My Sleeping System: I Am Satisfied With Its Performance

I recently upgraded my camping sleeping system. It now consists of four main components: a sleeping bag, a stuff sack that serves as a pillow, a sleeping bag liner, and a sleeping pad.

Sleeping bag, liner, pillow stuff sack, & pad

Sleeping Bag

I chose synthetic over down because I already had a down bag. Thinking I might be camping while exploring water trails via my kayak in addition to backpacking, camping while bicycle touring, and car camping, I wanted a synthetic bag that would still offer some insulation even when damp or a little wet. After some research and snuggling into four of my top preferences, I chose the Regular Length Marmot Cloudbreak 30 because it offered the best fit.

Sleeping Bag Liner

Wanting to keep my bag clean and extend its temperature range, I added a Sea to Summit Thermolite Reactor sleeping bag liner.  The liner theoretically extends the comfort range of my Cloudbreak down to 15 degrees, but I have yet to experience anything colder than 30 degrees, and then I was toasty warm. The liner also offers me the possibility of sleeping in just it on top of the bag in warm weather. One night last August it was rather warm when I turned in for the night. It was too warm to be in my bag so I crawled into just the liner and it kept me warm.  Only when the temperature dropped a few hours later and I woke up cold did I zip the bag around me.

Stuff Sack Pillow

I carry both the bag and liner in a nylon stuff sack made by Outdoor Products. Half of the inside of the stuff sack is covered with fleece. At night I turn the stuff sack inside out, stuff it with clothing or other soft gear, and use it as a pillow.

Sleeping Pads

My sleeping pad is a closed cell ¾ length Therm-A-Rest RidgeRest SOLite.  It provides enough insulation and padding from the hard, cold ground to give me a good night’s sleep. I was later seduced by a sale to obtain a full length open cell Therm-A-Rest NeoAir Voyager and added to that the Therm-A-Rest Trekker Chair ultralight, compact chair sleeve to convert the mattress into a chair.

The SOLite is far lighter than the NeoAir Voyager but it also takes up more space. The NeoAir Voyager offers more padding and insulation, and takes up less space, but weighs more. There is also the possibility that the NeoAir Voyager might spring a leak while in the field, resulting in no comfort and no insulation, while the SOLite is practically indestructible. I can also more easily use the SOLite to sit on during a rest stop than I can the NeoAir Voyager.

For longer backpacking trips where weight and reliability is an issue, I carry the SOLite. For shorter backpacking trips, cycling trips, and car camping where weight is not as much an issue, and when I could get by for a night or two if it sprang a leak, I carry the NeoAir Voyager. When I finally take that overnight kayaking trip I will use the NeoAir Voyager because it will be easier to fit into my kayak than the SOLite.

This post originally appeared on The Trek and has been slightly edited.

Chronological Links to "Cycling from DC to PGH" Series of Blog Posts

Vince and I at the beginning of the C and O Canal Towpath

These are the links, in chronological order, to my "Spinning Wheels (From DC to PGH)" series of blog posts about cycling the C and O Canal Towpath, Western Maryland Rail Trail, and Great Allegheny Passage from Washington, DC to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with my friend Vince during May and August, 2016.

From DC to PGH - Prologue
From DC to PGH - Day 0
From DC to PGH - Day 1
From DC to PGH - Day 2

From DC to PGH - Day 3
From DC to PGH - Day 4
From DC to PGH - Day 5
From DC to PGH - Day 6
From DC to PGH - Day 7
From DC to PGH - Day 8
From DC to PGH – Day 9
From DC to PGH – Day 10
From DC to PGH – My Gear

Spinning Wheels (From DC to PGH – My Gear)

My bike and gear
at the Eastern Continental Divide

            If you have been following my series of posts about cycling the C and O Canal Towpath, Western Maryland Rail Trail, and Great Allegheny Passage from Washington, DC to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania this past summer, you might be wondering what gear I used and carried on the trip. My purpose in writing this post is to show that you do not need a super expensive bike or a lot of expensive gear to experience the ride of your life for yourself.

            Even though it was a year out of date, I found the tenth edition of the TrailBook, published by the Allegheny Trail Alliance, well worth the $10 cost. It was essential for helping me plan for the trip. I also carried it along with me as I rode. This invaluable resource has since been renamed the TrailGuide and is now in its twelfth edition.

            I also found several entries on The Great Allegheny Passage (unofficial) Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/gapcando/) very helpful, especially those that linked to blog posts written by cyclists who had experienced the trip that had insights and suggestions to offer. This is a closed group so you will need to request to join.

