Riding the GAP from the Deal Trailhead to Frostburg and ending in Cumberland was mostly, a great experience. The views are spectacular, rolling hills and so many colors of green and blue were breathtaking. Mile 9 was NOT our favorite mile. There is trail maintenance happening and that's a GOOD thing, but...the gravel is thick in many areas so riding the bike was sketchy at best. Thankfully it wasn't much more than that mile. I loved the train track right next to the trail and my prayers were answered when, lo and behold, a train appeared! It was stopped so as to clear a fallen tree but once removed (minutes) they were on their way. The train was filled with people who were happy to see bikers on the trail as we were happy to see, and wave at them. Great trail. read more

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The Owner Hutch, A.K.A. "Jesus" (its the hair) is an absolute hoot, and a great business owner. We called from the road in Frostburg, worried we would waste much of our next planned cycling day on the GAP. He said come on over, stayed open past time on Thursday 2 SEP to help two random out of town bicyclists. He not only helped but let me in the sacred space in the shop and showed me how to deal with the wheel on my Cannondale Topstone...I was afraid of the disc brakes [had tube, levers and pump], but had not practised removing a wheel or bothered to watch a YouTube video. I had spent 32 glorious miles on the GAP with my wonderful spouse...last 2 walked in cleats! Painful lesson on preparing ahead of time...so embarressed and me a boy scout and Army Vet. Thank you Hutch for your service in our brother USAF! Blessings always. I am sure this would be our go-to place if we lived anywhere within an hour...would be totally worth the drive. read more

Cumberland Trail Connection - Eastern Continental Divide, 2 SEP 2021! - Bikes Near Me - Cumberland, Maryland

Love this shop. The people in it are the best quality. They answered our questions with knowledge and politeness. Cute shop with everything a cyclist could need. Highly recommend it. Plus the pups and cat were was the best part. read more

Cumberland Trail Connection - Picked up the a book. - Bikes Near Me - Cumberland, Maryland

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Spent the weekend in Cumberland and came across this gem. Hutch, the owner, was extremely knowledgeable about the area, especially bike routes and bike maintenance. We came back the next day to rent bikes and take his trail suggestions. I wish Hutch, and this store, were in my hometown. We'll definitely stop in again. Also, upstairs, he has an area dedicated to brewing beer. Several customers were there asking him questions. Finally, ask him about "tree crocs!" Enjoy! read more

This is the bike shop to go to. Being right on the C&O Canal and GAP, they do well by taking in travelers bikes and fixing them on the spot so that riders can keep on going. Ask them anything about what you're looking for in the, city and they will point you in the right direction. The parts selection is incredible and I usually go there before ordering something from a website so that I won't have to wait for shipping. They fix up bikes for trail riders, road riders, around town riders and BMX riders. Upstairs is equally as impressive as a homebrew supply store. The owner is a master brewer and most of the employees are beer connoisseurs. Bikes and Beer, what could be a better combination than that? read more

Cumberland Trail Connection - Back of the shop hanging with roadies. - Bikes Near Me - Cumberland, Maryland

We rented Trek E-Bikes and were very satisfied. Bikes were great and Cumberland Trail Connection was great too. Thanks Hutch and team!

My rear wheel developed a wobble after the chain popped off. Took the bike to CTC and the manager identified the problem as a broken spoke with a quick spin of the wheel. Within 2 seconds he says "I bet it's a broken spoke." In short order he found the culprit. I asked them to repair, adjust brakes and do an overall tune up. He said they were pretty backed up and it would be next week before we got the bike back. I asked if there was anyway to get it by Friday (3 days later) because we were planning a bike trip. He said they would try but no guarantees. We got a message the NEXT day that the bike was done. Everything fixed to perfection and they also cleaned the bike up on top of it. I couldn't be happier with the professionalism of the manager, the expertise of the mechanic, the service we were provided and the bike trail ideas he gave us too. I didn't expect the bike to be done so quickly and wouldn't presume on such in the future, but it was classy that they took into consideration our planned ride. Big kudos to manager Jason and mechanic Joe. read more

After 3 days of riding on the C&O, this shop was exactly what we needed, particularly since two of us had flats the day prior and so had used our spares and wanted to have extras on hand for the miles ahead. We were also able to get some extra fuel for our camp stove and our bodies. Plus, they were able to ferry a couple of us up to Frostburg, as a very friendly staff member has a van outfitted with a 4-bike rack, so they're able to get you wherever you need to go. They had everything we needed and some other fun bike nerd stuff that was fun to peruse. Not to mention all the beer brewing supplies. Our only regret was not being there at a time when they had a new brew available for sampling. This is just what everyone passing through town on the trail needs to keep them moving, and any local cyclists or brewers are likely to find great gear and good conversation here as well. read more

