Planning a Pittsburgh to DC bike trip on the GAP and C&O Trail

As in many things, a good framework of Questions leads to understanding and a satisfying outcome, so I thought I'd set down a 2016 update of Questions to Consider when planning a bike ride on the Great Allegheny Passage and C&O Canal Trail.


In their book Linking Up, Mary Shaw and Roy Weil identify four big initial decisions:

• Daily Distance: How far should we ride each day?
  
• Luxury: What kind of overnight accommodations do we want? Camping, hostels, B&Bs, hotels?
  
• Support: Self-contained with panniers, lightly supported with a van, fully supported with an outfitter providing a guide?
  
• Direction: Should we ride eastbound or westbound?

I'd like to expand on their framework a bit. Here's the initial questions I'd pose, and some sample responses to each.

Definitions

• Who's going, and what's the nature of the relationships and the group dynamic?
  Just me and my bikeFour couples, we've known each other 20 yearsGrandparents, Parents, and Grandkids8 members of our local bike club
  

• Why? What's the reason for the trip?
  Celebrating a significant life event
  Graduation/ DischargeMarriage / DivorceHad this on the bucket listFamily ReunionWe're seeking an adventureWe're cyclists who have wanted to do this

• What degree of involvement do you want in your trip planning and trip leadership?
  I want to show up at one end, ride to the other and embrace the unknown
  I want to study all the maps/ websites and make my own plan
  I want an outfitter to recommend options, I make choices, they make arrangements
  I want an outfitter to build the plan and provide a ride-along guide

Time and distance (335 miles)

• What's the enjoyable daily mileage for the least proficient rider?
  20 - 30 miles a day, not carrying bags on the bike
  30 - 45 miles a day, not carrying bags on the bike
  45-60 miles a day, carrying bags on the bike

  
  

• What's the enjoyable daily mileage for most of the riders?
  20 - 30 miles a day, not carrying bags on the bike
  30 - 45 miles a day, not carrying bags on the bike
  45-60 miles a day, carrying bags on the bike
  60-75 miles a day, carrying bags on the bike
  
  

  
  

• Flexibility Will every rider ride every mile every day, or will one/some want the capability of opting out?
  Every rider wants to ride every mile
  We want the capability of one/some opting out of some segments
  

  
  

• Duration How many days do you plan to spend riding the trails?
  I can only spend 4 days on this trip
  5 Days from Pgh to DC
  6 Days from Pgh to DC
  7 Days from Pgh to DC
  9 Days from Pgh to DC
  

Luxury

• Where do you prefer to spend the evenings?
  CampingHostels - Low Cost Motelsmid-range hotels and B&Bsupscale hotels or glamping
  

Support

• My problem-solving approach to the unexpected (weather, mechanicals, surprises) is:
  dealing with the unexpected is something I enjoy
  dealing with the unexpected is something I prefer to avoid

• How will you carry/move clothing and luggage?
  panniers or bags on our bikes
  have a shuttle move them from one night to the next
  have a van carrying our gear follow our route each day
  
  
  
• Are you going to use your own bikes, or rent bikes?
  Use our own bikes
  rent bikes
  a mixture of personal and rental bikes
  
  
  

Direction:

• What are your travel logistics? (new in 2015: you can roll your bike onto the Pgh-DC train!)Fly/drive to start, Bike to other end. Shuttle-van back to start. Fly/drive from start to home.Fly/train to start. Bike to other end. Fly/train/ rental car directly from other end to home.
• Do your particular logistics benefit from starting in either Pittsburgh or DC?It works better to start in Pgh and ride to DCIt works better to start in DC and ride to PghOur situation won't dictate the direction of riding

If you can answer those questions, you'll be well on your way to planning your DC to Pittsburgh bike tour. Tomorrow's post suggests ways to process the questions-and-answers presented here.