Katy Trail Forum

I am a walker, but would like to ride the Katy Trail. Would a Mobo Triton 20" recumbent/trike (3 wheel) bike be a good bike to use for a trip like that? I am older and don't have alot to invest in a bike but thought this style would be comfortable and easy to handle. Tell me what you think because I need someone to tell me. Thanks J52

The Katy is an old railroad bed with very finely ground limestone as a surface, and occasionally crosses asphalt roads/highways that you might have to pick the bike up to deal with the height variances. I can't say I know the bike that well to tell you whether it'd work or not. Of course, YMMV depending on weather conditions and kind of tread on the tires. Your main concern will probably be more "flat protection" and issues regarding flats than whether the bike will work well.

Can you suggest a bike you are familiar with that would work well?

I looked up the Mobo Triton recumbent bicycle.

If it's the same model you have, it has only 1 speed. It looks like it was designed for just cruising around, not long trips. If you are comfortable with that, and aren't planning on many miles, then it would probably work.

I've seen people on recumbent trikes on the trail before. I don't recall ground clearance being an issue. If you see an irregular surface, just slow down and cross it at an easy pace. Of course those recumbent trikes had at least 24 speeds, which might make it easier to adjust to changing conditions.

So, if you want to ride on the Katy Trail for distances you know you can easily cover, then it the Mobo might work.

A multi-geared upright bicycle or recumbent of the 2 or 3 wheel variety would be better for long trips.

At least that's my opinion.

I also looked up the specs on the Mobo - besides the problem of only a single speed (whatever speed that happens to be) the drive wheel is in front, your body weight is on the back wheels, which I beleive will cause the front wheel to have a tendencty to slip on the gravel trail surface especially on inclines. Nice model in their add though. ;-)

Hello, I noticed some talk in other threads but just to be clear, what is the opinion on riding from Warrensburg to Clinton by bike and what is the preferred route?

Thanks

Think I've read where riders take Route-13 all the way from Warrensburg to Clinton. They might take Business-13 down to Bowmansville where it merges with State-13. Apparently, a nice 30-mile ride.

Eventually, I guess we are supposed to have a trail from Harrisonville to Clinton that will link with KT. Now if we can link Harrisonville with Johnson County KS, I can ride all the way to St Louie.

I am familiar with that section of hiway 13 and as a lifelong area resident, I would not attempt to bike from Warrensurg to Clinton. Not a safe stretch.

Agree with Tim, Raymore. I've ridden different segments of Hwy 13. No shoulder, high large truck traffic. Doable but not a very safe route.
Jharte

Thirded on the Warrensburg to Clinton via 13 with bike thing.

As far as Rock Island goes (what Figs is talking about), it's going to link in with Windsor. Coincidentally, once that's open, biking from Warrensburg down to the trail will be a snap.

2013 Katy Trail State Park (DNR) ride registration opened up yesterday! State park site has all the details. Such a great way to ride the length of the Katy with someone else carrying all your geat and SAGs along the way. Got my registration in yesterday morning! 107 days till the start :-)

Dawn and group do a great job. I rode it in 2010 but stayed in the selected hotels after a hot day of riding. The breakfast and dinners are good too plus the night time entertainment. They allow only 300 for registration so get signed up quickly.

If you're planning to participate in the 2013 Katy Trail Ride, we're fast approaching the 300 limit! We only have fifteen spots left and anticipate those will be filled by the end of the day. Register today to snag one of the remaining spots: http://mostateparks.com/2013-katy-trail-ride.

Registration has never filled this quickly before, which means there are quite a few cyclists more than ready to begin their Katy adventure this summer. We will be maintaining a waiting list for those folks registering after the 300 maximum limit is reached, in case of cancellations. For questions about the ride, you can email us at katyride@dnr.mo.gov.

Congratulations. That's very cool that its filled up so quickly.

My wife and I stayed at Harbor Haus during our Katy Trail ride in late May 2012. The location is very convenient, just off the bridge, next to downtown. The room was comfortable, and the breakfast was great.

