Katy Trail Forum

On a ride last Sunday, while stopped in Hartsburg, my back tire looked low. I was fully loaded (gear, not alcohol) but it looked lower than it should, checked it, and it was. On those last few good pumps to top it off, the sounds of a snapping presta valve and a whoosh of air reminded me that I had forgotten to pick up an extra inner tube. I was headed to Sedalia and stuck.



People from Columbia Mo. are nice. One fellow gave up a leaky spare tube to try, that was too small but I had to do something even if to push it someplace. Patched it. But another couple pulled up to the trail head and one of them had a patched spare that was the right size and was willing to give it to me. Great people, I tells ya. Hope they had another spare. A big Thank You, to them. Honestly, there are nice people all up and down the trail.



So anyway, I told you that to tell you this. After a couple of stops for a little pump action I limped into Rocheport and the Trailside Café and Bike Shop. After reading that comment stream from last week, I put on my armor, grabbed my sword and went inside. And found a collection of accommodating and nice people (in a commercial sort of way). But that was why I was there. Had an ice COLD water and soft drink, chatted a little with a couple of the staff, picked up a couple of tubes and was good to go. In truth, I’ve been there before, as other places and thought they could be more friendly, but hey, I have friends. I paid for what I got and they didn’t owe me anything else. This time and most other times they were friendly and accommodating. So, I guess this is the other side of the coin.



Disclaimer: I have no affiliation with the Trailside Café or it’s ownership, and don’t know these people from Jack, or “the man in the moon“.

Ran outta room!



In case someone cares;

The rest of the trip was excellent too. Camped at Katy Round House Campground Sunday night, then on to Sedalia Monday morning. Left Sedalia about 7:30 Tuesday morning, rolled into No. Jefferson City at 7:50 p.m.. It was a good and fun trip, got back all limbs attached, butt a little sore.



180.69 miles, round trip

-Top speed 22 mph.

-Average 9.7 mph.

That's a good ride. I've done that one in the other direction going to the H S state track meet a few years back. And was lucky enough to see the Stealth bomber north of Pilot Grove.



It did a fly over at the state fair on Sunday afternoon and was still in the air Sunday evening west of Warrensburg. Maybe you got to see it too.

Trek, Sunday late afternoon and evening I was setting up camp in New Franklin. Wish I would have seen it though, that would be pretty cool.

I was wondering what the average time is to ride the trail end to end is? How many days does it take usually, casually riding?

Guess it depends on your fitness level, I'd say a casual rider should be able to ride at least 50-60 miles a day and the trail is roughly 225 miles long

I would chime in that fifty for a casual rider may be the upper limit. For sure you will have a tender backside.

I think four or five days for the average rider to do the whole trail. Two of us rode the entire trail in June when the weather was so beastly hot. Our ages are 49 and 69. We did it in five days, but thought four days would have been a little bit better. Much depends on your transportation to and from each end of the trail, along with where you plan to stop each night. Get yourself a copy of the Katy Trail Guidebook as it is a wealth of information concerning services at each small town.

The answer really depends on how much you can "normally" ride on the road. Two friends and I rode the whole trail in 2 days at the end of June. There have been several folks who have ridden the entire trail in one day.



The effort to ride on the KATY is slightly higher than if you were riding on pavement. If you can ride 60-70 miles in a day on pavement, maybe step back to 50 or so on the KATY.

just moved to the area and would like to take a ride to Machens , I noticed a parking lot north of the 370 bridge , would this be the spot to park for this section of the trail ? and how far does it go northeast of there ? the maps I see online only show the trail running to I-70 .

I can't give you a definitive answer because I haven't actually tried it, but I'm pretty sure the sanctioned Katy Trail ends at the historic St Charles riverfront.



Another ride you could try, though, is a two-ferries ride. Head for the Golden Eagle Ferry, which crosses the Mississippi River into Calhoun County, IL. Then put together some country roads to either the Grafton Ferry or the Brussels Ferry across the Illinois River. Calhoun County will throw some hills at you -- much more than you'd get on the Katy, of course -- but it's a really nice peaceful ride. And Grafton has some good restaurants if you need a meal stop before heading back. (There's also a restaurant at the Illinois side of the Golden Eagle Ferry, frequented mostly by boaters, but good for a simple meal.)



I haven't done this ride in years (literally), so you might want to get more current info from an area bike shop.

I know the parking lot of which you speak and this would be fine but the trail is not finished here yet. It is past due to be completed and I have asked a couple of times if anyone can give a progress update but no-one has answered yet.I beliveve the last update was something I read this past winter about it being done by this summer. It is not, but, you can actually go to Machens and ride back toward Saint Charles I just don't know how far.