            In addition to using the map that came with my copy of the tenth edition of the TrailBook I also carried and used a Chesapeake and Ohio Canal brochure and map from the National Park Service and a  Free waterproof 2016 GAPmap. The 2017 GAPmap is available from getGAPmap.com.  Each of the three maps provided some information the other maps did not.

My very muddy bike with Vince in the background

            My riding Partner, Vince, and I planned to camp all but one night while we were cycling, and to cook most of our breakfasts and dinners while we were camping. That meant we needed to carry not only food but stoves to heat water and cook with. We also carried sleeping pads, sleeping bags, and tents. If we had decided to stay in Motels or B &;B’s every night, we could have carried a lot less gear, but it would have changed the character of our trip.

            I undertook this adventure riding a more or less off the floor Trek 8.3 DS hybrid that was purchased new two years earlier.  At the time of purchase the store upgraded the saddle and added a Bontrager water bottle cage and a Bontrager backrack. Prior to the trip I added a second water bottle cage, replaced the stock pedals with Shimano SPD Pedals, and swapped out the standard grips for Ergon GP2-L grips

            I installed a set of Axiom low rider front racks to which I attached Axiom Seymour DLX 30L panniers. I used Axiom Seymour DLX 45L panniers on the back rack. I lined both rear panniers with XL Ziploc Bags for extra protection from rain. This arrangement served me well but a smaller size Ziploc Big Bag might have been a better fit.

All our gear spread out at Husky Haven Campground

            All four panniers were filled with gear at the start of the trip. In addition to the Panniers, I also used buckle lash straps to attach my sleeping pad, tent, tarp and poles to the rear rack between the panniers. By the end of the trip, as food stocks were depleted, I was able to fit my tent, tarp and poles inside the panniers and had to attach only my sleeping pad to the back rack. I also had an inexpensive Bell handlebar bag on front but after the trip replaced it with a 5L Topeak Handlebar Bag for the ride from Hancock to Frostburg.

            I used an old Sierra Designs Ultra Flash three season tent for shelter from rain and bugs which I supplemented with a 9’6” x 9’3” nylon tarp with nesting poles to put up over picnic tables. It rained so much our first couple days and nights that I was really glad I had the tarp with us as it allowed us to cook, eat, sit, and stand out of the rain.

            I slept in fairly new Marmot Cloudbreak 30 synthetic bag supplemented by Sea to Summit Thermolite REACTOP sleeping bag liner. The liner helped me keep my bag clean. On warmer nights I used just the liner on top of the bag until the temperature cooled down enough to slip into the bag. A Therm-a-Rest RidgeRest SOlite served as my sleeping pad.

Vince using our cooking gear

            Vince and I both carried MSR Whisperlite Internationals to boil water and cook over. We also both carried 20oz bottles of MSR liquid fuel and burned about a total of 20oz between us. We could have gotten by with one stove but each of us wanted to be self-sufficient in case the other  had to bail out early.

           I carried two water bottles on my bike plus a collapsible Nalgene three liter canteen in a pannier to use while camping. I did not carry a water filter because I trusted the water sources, but Vince carried a Katydyn Hiker Microfilter water filter that we used to filter any iodine taste of the pump water along the Towpath. Be aware, however, that beginning January 1st, 2017, the National Park Service will no longer consider pump water along the Towpath potable and will recommend that all pump water along the Towpath be either filtered or chemically treated before use. If I were to repeat this trip in the future I would carry my own water filter.

            In addition to my riding shoes I also carried a pair of Teva sandals which I wore in camp. I carried two pair of synthetic riding socks and two pair of Smart Wool riding socks. I was really glad I had the wool socks the first couple of days when it was cool, raining, and my feet were getting wet.

            I took two pair of Novara Forza Road Bike Shorts and alternated their use, rinsing one pair out and letting them dry while wearing the other pair. I also took a pair of mesh lined trail shorts which I wore while in camp.

            Two of my riding Jerseys were short sleeved and one was long sleeved. I wore the long sleeved jersey the first day when it was raining and chilly but did not wear it again. I also took a long sleeved and a short sleeved Smart wool top for wearing around camp.

Tents and tarp at Antietam

            My Novara Stratos Bike Pants kept me dry and warm during those first couple of wet and chilly  days but after the rain stopped and the temperatures rose I did not need them. They worked so well that I wish I had left my Marmot PreCip pants at home. My Marmot PreCip jacket also kept me dry and warm the first couple pf days and I may have used it again after that for chilly evenings and mornings and would not have wanted to be without it. I also wore a Marmot PreCip brimmed cap under my helmet the first day to keep both my head and my face dry and was glad I had it.

