Katy Trail Experience
- + My husband and I recently rode the entire trail from Calhoun to St. Charles! What an experience we had!! We rode it in 6 days and think that maybe next time we will do it in 7 days so we can stop an...
Discussion started 10/01/2012 02:59 PM by April McDaniel - 8 replies (last reply by Neil at 11/26/2012 12:42 PM)April McDaniel from Lebanon, MO on 10/01/2012 02:59 PM
My husband and I recently rode the entire trail from Calhoun to St. Charles! What an experience we had!! We rode it in 6 days and think that maybe next time we will do it in 7 days so we can stop and enjoy more of the towns and have more time. We hauled all our own gear and stayed at Cruce's Cabooses in Calhoun, Hotel Bothwell in Sedalia, Hotel Frederick in Boonville, The Globe Hotel in Hartsburg, The Rendelman House B&B in Bluffton, and the Little House B&B in Marthasville! We enjoyed every place we stayed and would love to thank each host for their warm hospitality and interesting stories! The climb from Sedalia to Boonville on day 2 was quite a workout but after that it was all flat. Don't think you will be doing much coasting because the "downhill" portion is mostly flat so you don't coast much. Be prepared to pedal most of the way. Make sure you have plenty of water bottles and plan ahead for food and lodging since a lot of the small towns along the trail have no services. The scenery was amazing so don't forget your camera! This was our first trip and it definitely won't be our last!!!
Eric Otte from Olathe, Ks on 10/01/2012 04:46 PM
April, that is really cool... My buddy and I are leaving from Sedalia via Amtrak this Saturday and biking back from St. Charles (2 day trip)... Few questions:
- How much water did you bring w/you?
- did you have issues with finding water along the way?
- What sort of bike did you guys ride & did you have any flats?
Again... very cool for you and your husband to do this together!!!
Ken from St Louis on 10/02/2012 12:57 PM
I just did the opposite direction about three weeks ago. I carried two bottles of water to be safe. I never had problems refilling. Had 5 flats between two bikes just East of Rhineland, for a 5 mile stretch. Great little store in Mokane!
april mcdaniel from lebanon, mo on 10/02/2012 02:33 PM
We each carried 2 water bottles that we kept full and a 3rd one for the stretches where water is limited. as long as you plan accordingly water is not hard to come by. We were both riding Schwinn mountain bikes....I think next time I would like to try a bike with narrower tires and see if the resistance lets up.
Eric Otte from Olathe, Ks on 10/02/2012 04:01 PM
thanks all... I will pack along 2 bottles of water... I am using a cross bike w/typical cross tires also I will bring along 3 tubes... maybe 4 tubes... Really excited for this weekend... 220 miles in 2 days will be a challange for me....
Brent from Warsaw on 10/02/2012 10:20 PM
May I ask how much it cost to do your trip total,thank you Brent
kls from Southeast Missouri on 10/05/2012 12:09 PM
I am thinking about doing this with a group of girlfriends. Was also wandering (but not wanting to be too intrusive) what you think your total cost for your trip was?
Thanks and no hard feelings if you don't want to tell! :)
MidSouth from Rogersville, Mo on 10/05/2012 08:30 PM
All the hotels and B&B's have their price range listed on this website or their own website. You would be safe to plan on about $100 per night average per room more or less, unless you are camping.
Neil from Parker, CO on 11/26/2012 12:42 PM
In September I rode across the Katy as part of a cross-country trip. A couple notes I'd make: Re: water, there aren't nearly as many places to get water as you'd find on the road. Two water bottles should be fine - just never pass a chance to fill 'em up. Second note would be a response to the "tire question" above - someone mentioned wondering if narrower tires would be better. I made my trip on a road bike with 25cm tires - just slightly wider than the normal 23cm tires that most road bikes have. This sort of crushed rock surface would be much better on at least 28's. Wider tires are better on this surface. It was dry, so it was never a problem for me, but I could definitely feel the drag.
Overall, a beautiful trail and a wonderful ride. I did mostly 100+ mile days across the country, but shorted them up on the Katy, which I'm glad I did.
GREAT FOOD
- + I have eatin here for years and I have to say BEST BURGERS around! Their meat is always fresh, I've seen them bring it in the store in the mornings. They open at 10am so I can eat my lunch early! Depe...
Discussion started 11/24/2012 07:52 PM by LS - 2 replies (last reply by Hometowner at 11/26/2012 09:05 AM)LS from Sedalia,Green Ridge on 11/24/2012 07:52 PM
I have eatin here for years and I have to say BEST BURGERS around! Their meat is always fresh, I've seen them bring it in the store in the mornings. They open at 10am so I can eat my lunch early! Depending on how hungry you are there are singles, doubles, triples and Quads. They have wonderful Tenderloins, breaded and grilled! A ton of side orders from fries to portabellas to chedder/pepper jack bites to fried green tomatoes. The atmosphere is always friendly and fun. Great 50's music in the background. All around great people and great food. I'll spend a little extra money for fresh food everytime over frozen meat!!!!!
Anonymous on 11/24/2012 10:11 PM
Sounds good - but I have not idea what place you're talking about based on this post.
