Katy Trail Forum

I will be riding the trail west to east in a few weeks. Does anyone know if there was any

more progress on this portion of the trail? I noticed someone had remarked about it being

ridable in April but you had to deal with a grass surface(sometimes damp).

Read down a few ya'll.....this question comes up again and again and again. Was on here a few posts back. Perhaps use the search button top right and search Machens or something like that.

Hi Eric - Day 2 from Sedalia to Rocheport was incredible! Will let you know more about Machens after Thurs. Let us know if you need anything during your ride next week - dregan@slcbb.org

Has anyone ever run the entire Katy from end to end? Am interested in trying this any tips would be helpful.

Try this post from this summer...



http://www.bikekatytrail.com/talk.aspx?thid=2996¬efmt=1&sortby=0&pg=3

Check the info in the following post...



http://www.bikekatytrail.com/talk.aspx?thid=2997¬efmt=1&sortby=0&pg=5

We are coming to St. Louis September 20th through the 23rd and would like to extrend our stay with an overnighter on the Katy trail starting at St. Charles. Can anyone tell me if the is a secure place in St. Charles to leave a vehicle for the night? By the way Ohio, where we live, has an incredible number of bike trails and many of them are paved.

The City of St. Charles will allow you to park your car in the city-owned lot at the trailhead. Call the police department and inform them and they will take note of the car. Very gracious and cooperative.

I recently moved close to the KT Trail and would like to start riding. I'm in need of a new bike but am unfamiliar with the best brands, style, etc. (haven't had a bike since my childhood days). Any recommendations?

Most any brand from a reputable bike shop would be recommended. Target, WalMart, and Dick's don't qualify as bike shops. Probably the best all around trail bike is a hybrid.

I agree with Trek, even the best bike at Wal-Mart has lower than low-end shifters and breaks. Plus, they assemble them about like McDonnalds makes hamburgers. This time of year you should be able to buy a Giant Cyprus for around $300. I purchased mine in 1998. It now has 30,000 miles on it. I haven't spent a dime on it other than tires & tubes. Another way to go is a recumbent. It is more comfortable, you can see better, great for the Katy. The only downside is the price, $1500 on up. You don't need a mountain bike for the Katy.

A cross bike is also a good way to go if you are only going to have one bike. Wide tires for the trail and narrow for the road. Don't be afraid to check used bikes either. There are lots of people in the area upgrading or just tired of what they have, all the time. For this it might be best to enlist the aid of someone with more bike experience, but a lot of the sellers are regular riders and helpful. Also check with Paul at Recycled Cycles in St.Louis. He deals in quality used bikes and is very knowledgeable. Expect to pay a minimum of $300 for a decent used bike. You can often find a bike that costs $6-700 new for that though and may have almost no use. Beware of the bike that costs $1500 new selling for $200. Either it's shot or hot.

Since you haven't ridden for years, I recommend going to a bike shop as they can help you "fit" your bike. If you aren't comfortable riding the bike, it doesn't matter how great a bike it is. When I got back into riding several years ago, I went with a Comfort bike. Then a couple years later I traded that bike in for a "trail" bike (Specialized Globe), as I wasn't really comfortable riding the "Comfort" bike anymore with it's tall handlebars. So, it's very important to get the bike that fits you. We are in the KC area and really like the guys at the Bike Stop in Lee's Summit, but there are lots of great shops out there that will help you find a bike to fit you.

May I suggest that you visit one of the many bike shops near the Katy and rent a bike for a couple of hours. Ride the trail and see if you like it. The shop owner may be able to steer you in the right direction as to what style of bike would be right for you. Then shop around for the best deal. When I was looking for a new bike several years ago, I had two bikes in mind; a Giant Boulder and a Trek 3700. Both bikes were comparable in gearing, comfort and price. The selling point that made the sale was that the shop selling the Trek including free tune ups for the life of the bike. Now, after a weekend ride, I just drop off the bike at the shop and pick it up a couple of days later after it's been serviced.

Free tune ups are worth a lot…..to both the consumer and the shop owner. Always shop at the store where you’re taken care of!



I bought a new bike in 03 and was commuting to Olathe, Kansas at the time from St. Joseph, MO. I looked at the shops in the Olathe area and then decided to spend my dollars with the local shop at home. You know….it’s the right thing to do. When I asked about the free lifetime tune ups I was told that NOBODY did that. We discussed it for a bit and I was made out to look like a fool. I didn’t run a bike shop so I couldn’t know what I was talking about. I returned to the store a few days later with a full page add from the KC Star that a shop in Olathe had just run with mention of…….free lifetime tune ups.



