Paved or gravel???
- + I am heading up to Clinton around the end of May to ride from there to St. Charles. Is the trail all Road Bike Do-able? I only have road and trail bike (no hybrid). I would much rather bring the ro...
Discussion started 03/07/2010 03:35 PM by Keith - 5 replies (last reply by cunninghamair at 03/10/2010 01:25 PM)Keith from Dallas on 03/07/2010 03:35 PM
I am heading up to Clinton around the end of May to ride from there to St. Charles. Is the trail all Road Bike Do-able? I only have road and trail bike (no hybrid). I would much rather bring the road bike as long as the Trail is ok for it. Please advise. Thank you all:-)
Anonymous on 03/07/2010 05:34 PM
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Subject: Using 25x700c racing bike tires in June
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A small group of us are cycling cross country from CA to VA with a support vehicle and thought we would hop on the Katy Trail on our way east. We are planning to use Carbon Fibre racing bikes with 23 or 25x 700c tires. Is that going to work on the trail surface? If not are the parts of the trail we can do and use normal roads elsewhere. Any info would be most welcome. Thanks!
- posted 3/6/2010 12:49:23 PM by Mike , Edinburgh, Scotland
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You should have no problem unless there is a lot of rain. If the trail is wet, you may sink in a little and you will definately have to clean your bike chain after. But the scenery and peacefulness of the trail will be worth it.
- posted 3/6/2010 8:22:41 PM by Chris J , Centralia, IL
Anonymous on 03/08/2010 10:46 PM
For what it's worth - my experience totally supports Chris' advise. You
won't have a problem.
Doug from Bluffton on 03/09/2010 08:57 PM
If you boys can ride cobble stones the trail should seem like a ferry boat ride to you.
Doug from Bluffton on 03/09/2010 09:00 PM
By the way, Are there any Gassoway's in your group?
cunninghamair from O''Fallon, MO on 03/10/2010 01:25 PM
We ride the Katy on road bikes with 23's without a problem. There is the occasional rut,
tree branch or loose gravel to keep an eye out for but that's it. We do carry extra tubes
and tie-wrap a spare tire to the frame for longer rides. The bike shops are few and far
between nowadays.
Google Map now Includes Bicycle under "Get Directions" Drop down
- + Just came across this today. If you go to google map "get Directions" and put in start - end destinations they have a new option under the drop down for bicycles. It wasn’t there yesterday.
Pretty ...
Discussion started 03/10/2010 11:59 AM by Jim - 0 repliesJim from Denver, Co on 03/10/2010 11:59 AM
Just came across this today. If you go to google map "get Directions" and put in start - end destinations they have a new option under the drop down for bicycles. It wasn’t there yesterday.
Pretty cool...
Which section would you ride if you only had 120 miles
- + We are planning a long weekend ride in late May . Having only 2 and half days to ride and leaving and returning to the same point . From your past experience what section would you ride and where wo...
Discussion started 03/07/2010 02:20 PM by Bob Velocity - 2 replies (last reply by Doug at 03/09/2010 08:52 PM)Bob Velocity from Brownsburg on 03/07/2010 02:20 PM
We are planning a long weekend ride in late May . Having only 2 and half days to ride and leaving and returning to the same point . From your past experience what section would you ride and where would you camp ?
Anonymous on 03/08/2010 10:48 PM
Not sure how to answer the question completely, as I've never camped on
the KATY. I have ridden it on numerous occasions and I would - for sure
- include the 25 miles from Rocheport to Hartsburg in my ride. I think
it is a really pretty stretch.
Doug from Bluffton on 03/09/2010 08:52 PM
AS much as I'd like to have you stay here and ride, with the river and the bluffs right beside you, there are tons of other choices. One of my personal favorites would be to stay at Klondike Park and ride into St.Charles one day and sight see and eat there and then the next day ride west to experience the small town aspect of the trail. Great camping at the park and all the services you'd need during the day. Of course if you camped in New Franklin you could ride west through Boonville and do the slight climb to Pilot Grove and beyond one day and then the next, ride to Rocheport or further and back. Beautiful scenery and services there as well.
Boonville
- + FREE WiFi at Copies Etc. Corner of Main and Morgan one block from the Boonville bridge/trail. Have a Great Biking season.
Discussion started 03/09/2010 08:12 PM by Copies Etc - 0 repliesCopies Etc from Boonville on 03/09/2010 08:12 PM
FREE WiFi at Copies Etc. Corner of Main and Morgan one block from the Boonville bridge/trail. Have a Great Biking season.
Show Me MO Tours Shuttle (St Charles)
- + I plan to hike the Katy trail this spring. Do you pick up at the Amtrak station & deliver to St Charles trailhead? If so, what is the charge? Is their a train stop in St Charles or just downtown St Lo...
Discussion started 03/08/2010 12:21 PM by CR - 1 reply (last reply by Rhona Lococo at 03/09/2010 10:26 AM)CR from KC on 03/08/2010 12:21 PM
I plan to hike the Katy trail this spring. Do you pick up at the Amtrak station & deliver to St Charles trailhead? If so, what is the charge? Is their a train stop in St Charles or just downtown St Louis?
