Katy Trail Forum

Please support our advertisers -
they help make this website possible

Page: 1 ... 30 31 32 ... 648

Packing List for Riding the Katy Trail

Karen F from St. Louis on 03/08/2006 11:37 PM

Two of us are planning to ride the Katy Trail as an out-and-back starting in the middle of May of this year. We plan to start in St. Charles and go to Clinton and then turn around and go back to St. Charles. We plan to stay in B&Bs and hotels along the way. Does anyone have any packing list suggestions? I don't want to overpack, but I don't want to forget anything important, either.

Trek Biker from St. Joseph, MO on 03/09/2006 10:36 AM

BikeIowa has a pretty good packing list. It was generated as a list for the RAGBRAI ride across Iowa. There are several catagories, such as....Daily on the bike...Clothing...Toiletries....Camping....Misc.

I've used this list when planning Katy rides. It seems to adapt well from Iowa to Missouri use.

http://www.bikeiowa.com/asp/misc/packinglist.asp

Enjoy!

ET from Columbia on 03/09/2006 12:07 PM

Be sure to pack some snacks and extra fluids for when you can't find a place to buy food. Places along the trail may have irregular hours, especially before Memorial Day. Also, sunscreen, but spray, and in May, pack to dress in layers. You could have any weather, including rain--so pack accordingly! We pack pretty light--bike shorts and T-shirts which we wash out at nights (so take 2 sets in case one isn't dry), and I like to have a pair of wrinkle-resistant pants to pull on over my shorts or tights when we stop. Also, it is worth taking a pair of comfy shoes to slip on when you are off the bike at the B & B's

Trek Biker from St. Joseph, MO on 03/09/2006 08:44 PM

For extra fluids, I usually carry powdered sport drink in my trunk bag. I have small zip lock bags that came from a jeweler that I put individual portions in to mix one per water bottle. They don't take up too much room, are easy to mix preportioned, and I don't have the weight of hauling liquid. It's usually easier to find water than it is to find a sport drink.

Nails on 03/10/2006 12:31 PM

Here's a modified pack list from a Memorial Day weekend trip last year. Sedalia to St. Charles in two days with a night in a B&B.

Bike, Pedals, Shoes, Socks, Shorts, Jersey, Helmet, Sunglasses, Speeedomter, heart rate monitor.

Backpack, Bladder with valve, Spare tire – Kevlar belt, Spare tubes – puncture resistant (2), Patch kit, Tire tool, Tool kit, Tie wraps, Camera, Carb Boom.

Itinerary/maps/directions/phone numbers/addresses.

Cash, Credit card, Train tickets, Photo ID, Cell phone.

Medications, Birth control, Contact case, Contacts, Sunscreen, Toothbrush, Toothpaste, mini-brush.

Frame pump, Whistle, Waterbottles (2 each), minature first aid kit.

http://www.christysclipart.com/mini_first.html

sbikes from KCMO on 03/16/2006 06:04 PM

I have ridden the trail end to end and my advice is go minimalist...basic stuff mentioned

above and the most important thing I can suggest is a little pack of baby wipes..yup, baby

wipes. They remove grease from hands and clothes and are just darn handy in a variety of

ways on the trip. You can buy a travel pack that squishes down small.

And, put your cell phone/camera, etc. in plastic bags. Trail dust gets into everything.

Have fun!

Brian from Wichita, KS on 03/17/2006 12:27 PM

You guys have some great advice! The bikeiowa.com list noted above was helpful (and even has some whimsical items like "extra fork for Homemade Pie" and "hill erasers"). The mini first-aid kit described by Nails is also very clever.

Nails on 03/17/2006 02:39 PM

Thank the Boy Scouts of America for the first aid kit idea.

MLH from Overland Park KS on 03/17/2006 06:15 PM

The baby wipes work great for cycling trips, especially if you have to make a trailside repair. They sell boxes or individually-wrapped Wet Ones at Office Max. You can pack as many as you see fit.

Karen F from St. Louis on 05/26/2006 05:25 PM

Thanks to all who responded. We just finished our trip of starting in St. Charles and heading to Clinton and then turning around and going back to St. Charles -- 450 miles!

We both brought packages of baby wipes and they were a lifesaver -- both for repairs and for bathroom breaks.

