What more do I need/need to do?

[owlice]

I'm going on my first top-to-bottom ride of the C&O Canal towpath (184 miles). I'm taking it easy: 5 days, 43-40-40-18-40, or thereabouts. I'm staying in lodging along the way, not camping. I've made my reservations for every night except my last one, and will do that soon.

I've had my bike tuned up, put a rack on it, gotten panniers and a rear blinky, and have a rear trunk, mini pump, and headlights coming. I already have CO2 cartridges and the CO2 dispenser-thingie, patch kit, tire wrenches, and a multitool. I have extra tubes.

From the BikeWashington website, I have the following list of things to take; stuff I don't have are in red:

* Bug Repellent (IMPORTANT!)
* Extra Tube (IMPORTANT!)
* Patch Kit (IMPORTANT)
* Tire Pump
* Bell or Horn (Required by NPS)
* Extra Spokes
* Dual Water Bottles or Camelback
* Multi-use Bike Tool
* Chain Lube
* Pocket Knife
* Helmet
* Eye Wear (Sunglasses)
* Bike Lock
* Sun Screen
* Towel
* Clothes
* Padded Bike Shorts
* Power Bars
* ID, Credit, Cash
* Flashlight (for Paw Paw Tunnel)
* First Aid Kit
* Matches or Lighter
* Toiletries
* Wet Towelettes
* Trash Bags
* Miscellaneous (always useful)

Matches? Really? And I'm not taking sunscreen, as the towpath is well-shaded. Extra spokes? I (alas!) wouldn't know what to do with them!

I'll also take:

* a little duct tape
* thermal blanket (space blanket)
* cell phone and cell charger
* camera

How many pairs of bike shorts should I take? (Do people take one pair and just wash them out every night?) How many extra tubes? (I'm thinking three.)

I don't have rain gear or a jacket of any kind. I think I'll be okay without these items, since I'm riding in September and am taking my time on the trip; I should be able to wait out a thunderstorm. I cannot wait out a monsoon, but fortunately, those are rare in Maryland.

I have someone coming to feed and water the resident beasties, and will ask a neighbor to feed my accidental cats (outdoor ferals) and collect my mail.

Is there anything I'm forgetting? Anything on the list above I shouldn't take? Will everything fit in what I have to carry everything in?!

Any and all advice is most welcome; thanks!!

[Eden]

I'd take at least 2 pairs of shorts - then you won't be stuck in a wet chamois (ick!) if they don't dry over night. Also, if there's anything that rubs at all in your shorts (and you may not find this out until you wear them several days in a row), you won't be wearing the same ones day after day and irritating the same spot.

[Becky]

+1 on at least two pairs of shorts.

If it were me, I would take the extra spoke and spoke wrench, and a chain tool. Something to boot a tire with might be handy, as would a mini pump on the bike.

I'd also bring sunscreen, sunglasses, and bug stuff, but that may be a matter of personal preference. I burn easily, have light eyes, and mosquitos think I'm the main dish.

Have fun!

[Selkie]

I
I don't have rain gear or a jacket of any kind. I think I'll be okay without these items, since I'm riding in September and am taking my time on the trip; I should be able to wait out a thunderstorm. I cannot wait out a monsoon, but fortunately, those are rare in Maryland.

Remember Isabel? Just kidding, I'm sure you won't head out if we have a tropical depression heading our way.

Last Friday, we had monsoon-like thunderstorms. But they lasted about a half hour---I got soaked going from the car to my house. Luckily, I was coming from the pool and had my wet swim suit under my "dry land" clothes.

Remember to have a great time! I'm looking forward to reading your ride report and seeing your pictures.

[OakLeaf]

eIf it's too dark for sunglasses, wear clear lenses (whenever you ride). Don't risk your eyesight!

If your shorts don't dry overnight (and in most hotels, air circulation is poor and hardly anything will dry in less than 18 hours), bungie your wet things on the outside of your luggage. They'll dry while you ride.

Use hotel shampoo for laundry detergent. It leaves much less residue than bar soap and degreases better. After rinsing, roll your laundry in a bath towel and kneel on it to squeeze out as much water as you can.

Bring some "civilian" clothes - shorts or drawstring pants, undies, a dry bra, a t-shirt, and flipflops or Chinese cloth shoes for going to dinner.

Have fun!

[Cataboo]

I'd bring bugspray. Mosquitos can be vicious.

[Biciclista]

You're in bug country!

and yes, clear or yellow glasses for riding in shady areas. The last thing you want is a bug (or something else) in your eye.

I always wear glasses, in fact, the few times I didn't - I noticed my eyes getting dry and scratchy.

[Kalidurga]

I never use bug spray, but this summer's been so wet that the insect population has exploded. The towpath has been especially bad and I actually broke down and bought bug wipes at the bike shop in Hancock when I was riding up there two weeks ago. So +100 on the bug repellent recommendations.

For the same reason, +1 on the recommendation for sunglasses with interchangeable lenses. You'll be glad you have clear lenses if you ride at dusk. The gnat clouds get pretty big. And try not to ride with your mouth open unless you want an unexpected snack

Last, the number one rule of C&O riding, especially for a summer like this one: Never run over a stick unless you are positive that it is a stick.