Thanks
CR from KC on 03/08/2010 12:21 PM
I plan to hike the Katy trail this spring. Do you pick up at the Amtrak station & deliver to St Charles trailhead? If so, what is the charge? Is their a train stop in St Charles or just downtown St Louis?
Thanks
Rhona Lococo from St Charles on 03/09/2010 10:26 AM
we pick up from St.Louis or Kirkwood and take you to Katy Trail call for details----- Lococo House III, Bed and Breakfast 636-946-0619
Rhona Lococo from St Charles on 03/09/2010 10:26 AM
we pick up from St.Louis or Kirkwood and take you to Katy Trail call for details----- Lococo House III, Bed and Breakfast 636-946-0619
April Showers and Nobby Tires
- + Hi All,
I'm planning an end to end trip on the KATY the first week of April. I've planned for, and expect to do, some riding in the rain on the trip. Presently I've got 35mm nobby tires on my...
Discussion started 02/27/2010 04:49 AM by John - 7 replies (last reply by anonymous at 03/08/2010 10:43 PM)John from East Jordan on 02/27/2010 04:49 AM
Hi All,
I'm planning an end to end trip on the KATY the first week of April. I've planned for, and expect to do, some riding in the rain on the trip. Presently I've got 35mm nobby tires on my bike. They have worked very well on the crushed limestone trails here in Michigan. However, I've never ridden in the rain with them. Recently, on other forums, it's been suggested that nobbies on the KATY would be miserable when ridden in the rain.
There are probably trade offs, but for those of you with experience on the KATY, would the nobbies be a problem, or should I change them? I've got a good set of 32mm slicks that I could use, or, I can just buy some other, more appropriate, tires.
Thanks,
John
jd from gkc on 02/27/2010 01:52 PM
Your slicks will work. Many of the trail bikes here are fitted with cruising tires for their width not their grip. If you expect to ride in the rain, you might consider mudflaps as well. This limestone mud sticks to the bike, gears, brakes, and rider fairly good. :) But it washes of easily.
John from East Jordan on 02/27/2010 03:32 PM
Thanks,
As part of outfitting my bike, I've already added fenders (mudflaps). Thanks for the suggestions.
John
Trek on 03/01/2010 11:28 AM
If you ride in the rain and the trail is wet....the limestone mud that jd mentioned, to me is a bigger issue than tire type. It seems to sling itself on the chain, gears, rims, etc. Every time you pull the brakes on you'll be reminded that there is grit between the rim and the brake pad.
I know that there are times that you may not have a choice, but after a Century attempt in the rain a few years ago....I'll stay off the Katy in rain and save my gear the wear.
The Dalton Boys from Austin, Texas on 03/07/2010 09:12 PM
John - If you've ridden the White Pine Rail/Trail end to end (especially the last stretch into
Cadillac, MI), you'll be able to deal with anything the Katy can dish out. Been there, done
that. Mark of the Dalton Boys
Speedy on 03/08/2010 04:58 PM
Last year on the trail I got stuck in a downpour 7 miles from my car. I have 700x32 knobby tires on my bike and had no issues whatsoever.
I'm curious why someone would suggest slicks in the rain vs knobby tires? That would be like putting a set of racing slicks on a Jeep and going 4 wheeling in the mud - it makes absolutely no sense.
John from East Jordan on 03/08/2010 05:54 PM
Sounds like I pretty much can use whatever I want with differences of success. I'll probably just leave the nobbies on as I really like the comfortable ride I get with them. Dalton Boys, while I've not done the White Pine end to end, I have done the northern part by Cadillac. I would certainly use the nobbies, or better yet, my mountain bike for that.
Again, thanks for all the good advice.
John
Anonymous on 03/08/2010 10:43 PM
From my experience, you'll be fine with whatever you ride. I personally
like 28-32mm (cyclocross or "urban") tires.
Fishing spots along the trail
- + Planning on riding the Katy round trip from Clinton in May. Are there places to fish along the way. I would not mind side trips for good fishing. Particularly interested in fly fishing opportunities.<...
Discussion started 02/24/2010 06:38 PM by Dart - 2 replies (last reply by The Dalton Boys at 03/07/2010 09:18 PM)Dart from Flower Mound, Texas on 02/24/2010 06:38 PM
Planning on riding the Katy round trip from Clinton in May. Are there places to fish along the way. I would not mind side trips for good fishing. Particularly interested in fly fishing opportunities.
thanks,
Trek on 02/24/2010 09:50 PM
Hey Dart....probably the best fly fishing in Missouri would be in or around any of the state trout parks. Coming up from Texas, Roaring Rivers east of Joplin might be a good place to stop on your way to or from the Katy. Also, Bennett Springs west of Lebanon is between you and the Katy.
I've had good luck in both of these parks. The parks are good as well as in the stream just outside of the park. I seem to have better luck in the Niangua River just north of Bennett.
Check out the Missouri Departmen of Conservation website at: http://mdc.mo.gov/fish/sport/trout/
The Dalton Boys from Austin, Texas on 03/07/2010 09:18 PM
Dart....what Trek said, only the trout at Roaring River SP are part of a great hatchery system
and boy are they picky at what they even choose to nibble at. Worst part is the water's clear
and you can watch them evaluate your fly(s). May brother works for BassPro and is an avid
fisherman and that's what he said and I believe my brother. Mark of the Dalton Boys