Best bike for riding the allegheny/C&O Canal trails?

Question

I'm planning a trip down the allegheny trail, starting in pittsburgh, and meeting up with the C&O canal trail, and i know a bit about the surfaces of the trails from my research, but the thing is, i just don't know much about bicycles...

what brands are good brands for crossover/hybrid style bikes? i know that a street bike wouldn't be appropriate for this trip -- nor would a trail/mountain bike.

trip length is about 340 miles
packed limestone for most of the trail. some light off-roading, some on-roading...

i'm also very cost-conscious ---- looking on craigslist for bikes, but i know nothing about brands and really anything else... any advice would be appreciated

thddspc · Accepted Answer

For such a long trip, you really don't want to be stuck with a bike that is not the proper frame size for you, because an improper fit will give you lots of aches and pains when you are on the bike all day.  Unless you know your frame size, I would avoid buying off the Internet for that reason.

So your best bet is to get a hybrid or hardtail mountain bike from a bike shop, because they can fit you to a proper-size frame.  Look for any of the reputable brands, like Trek, Specialized, Cannondale, etc.

For a crushed limestone-surfaced trail, I would go with tires at least 1.5 inches wide with medium knobbiness.  It's the best compromise between traction and rolling resistance for that kind of surface and length of trip.

I would do a few short rides first to "dial in" the bike--  Make sure it fits you, with all the proper adjustments (seat height, seat tilt, stem length and rise, etc.), to ensure you won't develop any bad aches and pains on a long trip.  Outfit your bike fully with racks/panniers/carriers, bottle cages, saddle bags, cyclocomputer, spare tubes, CO2 cartridges, etc., and you should be good to go.

Good luck!

RM · Answer

I grew up in Maryland/DC line so I know what you're talking about.  
I think a mountain bike with slick tires or partial slicks would get the job done, or a normal mountain bike would also fit the bill as well.

But, I do have something that you might be interested in.  I have a Single speed full-suspension Giant mountain bike.  It's as strong as a mountain bike, but much lighter and faster, and because it's a single speed you can abuse this thing for years without the need for a mechanic.  
This bike is actually not available in the US, because Giant (Taiwan company) only produced this model for China, so this bike is extremely unique and you'll get a lot of stares long after your finished with your ride.

I'll sell it to you (new still in the box) for $200, but the 7-day shipping from China to the US will run you another $350 so a total of $550.  If you want more information I can send you some pictures for you to look at.  Just email me at li_remi@yahoo.com

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Best bike for riding the allegheny/C&O Canal trails?

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