[divingbiker]

If you're staying at the Red Roof Inn in Williamsport, they've got a washing machine (call and double check to be sure), so you'd only need to take 3 shorts and jerseys and could have a clean outfit every day. Washing shorts every evening is iffy, since they might not dry and I wouldn't want to drag wet clothes along with me.

I'd take along a rain jacket, just in case. If you work in DC, I can meet you to loan you my spare rain jacket if you'd like.

Take only one outfit to wear in the evening. You won't wear those clothes long enough for them to get dirty.

Bring along food for lunches and snacks.

I'd bring two tubes.

It's helpful to have a map of the C&O so you know what you're looking at.

Have fun!

[Kris]

I wash clothes most evenings when I travel (not just biking), and it really cuts down on what you have to haul. Here are my techniques for getting almost everything dry by morning: 1. Don't put off doing the laundry until bedtime. Do it while the sun's still up if possible. 2. Wring it out the regular way, then roll it in a towel and wring it again. The towel absorbs a lot of dampness. 3. Hang it directly in front of the air conditioner or heater, and put the fan on. This usually involves moving a chair. 4. Check it before you go to bed, and put the wettest parts where they're more likely to dry. 5. Use the hairdryer in the morning, if something's still damp.
There are two things that might not dry by morning if it's damp, and one of them is bike shorts. So bring an extra pair, just in case. (The other is blue jeans.)
I love Fels Naptha soap for travel. It comes in a bar, so there's no mess, and it does a great job. I use it at home for stains.

[tc1]

bring sunscreen anyway. I have no knowledge of where you are going, and am too lazy to look it up right now. But if you are on the edge of the water, the sun will bounce off the water and up right back at ya.

And bring some kind of flipflops or similar flimsy sandals. With that much riding you might want to give your feet a break at rest stops, and you will want to rip off your bike shoes when you finish for the day.

[owlice]

The new list; this is what I plan to take (stuff I still don't have in red):

* Bug Repellent
* Repair stuff

Extra Tubes (3)
Patch Kit
Tire Pump
CO2 cartridges and dispenser
Tire Wrenches
Multi-use Bike Tool
Chain Lube
Duct tape
Latex gloves
Paper towels (cut a partial roll in half, pull out the cardboard center, compress)

* Bike gear

Bell
Headlights and rear blinky
Bike Lock
Helmet
Shower Cap <-- I would not have thought of this; thank you, Zen!
Thick Rubber Bands (for brakes when off the bike)

*First Aid Kit

Band-aids in various sizes
Bactine wipes
Regular handwipes
Neosporin
Gauze pads
Pain meds (aspirin and ibuprofen)
Benadryl
Latex gloves (so I don't need to go through my saddle bag to get the other pair)
Tweezers
Chamois butter
Cortisone cream (this almost rates as a toiletry, given my heat rash issues!)
Mylar blanket

* Two Water Bottles
* Pocket Knife
* Matches
* Clothes and toiletries

Bike Shorts (3 pair)
Socks (4 pair)
Tee-shirts (4)
Shoes (1 pair)
Bras (2)
Underwear (4)
Khakis (1 pair)
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Deodorant <--- probably the most important thing on the list
Face stuff (Oil of Olay)
Small bottle of shampoo, small bottle of conditioner
Hairbrush

* Food

Power Bars (7 large, 7 small)
Trail mix (2 kinds, one with chocolate, one without)
Powder for water flavoring, in case I need it

* ID, Credit, Cash, Medical Insurance Card
* Wet Towelettes
* Trash Bags
* Cell Phone and Cell Charger
* iPod Touch, Charger, and Earbuds
* Camera
* Small Journal and Pen
* Notebook with maps, info, hotel reservation confirmations
* Book on C&O Canal

I looked at the camping gear and found one poncho, but it's a kid's size. I have a windbreaker that I lent to my kid; if I find that, I'll take that, too. divingbiker, I appreciate your offer of a loaner, but suspect you are of more reasonable size than I am!

I was in REI for a while yesterday; they are having a sale. I looked at jackets there, but they do not have anything in my size, which was okay, because they also didn't have anything in my price range!

Thank you all for the advice and good wishes! I really appreciate it. Preparing for this ride has helped make a difficult summer much, much better; thank you.

An aside... Years ago when personal computers first came on the market and I was getting one as an early graduation present, my mother remarked that they were like Barbie dolls: it's not enough to have just Barbie. You need the outfits, the Malibu beach house, Ken, clothes for Ken, the convertible...

So it is with bikes. You get the bike, and then need the floor pump, the minipump, the bell, the saddle bag and repair stuff, the rear rack and panniers, the cyclocomputer, the back blinky, the biking shorts and gloves and shirts... and so on. I've spent more on stuff for my bike this summer than I spent on my bike, and that's even if I leave out the recent maintenance bill!

[Tri Girl]

owlice- nothing else to add, but HAVE A GREAT TIME!!!!! I can't wait to hear all about it when you get back! Please take lots of pics and share when you get home. I hope to live vicariously through your adventure. It sounds like so much fun!