I had everything that I needed without packing a lot of extra. I packed a pair of sandals to wear off of the bike. They didn't take up very much room. In fact, I was able to strap them to the top of my rear bag.

arlo from Wildwood on 06/16/2007 09:25 PM

Birth control? Was this a bike ride or a party?

Nails on 06/17/2007 11:57 AM

The parties I go to aren't for swingers. (No keys to throw in the bowl when I'm on my bike.) Rather, when there are 2 riding and spending their nights in a B&B (as Karen F described), what do you expect to happen? Just trying to help someone that might not be ready to buy a trail-a-bike.

PJ from Dexter, MO on 09/17/2019 04:00 PM

We are wanting to try biking part of the Katy Trail and would appreciate getting some good tips on doing so. Thanks!

LSMOBiker from Lees Summit on 09/18/2019 09:06 AM

On our recent trip, we were lucky with no major mechanical issues, but did have some minor ones - some untested bags ripped, and some screws on several rear bike racks worked their way out.

The two things we were super thankful to have, were extra bungy cords, and a bunch of plastic zip ties.

Margaret Ritter from Kansas City, Mo on 07/05/2020 07:35 PM

Planning an October trip on the Katy Trail and wondering about what to pack for the trip

Mel Zabecki from Fayetteville, AR on 07/06/2020 08:32 AM

Here's my list from my end-to-end trip on my 2 wheel recumbent August 2018:
Shorts
Shirts
Bras
Underware
Socks
Bandanas
Pjs
sandals
Bathing suit
Hat
Raincoat?
Thermals (for sleeping if no bag)
Scrubba/soap/line
Hair ties
Towel
Shampoo
Conditioner
Soap
Face soap
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Lotion (face/eyes/body)
sunblock
Deodorant
Brush
Earplugs
Pills (plus Tylenol!)
Wet Wipes
Dry wipes
Mosquito wipes
Qtips
Tissues
Floss
Nailclipper
Earbuds
Ipod
Plug block
Long charge cord
Chargers (fitbit/phone/headlamp/solar)
headlamp
Solar battery
eyemask
Hammock/straps/mossie net/rainfly/carabiners
Sheet
Book
Map/katy trail books
Sunglasses
Lock
Salt pills
Gu
Nuun
Clif/bonk/energy
Tupperware
ziplocks
Helmet
Seat pad/bandana
gloves
Bear spray
Pepper spray
Knife
1st aid kit
Flat kit
Extra tubes
Chain lube
Water bottles
Water pure tablets?
Notebook
Pen/sharpie
batteries
xtra shopping bag
phone case
fork
cup
sportlegs
liquor
individual pb
apples
jerky
thumbdrive

For future: https://www.cyclingabout.com/our-bicycle-touring-gear-packing-list/

Anonymous on 07/07/2020 12:53 PM

Bear spray? What about a harpoon?

Mel Zabecki from Fayetteville, AR on 07/07/2020 06:39 PM

I got knocked off my bike a few years ago by a dog that resulted in two surgeries, a bone graft, and IV antibiotics. I love dogs but none are getting near me on a bike ever again.

Kevin S from O'Fallon on 07/31/2020 12:40 PM

Looking to bike the whole thing

AB from Jackson on 03/29/2021 02:26 PM

How far would be a reasonable distance to bike in a day, for beginners with 3 kids, ages 13,11,9?

Bill in Houston from Houston on 03/30/2021 12:06 PM

What's their longest ride so far? Will they be choosing your nursing home? Do you want for them to have happy memories?

Missouri Preacher from Lamar, MO on 07/21/2021 08:53 PM

Planning a trip from Clinton to St Charles in 2022. Which month is the best time to do a 4-5 day trip?

Bill in Houston from Houston on 07/22/2021 08:43 AM

Depends what you are looking for.

We rode in April and the weather was nice and the flowers were blooming and the trail was deserted. We were way before any kind of rush that may happen, and were a little sad to not see any other through riders. Well, we saw one. But the solitude was kind of nice.

A lot of the local places were not in full swing yet, so we missed some of the things we had looked forward to. People hanging out at Cooper's Landing, a store at Cooper's Landing, the lady at the Mokane grocery store yelling at her customers not to put their bikes in front of the store, Katfish Katy's, etc.