            I had taken one shop cloth for cleaning up my bike but wish I had taken a small plastic bottle each of dry and wet chain lube as well as a small plastic bottle of chain degreaser and a brush to clean dirt and mud out of the gears and derailleurs. The mud was so thick those first couple of days that it was affecting my shifting but I did not have anything to clean it out with other than squeezing water from my water bottle with as much pressure as I could to clean out the derailleurs and gears.

            While Vince was more creative with his breakfasts and dinners, he also used more fuel. I enjoyed packets of Quaker Instant Oatmeal and Starbucks Vanilla Latte VIA every morning.  For dinner I relied on just add boiling water Freezer Bag Meals I prepared at home. Both Vince and I depended on no cook tuna and tortilla wraps for lunch. Crackers and homemade GORP supplemented or meals.

Here are the link to previous installments in the "Spinning Wheels" series:

From DC to PGH - Day 10 (27th Installment)

From DC to PGH - Day 9 (26th Installment)

From DC to PGH - Day 8 (25th Installment)
From DC to PGH - Day 7 (24th Installment)
From DC to PGH - Day 6 (23rd Installment)
My First Tour the Montour (22nd Installment)
From DC to PGH - Day 5 (21st Installment)
From DC to PGH - Day 4 (20th Installment)
From DC to PGH - Day 3 (19th Installment)
From DC to PGH - Day 2 (18th Installment)
From DC to PGH - Day 1 (17th Installment)
From DC to PGH - Day 0 (16th Installment)
From DC to PGH - Prologue (15th Installment)
Transitioning (14th Installment)
Flats (13 Installment)
Beware Dehydration (12 Installment)
Creams & Powders for your Butt (11th Installment)
Group vs. Solo Rides (10th Installment)
Competitiveness (9th Installment)
Stats (8th Installment)
Accidents Happen (7th Installment)
Pedals for Cleats (6th Installment)
Riding Shoes with Cleats (5th Installment)
Be Kind to Your Behind (4th Installment)
Combating Hand and Arm Numbness (3rd Installment)
Reading and Riding (2nd Installment)
Group vs. Solo Rides (10th Installment)
Competitiveness (9th Installment)
Stats (8th Installment)
Accidents Happen (7th Installment)
Pedals for Cleats (6th Installment)
Riding Shoes with Cleats (5th Installment)
Be Kind to Your Behind (4th Installment)
Combating Hand and Arm Numbness 
Reading and Riding (2nd Installment)
Starting Over (1st Installment)

Spinning Wheels (From DC to PGH – Day 10)

Packed up and ready to ride

            Sometime during the night I realized that my inflatable sleeping had a small leak because I woke up feeling my shoulders and butt pressing against the cold ground. I added more air so I could comfortably sleep and repeated the above steps two or three more times during the night.

            As I emerged from my sleeping bag and tent around six in the morning, I realized that this was the first time in over nine years that I had camped alone. I often cycle and hike alone but had not camped alone overnight since an overnight backpacking trip in the West Virginia Dolly Sods Wilderness in June of 2007. I had not camped alone while on a cycling trip in over forty years.

            I knew before leaving on this trip that my stove’s gas canister was almost empty but decided not to carry a second canister because I knew that running out of fuel might be an inconvenience but, in the warmth of early August, would not be a safety issue. It turned out that I had enough fuel to boil water for last night’s dinner and this morning’s oatmeal but ran out while boiling water for a cup of coffee. So as not to go without my morning cup of Joe, I used a heat tab from my emergency supply to finish heating a cup of water to boiling for coffee.

Outside the Cumberland Trail Connection

            I was cycling again by 7:45 AM and rolled into Cumberland about an hour and fifteen minutes later.  I stopped at the Cumberland Trail Connection where I purchased a few souvenir decals and an ice cold bottle of Snapple Iced Tea. Then I rode over to the National Park Service visitor center where I washed my hands and face in the restroom, filled up both of my water bottles with cold water from the water fountain, and bought a souvenir pin, patch, and hiking staff medallion. While cycling around the area I snapped some photos, including picture of the iconic brass sidewalk inlay marking the beginning of the Great Allegheny Passage.

The iconic GAP inlay

            As I rode out of Cumberland and reached the section of the Great Allegheny Passage that more or less parallels the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad, I started gaining the elevation I had dreaded. As I stopped for rest breaks at milepost 5 and 11, I was glad I was riding in the cooler morning before the real August heat and humidity of the afternoon set in.

