JourneyonaBike - bicycling the C&O WMRT - Mp 112 to 184 - Fort Frederick to Cumberland Maryland

A JouneyonaBike Video

Mp 138/140 C&O (WMRT detour)
   • JourneyonaBike - WMRT Meets C&O - mp ...  

6 months off the bike over winter and out of shape. Missed taking my vitamin D and forgot arthritis ceeam.

Music free downloads...
▪︎ Audionautix:
Acoustic Shuffle
Alison
Coolride
Copafeel
DatGroove
Essence
Heading West
Slim and None

▪︎ Topher Mohr and Alex Elena:
Hot Heat

▪︎ http://www.JoshWoodward.com
Darien Gap
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I biked from Fort Frederick to Cumberland Md.
June 19-20, 2020.
Jun 19... 45 miles, 7 hours with rests
Jun 20... 30 miles, 6 hours with rests
Just.touring, not a race.
Slow pace conserving water with uncertainty of handles on pumps yet (due to covid19 around).

I made the trip many times, but this was tough on me with joint pain starting nearly right away.
I was averaging about 6 mph maybe. In pain. Total bike/gear/food/extra water weight was about 115 pounds.

Reason for slow motion guessing partly is bike gear load, my body weight, under fueled starting out not re-fueling much during the 2 days, and wet towpath avoiding puddles some. All factors. I usually lose appetite 1st couple days then body adjusts and i eat routinely. Need to fuel more.

I have food. PBJ, bread, salmon packs, tuna, breakfast bars, rice packets, trail mix of nuts raisins m&m's.
Is packed in pannier. Will set a variety in my handlebar bag & make 2 sandwiches for easy access.

Bike with rack/bars/mirrors weigh about 48 pounds. I weighed loaded bike with bathroom scale... front tire weight was 57.4 lbs & rear was 57.6 lbs. So, gear with food & extra water must have been about 65 pounds (?).

Panniers are still packed and I will weigh each out of curiousity. Can't see how stuff weighed that much. But biggest weight is my body. But too much food weight packed still and misc items still not needed.
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Goal was to see how I felt after not on my loaded bike since Fall 2019 and only couple short rides since. Was gonna ride GAP and Montour/Panhandle if felt okay. But will reassess and ride more again reviewing weight I'm carrying.
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Day after return review:

For details on my bike & loaded weight...
Definitely still most heavy on food and un-needed electronics. Was thinking 2-3 day stretch in some areas & primitive campsites no electric.

I could get to 100 pounds easily...
90 pounds depending on water/food

46.8 Bike/racks/mirrors/saddlebag
63.6 Gear/Food/ Water (below)
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111.4 pounds (total this trip)

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Notes: what could reduce more...
10-20 pounds
▪︎Excessive food variety, solar panel, 2nd Anker battery, some body soap, couple tools, thin fry pan & lid, some water, plastic bear canister,
split trail mix in smaller bag

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(Including pannier/bags)
6.6 Tent/tyvek footprint

9.8 Sleeping pannier
(air pad, light sleep bag, pillow)

10.6 Clothes (3 tshirts, 1 ls shirt,
3 socks), solar panel,
2nd Anker 20mAh battery,
liquids, cables, tools

11.0 Cook set pannier / 3L xtra water
(Water is 6 lbs for 3 liters)

16.0 Food Pannier with bear can
1 loaf bread, jar pb, jar jelly,
2 5 oz salmon packs
2 3 oz tuna packs
12 breakfast bars ( 2 types)
4 flavored rice packs
2 lb bag Trail mix
(nuts, raisins, choc)
1 spare tube
Air pump, toilet paper, meds

7.9 Handlebar bag
Hygiene bag (deodorant, tooth
brush & paste, clippers, misc)
(Phone, ac charger, 2 cords,
main 20mah Anker battery),
40 pk wipes, 2 candybars,
2 bkfst bars, chamois cream,
Small 3/8" cablelock 5 ft,
2 headlights, 1 tail light,
spare pump, emergency
matches, scissors, elec tape,
trash bag, ziploc bag

1.2 3 straps, helmet, empty
insulated lunch pak