Hometowner on 11/26/2012 09:05 AM
Coach's in Sedalia opens at 10AM? Could be?
trail conditions/speed
- + Have decided to ride Easley to McBaine, back and down to Hartsburg, then back to Easley. Approx. 30.8 mi., if I figured accurately. Wondering what the trail surface is like (hard or soft? smooth or ro...
Discussion started 11/21/2012 07:06 AM by Predicador - 3 replies (last reply by Predicador at 11/23/2012 09:08 PM)Predicador from Mtn. Home, AR on 11/21/2012 07:06 AM
Have decided to ride Easley to McBaine, back and down to Hartsburg, then back to Easley. Approx. 30.8 mi., if I figured accurately. Wondering what the trail surface is like (hard or soft? smooth or rough? loose gravel?), how fast one can ride, how long I should anticipate this to take, etc. Never been on the KT, so don't know anything. :)
Anonymous on 11/21/2012 09:42 AM
How fast and far you can go depends on you and your fitness level. Try doing an out and back from Hartsburg and see how long it takes you. You can always turn around and head back if you are running out of time. Or you can go farther before turning around if you need to. The trail is basically smooth hard pack but there can also be places with loose chat.
Anonymous from Ashland on 11/21/2012 09:49 AM
Trail surface is fine crushed chat, bare in some places. Relatively smooth, not much rougher than Cooper Park in Mountain Home (6 years ago). For the most part it is packed and hard. Calling for light showers Thanksgiving Day and rain later, this could soften it up a bit. Enjoy.
Predicador from Mtn. Home, AR on 11/23/2012 09:08 PM
Thanks, all. Rode from Columbia (MKT) to McBaine and then to Rocheport and back on Thanksgiving Day. 30 miles in 2 hr. 15 min. A beautiful day, but the wind was pretty strong at times. Rode from Hartsburg toward Easley only 3 mi. and back today. Enjoyed it.
Tommy Coghill Fat Sand Bikes
- + Has anyone heard of or purchased or own a fat sand bike? I was wondering if they float on the sand could they also float on snow or other softs surfaces for winter time KT riding? Not sure how strong...
Discussion started 11/21/2012 02:23 AM by Don - 2 replies (last reply by ArkyKenny at 11/21/2012 04:53 PM)Don on 11/21/2012 02:23 AM
Has anyone heard of or purchased or own a fat sand bike? I was wondering if they float on the sand could they also float on snow or other softs surfaces for winter time KT riding? Not sure how strong the tires are? Thanks.
Anonymous on 11/21/2012 09:03 AM
Being from Missouri I'd have to see a bike float on sand to believe that one.
ArkyKenny on 11/21/2012 04:53 PM
Both Surly and Salsa make "Fat bikes" made for riding in snow and on sandy beaches. A friend of mine has one and uses it for riding trails. It is basically a rigid mountain bike with REALLY wide (like 5" wide) tires that he says give him about 3 in. of suspension. The bike weighs about 29#, which is not bad, and while the down side of that is that much of the weight is in the tires, so getting going is quite a chore, once you are going, the gyroscopic properties of the wheel keep him going. It may be a good idea for the Katy. He has had no flats that I know of.
I have written elsewhere on this post about switching to a touring on the Katy with my bike with Schwalbe 700c x 42 Marathon Mondial tires that are kevlar reinforced. I now think that is the only way to go--for me anywan--on the Katy. The big tires on my Salsa Vaya keep me on top, and out of ruts with very little sacrifice of speed on the limestone path. They are actually 29er wheels and with disc brakes. When I tour on the road with the same bike, I can put 700c x 28s on, and I have a touring bike where I don't have to be afraid of potholes. Think about that option too.
trail suggestion
- + Will be riding Katy for first time and with a novice cyclist (not that I am an expert, mind you). Want to ride a moderate distance of 20-30 mi. round trip in the Columbia/Ashland area. What would you ...
Discussion started 11/20/2012 10:01 PM by Predicador - 4 replies (last reply by Jim at 11/21/2012 04:09 PM)Predicador from Mtn. Home, AR on 11/20/2012 10:01 PM
Will be riding Katy for first time and with a novice cyclist (not that I am an expert, mind you). Want to ride a moderate distance of 20-30 mi. round trip in the Columbia/Ashland area. What would you suggest as a beginning point and destination?
Jim from St. Thomas on 11/21/2012 05:34 AM
Hartsburg to Cooper's Landing in Easley is a pretty nice ride. It's a 20 mile round trip.
Predicador from Mtn. Home, AR on 11/21/2012 06:01 AM
Thanks, Jim. I appreciate it. I suppose access is clearly marked along Hwy. 63.
Anonymous from Ashland on 11/21/2012 09:34 AM
Easley is kind of a pain to get to from 63 and there is no trailhead there. I do not recall any markings along 63 for access to Easley.
I would suggest parking and starting in Hartsburg, and yes there is a Katy Trail State Park sign on 63 at state route A. Enjoy.
Jim from St. Thomas on 11/21/2012 04:09 PM
I would start at Hartsburg also but you can park along the road at Cooper's in Easley. Both places are pretty easy to get to.......just use Google maps for directions.