            Not long after my mile 11 rest stop, I passed three cyclists off to the side of the trail, one of them fixing a flat. As I rode by I asked them if they needed anything. They said they did not, so I didn’t stop. In less than half a mile, however, I realized that my rear tire going flat. I surmised that there must have been some sharp debris on the trail that cause both me and the other cyclist to experience a flat within the same half mile section of trail.   Since I was about only five miles from the end of my ride, however, I decided to pump the tire up with air using my frame pump and try to finish the ride without stopping to patch the flat.

            After another mile or so I again noticed that my rear tire was going flat. Still not wanting to stop to repair a flat so close to the end of my trip, I peddled on to the Frostburg trail head where I used the repair station pump to bring my rear tire up to 80 psi and then headed up the switchback leading to the Trail Inn and town. While I still had to get up to the trail Inn, arrange for a shuttle back to Cumberland, and drive home, I now felt like my ride was complete. I had finally cycled the entire route from Washington, DC to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I had not accomplished the feat in one trip, but I had accomplished it!

Fini

            The last eleven miles so had not been the most scenic. Looking back, they were probably some of most boring miles between Washington and Pittsburg. There were few scenic overlooks, little history, and with the Scenic Railroad right next to the trail, I did not feel like I was out in the wild like I had on many other sections of the Towpath and GAP.

            While I had dreaded encountering the elevation gain between Cumberland and Frostburg, I had managed to cycle the distance without shifting into my granny gear. In fact, the ride from Cumberland to Frostburg had not seemed as grueling as the shorter ride from Frostburg to Cumberland that Vince and I had cycled over two months earlier.

            The short switchback connector trail from the Frostburg trailhead up to the Trail Inn was another story. Not only did the steep serpentine trail force me into my lowest gear, but so did the sharp turns. Even if I had been able to ride faster in a higher gear I probably would not have been able to make the several turns if I had been cycling any faster. I remember that when Vince and I descended this path from the Trail Inn down to the trailhead that we had to brake to near stopping in order to negotiate the tight 180’s.

            After huffing and puffing up the Trail Inn, I parked my bike in from of the Inn a few minutes before noon. I had just cycled between 75-76 miles in less than 24 hours! Even though I had been out for only 24 hours, I was sweaty and dirty and looked forward to a shower, followed by lunch accompanied by a cold beer.

My last lunch of the trip

            I saw the owner, John, and asked if I could get a shuttle back to Cumberland after a shower and some lunch. He said yes but that it would be at least an hour to an hour and a half before he could drive me. I had no problem with the wait and figured it would give me the time I needed to clean up and eat.

            I locked up my bike and climbed the stairs and ramp to the shower house. After a refreshing and cleansing shower, I changed into clean clothes and headed back down to the café where I enjoyed a pulled pork sandwich with fries and two cold Coors Light. I wasn’t planning to cycling any more that day and it would be at least another hour or two before I would be driving home from Cumberland, so two ice cold beers were not going to affect my cycling or my driving.

            Not long after I finished eating, John was ready to shuttle me to Cumberland. When I went to put my bike on the van’s bike rack I saw that the rear tire was now as flat as a pancake. “I guess one cannot ride from DC to Pittsburgh without experiencing at least one flat,” I thought. Perhaps I should have been thankful that I experienced only one flat, and that that flat was so near the end of the trip that I could wait until I arrived back home to repair it. After all, I have read that some cyclists experienced as many as three flats while riding from DC to Pittsburgh.

A muddy bike after over 75 miles
in just under 24 hours

            I do not know if the ride from DC to Pittsburg will be the ride of my life or not since I might undertake and experience similar bike camping trips in future years. I imagine that someday I will make the same journey, but next time starting from Pittsburg and ending up in DC. There are also many other rail trails to explore, so who knows. The future is full of possibilities. Until then, the ride from DC to Pittsburgh has been the ride of my life, at least for the time being.

            I am glad I took Vince up on his offer to join him on his ride from DC to Pittsburgh back in May. I think we made good cycling companions in spite of the difference in our ages. We were nearly equal in cycling and camping experience and abilities.  What Vince brought to our May trip, and what I had missed on this two day overnight solo trip, was Vince’s knowledge of local railroading history. All through our May ride, but especially along the GAP portion of our ride, Vince offered historical tidbits about the former railroad lines we were riding on, railroad lines we were paralleling, and the many rail road related structures we passed. I had missed hearing about that history on this trip.