The trail ends at Blanchette Landing ---- it is abou

ooppppp ----- hit the wrong key ----- let me try again ---the Katy Trail goes to Blanchette Landing ----about 2 miles from Frontier Park ------- there is a parking lot there and rest rooms ----- the Trail then goes to DuSable Park about a mile from there then to Machens is completed in spots but not totally complete ---- there is river flooding problems along that stretch ----the corp of engineering is working on it

We frequent the parking lot at the Dutzow trailhead.There are several large pot holes, some at least 12" deep and have been there for years. Is DNR responsible for the upkeep of that lot? It is hard on vehicles as well as bikes and looks horrible as the holes are usually full of water.

I agree on the Dutzow parking lot, and I would assume that maintenance is DNR's responsibility. On the other hand, I rode from Weldon Springs to Hermann and back the other day on a 90 mile round trip and the trail itself was in as good of shape as I have seen it in years.

i want to know why the state will not allow any kind of motorized bicycles on the katy trail, this is a very enjoyable hobby and they wont let us on the trail because we have an engine attached even if it is turned off , its just a gravel surface and these newer two strokes dont smoke hardly at all and some of them use a 4 stroke they will let me on if i have an electric wheelchair or an electric bicycle there are cougars and bears on this trail (conservation dept. doesnt want people to know) but some areas are very primative i myself want to be able to kick it and get away from any possible harm

Every time I'm on the trail and see the cougars and bears coming towards me I kick it and pedal like a MoFo it's a great physical workout it pumps alot of oxygen to the brain try it.

No Way.



Also, remember that Bigfoot is also quite common in Missouri but the conservation

department does not want you to know that either. They are secretely buying them from

the russians and turning them loose in Henry County where they head east down the trail.

They are known to sprinkle thorns down the trail that cause punctures. So next time your

standing along the side of the trail fixing your flat just remember that bigfoot is nearby.

Just dont call the MDC because those jerks will just lie about it.

"I want to know why the state will not allow any kind of motorized bicycles on the katy trail"



Good! That makes me very happy. You want to ride a motorized vehicle, go on the street. The trail is the one place I can go without worrying about being run down by a motorized vehicle. I'm more concerned about the motorized vehicles then I am about the bears.



I used to live in New Hampshire and there were families of bears behind my house. Your that concerned bring a little starters pistol(cap gun- not real gun) and when they hear it, they run.

You could also bring some mace. They supposedly make a special kind for dogs and bears, but I think it is all the same stuff. Sasquatches are very intelligient, they will not be frightened by a cap gun. You will need the mace for them.

Lions, tigers and bears, OH MY!



Everyone knows the conservation department is secretly developing mutant cougars and bears and releasing them along the trail. These mutants have a specialized keen sense of smell that allow them to seek out those two strokes engines that hardly produce any smoke at all. That must be why Doug has seen so many of them; whereas all the rest of us trail users have not seen them at all.



I can't tell you all what the aliens from the planet Zoloft are planning due to national security concerns, suffice it to say it would cause you to fill your shorts.

Filled shorts! OH MY!!!

We don't want no stink'n motor anything on the trail..

Actually Doug if you are a Missouri resident you can get a permit to carry a gun on your

person and then you can enjoy the trail in peace knowing that if the .

000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

000000000000000000000000008% chance that a bear attacks you could shoot it.



I think you could also ride a motorized bicycle and just shut the motor off when you are

approaching another cyclists. I just rode from Columbia to Clinton (105 miles) the other day

and did not see another cyclists so I doubt anyone would know or care.

Last time I rode the Katy I ran into the dreaded Man-Bear Cougar. He's half man, half bear and half cougar.

When we rode the annual DNS ride a few years ago, we discussed this topic, with one of the rangers, and here's what he told us.



Whenever they hear about a vehicle that's gone around the barriers, they try to get down there and find them, and get them off the trail. Motorized vehicles do more damage to the trail bed than non-motorized. The DNS already has to reapply gravel to the trail several times a year.



Another reason they don't want motorized vehicles is that there are portions of the trail that aren't as safe as others, especially after dark, where they've had to run off some troublemakers (drugs, public lewdness, and stuff like that). That's also why they have a curfew on the trail. If they allowed the motorized vehicles, then the troublemakers would ride them too, and they'd really be tearing up the trail, and could also get away easier if they were committing crimes along the trail.



The only motorized vehicles that are allowed are those owned by the DNS, which are used to maintain the trail, and enforce the laws.

We need to put a stop to these silly rumurs that there are cougars and bears on the Katy trail. It just isn't true. Please stop cluttering these forums up with your silliness and keep thing legit. Let me say it again. THERE ARE NO BEARS OR COUGARS ON THE KATY TRAIL! Everyone knows that all the bears and cougars were run off by bigfoot a long time ago.

