Gearing up for Biking the GAP & C&O Canal

You've decided to bike the GAP & C&O Canal (or some portion of one or both) - how exciting!! Now it's time to prepare. This will be my second time doing the bike journey starting in downtown Pittsburgh and ending right in the heart of Washington D.C. I first completed it back in August of 2016 with my friend Grant, an avid biker who was willing to go with a novice biker on a sub-par bike (I'll get to that in a bit). 

This time I'm going with my partner Sam, and we are trying to be a bit more prepared to make up for our lack of biking expertise. There are plenty of outfitters who have packages for helping with your bike journey, but I'm feeling confident in our abilities to change a tire (fingers crossed) and carry our minimal luggage from stop to stop. To keep it simple, the below assumes you're like me and you'll be doing the trip without a guide or package. I'll also explain some of the differences between my first go around and this next one, because there are several!

Your Bike.

The key to completing a successful bike trip starts with having a sturdy bike. You want to ensure it's comfortable by ideally completing at least two 20+ mile test rides before the official trip. The majority of the 330 mile ride is on dirt/gravel and that is ideal for a hybrid bike, which is what I'm using this time around. I found a barely-used Trek FX1 hybrid bike with a great Bontrager rack and rear basket on Facebook Marketplace. 

My first go-around I used a Specialized mountain bike I had gotten in high school. 

It was fine, but certainly not the best and fastest option (sorry for slowing us down, Grant). Ensure your bike is the right size for you and the seat is at the right height to prevent injury.

Your Bike Accessories.

You'll need a means of attaching your luggage and supplies to your bike. To start you'll need a rear rack. Beyond that you can get creative, but these are two of the easiest methods...

• Rack basket: The bike I purchased luckily came with a pretty neat rear rack system with a removable metal basket. I plan on simply popping my travel backpack in there and securing it with a few bungees.
• Panier bag: My first trip I bought a single-side panier bag on Amazon and it was absolutely perfect. I'm a light packer, so it fit all of my clothes quite easily. I then used some bungee cords to strap my camping equipment (tent, sleeping bag, and sleeping pad) on top of my rear rack. If you aren't camping then all you need is a panier bag, which also come in double-sided options for a more balanced ride. Sam is going with this option for our upcoming trip.
• Trash bag: the easiest way to waterproof your above gear!

I really like having easy access to a few daily items, like my phone and wallet. So I opt for a handlebar bag as well. It attaches right on to your handlebars and I pop it off to bring in with me for beers and meals. It's also great for quick snacks while on the move.

And finally, a bike bell for safely passing and startling walkers, hikers, and fellow bikers.

Your Bike Fixers.

Tubes! I can't say I've ever changed a flat tire before, but that's only because Grant is the best. It wasn't more than 5 minutes before I asked him "how will I know if I have a flat tire" did my bike get exceedingly hard to ride and we realized it was flatter than a pancake. Grant was prepared with a spare for me, and he also changed it too. Shout out to him for being awesome! This time, I'm ready to go with a spare tube and a patch kit. Fingers crossed I don't have to use it.

Your Packing List.

You can definitely make your packing list based on your preferences, but the only thing I will absolutely recommend is two pairs of padded bike shorts. Don't get me wrong, your butt will hurt. But at least it slows the butt-hurting process and makes it slightly better when getting back on the bike after days and many miles of biking.

Butt butter is also a must. Grant was thrilled when I lathered it on each day every time I got off the bike. I didn't have much chaffing, but that's what it's mainly for. It also is just a great way (even if it's just a placebo) to feel like you're doing something to help with your aching butt.

Snacks.

These are important along the way because you'll be biking for hours with few dining options at times. When camping it's an absolute must, along with more substantial meal options. I believe Nature Valley bars were the snack of choice, but I remember eating Nerds ropes and a bunch of candy last go around. I'm sure I'll be stocking up with similar energy boosters this time as well.

And that's it! There are plenty of other items you may want to bring, but these are the basics that I brought and am planning to bring this upcoming trip.