            Once back home I sewed a C and O Canal patch and a Great Allegheny Passage patch onto the side of one of my rear panniers, a reminder of what I had experience and accomplished. I still wanted to purchase a GAP riding jersey to also commemorate the trip.

Here are the link to previous installments in the "Spinning Wheels" series:

From DC to PGH - Day 9 (26th Installment)

From DC to PGH - Day 8 (25th Installment)
From DC to PGH - Day 7 (24th Installment)
From DC to PGH - Day 6 (23rd Installment)
My First Tour the Montour (22nd Installment)
From DC to PGH - Day 5 (21st Installment)
From DC to PGH - Day 4 (20th Installment)
From DC to PGH - Day 3 (19th Installment)
From DC to PGH - Day 2 (18th Installment)
From DC to PGH - Day 1 (17th Installment)
From DC to PGH - Day 0 (16th Installment)
From DC to PGH - Prologue (15th Installment)
Transitioning (14th Installment)
Flats (13 Installment)
Beware Dehydration (12 Installment)
Creams & Powders for your Butt (11th Installment)
Group vs. Solo Rides (10th Installment)
Competitiveness (9th Installment)
Stats (8th Installment)
Accidents Happen (7th Installment)
Pedals for Cleats (6th Installment)
Riding Shoes with Cleats (5th Installment)
Be Kind to Your Behind (4th Installment)
Combating Hand and Arm Numbness (3rd Installment)
Reading and Riding (2nd Installment)
Group vs. Solo Rides (10th Installment)
Competitiveness (9th Installment)
Stats (8th Installment)
Accidents Happen (7th Installment)
Pedals for Cleats (6th Installment)
Riding Shoes with Cleats (5th Installment)
Be Kind to Your Behind (4th Installment)
Combating Hand and Arm Numbness 
Reading and Riding (2nd Installment)
Starting Over (1st Installment)

Spinning Wheels (From DC to PGH – Day 9)

            Even before Vince and I rolled into Point State Park, I knew that someday I would have to return to the C and O Towpath and Great Allegheny Passage to fill in the section between Hancock and Frostburg that we shuttled over. The question was when and how.

            Before I cycled most of the DC to Pittsburgh route with Vince, I would not have considered a solo ride. Afterward, having experienced a long distance ride, and familiar with both the Towpath and the Gap as well as the starting and ending points, I was not just open to riding from Hancock to Frostburg alone but more or less committed to it.

            Cycling from Frostburg to Hancock was out of the question. Vince and I had undertaken an east to west ride and that was how I wanted to complete it. Cycling from Hancock in the east to Frostburg in the west was the only option for me even though I knew it would probably b e more difficult.

            I knew I could not ride the approximate seventy-five miles in one day, especially considering the elevation I would have to climb from Cumberland up to Frostburg. I also knew that the route from Hancock to Cumberland would be fairly level and that I would not start gaining elevation until after Cumberland.  Therefore I planned to drive to Hancock, where I would leave the car, and cycle the Western Maryland Rail Trail and the Towpath to as near Cumberland as I could while still camping. The next day I would cycle through Cumberland to Frostburg and take a shuttle back to Hancock and the ca I was using.

            A little over two months since Vince and I had completed our trip, the weather and my schedule finally provided the opportunity I needed to undertake the trip.  After driving about three hours from home to Hancock, I drove around Hancock a few more minutes searching for anything that looked like free overnight parking near the Towpath and Western Maryland Rail Trail. Not finding any, I stopped in at C & O Bicycle to find out where I could park the car for an overnight trip.

            The salesperson behind the counter told me that I could purchase a $5 overnight parking permit for a lot just a couple blocks away and almost on the Rail Trail and near the Towpath. That seemed like a fair price and the best option and is what I ended up doing.

At the western terminus of the Western Maryland Rail Trail

            Since I was going to be out for only two days and a night, I had far less gear than when Vince and I had set out from DC headed for Pittsburgh. I was able to easily fit everything in my two rear panniers and on the back rack between the panniers, foregoing the front panniers. Once those panniers, tent and sleeping pad were attached to my bike, I was cycling westward on the Western Maryland Rail Trail by 12:45 PM.

            Two months earlier, Vince and I had ridden into Hancock via the Western Maryland Rail Trail, so that is why I decided to follow it westward rather than riding the Towpath.  After cycling the dry and smooth rail trail for a little over eleven miles, I finally reached its western terminus and transitioned over to the C and O Canal Towpath. I wasn’t on the Towpath more than a few minutes before I encountered a mud puddle and claimed my first splash. Mud puddles were not all I encountered, however. I also saw several deer and some pheasants soon after I transitioned to the Towpath.