Apparently people wait until summer to ride, and the trail is busier then, and everyone is in full swing. But, summer is hot.

Anonymous on 07/23/2021 07:55 AM

Fall is a good time to ride also. It can be busy on Saturdays around major trailheads on nice weather days. Lodging may fill up quickly because of MU football game days or because of fall color. It's a beautiful time to ride though. Have ridden it on Halloween day and had the trail to ourselves.

Lucy Fox from Nashville on 08/24/2022 12:05 PM

Planning a bike of the Katy trail in a couple weeks

Amanda Caplan from Ocala, FL on 03/31/2023 09:01 AM

Is car camping (overnight sleeping in car) allowed on trail parking areas? We're planning 20-30 mile round trip segments cause we have limited budget. We will be cycling starting June 5, 2023.

It will also give us an opportunity to explore each town using both bikes and car. Any tips and information would be helpful. Thank you.

Add your Comment to Packing List for Riding the Katy Trail

share this thread

Shuttle

Michael from Fayetteville, AR on 03/09/2023 10:49 AM

I am looking for a subtle (3 riders with bikes) from the eastern terminus at Machen to the Kirkwood Amtrak Station. Thanks

CurtM from Farmington AR on 03/29/2023 04:19 PM

There aren't any services at Machens. It is the eastern terminus of the KT; there is a latrine and kiosk--that's it. Your best bet is to arrange transportation from St Charles. You can ride to Machens from St Charles (about 12 miles one-way), then back to St Charles to say you've done the KT. Did this a few years ago when I did the entire trail east to west. Be aware the train has space for 4 bikes; these fill up fast from what I've experienced, so the train ride can be a deciding factor in scheduling your trip. I went by train to Kirkwood, then the BNB where I stayed provided a shuttle to St Charles as part of the package. BTW, some travelers have expressed disappointment in Machens (it could be a let-down after biking over 240 miles), but I used it as point of departure to explore the area and went to Portage Des Sioux.

Arkykenny on 03/29/2023 07:30 PM

Skip Machens. Just ride into St. Charles then back to Washington to catch the Amtrak. Washington is a fun place to wait for the train-lots of bars and restaurants across the street from the train station. (Machens is just the end of the trail in the middle of nowhere).

Add your Comment to Shuttle

share this thread

Road Bike 700x28 tires?

Richard from Chippewa Falls WI on 03/27/2023 07:54 PM

I ride a Specialized Venge with 700x28 tires and am wondering how challenging it would be to do Clinton to Machens in late April? I'm not into mountain bikes and don't want to swap out for wider tires just for this ride.

My questions:

1) What are the trail conditions like this time of year in general?

2) Are there sections where the surface would be more compact--amenable to my thin tires?

Thanks for your input.

Gary from Near Tebbetts on 03/27/2023 08:16 PM

It all depends on how much rain the trail sections have had before/during your ride. There are sections with hard compact gravel and sections with more dirt than gravel. I usually rode the trail on 28 road bike tires with no problems except after heavy rains or early spring when the trail had freeze/thaw conditions. That is when you wish you had wider tires. I would check the weather prediction for the trail before you start and switch to wider tires if rain is in the prediction.

Anonymous on 03/28/2023 06:54 AM

What Gary said. It's totally weather dependent.

Find someone who can predict April weather on your ride days and you'll have the crystal ball.

Arkykenny on 03/29/2023 07:25 PM

Can you do it on 28’s? Probably, even yes if it’s dry.
Would I do it on 28’s? No. I’ve done it on 32’s in June in dry conditions (and it worked). My preference now is 40mm tubeless gravel tires—-gravel bikes do well on gravel roads.

Road crossings, driveway crossings, ruts, sand, etc., provide too many opportunities for flats; and skinny tires are made for hard surfaces.

Add your Comment to Road Bike 700x28 tires?

share this thread

Katy Trail 100+ Mile Bike Trip for out of towners! Tips?

Rob from Narberth, PA on 03/21/2023 07:25 AM

Hi, I'm looking to meet up in St. Louis, rent some road bikes and do 100+ or so miles on the katy trail over two days with some of my best buds. A couple of us have done many century rides and the katy trail looks like it would be awesome to do slowly and take in the sites! Has anyone done enough of the trail to offer some advice, perhaps potential start point to do 50 or so miles out and then come back?

