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

Steve C · 07-10-2007, 10:51 AM

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