Katy Trail Forum

Please support our advertisers -
they help make this website possible

Page: 1 ... 434 435 436 ... 647

Getting Back to Start

JC on 07/13/2004 10:08 AM

We are planning a trip from Sedalia to St. Charles. Any suggestions on how to get back to Sedalia with our bikes?

Ray (webmaster) on 07/13/2004 10:12 AM

You basically have two options: you can use a shuttle service, or take the train (Amtrak).

There are a handful of shuttle services whose business is to simply transport riders and their bikes from point A to point B on the trail. They all serve any point on the trail, so any of them should be willing to take you & your bike from St Charles to Sedalia.

This link will give you a list of all shuttle services

Regarding taking the train, one problem is that you would have to get from trail's end in St Charles to the Amtrak station in Kirkwood, which is about 15-20 miles of street riding. If you're comfortable with street riding in areas where you may not be familiar, then it's no big deal. But some riders are not up for such a challenge, in which case shuttles are the only option.

This entry on our FAQ page discusses using Amtrak to get to some point on the trail

And here's a page discussing how to get to the Katy Trail from the Kirkwood Amtrak station

Well, there's always a third option too: make it a round trip and ride back to Sedalia! Most riders are pretty well worn out by the time they have covered the 190 miles from Sedalia to St Charles, but it's always an option if you have the time and energy. Everything really does look different coming from the other direction. Here's a ride report from a couple who did the Clinton-to-St Charles-to-Clinton round trip.

Jim Winkelmann from St. Louis on 07/19/2004 03:05 PM

take the train back to Sedalia

Rhona+Lococo from St Charles mo on 03/10/2011 02:47 PM

call 636-946-0619 ask for Rhona we provide shuttle service

Anonymous on 03/11/2011 07:57 AM

We walked back and made it safely just about 5 1/2 years ago. Thanks anyway Rhona.

Jules from Lake Saint Louis, MO on 03/11/2011 02:51 PM

Call the nice folks at Katy Bike Rental, http://www.nibordot.addr.com/
They can take you back to Sedalia.

Add your Comment to Getting Back to Start

share this thread

Tagged: Other

Current Condition of Trail?

Megan from KC on 03/10/2011 12:45 PM

I'm looking to ride the train as soon as the weather cooperates. Anybody know if the trails are dry enough now?

Add your Comment to Current Condition of Trail?

share this thread

Training

Trek on 02/04/2011 01:09 PM

The link below was recently posted on crazyguyonabike.com. The info may be helpful for some wanting to know how to properly train for their big venture across the Katy.

http://cyclingtrip.com/sections/guide/index.htm

Thomas from Cleveland, Ohio on 03/09/2011 04:20 PM

Cannot recommend

Skyguy9999 on 03/09/2011 09:19 PM

It's kind of a joking sort of thing, but is more than enough reality for cycle touring most average routes. Though, (to anyone reading it) don't let it discourage you from trying it, or doing the Katy. The rewards more than make up for any of those things.

brad wilson from st louis on 03/10/2011 12:04 PM

I saw that probably 15 to 20 years ago.

Not to be taken seriously. It is a joke.

Add your Comment to Training

share this thread

Hiking and Camping

Dave from STL on 03/09/2011 04:23 AM

I want to walk from St. Charles to Herman on the trail and camp along the side of the trail. I have an alcohol stove and will not have a fire... just need to pop the tent and sleep the night. Can I do this? Hard to plan where I will stay because it depends on the weather and how many miles I walk that day. Trying to practice for the Appalachian trail.

MidSouth from Rogersville, MO on 03/09/2011 08:04 AM

From the FAQ:

Is camping allowed along the trail?

No, camping is not allowed along the trail. However, there are several private campgrounds, and public parks that allow camping.

You can click on 'Trip Planner' above, then select 'Camping', then select 'Build My List'.

This will give you a list of all the camping opportunities along the trail.

Thomas from Cleveland, Ohio on 03/09/2011 01:02 PM

Brett Dufur's guidebook shows a few more locations for camping than this website. They are businesses and city parks, like MidSouth mentioned above. www.schoolhousebb.com .

Add your Comment to Hiking and Camping

share this thread

Rocheport area closure

Dick Gabriel from Marietta GA on 03/09/2011 10:36 AM

Website says bridge reconstruction is expected to be completed by end of May. We are traveling from Atlanta and that is part of the KT that we planned on riding. Does anyone know if the contractor is on schedule and that it is realistic to expect it to be reopened by the end of May? We "encountered" the flood of 2008 when we rode the entire KT and it really cost us in shuttles, extra Amtrak rides to retrieve our car, hotel changes/cancellations, etc. We simply want to avoid those hassles on this trip! Thanks.

