PEDAL THE G.A.P.
The Great Allegheny Passage
A beautiful flat no-car bike path
June 7 - 11, 2024
Howdy boys and girls! Glen here -- your tour director and humble servant for 20 years.
At last! Get ready for a ride that is clearly way too much fun.
The flat, no-car G.A.P. trail (Great Allegheny Passage) runs from Pittsburgh all the way to Washington, D.C., but we're going to pedal just the best part -- Pittsburgh to Cumberland, MD. (This means a cool ride through the bike-only Big Savage tunnel near Cumberland, and then a long gentle downhill into town.)
We will pick up your fully-assembled bike along with all of your gear in NYC and drive it for you out to the beginning of the ride -- Pittsburgh's beautiful Point State Park. (Of course if you'd rather get your bike to the Pittsburgh start line on your own without our help you can do that too, and we can assist with the logistics!)
A Typical Day on the Ride
We'll give everyone lots of free energy bars, chews, and gels to take on the trail with you.
Wake up and grab some breakfast, which we will provide. We'll have a timeframe when we ask you to hit the trail -- depart when you're ready. (Say, anytime between 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.) Put your camping gear in the truck -- no need to carry it on the trail. (Every time you see someone on the trail pedaling a bike burdened down with a huge amount of gear you'll be glad we are carrying everything for you!)
Pedal at your own pace -- there's a lot to see and there is no hurry. This is a beautiful trail -- relax and take your time.
There are no turns on the trail, so no route markings are needed.
Pittsburgh's Point State Park -- our start line.
NOW THEN... if your bike and gear is travelling in our private truck, how are YOU getting to the start in Pittsburgh?
Easy!
THE best way to get to Pittsburgh is to catch the Amtrak Pennsylvanian from NYC. It departs from Moynihan Hall -- the new wing of Penn Station. We'll have our truck parked right outside the station -- drop off your fully-assembled bike with us along with your gear -- all you need on the train is a small bag.
There's plenty of room to stretch out on board. (We didn't want to tightly pack you into a charter bus or van.)
The train will wind through NYC's hidden tunnels and on to NJ before heading across Pennsylvania farm country -- a beautiful trip. There's onboard dining (although my personal preference is to bring WAY too much food and drink onboard, which is certainly allowed.) WiFi and electricity available at your seat, and of course bathrooms on board.
Yeah, you are welcome to drive or fly to Pittsburgh, but we don't recommend it. This is a one-way ride and it ends far from where you started. We can help you get back to your car if you left it in Pittsburgh, but you'll have a lot more fun on the train.
Having said that, if you can get your hands on an RV (and someone to drive it for you while you pedal!) we can help with all the logistics -- just ask!
Free daily transport for all your gear so
you don't have to carry it on your bike
Camping under the stars
Don't have camping gear? Got you covered!
Hate camping? Bed & Breakfasts available too!
Breakfast, mid-day snacks, dinner, and
an adult beverage or two every day
(Lunch available for those who want it)
Tour of Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater House
Easy pedaling • Family friendly • No cars
Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater house -- one of our stops on the ride.
Pittsburgh's bicycle museum -- we'll stop here before we hit the trail!
The ride each day runs about 30-45 miles. The pedaling is a bit slower than you road-riders might be used to and that's fine. You're on a new adventure!
BUT... is 30-45 miles more than you have in mind? No problem! We can drop you off in the morning at the half-way mark, and you pedal to the finish. (So your day would be about 15 - 23 miles instead). You're on the exact same route as everyone else -- you just start pedaling closer to the finish line.
The trail exits the woods at little towns here and there where you can grab more snacks or lunch if you want it. We've learned that some folks like a real sit-down lunch in the middle of the day and others just want to grab some energy bars and go -- the choice is yours!
The Big Savage Tunnel -- we planned our itinerary to be sure we would pedal through this cool space!
We end each day at a campground where dinner will be served. All meals are simple and delicious with plenty to eat for meat-eaters and vegetarians.
The campgrounds have indoor toilets, running water, and electricity for recharging your phone. You can bring your own camping gear or easily rent it on line.
After dinner we'll have a campfire and an adult beverage or two. If you live in the city, this is a great chance to see some stars at night.
Ready for more information? Check out the pull-down menu at the top of this page.
Questions? Comments? Always glad to hear from you!
See you on The G.A.P.!
