C&O trail

[staehpj1]

Then you would write off this entire thread as Aggie's lack of due diligence?

I wouldn't go that far. but it shouldn't come as a huge surprise to anyone doing a full GAP C&O that there are going to be some rough trail conditions on the C&O.  They may well lament some of those conditions, but I don't think they should be that big of a shock that there will be rougher conditions than on the GAP or that a fatter tired bike might be more suitable.  Checking either of those sites would have made that clear and they are generally the first hits I get on any searches I made.  It does not seem reasonable to me to expect the trail to be a duplicate of the GAP if someone did any research at all.

[David W Pratt]

Will the NPS be maintaining a surface of fresh mule droppings to keep it historical?

[mpeebles]

I rode the C&O from Cumberland to Williamsport on my way to Philadelphia recently and didn't think it was too bad.   Just had to watch where I was going.  Not nearly as nice as the GAP but I thought it OK with more than ample primitive campsites.  I did enjoy the "forest" feel of it as well.  The old locks were an added bonus.  The Western Maryland Rail Trail was a nice "detour" as well. 

[mpeebles]

Also on this thread someone asked if they prefer a crushed limestone over the C&O.  On the same trip I rode the Great River Trail, the LaCrosse  Trail and the Elroy/Sparta Trails in Wisconsin.  I think there was one more but forgot its name.  They are crushed gravel, largely two path.  IMHO they were much easier to ride because were smoother and I didn't have to pay that much attention to the surface and could sight see a little more.  The tunnels on both the C&O and Elroy/Sparta trails are way cool!  I did walk through the Paw Paw.  The crushed gravel also "dried" out sooner after a rain. 

......Mike

[staehpj1]

Also on this thread someone asked if they prefer a crushed limestone over the C&O.

I'll just add that it can vary just how well crushed it is and how well rolled and maintained.  It can be almost like a paved road or pretty rough.

[canalligators]

I would offer a clarification on unpaved surface types.  Sometimes we mix up the names and it confuses me.

Dirt - just that, no stone involved.  Much of the C&O is like this.  OK for riding but gets muddy in the rain.
Gravel - small round stone, which usually gets packed down into the dirt.  Parts of the C&O are like this.  But sometimes it’s not packed in and can be tricky to ride.
Crushed stone - a hard stone material with individual pieces which are half an inch or larger.  Only suitable for larger tires.  Sometimes this is used for bike paths, usually specified by people who don’t know what they’re doing, sometimes as a temporary repair.
Rolled stone dust - A smooth, well packed surface.  Many bike trails are surfaced this way, and it’s a decent surface.  Examples include the GAP, Erie Canal, and the unpaved trails In Wisconsin.

The types make a big difference on whether I’ll ride a given trail, or what size tire I’ll use.  I’d appreciate it if we could be more careful with our terminology.

[John Nettles]

I guess you need to add another:
Chat or Screenings:  Fragments of siliceous rock. In the process of mining and screening fine washed sand, a course grained small gravel remains. This “small gravel” product is larger than sand but smaller than pea gravel. Commonly mixed with Stone Dust on trails. Examples include the Katy, Mickelson, and other trails in the central plains.  This would be sized between Crushed Stone and Stone Dust.

[HikeBikeCook]

if you want all the variations then you might also want to add Cinder.

VOLCANIC CINDERS occur in many areas of the world and are particularly common
in central Oregon, which is the location of this study. The Forest Service of the U. S.
Department of Agriculture builds many miles of untreated aggregate-surfaced roads in
the states of Oregon and Washington. In the central Oregon area, the use of volcanic
cinders to surface those roads is very common. The performance of cinder-surfaced
roads has varied, with both good and poor results. The general trend among many
highway agencies is to avoid their use. However, the steady depletion of good, hightype aggregate sources has brought about renewed interest in other aggregate types,
including volcanic cinders. Present use of volcanic cinders is primarily for low-class
roads, either untreated or with a light asphaltic surface treatment.

[BFDUHON]

I'll be on the C & 0 & Gap starting 9/13/21. There has been a lot of rain.  Is the Trail too sloppy for fenders?  I have 3/4 inch clearance. & Running Panaracer gravel king slick 38mm X 650B .   So tour operators have discouraged fenders because of the debris jaming fender & Wheel.
Any one have recent experiance?

[aggie]

I had fenders on my bike during my recent ride.  Try to avoid the major mud areas but even then you should be ok.  Your bike will still be muddy and dirty but most will be off you and your gear.  You could always stop at one of the pumps and use that water to rinse off the mud.  They are fairly frequent.