Trike on the C&O Towpath

Hi All,

Has anyone taken their trike with all 20 inch wheels on the C&O Towpath? Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Gary

 

I don't ride a trike but my wife and I took our Longbike recumbent tandem on the C&O Towpath in May this year. Our third time to do it. Don't recall seeing any trikes but that doesn't mean you can't do it. A lot of the trail is a two-track path through the Woods. Some places the grass hadn't been cut so you'll have that to deal with. On a trike I expect you'll have at least one wheel in the rough in some stretches of the towpath. If there's been rain a trike will have less flexibility to avoid the puddles. Of course there are many areas of wide smooth path too.

Before this year we last rode the trail in 2008. Since then the C&O has seen several significant improvements. One of the original stone aqueducts has been rebuilt replacing a temporary steel bridge. More importantly, a new concrete towpath is now in place at Big Slackwater. In 2008 we had to detour around, climbing up and out of the river valley, no easy task.

By the way, in 2008 we stayed overnight at Little Orleans Lodge. Worst B&B we ever saw. Unless the management has changed stay away from it. I can share our itinerary if you want to contact me. This site is a tremendous resource, http://bikewashington.org/canal/ .

Normally I highly recommend the C&O Towpath. It's 184 miles of glorious trail through the woods. I hope some trike riders can reply. Good luck.

 

I too rode the C&O Canal trail this year. Trail was terrible because of all the rain. Lots of mud and mud puddles.

If you would like to read my write up, click here.

As far as a trike, I would NOT recommend it. The trail has too much grass and bike ruts in it. You would have a very hard time.

Now I have ridden my trike on the KATY trail with no problem. Click here if you want to read about that. Great trail, had no problem with a trike.

I also understand the Great Appalachian Passage (GAP) has a much better trail road bed. Click here for more information. Since it connects to the C&O you might want to try that instead.

I also rode the Erie Canal trail. Click here Part 1 Part 2 if you want to read more about that. That trail would also be trike friendly. I actually met a guy on a trike. Have a picture of him in my write ups.

Glad to hear you are looking for new adventures on your trike. One other I would recommend is the Rails-To-Trails out of Xenia Ohio. Click here for website with information.

That should keep you busy for a while. Enjoy your ride. Take pictures and post your ride in our Epic Recumbent Ride Reports section!!!

 

Thanks for the info guys.

We are going to ride the GAP and C&O Towpath with another couple the end of the month starting in Pittsburgh and ending in DC. The four of us will be riding and driving. We will be taking turns driving the truck and swap out about every 15 or so miles. In other words for every 60 miles of trail each will be riding 45 or so.

Based on your information and some other research, we have decided to ride our DF hybrids, leaving the trikes home and clean.

Thanks again,

Gary

 

Gary,

I think you will be happy with that decision.

 

Thanks for all your input.

We did the trip and rode most of the C&O while the government was shut done. Glad I was on two wheels.

The GAP was a pleasure to ride and could have been done on the trike. As of the C&O it would have been VERY hard and in many places most likely pushing it.

Making soft plans to ride the GAP again sometime in the next couple years as an out and back.

Regard,
Gary

 

This year I did the C&O. My next trip is the GAP. Can't wait to ride it because it is mostly asphalt and much easier than the MUD I rode in on the C&O!!!

 

Hi Jon,

Sorry to tell you this, but the GAP is mostly packed crushed lime stone. VERY firm, almost like asphalt. Most of the asphalt is from Pittsburgh to McKeesport, with some farther down the route. Some road riding in McKeesport with very very low traffic.

We did not have any mud on the GAP riding from Pittsburgh to Cumberland. The C&O was a different story.

If you can, ride from Pittsburgh to Cumberland, so after the Continental Divide you can enjoy the greater grade going down hill. The grade from Pittsburgh to the Continental Divide is almost not noticeable, not much coasting, but not hard at all to do.



I enjoyed it so much I did it twice. After getting to Frostburg, we drove back to Deal and 3 of us did it again.

To avoid crowds try not to pass through Ohiopyle on the weekends.

Gary

 

Thanks for the info. Yes I had terrible mud on the C&O too and heard the GAP trail was in much better shape. Crushed limestone is what I am used to and my bent is set up for it.