I am planning to ride April 12-16 with one other person, and we are both first timers. Being unfamiliar and out of the area, the logistics are somewhat challenging, but I have made my plans based on what I have read on this website. I would love to get some constructive feedback from experienced riders who have first hand knowledge with the plans I describe. I have kept the daily mileages conservative, to accommodate an inexperienced rider, in case of inclement weather (you can stand anything for 35 miles, right?) and also to have a little time each day to enjoy the experience and not have to hurry through our days. We will be pulling a small bike trailer with food and water and a tent, and our first choice is to camp if weather will allow - but I have chosen a hotel back up plan on each location just in case. Ok, here is my plan: Start in Clinton, where I will arrange with the appropriate people to leave my car. First overnight stop will be Sedalia. We will camp at the Fairgrounds, or stay overnight at the Best Western. Next overnight stop will be New Franklin, where will will camp at the Katy Roundhouse, or go on to Rocheport and stay at the KT Bed & Bikefest. Next overnight will be either Hartsburg where we will camp at Volunteer Park, or go on to Jeff City and stay at the Baymont Inn. Last day is to ride to Hermann, where we will take the Amtrak back to Sedalia. I am fine with backtracking the trail to Clinton to get my car, and my companion may potentially take the trail all the way back to Independence MO, since that is where he lives and has someone to come pick him up at the station. That's the plan, so fire away! I do appreciate any guidance you can give. This is has been on my bucket list for a little while, and it is also kind of a bonding experience between me and one of my adult sons. I want us to have a great experience. Thank you.

My opinion: Clinton - Sedalia: no problem. Sedalia - New Franklin: your backup hotel should probably be Boonville, not Rocheport. New Frnklin - Hartsburg: backup hotel should be B&B in Hartsburg. There is so much to see on this day that you don't want to have to push another 10 miles to Jeff City. Then after Hartsburg, the last 2 days you have are pretty long rides, and the Augusta area is really pretty.

Thank you for your feedback, Don. I really appreciate it! I've noted your suggestions in my planning.

If you plan on ending up in Hermann on the 15th I think I would ride on in to JC on the 14th. Its around 55 miles from Hartsburg to Hermann by the time you cross the bridge.

You have a good plan Tania, complete with plan "B's" for lodging. All of these plans would work fine. I'm wondering if that last day mileage is plus the train ride back? Thinking about departure and arrival times for Herman to Sedalia. Worth double checking and making reservations (for bikes too) in advance, for sure. Good luck, it will be fun.

Thank you very much for all your comments everyone! I am thinking of tweaking things just a bit to make the riding days increasingly shorter on the way to Hermann, so that our last day riding isn't our longest day riding. I am going to work on that. Plus I wanted to say to Darrell's question, that on the train ride back, I was planning that we would take the 5:30 train out of Hermann (give us some time to spend in town before we have to head out), which would put me back in Sedalia around 7:30 and I will spend the night in a hotel. Then I will ride my bike back to Clinton the next morning. My riding partner will be taking the train all the way from Hermann back to Independence where he has confirmed that someone will pick him up at 9:30 pm or whenever the train gets in. At this point my only real concerns are trail conditions and weather that early in the season, but I see that people are riding now (!)so hopefully things will continue to improve between now and then. Thanks again for all your comments! You are all very kind!

Regarding food: one of my favorite stores on the Katy Trail is Snoody's. It is about 1/4 mile north of the Missouri River bridge at Boonville. Snoody's would be the perfect place to stop for food near the end of day two, and purchase food for day three. There are few if any places to buy groceries or prepared food between Rocheport and Hartsburg.

Ah, yes, Snoddy's -- where you can get a great deli sandwich, and buy a new toilet, some Roundup and some firewood at the same time. No place quite like it! (And you should have seen the old store -- even better).

We have a 41 ft Class A RV and I would like to find a place where we could camp and also ride the Katy Trail with our grandchildren. We have stayed at Katfish Katy Campgrounds outside of Rochport, which worked out fine, but would like to explore and find another location where we can camp and ride our bikes to get on the Katy trail. We live in the KC area and would like to find a nice place to camp closer to KC. We would like a campgrounds with water and electric utilities.
I appreciate any feedback as we have only riden the trail once.