Since we're all coming from different states, I was thinking we fly into St. Louis, Uber to ideally a bike rental place close to the trail, and go from there! Travel light and either camp or hit a hotel for a night and them come back, stopping 3-5 times each way for different sites.

Any advice or suggestions on what stretch to do, or how to pull it off smoothly would be appreciated, not married to flying into St. Louis, was just the first idea that came to me.

Bill in Houston from Houston on 03/21/2023 08:31 AM

Feels like Bike Stop Cafe in St Charles is built for what you need.

Anonymous on 03/21/2023 09:16 AM

If you're going to ride 50 or so out and back, why not start in St. Charles? As Bill said, there is bike rental there. I'd do St. Charles to Hermann.

Rob from Narberth, PA on 03/21/2023 11:08 AM

That looks like a great spot! Any suggestions of particular sites to see or things to do if we were going to do 50-60 miles out stopping 2-3 times each way for long breaks?

Jack on 03/21/2023 12:27 PM

We did the whole trail two years ago. We loved Hermann. Stayed at the Vinchester Inn which was our splurge for the trip and had no regrets. Hit the town for dinner (pizza), drinks and live music. Could have spent an extra night there.

There are a couple wineries and we hit a brewery/pizza place for lunch. I have to admit the points become blurred over time. I think the thing about the Katy is you just come upon someplace that makes sense to stop.

I remember an A Frame cafe place that was surrounded by decks. A through rider had ended up opening it up and we sat there for a long time talking to him and enjoying the view. Not sure if it is still open or exactly where it was, we just rode by and turned around because it looked interesting. Great smoothies and conversation.

Bill in Houston from Houston on 03/22/2023 04:01 PM

If I rode out 60 miles from St Charles, I'd get lunch at Treloar Bar and Grill, because we enjoyed the food there last time. But you might like something in Marthasville.

Marthasville seems to have some cool trail related stuff going on. Take some time to look at that.

Augusta has some fancy-pants wine kind of stuff.

Defiance has a bar that looks cool that I'd get an afternoon snack at.

The Klondike campground is in there somewhere. You should go through it just because lots of trail riders stop there, and the hill up to it is memorable.

Gary from Near Tebbetts on 03/22/2023 05:34 PM

Blumenhof Winery is a nice stop on a sunny day to sit outside and have a glass of local wine. They also have live music on weekend afternoons. Check out their website for more information.

Rob from Narberth, PA on 03/29/2023 10:00 AM

Great info! I'm seeing a lot of the town pictures of the trail look like it's a mix of gravel and road, can anyone comment on the stretch out from St Charles to abotu 60 miles out from there, mostly road, mostly gravel? What percentage of what?

Rich from KC on 03/29/2023 06:09 PM

Trail is 90% crushed limestone and very little pavement , so you may consider renting gravel bikes, especially if it’s wet. It’s flat and smooth though, so you can go hard if want to. St.Charles to Hermann would be the best 100+ round trip and stay in Hermann.

Add your Comment to Katy Trail 100+ Mile Bike Trip for out of towners! Tips?

share this thread

camping itinerary

Guy on 03/13/2023 07:22 PM

Hey all,

Would anyone be willing to share their camping itinerary from Clinton back to St. Charles? much appreciated. thank you

Joe from Wildwood on 03/27/2023 09:43 AM

Hi Guy,
When my brother and I were younger, we rode from Clinton to Pilot Grove and camped in the town park - mostly because of the public pool they have there - usually open Labor to Memorial day. The 2nd night we rode to Easley and stayed at Cooper's Landing - it is amazing what comes out of the woodwork at night. The 3rd night we rode to Bluffton and stayed at Steamboat Junction the next day we rode into our cars at Dutzow/Washington. So we didn't technically ride to St. Charles but we take the train out and shuttled to Clinton. You name it we have probably camped there. This (early) April we are taking the train to Sedalia and camping our way back to Dutzow/Washington. We will add another day just because I'm not sure I can go 64+ miles fully loaded. I'm 63 and my older brother is 66.
Joe

Add your Comment to camping itinerary

Page: 1 ... 30 31 32 ... 648

+ Start a new discussion

Please support our advertisers -
they help make this website possible