Trek on 03/09/2011 11:09 AM

This is who you would need to contact:

Dawn Fredrickson, Field Operations & Katy Trail Coordinator
Missouri Department of Natural Resources
Div. of State Parks, Northern Parks District
(573) 449-7402, dawn.fredrickson@dnr.mo.gov

Add your Comment to Rocheport area closure

share this thread

Ride Registration

Theron from Akron, Ohio on 03/08/2011 09:45 AM

Ride registraion is in the mail !! Might be a
"little" early to pack the duffle bag.......
Waiting to get some outside riding in !!!

David from Kansas City on 03/08/2011 02:32 PM

Sending mine in too...see ya there

MAH from Blue Springs, MO on 03/09/2011 07:17 AM

Ours is in the mail also!

Add your Comment to Ride Registration

share this thread

trail surface

smarty2twins on 03/07/2011 03:35 PM

Is the entire trail crushed limestone, or is it paved in parts?

MidSouth from Rogersville, MO on 03/07/2011 03:51 PM

The only paved spots are while going through small sections in the cities of Sedalia and Boonville.

smarty2twins on 03/07/2011 04:12 PM

Is the limestone packed down? I can imagine it being loose and hard to ride on, or packed and easy.

MidSouth from Rogersville, MO on 03/07/2011 05:12 PM

Here a copy and paste from the FAQ on this site:

"What is the trail's surface like?
It is covered in crushed limestone, which packs hard and is suitable for running, hiking, or any kind of bike (though mountain bikes and hybrids might be more comfortable than road bikes). For runners, the surface absorbs impact well, and is much easier on runners' legs than cement or asphalt. The crushed limestone can be dusty; you and your bike will get dusty. For multi-day bike rides, you may want to bring along something to clean your chain.

The trail can get a little soft during extended rainy periods. After a rainy period, some horses may leave light hoofprints on the equestrian part of the trail. The trail surface is not suitable for inline skating."

Trek on 03/08/2011 08:23 AM

Crushed is the key here...and that it is crushed to small, chat size. With that small size there is dust, which when wet acts as a binding agent like cement. It is usually spread down and rolled making a semi-hard packed surface. With that though there is some loose "chat" on the surface that usually is pushed to the side by bike tires leaving a nice smooth track in most places on each side of the trail. There may be places that the loose stuff can cause an issue if for some reason there's too much of it. Most riders ride in the track which leaves room for others to pass and for the oncoming traffic.

Michael Rodemeyer from Hartsburg, Missouri on 03/08/2011 07:44 PM

My wife, Nancy Grant, and I attended an all day meeting,today,in Augusta, of the merchants who have business along the KATY Trail, KTMAC, and we wanted eveyone to know that DNR is furiously working to clear storm debris from the trail. The storm last week destroyed many trees and even blew some roofs off local winerys and barns etc. Congrats to
DNR for this quick response.

Add your Comment to trail surface

share this thread

Amtrak and the trail

Nan from Milwaukee on 03/07/2011 09:23 AM

Where can you get the Amtrack along the trail? We are starting in McKittrick and riding to Rocheport. I would like to train back to McKittrick from there??

Trek on 03/07/2011 09:59 AM

From the Home page here.....scroll down to the Train icon and click on the link there to find some real good Amtrak information. Also the Amtrak website is a good source.

Anonymous on 03/08/2011 12:47 PM

You would need to ride on to station at Sedalia from Rocheport or ride back to the station at Jefferson City. Those are the two stations closest to Rocheport.

Add your Comment to Amtrak and the trail

share this thread

Scenic parts of trail

Nan from Milwaukee on 03/07/2011 10:13 AM

From Augusta to McKittrick and McKittrick to No. Jefferson, is the trail as scenic as perhaps other parts? We have choosen those sections in part of the wineries?

Trek on 03/07/2011 03:17 PM

Bluffton to Augusta is a good ride. Augusta winery is a good one to visit.....great Ice Wine. Montelle just outside of town has a nice deck with sunset dinners and a great view.

Hermann of course is wine central. Loutres Market just south of McKittrick is a good place to buy that is less expensive than the wineries. Hermann Hill and Hermanoff are both great places to stay if you are into the B&B's. Oak Glenn east of town has good view of the river below.

The ride from Rocheport to McBaine is very pretty too.....right along the massive bluffs on one side and the river on the other. There are good B&B's in Rocheport and a very good winery and Bistro also. Boonville is very bike friendly if Rocheport is full. The Hotel Frederick gives a biker discount and is a nicely done restored historic hotel.