             I had planned to stop for a break at Bill's Place in Little Orleans but totally missed any signage and rode right by. I later learned that I was not the first person to have missed the turn off. I therefore kept cycling until I finally took a break about 20 ½ miles after leaving Hancock at the Stickpile Hill  Hiker Biker Campsite where I enjoyed a pepperoni roll as a late lunch and filled up both of my water bottles. I also popped an Advil. I would have preferred to take an Aleve but mistakenly grabbed the wrong bottle out of the medicine cabinet when I was packing for the trip.

            As I rode closer and closer to the Paw Paw tunnel I was looking forward to experiencing some natural air conditioning as the temperature was quite warm and a little higher than I expected. Of all the tunnels I have encountered while cycling, some of which bear signage that recommends cyclists dismount and walk their bikes through, I have always chosen to ride rather than dismount. The Paw Paw Tunnel was another matter. No other tunnel I have ridden through consists of a small, unlit walkway with a water filled canal on the other side of the railing.

After exiting the Paw Paw Tunnel

             I walked my ride through the tunnel and enjoyed its natural air condition, but it was not as cool as I had hoped. It was, however, wetter than I expected. At times I felt drips off the side wall hit my scalp and face. At times I felt like I was walking across flowstone in a cave rather than on a walkway. When I encountered a few pedestrians I pushed my bike as far to the side and stood off to the side so they could pass. That was how narrow the walkway was. I could not imagine having tried to ride through the tunnel.

           After exiting the Paw Paw tunnel and about thirty-seven miles out of Hancock, I stopped once more, this time at the Town Creek Hiker Biker Campsite, where I again filled up my water bottles. While I was taking a break at Town Creek a volunteer trail ambassador from Paw Paw rolled in. I asked him if the pump at the Iron’s Mountain Hiker Biker Campsite, where I planned to camp for the night, was working, but he did not know. He told me he had cycled only as far as the Spring  Gap Drive-In Camp  and assured me that the pump was working there, so I planned to fill up my water bottles at Spring Gap in case the pump at Irons Mountain was not working.

            As I continued to ride I realized that I was making good enough time that I might be able to pull off my third half century ever, the other two having been just this season. Just two miles short of a half century and with time running out I stopped at Spring Gap to fill up not just my two water bottles in cages but also an empty liter Nalgene bottle in my pannier. I was so close to completing a half century  that I really did not want to take the time to do this but I also did not want to risk having to ration water if none was available at Irons Mountain.

            At 6:35 PM, with ten minutes to spare, I stopped at milepost 175 after having cycled 50.5 miles! My third half century! And I accomplished it with panniers and gear on the back, riding uphill, 4/5 of it on the unpaved and sometimes muddy C and O Towpath!

            Less than a tenth of a mile later I arrived at the Irons Mountain Hiker Biker Campsite, my intended destination for the night. Not only was the pump working, meaning I would not have to ration water, but the campsite was level and lush with a nice view of the Potomac. It was also unoccupied. The only downside was the nearby railroad bridge crossing the Potomac just upstream which meant the sound of passing trains throughout the night.

Camping at Irons Mountain Hiker Biker Campsite

            As I was making camp I debated whether or not to put the rainfly off my tent. Without it I would more ventilation and sleep cooler.  When I checked the weather forecast, however, I learned that there was a chance of rain during the night so I went ahead and put the fly up, but it never did rain that night.

            After a freezer bag dinner of Salmon Couscous Pilaf I reflected on my day’s ride. I had been cycling about 14-15 mph on the Western Maryland Rail Trail but slowed down to 12-13 miles as soon as I transitioned to the Towpath. Near the end of my ride, as I was tiring but still hoping to pull a half century, I was struggling to maintain a 10-12 mph pace.  I wish I had brought and attached the plastic Axiom splashguard I had purchased moths before in Hancock but the weather had been so dry I thought I wouldn’t need it. In reality, I encountered more mud puddles on the Towpath than I expected. Some of those puddle had standing water. The splashguard would have kept some of that mud off me and my bike.

            As dusk approached I began to think that I might be enjoying this beautiful hiker Biker Campsite all to myself. As it turned out, I did. One couple riding west to east passed by after I had arrived but they did not stop. Not only was I cycling alone, I was also camping alone.