A thread from 2007? Cougars do exist on the trail. Be nice to them one just might bring you home.

I have ridden the Katy Trail two years in a row and really enjoyed it but want to experience a new trail. I am heading north to the Black Hills in South Dakota over the Labor Day weekend and wanted to know if anyone had ridden the Mickelson Trail? Planning on riding the 109 mile trail from north to south over 2 days. Any advice or tips ahead of time would be greatly apprectiated. Thanks!!!

Don't have any tips or advice, but we plan to do the Mickelson Trail next year. I don't think it is as flat or smooth as the Katy, so we will prolly plan for 3 days North to South. Haven't figured out likely stopping/lodging spots yet. I do believe there are a couple of shuttle services operating though.

The trail surface is similar to the Katy, but there are long grades of several miles....not unbearable, but not like the Katy either. The landscape is very beautiful, especially Hill City and north with several tunnels to cool down in. The Alpine Inn is a good place to eat in Hill City....very affordable filet mignon.

I'm considering setting a goal of riding 400 hundred miles in the month of September on the Katy Trail. I LOVE my bike and I LOVE the trail.

Wish me luck.

Way to go! Get out there and do it! If you ride in the Bluffton area and want someone to talk to give me a shout. I'll ride along. Maybe some other folks might want to join you at different areas to make the ride more fun too.

Good Luck!! You are so lucky to live so close to the trail. I rode from St. Charles to Augusta and back and plan to ride from Augusta to Herman on my next trip to the Katy!! I have set a personal goal of 2000 miles for the year I am almost there less than 500 miles to go!! Good Luck!

Wow 2000 EXCELLENT! I live 5 miles North of Marthasville and ride the Katy almost every day. Doug gave me an idea that I could do the 400 miles on different parts of the trail NOT just the parts I'm use to...I'm thinking that would be really exciting and fun!



I'm glad the weather has gotten cooler for the next couple of days :-)

So I've been on the Katy on a race frame road bike and on a trail

bike. Recently I've begun riding a Trek Soho S with a flip-flop hub

(44-17). It's single speed on one side and a fixed gear on the other.

It has 700x28 tires. Has anyone had experience riding fixie on the

trail? Any reason to think twice about tackling that? My experience on

the Katy is limited to the Columbia-Boonville section, but I am

thinking about stretching my route out a bit, starting from St. Louis,

going to Columbia one day and then on to Boonville the next. I ride

hills and distance a fair bit fixed here in Kentucky and Southern

Indiana.

There is no problem riding the Katy with flip-flop hubs. I've done the entire trail end-to-end several times with both fixed gear and single speed. Also, I ride 700x25 tires. Since I live at the end of the trail I've done over several thousand miles with this bike on the trail, and love it!

I ride single speed alot on the trail and fixed from time to time. I think it is a great way to go especially since most people don't shift alot on the katy any how. It is low maintenance and quiet too.

That being said I thought I would try something for fun. I recently had a bike built for me that uses a internally geared hub. This means that that all the gears are inside the hub. They made 3 speed sturmey archer hubs for many years and they are bulletproof. Mine is one of the newer "red band" 9 speed hubs. This gives me the quiet dependable single speed type ride with a few extra gears if I go off trail for some hills. The bike is a surley crosscheck with fenders and mustache bars. I have not ridden it enough to know if I like it but felt it might be nice for some longer touring/camping type rides as this frame is rigged for loaded touring.Time will tell.

Enjoy your fixed gear on the trail , you can't go wrong!

Stopped here for lunch on July 21 on day two of a four day ride. Great service and food, even was able to plug in my smartphone for a quick carge while eating. They even offered to fill my water bottles with ice water.

Stopped here for lunch on July 21 on day two of a four day ride. Great service and food, even was able to plug in my smartphone for a quick carge while eating. They even offered to fill my water bottles with ice water.

where was it?

where was it?

http://mindfulcycling.com/post/891156665/safety
Helpful hints for a safe and fun time on the trail.

Excellent article - not just for the Katy trail but for the trails here in Overland Park. I can't begin to count the number of times that I've had to slam on my brakes because people just stop in the middle of the trail. On comment that I could add is that sometimes it's better not to call out "your left"...especially with kids. When you do, they tend to look, and then turn that direction, which causes more problems than just riding by them (assuming they are on the right side of the trail where they belong).

Thanks for the return comments. Let's just hope everyone has a safe and happy riding season.

When passing smaller kids, I usually call out that I'm coming around you on my bike. Saying on your left confuses them, especially if they don't know left from right.

Wife and I stopped here for some refreshments - wonderfully place. The restrooms were very clean and had AC which was welcomed on a hot day.