Call: 800-272-4141

 

GAP 5-Day Bike Tour: Type 1 Diabetes Ride

Car-Free Bike Touring on the Great Allegheny Passage Rail Trail

Ride the Great Allegheny Passage from Pittsburgh with Dr Jody Stanislaw and fellow type 1s!

Experience Pittsburgh, the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) and the surrounding Laurel Highlands. We’ll ride the GAP trail from the Point in Pittsburgh all the way to Cumberland. Starting from Point State Park in Pittsburgh to Cumberland Maryland, following the former Western Maryland Railine on this now crushed limestone, hard-packed, car free trail.

Relax, take in the sights, and enjoy! In a region overflowing with stunning natural beauty and with an amazing history, this tour is sure to delight, and we’ll even take some off-the-saddle excursions, such as Fallingwater and rafting on the Youghiogheny River. Suitable for beginners and intermediate cyclists, the repurposed passageway is a nearly flat journey.

 

This trip will be guided by Kasia Martin. Kasia is the director of the Wilderness Voyageurs bike tour department and a type 1 as well! Pedal, test, bolus, learn, see sights, bike, stay balanced & enjoy 5 beautiful days on the Great Allegheny Passage!

 

About Dr. Jody Stanislaw

Dr. Jody Stanislaw received her Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine in 2007 and has lived with type 1 diabetes since the age of 7. Her TEDx talk, Sugar is Not a Treat, has over 2.5 million views.

Via her virtual T1D consulting practice, over the past 10 years she has helped thousands of patients with Type 1 Diabetes all over the world achieve the best diabetes care of their lives.

From her 40+ years of personal plus professional experience with type 1, she teaches life-changing information about how to successfully manage this complex condition that standard medical care often leaves out.

During this bike trip, Dr. Stanislaw will be riding right along with you and providing you blood sugar management guidance every step of the way. Each morning, she will lead a discussion on what the best dosing strategy is for the day based on the uniqueness of the day’s food options and bike route. Each evening, you will have the opportunity to share about how your day went and get feedback on how to improve your dosing strategy if needed.

You will receive first hand guidance not only on how to keep your blood sugar steady while riding, but also on how to ensure your basal rate or long-acting dose is set correctly as well as guidance for how to dose and stay in range during and after complex meals. So while you are having the time of your life on this gorgeous ride, you will also be receiving perhapsy some of the best blood sugar management of your life!

To learn more about Dr. Jody Stanislaw, visit: www.DrJodyND.com

Tour Highlights

Cycling from downtown Pittsburgh

Visiting Bicycle Heaven

A full day to explore the Laurel Highlands

Cross the Youghiogheny River on a 100'-tall railroad bridge

The Eastern Continental Divide

Learn better balance between exercise, food and insulin with Dr. Jody & enjoy well balanced meals

Lodging Options

Bright Morning B&B

The Summit Inn

Yoder's Guest House

Day 1: Start your day at Pittsburgh’s Bicycle Heaven, the world’s largest bicycle museum! Then ride Pittsburgh’s incredible bike paths from the iconic fountain in Point State Park. Soon you’ll reach the official start of the GAP trail at the Homestead Pumphouse, which you’ll follow to West Newton, where we’ll spend the evening.

 

Day 2: Pedal through historically industrial coal patch towns, past waterfalls and beautiful mountain laurel as you enter the Youghiogheny River Gorge and Ohiopyle State Park, ending your day with an exquisite evening at the Summit Inn.

 

Day 3: Today, we’ll give our biking muscles a rest and discover a couple of Laurel Highlands gems and PA’s largest state park. We’ll begin with breakfast together at the Summit Inn, and then we will shuttle for about 25 minutes to Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Then you have the option of exploring Ohiopyle State Park on the river or on foot! Return to the Summit Inn again tonight to enjoy the view and a good meal.

 

Day 4: Today’s ride will have you high above the ground! Bike over 100 feet of rail bridge and across the 101-feet-high Salisbury Viaduct for views of the Somerset wind farms. Tonight, enjoy a comfortable night’s rest at Yoder’s Guest House in Meyersdale.

 

Day 5: Three railroad tunnels await your passage on the final day of riding. Cross the Eastern Continental Divide for an easy downhill cruise into Cumberland, MD, and mile zero of the Great Allegheny Passage!

Tour Options

  • 2022 Dates

  • If your desired date is no longer available, to be placed on a waitlist or request a private departure, please follow the ‘Request Itinerary’ button below & send us a message or call our office number below to speak to one of our reservation staff. We may open additional tours, and those on the waitlist receive priority on future tours

  • Point State Park
  • cycling pittsburgh
  • Bicycle Heaven
  • Homestead Pumphouse Great Allegheny Passage
  • Cycling over the Casselman
  • GAP Trail
  • GAP Trail at Garrett
  • GAP Trail at Deal
  • Riding the GAP
  • Great Allegheny Passage Bike Tour
  • GAP Trail Mile Marker 0
  • Mile Marker Zero

“Wonderful trip, our third with WV. The guides, Zach and Steve were splendid. Lodging and food were nice with variety, and providing a feel of the small towns we were riding through. Beautiful trails with great details about places along the way provided on our cue sheets. Perfect four days of biking!”

~Diana L, Winston Salem, NC

Top 3 Blog Posts on the Great Allegheny Passage

History along the Great Allegheny Passage

The historic Great Allegheny Passage isn’t just a path through the woods. The 10-foot-wide multipurpose trail is built on railroad corridors constructed to heavy-duty standards of gentle grades, sweeping curves and major bridges and tunnels that take you through the mountains, not over them.  

Best Restaurants on the Great Allegheny Passage

One of the best things about bike touring is eating lots of food. The Great Allegheny Passage (a 150-mile continuous rail-trail from Pittsburgh to Cumberland) is one of the best touring routes because it goes through many different towns. Your journey along the GAP trail can be a food tour through the Allegheny Mountains!

Historic Bridges on the Great Allegheny Passage

While riding the GAP you will cross 21 historic railroad bridges, plus another 9 small wooden trestle bridges, for a total of 30 bridges on your journey. The GAP is a bridge buff’s dream!

Trip Information

5

Trip Length - Days

bike-rail
Tour Type
Rail Trail: Hardpacked crushed limestone
Active-Difficulty
Tour Rating
Active
Bike Tour Elevation
Route Overview
32-40

Daily Mileage

Check In Location
Ohiopyle, PA
Gap tour bike map
Tour Area
SAG Vehicle New York Finger Lakes Bike Tour
Support & Gear Vehicle
18

Minimum Age

Meals

4 Breakfasts | 5 Lunches | 3 Dinners

Pricing

  • PP Double Occupancy

    $2075

  • Single Supplement*

    $288

  • Standard Bike Rental

    $160

*This is required if you are traveling solo or if you are traveling with someone but require separate beds.

RESERVE ONLINE BY DATE

Select your departure date and click to reserve your bike tour!

  • 2022 Dates

  • If your desired date is no longer available, to be placed on a waitlist or request a private departure, please follow the ‘Request Itinerary’ button below & send us a message or call our office number below to speak to one of our reservation staff. We may open additional tours, and those on the waitlist receive priority on future tours

Call 800-272-4141

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