Here are the link to previous installments in the "Spinning Wheels" series:

From DC to PGH - Day 8 (25th Installment)
From DC to PGH - Day 7 (24th Installment)
From DC to PGH - Day 6 (23rd Installment)
My First Tour the Montour (22nd Installment)
From DC to PGH - Day 5 (21st Installment)
From DC to PGH - Day 4 (20th Installment)
From DC to PGH - Day 3 (19th Installment)
From DC to PGH - Day 2 (18th Installment)
From DC to PGH - Day 1 (17th Installment)
From DC to PGH - Day 0 (16th Installment)
From DC to PGH - Prologue (15th Installment)
Transitioning (14th Installment)
Flats (13 Installment)
Beware Dehydration (12 Installment)
Creams & Powders for your Butt (11th Installment)
Group vs. Solo Rides (10th Installment)
Competitiveness (9th Installment)
Stats (8th Installment)
Accidents Happen (7th Installment)
Pedals for Cleats (6th Installment)
Riding Shoes with Cleats (5th Installment)
Be Kind to Your Behind (4th Installment)
Combating Hand and Arm Numbness (3rd Installment)
Reading and Riding (2nd Installment)
Group vs. Solo Rides (10th Installment)
Competitiveness (9th Installment)
Stats (8th Installment)
Accidents Happen (7th Installment)
Pedals for Cleats (6th Installment)
Riding Shoes with Cleats (5th Installment)
Be Kind to Your Behind (4th Installment)
Combating Hand and Arm Numbness (3rd Installment)
Reading and Riding (2nd Installment)
Starting Over (1st Installment)

Spinning Wheels (From DC to PGH - Day 8)

            It was the last day of our DC to Pittsburgh cycling adventure and Vince and I had eaten breakfast, packed up, and were cycling again by 9:30 AM.  I was expecting to meet my ride around near Point State Park around noon so we needed to maintain a pace of about 10 ½ miles an hour if we were going to make it on time. It was doable.

Vince breaking camp for the last time          

            Our first stop was Mon/Yough Trail Council  Visitors Center in Boston. I had started at least one GAP day trip in Boston but the Visitors Center was closed that day.  This day, it was open. Vince and I parked our bikes out front and walked in. We were greeted by the friendly volunteer who asked us to sign the guestbook. The fact that this was the smallest of the three visitor’s centers we stopped at along the GAP did not diminish our appreciation for the opportunity to browse the merchandise and enjoy conversation with the attendant.

            Back on our bikes, after about seven or eight miles out of Dravo, I was in the lead as we crossed the bridge from the south bank of the Youghiogheny to the north bank heading into McKeesport.  As soon as we crossed the bridge Vince tells me my rear tire is wobbling. I didn’t feel the wobble but when I looked down at my rear wheel I could see it.

            I stop, dismount, and look to see what the problem might be. I soon discover that a section of the sidewall is pulling away from the bead! I realized that I might be facing a catastrophic failure that I had no way of quickly fixing since I had not brought an extra tire with me. I had visions of having to call my ride and asking them to pick me up somewhere between McKeesport and Pittsburgh.

Emergency Repairs

            So close to the finish, we kept cycling, but as I peddled I was thinking about what I could do if the situation grew worse, and what I could do to prevent it from getting worse. After a couple more miles I latched on to an idea.

            Vince and I stopped at the top of a concrete approach ramp to a bridge over a section of train tracks. I climbed off my bike and took a small roll of duct tape out of my saddle bag. Threading the tape between spokes, I tightly wrapped it three times around the tire and rim around the middle of the bulge. I did the same on both sides of the first wrap. Then I took a couple cable ties out of my saddlebag and tightly cinched them around the center wrap.  I thought, and hoped, that this temporary fix would at least reinforce the sidewalls enough to get me to Point State Park.

            I haven’t always carried duct tape and cable ties in my saddlebag. While reading what several others had blogged about cycling the C and O Towpath and Great Allegheny Passage I had noticed that someone carried a small roll of duct tape and some cable ties because they had so many uses. I imagined using duct tape to repair a torn tent, and using a cable tie to reattach a loose cable or water bottle cage, but I never imagined I would use them in combination to reinforce a tire pulling away from the bead. I will carry duct tape and cable ties with me wherever and whenever I ride.

            Hoping that my temporary fix would hold for about another eighteen or nineteen miles, Vince and I rode on as we cycled ever farther into the industrial heartland of Pittsburgh, rolling past old vacant mills and vacant commercial lots. The closer we got to Point State Park the more cyclists, joggers, and trail walkers we saw. The experience was far removed from the near isolation we sometimes experienced for miles on end while cycling the western end of the Towpath and eastern end of the GAP.

