan canal path and give it a try and see how it does. With 40-50 miles per day I guess I need to see how much I'm going to shake around with no suspension on the Trek. Thanks for your replies!

I don't want to be presumptuous but I have to ask; you do realize the C&O towpath is not crushed stone, right? I looked up the path you mentioned and saw that it was and, well I had to ask.

You're not being presumptuous and yes I realize it's not crushed stone until down near Georgetown if even there but I figured the D&R canal would at least give me a feel for how much vibration I can take on the Trek. This old body can't take too much of that!