Add your Comment to Scenic parts of trail

share this thread

Loose Bull

Bill Hudson from St. Charles on 03/07/2011 12:10 PM

Had a confrontation with a bull on the trail yesterday...guess the tornado tore apart somebody's fence b/c several livestock were loose and meandering on the trail. Thankfully nothing happened but as I slowly approached the bull started sprinting at me! Just FYI to have owners check their fences...the tornado did a lot of damage just west of Augusta.

Add your Comment to Loose Bull

share this thread

trailer

robert from canada on 03/04/2011 01:41 PM

Hello,.I have a quick question.If i decide to do the entire trail to clinton and back,i would like to bring my trailer to do some camping.Is the trail ok for trailers.Thank you,Robert

MidSouth from Rogersville, MO on 03/04/2011 02:19 PM

We did the trail with a trailer last June. Trailers such as a BOB or Burley work just fine. Just remember, you can't camp on the trail, only in designated Conservation Areas and commercial campgrounds.

savage24 from KC, MO on 03/04/2011 04:47 PM

I've used a BOB trailer many times on the trail with no problems. Have some type of encloser for your belongings on the trailer so they don't get covered in trail dust. \
You can also camp in some city parks in communities on the trail.

Darrell on 03/05/2011 09:35 AM

I have no experience pulling a trailer on the trail, but have seen many of them being used. The riders looked like they were doing fine with it. One exception that I remember; I spoke with a fellow that had the Bike Friday setup, bike and trailer/travel case, it was a struggle for him. He said the setup worked very well on roads but on the softer crushed limestone it was tough going, especially when he hit the more sandy softer spots.

He was headed to Clinton, I was headed to St. Charles, after we parted, I could see his tracks searching for the most solid part of the trail. I'm no engineer, but my guess is, that it had two wheels of a smaller diameter as opposed to the larger wheels and single wheeled trailers. That is assuming he wasn’t hauling a gold bar or two.

He had flown into St. Louis with bike in case, to ride the Katy. He said he really liked the Bike Friday and trailer, normally. It was a really nice looking setup, I must say!

robert on 03/06/2011 05:33 PM

thank you

Add your Comment to trailer

share this thread

City Park (Pilot Grove)

Anonymous on 01/18/2011 06:03 PM

how much does it cost to camp here? I am thinking about a ride and need to know how much money to bring

zgeezer on 03/06/2011 02:10 AM

Knowing Pilot Grove, my guess is it will be free (and very basic). Choice of meals will be limited. If Becky's is open you can enjoy some good homemade pies.

Add your Comment to City Park (Pilot Grove)

share this thread

Training

CMJ from Ann Arbor Michigan on 01/26/2011 10:22 PM

Would like to ask any experienced riders how much training they did

before they completed the length of the trail. I am a frequent rider

but the max distance I ever covered in one day was 50 miles which nearly

killed me. I plan on riding the length of the trail later this year and

would appreciate any comments from experienced cyclists. Note I am a 50

something man in fairly good condition.

Skyguy9999 on 01/27/2011 02:22 AM

Much of what you will need for a training plan will revolve around how many days you want to take to get the whole trail done. Most go 30-50 miles per day for about 5-6 days, if that helps you on that question.

Other than that, all I can say is that training amount and so on revolves around what your goals are and how disciplined you are. You state that your "max distance was 50 miles and it nearly killed me". That might be a good start to determine what you need to work on. How long did it take you? How long did it take before you had problems? What kind of problems? What kind of nutritional concerns did you address during the ride (water, how often, how much? food, how often, what was it)? Speaking of the latter, nothing will kill your effort on a long ride faster than not fulfilling your nutritional needs.

See this thread, a lot was said on the topic of preparing to tour the Katy (or any other similar situation):

http://www.bikekatytrail.com/talk.aspx?thid=3647&fmt=1&sortby=0&pg=1

Darrell from Jeff City, Mo. on 01/27/2011 07:28 AM

It just takes saddle time. When fifty miles doesn't nearly kill ya, you're ready. The trail is mostly flat, not very taxing really but it is a steady pedal for as far as you want to go. If you are in fairly good shape forty or fifty miles a day shouldn't be a problem. Saddle time is the key for multi days on the Katy, get comfortable on your bike, get used to riding 30, 40 miles at a time with rest stops and you'll do fine. Hopefully you'll be able to build in enough time to enjoy the scenery and the people along the way. Good luck.

Darrell from Jeff City, Mo. on 01/27/2011 07:54 AM

As a reference point, in a few months it will be forty years since I was a teenager. Ah, I've always been forgetful.