You could try the Katy Roundhouse Campground at New Franklin. There is also the State Fair Campground, Sedalia.

Sedalia would be a good place to camp and they should have electric and water. The campground is a few hundred yards from the Katy Trail West entrance. Someone will come around and collect the campground fee.
Portland has a small campground above the trail for tents and a few places for trailers. You might have a problem getting a motor home in there

Well it looks like mother nature is not cooperating with an early tour of the Katy Trail. My planned departure date is only 3 weeks away. Has anyone ever ridden the trail with snow? How does the snow affect the crushed limestone trail? Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

Mother Nature is doing what she does in Missouri. I'd reconsider the timing of the ride and would visit later in the year.

I doubt you'll have snow in 3 weeks but you may well have a soft track. I would choose a thicker tire, at least 35. I wouldn't worry about it too much, it'll slow you down a bit and could be messy but I wouldn't let that stop me.

However if you do have snow then I would consider cancelling. I rode a bit in snow yesterday and it is not fun.

My suggestion: 1) Bring a mountain bike or even a fat bike and cut your mileage or 2) Wait untill mid-April. Cold, wet, muddy, and windy on a bike is not my idea of fun, but it might be fun for you. If so, get something that can put up with a little slop, get some Gore-Tex, and have at it.

On the other hand, May through November on the Katy are great. I am dreaming about those times now (and have cabin fever bad enough that I am on this website). If you are worried about a sloppy trail, maybe you should go do the Trans-Arizona Trail for Spring Break, and come to Missouri next summer.

Great suggestions. I currently have 32 width tires on my bike but suppose I could bring a mountain bike. I will play it by ear. The thought of riding in the snow sounds fun, but I have never pedaled for 6 hours in 35-40 degree weather. Think I may take my bike up to the mountains here outside of San Diego and test out the rig on the snow.

If there's snow the Katy Trail is also a fun place to cross country ski. We try never to miss it!

Your chances of getting snow on the trail PLUS the ground underneath being solidly frozen are pretty slim this time of year. The freeze/thaw cycle does some interesting things with crushed limestone (imagine pedaling through wet cement). If this is your first time on the Katy, and you are coming all the way from SoCal, I sure wish you would wait until May, when we can show you the real beauty of our State.

Seeing that it is snowing yet again, I am now at least considering canceling the trip. Who would have thought that this year Missouri would have more snow than it has 50 years?

I would be as patient as your travel plans will allow.

Weather-related things change rapidly in this part of the world.

That said - there is (in my opinion) much good advise in previous commments.

If the trail wasn't so shaded (even without leaves) things could turn around very quickly. With all those trees it is tough for the sunshine to get in there dry things up.

Unless it is muddier than I have ever seen (well - minus certain flooding episodes), I think you'd be fine with 32-35 tires. Unless there is snow, I cannot image (based on my experience) that a fatbike would be required. (Disclosure: I almost always ride 28s...which some find too narrow.)

For what it's worth...that's my 2 cents.

Best wishes with your ride.

in 3 weeks, it could be 90 degrees and back to draught conditions.... this is Central MO we are talking about! I'd keep planning... hope for the best. I hope to be riding over there myself in the next 2 or 3 weeks... IF

There was one day, a week or two ago, when the Weather Channel reported a pollen alert and a winter storm warning both on the same day for Eastern MO. Missouri weather can be very variable.

Late winter and spring, temperatures can also vary a lot during the day. Most of last week, it was in the 30's in the mornings and up into the 50's in the afternoons. Just be prepared for a wide range.

Good luck, if the weather cooperates you will have a fantastic and memorable adventure.

Thanks for teh encouragemnet. I was just about to cancel but y'all have given me hope. I will wait a few more days to decide. I understand spring will have not fully sprung with green on trees. However I already have the time off and flights booked. And I don't know when I will next be in the Midwest. I think I should just charge it.