Porsche Bike Adventure: Next: GAP

Tuesday, September 29, 2020

Next: GAP

With the 184.5-mile C&O Canal Towpath ride now completed, I'm turning my attention to the next Porsche Bike journey. I can't think of a better ride to follow my C&O adventure than the bike path that connects the C&O to Pittsburgh ... the 148-mile Great Allegheny Passage. The GAP trail is a collection of old railroad lines that starts in Cumberland, Maryland (where I finished the C&O) and ends in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The GAP is also a dirt trail, but generally considered smoother than the C&O. It's mostly crushed limestone, but does have a 17-mile paved stretch. For this reason, I'm leaning toward riding the 2004 Porsche Bike X. The Bike X is a hybrid (touring) bike, with a road bike frame and 700c rims, but with mountain bike gearing, handlebars and tires. The Bike X was built as a touring bike, perfect for a ride like the GAP. But I changed the bike into more of a road bike for the 2017 Death Ride. So, I'll spend some time changing it back for this long distance, off-road adventure. I'll post updates on the conversion. I'm aiming to ride the GAP across two days in mid-May 2021.

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My Story

I am a fanatical Porsche enthusiast. I love all things Porsche. This has led me to explore the depths of the automobile brand including some of the least known items the marque is known for. My latest journey - Porsche bicycles!

When I was 13 years old, I fell in love with Porsche cars. Delivering the morning newspaper on my Schwinn ten-speed bike brought me face to bumper with a white 911T each morning and from there I was hooked.

Many years later, I have a garage full of Porsche automobiles and a plethora of Porsche paraphernalia including everything from posters, flags, hats, shirts, sunglasses, scale models, a wristwatch and much more; all of the normal stuff any average PCA member has collected.

Some of my more prized Porsche possessions are my three Porsche bicycles. Yes, three. One is a 100% original 1996 Bike S. The other is a heavily modified 1998 Bike S I use for road and mountain riding. And the latest is a touring-style 2004 Porsche Bike X that I turned into a road bike. I have ridden these three bikes over 5,000 miles in the last few years.

In 2016, I rode many training miles in preparation for a 53-mile ride in the California Sierra foothills, a 72-mile ride around Lake Tahoe and the grand finale ride of 100 miles at the Sacramento Century. The 100 mile ride I believe is a world record on a Porsche Bike S.

Then in July 2017, I completed the 2017 Death Ride with the rebuilt and ultra rare 2004 Porsche Bike X. The Death Ride is an extremely challenging 125-mile, 15,000 foot elevation gain bike ride that crosses five mountain passes in the California Alps near Lake Tahoe. I believe this was the first time a Porsche bicycle completed the Death Ride. Another record.

In the fall of 2020, I rode the 184.5-mile Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Towpath across three days on the 1998 Bike S. My first multi-day bike riding tour. Another Porsche bike record?

And this blog shared every mile!

2016, 2017 and 2020 were great years of riding. What could possibly follow that?

In 2021, I completed my goal to ride the 360-mile Chesapeake and Ohio and Great Allegheny Passage on the 2004 Bike X. I converted the Bike X back to a hybrid bike for the six-day epic adventure. And in 2022, the Bike X also completed the 237-mile Florida Coast to Coast ride with eight other Porsche Bike riders.

More Porsche Bike adventures are coming up. And just like previous efforts, I plan to share every mile on this blog!

Tuesday, September 29, 2020

Next: GAP

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Erie Canalway Trail completed