Planning Ahead--Riding the Whole C&O Canal

[IFjane]

Better watch this thread drift or it could get censored like the BJ thread

Ok, I've been lurking - did you say this to draw me out?

Really - though the Bike Journal (I said I wasn't going to use any more abbreviations!) thread was WONDERULand HYSTERICAL, I really really really said it unintentionally....

Regarding the subject of this thread: I would LOVE to join you ladies but, alas, I don't have anything but a road bike. Maybe when the economy cranks back up a bit I will afford a cross bike or something like that and I will join you on another trip.....

[divingbiker]

I would LOVE to join you ladies but, alas, I don't have anything but a road bike.

Well, heck, lack of a bike is no reason not to join us. I've got a mountain bike you can ride. (I'll probably take my new Xtracycle on the C&O ride, since it's going to be so darned cool.)

[Zen]

Right now it looks like I'll be riding my old hard tail Haro.
I have been thinking about a used MTB with some suspension, tho. Something cheap.

[7rider]

Well, heck, lack of a bike is no reason not to join us. I've got a mountain bike you can ride. (I'll probably take my new Xtracycle on the C&O ride, since it's going to be so darned cool.)

Cool!!!
Janice just volunteered to carry the lion's share of the s**t in this trip!!

Seriously, tho', you've got to keep us posted on progress on the Xtracycle! That is so wild.

[divingbiker]

Cool!!!
Janice just volunteered to carry the lion's share of the s**t in this trip!!

Seriously, tho', you've got to keep us posted on progress on the Xtracycle! That is so wild.

I saw it yesterday at the shop, and it is so cool. I ordered albatross bars and bar end shifters for it from Rivendell, so I'm leaving the bike at the shop until they come in and can be installed. Too bad I forgot to take my camera. (I don't have a way to transport it on my car, so I have to ride it home.) I think it will be done after I get back from vacation.

Re hauling s**t on the C&O trip, you betcha! As long as you guys wait for me to catch up, I'm happy to...that's what this baby is for, after all! If we can figure out a way to take ice along (this is an option), I can borrow the bike shop's Xtracycle blender and we can make smoothies along the way, too!

[7rider]

Re hauling s**t on the C&O trip, you betcha! As long as you guys wait for me to catch up, I'm happy to...that's what this baby is for, after all! If we can figure out a way to take ice along (this is an option), I can borrow the bike shop's Xtracycle blender and we can make smoothies along the way, too!

Excellent!
Bring along this bad boy, too, and we will have quite an adventure!!

Oh...and for those of us staying in B&B's or other options...we should be able to load up with ice on a daily basis! WooHoo!

[IFjane]

Well, heck, lack of a bike is no reason not to join us. I've got a mountain bike you can ride.

Thank you Janice!

I am assuming the ride is soon - and I cannot be away from work at all between now and early May (except for 2 days in April in preparation for my wedding )

But I would love a rain check - especially if I have not been able to snag another bike by then!

[divingbiker]

I am assuming the ride is soon - and I cannot be away from work at all between now and early May (except for 2 days in April in preparation for my wedding )

Nah, we're not doing the C&O ride until the fall. Join us if you can!

[Zen]

If you get Adventure Cycling Magazine there's a great cover shot of cyclists coming out of the Paw Paw Tunnel.

[withm]

If you get Adventure Cycling Magazine there's a great cover shot of cyclists coming out of the Paw Paw Tunnel.

I saw that.... wish there had been more on C&O. A friend of mine here did the C&O last year. I told him I did want to talk more about it with him but I don't think he rides in winter. I will hit him up for info eventually.

Did you read the article about the guy doing the Canning route in Australia!?!?!? Yikes! He planned a 1200 mile trip through desert and carried only enough food to provide 1300 calories a day. Then he goes on to say he was very weak by the end of the trip, and oh, by the way, lost 40 pounds to boot. I suspect he was lucky to have survived it at all. And holy moly - the pix of snakes curled around his pedals - that would have freaked me out big time!

[Zen]

I haven't finished the magazine yet but I'll get to it once I finish Bicycling.

It occurred to me that it might rain on this trip.
I'm OK on top but what about the bottom?

[divingbiker]

It occurred to me that it might rain on this trip.
I'm OK on top but what about the bottom?

If it's warm, I don't worry about rain on my legs. If it's cooler, tights are fine. I'm not a big fan of rain pants, since they get so hot.

I'm off tomorrow for a week in the Caribbean, but when I get back I'd like to start trying to nail down dates for this trip. My pet sitter is already booking up, and I need to get my reservation in, or else there's no trip for me...

[7rider]

Sweet! Have a fun trip!

[Zen]

with these

[divingbiker]

Hey all, would it be ok if we nailed down some dates for this, over on the Yahoo groups thing that Zen set up? If you're interested in the ride, but haven't joined that group, PM Zen.

The urgency for me is that my dog sitter takes a 2-3 week vacation in October, but she said she'd work around my schedule if I could let her know what it is before she makes her plans.

I'll figure out some date options and send them through Yahoo.