MidSouth from Rogersville, MO on 01/27/2011 12:54 PM

My wife and I had not cycled for 30 years or so and started back about 6 months before our June 2010 trip of the KATY. When we started 5 or 6 miles was a work out. We are only able to ride about one day a week, but trained on the Frisco Trail for about 3 months until we could do the entire trail (36 miles) in one day. We scheduled our itinerary to be about 35-40 miles per day on the KATY and it worked out great. The riding was not hard, but the heat and humidity were a big factor. We did all of our pedaling early in the day. We are both in our late 50's. I can now do 70 miles fairly easy and plan to ride the whole KATY out and back (550 miles) in four days late this spring. Mostly just takes getting comfortable on your bike. We went through about 5 different saddles on my wifes bike before she found one that would allow her to ride more than about 20 miles.

Trek on 01/27/2011 01:44 PM

I'm curious to know what saddle your wife found that works well for her. Or which ones were tried. It seems to be a dilemma here at times.

MidSouth from Rogersville, MO on 01/27/2011 04:39 PM

Make that 450 in 4 days, not 550! Trek, I will look when I get home tonight, is is a Selle, but not sure which on. We started with the stock seat that came on her Scott P4 hybrid, then she tried a Bontragger off of her TREK Navigator comfort bike, then she tried the Selle Anatomica all leather, like the one on my bike. She ended up with the Selle something or other, which has some gel padding.

Mark from Columbia, MO on 01/27/2011 05:19 PM

I think any kind of regular riding will put you in good enough shape for the Katy. I'm a middle aged guy who bikes to work 4 miles each way. This was all the physical preparation I did. And other than the first couple of days on the Katy, my backside did just fine.

Anonymous on 01/27/2011 10:00 PM

Trek, the saddle the wife is currently using and happy with is a Selle Royal Ellipse Women's Moderate.

Skyguy9999 on 01/29/2011 04:35 AM

I posted to this thread about 2 or 3 days ago and it got set aside for review because I hyper-linked to another thread on here. That might show up, but anyway, I wanted to make sure I at least got this through in a timely way.

CMJ, what went on with your 50 mile ride that "nearly killed" you? How long did you get to go before you felt this way? How did it do this? What kind of things did you eat and drink and when did you do it? Hopefully some help can be found.

BTW, the hyperlink related to a bigger text I posted on the issue of long distance training.

Ray (webmaster) on 01/31/2011 10:00 AM

Skyguy, sorry for the delay on reviewing your post - was out of town since the middle of last week and did not keep up with things.

Skyguy's original post is now included in this thread (second from top).

Skyguy9999 on 01/31/2011 03:18 PM

Thank you.

Tony from Kansas City on 01/31/2011 03:19 PM

I did the entire trail about a year ago. I am in my mid 20's. We did

76.6 the first day, then 56.8, 64.8, and 26.9. To train, I would ride

15-20 mile rides 4-5 days a week. The key is saddle time. That first

day, we were on our bikes for 7 plus hours. That is hard to get ready

for without being on a bike for many hours a week. Regardless of how

you break up the ride, you need to make sure you are on a bike quite a

bit. Get your seat used to being on a bike seat.

MidSouth from Rogersville, MO on 01/31/2011 07:42 PM

Here is the itinerary that we used last year. Not very experienced cyclist and our first week long trip. Worked out great.

Day 0 – Overnight in Clinton

Day 1 – Sedalia (35.6mi) – Camp MO State Fairgrounds

Day 2 – Boonville (37.2mi) – Hotel Frederick

Day 3 – Easley (29.3mi) – Camp Cooper’s Landing

Day 4 – Tebbetts (31.3mi) – Turner Katy Trail Shelter

Day 5 – Hermann (30.4mi) – Bed & Breakfast

Day 6 – Rest day in Hermann – Bed & Breakfast

Day 7 – Augusta (34.4mi) – Camp Klondike Park

Day 8 – St. Charles (26.9mi) – End of the ride.

zgeezer on 03/06/2011 02:00 AM

I am 61, rode the trail east to west against headwinds the whole route, in three days, so average about 75 miles a day. I rode some in the spring, the cut back in the heat of summer, did not really start thinking of doing the full trail until September. Then I started riding short 15 mile or so rides a couple evenings a week, and a longer 40 - 50 mile ride on weekend. By mid October I celebrated my 61st birthday by riding 61 miles, then did the full trail the first weekend in November. There are some gentle grades between Sedalia and Boonville, but after that the trail is mostly level. I find just setting a steady pace, eating nutritional snacks and keeping hydrated helps a lot.

Add your Comment to Training

Page: 1 ... 434 435 436 ... 647

+ Start a new discussion

Please support our advertisers -
they help make this website possible