REI Southside Pittsburgh

            Our last stop for the day and the trip was the Recreational Equipment Incorporated store on the South Side of Pittsburgh. I have been a member of REI for over forty years and rarely pass up an opportunity to stop in when I pass a store. We parked and locked up our bikes out front and went in to use the restroom and make a few purchases. I actually had a shopping list that included some tent stakes to replace the few I had broken on the trip, and some Nite Ize CamJam Small Cord Tighteners for a friend who had loaned me his for the trip. If we were not so close to finishing, and if I did not have confidence in my temporary rear wheel fix, I might have purchased a new tire and installed it right then and there and then.

            Since Vince had never before cycled all the way into the point, I lead the way, cycling down Fort Pitt Boulevard,  cutting through a parking lot, and threading through some pedestrian underpasses that led us to the park. We cycled on the upper level of the park past the fountain and then turned around and descended to the lower level, dodging pedestrians, including several loose children, on our way to the fountain and the iconic “Forks of the Ohio River – Point State Park” inland marker.  It was about fifteen minutes after noon when we finally arrived.

Vince and I at Point State Park (The End)

            Dark clouds seemed to be massing and we could hear distant thunder and felt a few rain drops, a fitting ending, I thought. We started this trip in rain and we were ending it in rain.  I called my ride to let them know where I was and to find out where they were. Vince and I high fived each other, took some photos, and then I said goodbye as I rode off to be picked up on a nearby street.

            I saw my ride pulling up as I approached the street. I quickly dismounted, took the panniers of my bike and threw them into the back of the car, and loaded my bike onto the rear rack. On the way home, we stopped at the Trek store where my bike was purchased. There I buy two new tires. I also buy new pads for the disk brakes.  I planned to install it later at home.

            Once home, I wash and dry my bike. Then I replace the brake pads, degrease and lube the chain, and oil all the pivot points. While changing the rear tire I notice that another section of the side wall was starting to separate from the bead. I feel fortunate that the tire did not fail before finishing the trip.

            After changing the tire I researched the average life span of a bicycle tire. I learned that a lot of factors, like how you ride and where you ride, can affect the life of a tire, but the general consensus was that 1,500 miles is the average length of a bicycle tire. Looking through my riding journal I determined that my rear tire was probably about three years old and had 1,550 miles on it! Had I known that, I would have put new tires on my bike before embarking on the Towpath and GAP.

The iconic inlaid marker!

            I used almost every piece of gear that I took on the trip accept a pair of Marmot PreCip pants and a small solar/crank powered AM/FM radio. I would not have wanted to do without anything else I took. I also cannot think of anything I wish I had taken that I did not other than a small amount of degreaser and wet chain lube.

            As I was reorienting myself to life off my bike and off the Towpath and GAP, I thought to myself “After having acquired a bike a little over two years ago and starting to cycle again after not riding for nearly thirty-five years, I am a cyclist.  I am more of a cyclist than I ever was. I can weather nasty conditions. I am in half decent shape. I have what it takes to undertake and complete a major multi-day ride.” I also realized that many of my camping and backing skills and experiences, and gear, were easily transferable to bike camping. I also began to think about and plan for how and when I would complete the section of the ride we had shuttled over, the section from Hancock to Frostburg.

Here are the link to previous installments in the "Spinning Wheels" series:

From DC to PGH - Day 7 (24th Installment)

From DC to PGH - Day 6 (23rd Installment)

My First Tour the Montour (22nd Installment)

From DC to PGH - Day 5 (21st Installment)

From DC to PGH - Day 4 (20th Installment)
From DC to PGH - Day 3 (19th Installment)
From DC to PGH - Day 2 (18th Installment)
From DC to PGH - Day 1 (17th Installment)
From DC to PGH - Day 0 (16th Installment)
From DC to PGH - Prologue (15th Installment)
Transitioning (14th Installment)
Flats (13 Installment)
Beware Dehydration (12 Installment)
Creams & Powders for your Butt (11th Installment)
Group vs. Solo Rides (10th Installment)
Competitiveness (9th Installment)
Stats (8th Installment)
Accidents Happen (7th Installment)
Pedals for Cleats (6th Installment)
Riding Shoes with Cleats (5th Installment)
Be Kind to Your Behind (4th Installment)
Combating Hand and Arm Numbness (3rd Installment)
Reading and Riding (2nd Installment)
Starting Over (1st Installment)