Located conveniently at the juncture of the Great Allegeny Passage and the C&O Canal Towpath, this bike shop has it all. From personable staff to a huge selection of gear, endurance nutrition products, and even a homebrew shop... there really isn't anything you can't find here. I was biking from Pittsburgh to DC with a couple friends, fully self-supported with about 30 pounds of gear strapped to my bike. Much to my chagrin, one of the screws on my rack mysteriously disappeared halfway between Pittsburgh and DC. We made do with some zip ties (seriously, always put on your packing list zip ties!) which got both me and my gear to Cumberland. I popped inside this bike shop to get a more permanent fix. As I said "hi" to the shop's cute dog, the bike mechanic (and I think also owner) took my bike, replaced the screw and even checked the other screw (applying loctite to both to ensure they'd make the rest of the trip). He also fixed my front disc brake, which had been giving me problems before and which I had fiddled with to make it stop rubbing. Total cost? $1. We stocked up on some energy gels and chatted a bit with the bike mechanic. When he found out that we were staying in town that night, gave us a couple of suggestions for great beer and good food (which we took, the Crabby Pig was fantastic!). So if you find yourself in Cumberland, whether you are doing the ride from Pittsburgh to DC, Cumberland to DC, or whatever, this is your go to shop! read more

Super helpful staff. They patiently answered all my questions, and made great recommendations on local trail riding. There bike rental rates are awesome as well! $15 for half a day, or 4 hours. The location is perfect as well, right at the end of the C&O Canal, and the beginning of the Greater Allegany Passage Trail. read more

So I go to this shop with some questions about self maintenance, minor upgrades, and what not . The guy behind the made me feel like I wasn't worth his time, like I was asking dumb questions, and that the things I wanted to do to the bike wouldn't help. And then he just walks away and starts cleaning up the counter in the middle of our discussion. I was in here last week looking at tires and the guy working then was more worried about selling the home brew supplies they sell than helping me find a 50 - 100$ tire. Now granted my bike wasn't bought at this shop but I can promise you that nothing else will be bought here. There are two other shops in this town both are less than half mile from the tow path if you are coming thru and need something I would go to those other two. Hope this keeps someone else from wasting there time here. read more

Stopped in for a broken spoke while doing Pittsburgh to DC. Repair took about 90 minutes and completely saved the trip - would have been SOL without help. Top notch service, take your business here. read more

Top notch bike shop and shuttle service. If you are thinking about riding the C&O or GAP Trail these guys will hook you up with everything you need. Some shops coast on their great location, but not these guys. They ran my group up to Pittsburgh to ride the GAP, and came to our rescue when my bike went out of commission in Frostburg. Thanks to CTC, a busted chain didn't ruin our big adventure! read more

My wife and I recently rode the Great Allegheny Passage bike trail over 4 days. Cumberland Trail Connection transported us and our bikes to Pittsburgh, then transported our bags daily to the next B&B along our route back to Cumberland. We shopped at their bike shop before we left Cumberland, and found their shop to be well-stocked, well-staffed, expert, friendly, and very helpful. On our trip to P'burgh, Arne was a terrific tour-guide and got us to our destination in a safe and timely manner. Every afternoon, our bags were at the next B&B as arranged. This is a very service-oriented business, and we will definitely hire them when we go back to ride the GAP again. Thank you, Cumberland Trail Connection! read more

Hutch the owner and his staff are the best!! I called 2 minutes before closing with a broken bike and they waited for me to bring it in & they fixed it while I waited. They helped keep the Boy Scout trip from Pittsburgh to DC on schedule & at a very reasonable price. Highly recommend!! read more

Cumberland Trail Connection - Start line @ The Pointe on Pittsburgh - Bikes Near Me - Cumberland, Maryland

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This service was so nice at the end of a long ride. The driver was really nice and gave us some fun facts of the town as we drove through and very helpful in tips for the GAP trail I would recommend and use this business again read more

Was involved in an accident that taco'd mine and my buddies rims. We were 5 miles from Cumberland and We called ahead to this store and they said they would stay open past closing to fix our bikes. Hutch and the crew are top notch and we were thankful for their fast and friendly service. If you need anything these guys will take care of you! Best bike store in Cumberland! read more

My wife and I aren't avid cyclists, but when we decided to take an "anniventury" cycling trip to Confluence, PA on the GAP, Hutch and the entire crew at CTC were supportive and made sure we were well prepared. Not only did they have all the supplies we would need in stock at the store, but the advice and encouragement helped us head out on the trip with confidence. We had a great, problem-free trip and we'll be doing it again in the near future. read more

Cumberland Trail Connection saved our Cumberland-to-DC C&O Canal trip. Only about 15 miles into the ride, right before the lock at Oldtown, MD, my rear wheel literally exploded, when the heavily loaded (and unknown to me, weak) rim cracked, folded, and split, and the tube exploded out the crack in what sounded like a gunshot. The tire bead was destroyed in the process. We thought that maybe our trip was done after a two-hour drive from DC just to get to the start in Cumberland, and only an hour of biking. Our ride from DC was already well on his way back home. So I called Cumberland to see if I could get a new rim, and Hutch, the owner, came to the rescue. Since he was too swamped to send anyone to get the bike at 3 pm on a beautiful Sunday afternoon, he recruited a customer to do the job, who drove out to Oldtown, picked up the bike, and drove it back to the shop. Then Hutch worked on installing the new wheel, tube, and tire on the bike, staying after the shop closed to get the job done. The next morning, at 9 a.m., he met me on the trail at Oldtown where he was dropping off some shuttle riders (and about a mile from where we had camped for the night), and we were on our way. On top of that great and responsive service, the price for the repair, including sturdy new wheel, and hefty new tire, was extremely reasonable. He could have had me over a barrel and did not take advantage of that in the slightest. We rode the remaining 170 miles to DC without further incident. Kudos to Hutch and a great shop that went the extra mile (or 15) to save our C&O trip! C&O riders from everywhere are lucky to have him! read more

Best bike shop I have ever had the pleasure of walking into. Well stocked. Very knowledgeable. Helpful. I'd go out of my way to go here. read more

Shuttle driver who dropped us up north on the trail was super nice, staff that arranged everything were wonderful, helpful, set us up well for our trip. I highly recommend them read more

Rented a bike for the GAP. Got me set up with bike/helmet/panniers for a very reasonable price. Super helpful on the phone and in person.

I'm a local who visited the trail connection for the first time over the weekend. There was one other customer in the shop when I entered. I was not greeted. I walked around, even browsed upstairs, and was not offered any assistance. I would not recommend this shop to anyone. I was disappointed that this is supposed to be a representation of Cumberland. read more

Great bike shop. The owner Hutch is very personable and helpful. I would highly recommend going here.

The gang at this bike shop are knowledgable and extremely helpful. My son got a flat tire on the C&O canal trail, these guys found a small thorn in the tire, replaced the tube, showed my son how to replace a tube and gave us advice on purchasing puncture proof tires all for under 15 dollars. Highly recommend this shop for their service and variety of equipment. Was very impressed with their willingness to teach you bike maintenance tips. read more

Two friends and I rolled into Cumberland, tired and saddle sore after a pretty laborious two-wheeled effort out of Hancock to Cumberland via the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal Towpath. One of my friends in particular was borderline delirious from the hard effort he put in (not being a frequent rider and taking on an adventure of this magnitude in such heavy heat will have that sort of effect on a guy). To ensure less suffering for him, we decided to find a shuttle for him to somewhere farther along the Great Allegheny Pass the following day so we could do the climb up and over Big Savage Mountain and then meet up with the other friend for lunch and then ride with him from there. We walked into the Connection bike shop and was promptly greeted by the very friendly manager, Hutch, and he said they can ferry our friend up the trail. They graciously offered to also take along our panniers with him, his bike and his panniers, so that we could ride lighter up the climb, which was fantastic. Next day, we dropped the stuff off at the shop at 8am promptly when they opened, picked up some Gatorade from them and rolled off. Our friend stayed behind to sleep in, then checked out of the hotel and then boarded the shuttle with all his and our gear and set off to Meyersdale, arriving just five minutes before we arrived there for lunch. He said the driver was also incredibly friendly and the service couldn't have been better. All in all, a business that clearly cares about customers first and we would never hesitate to recommend this shop to our friends who plan to ride the C&O and GAP between Pittsburgh and DC! read more

Rolled into Cumberland from the C&O Trail at 5:00PM, 5/27/11, covered with mud and with two bikes needing repairs. No problem; repairs done on the spot, price was fair, service friendly. Will happily use them again read more

As a local, I have rented bikes a few times, and the staff is always very courteous and helpful. Love their dogs hanging out there, too! I'm not a biker, but it seems like this place has everything you could possibly need, and then some! read more

I have purchased two bikes here, had service work performed & purchased numerous bike accessories through the years. Service has been, for the most part, very good. The mechanics did good work at reasonable prices. The shop is well stocked, both in terms of bikes for purchase, bikes to rent and accessories. If you need information about your trip, the C&O Canal or the Great Allegheny Passage, you can get it here. They also sell drinks and snacks for weary travelers. I even had a mechanic sell me one of his shop tools when the one I needed was not in stock! Only negative I've ever had was just the other day. I was getting ready to go for a ride and noticed I forgot my water bottle. I have a cardiac condition so I need to guard against dehydration. It thickens the blood and need to avoid that. So I stopped in to get a bottle of water. I only had a debit card and was told I needed to make a minimum $10 purchase to use the card. I understand that businesses need to cover the cost of a merchant account so I was not terribly off put by the this. But WATER is sort of important to bike riders. That policy needs to be reviewed. But I'm still a loyal customer. I just will try to be less forgetful in the future. read more