I gave in….bought the bike at home….couldn’t talk them into lifetime service and ultimately quit buying anything from them. Today they are out of business…..the internet hurt their sales was what I heard….go figure. When time came for Ms. Trek to trade bikes…..from the Comfort to the Hybrid we went to a local shop in a northern KC burb. (There is no comfort in riding a Comfort bike on the trails, limestone or paved….I’ve yet to realize why Trek Corp wastes their effort on producing a comfort bike. Oh I do know….the Comfort bike is grand if you’re going to max out at 2 miles….when you get beyond the 2 mile mark you’ve just wasted your money on a moniker.)



She gets free tune ups/service from the burb shop because she bought there…..I get work done usually at a very good rate. We buy what we can from them and appreciate their attitude and expertise. We haul both of the Trek hybrid half bikes and the Santana longbike to this shop. Other than myself, they are the only others qualified to service the longbike. They earned that right not only by their expertise, but by their honesty.



Yes bike shops will “give you free lifetime service” because they want you in their store when you do the drop and pickup.

On my most recent trip on the Katy this summer, since i'm not from MO, I bought a nice hybrid bike off of craigslist from a student at WashU in the St. Louis area versus taking my bike onto a plane like I've done in the past. I paid $125 for a great Specialized Crossroads bike and spent another $150 in bike accessories and parts including tubes, bike rack, lights, etc. I'm not sure what these bike retail for but given the components it was a bargain. I left it with my son so next time all I need to do is fly there. I had to contact 6 sellers before I found this one - so it's not like walking into REI or some bike shop to check out which model catches your fancy.

For the trail stick with a Trek Hybrid, you can't go wrong. Shop the larger stores in a metropolitan area that offers a good selection of all models. You could go into a small shop and not know what you missed out on because the owner only stocks a few bikes... I would buy up as much as I can.. Have the dealer show you his used bike selection. I would rather put my money in a used high end bike than a cheaper bike.. Always compare the bikes weight.

You mentioned getting a new bicycle. The previous advice from other riders is good

advice by staying with a bicycle shop. Two things you might consider: 1) join a local bicycle

club. 2) Don't be afraid to ask questions of other riders. Riders in clubs can help but don't

be intimidated by fast riders. New riders may be afraid to ask questions but you need to ask.

As in any sport, there are little things that make the sport easier. Make up you own mind

though because what works for one rider may not work for you.

I hope to ride the KT in late September but I have a road bike with 700C tires. It may not

be adequate for the Trail. Decide what you like to ride the most, then get that bike.

You can't go wrong by visiting the Hartsburg Cycle Depot in Jefferson City. Mark Allchorn builds and sells bikes and will fit the bike to you. He really goes out of his way to help new and old bikers. They used to be in Hartsburg but have a much nicer place in Jefferson city now.

I agree with those who recommend a hybrid for riding the Katy Trail. I have a Trek 7100 and it has been a great "first" bike bought from a local bike shop(LBS)instead of going to one of those other stores (that sell everything one could possibly want, from groceries to car services.) There are many advantages to getting to know the staff in the LBS and usually you will get some free service, adjustments, etc. for the first 6 months-year. The staff in the LBS are usually riders and they care about whether you are enjoying yourself and learning to be a better biker.

It is recommended to clean bike chains. Does this mean the full scale cleaning of the chain or wiping it down and lube it? And if it means lube it, with what?

Thanks

Yes to all of the above.....and it seems that chain lube is a matter of personal preference. If you think about it, a chain is a series of small parts connected by little pins so all the parts can pivot about the one next to it. Why would you not want to keep those parts clean and well lubed?



A clean and well lubed chain is quiet, makes shifting easier, and prevents costly repairs. I clean the bike chain by wiping if off and by using a chain cleaner with degreaser....with regularity. The Katy can be dusty so the chains are cleaned after each ride on it or similar trails. On long rides I clean the chain and relube along the way.



There have been lengthy discussions here on what is the best lube to use. I use Ice Wax but there are many kinds on the market. Google "Sheldon Brown chail lube" for a good article on the subject.

Degrease 2x per year unless you are constantly riding in wet conditions, your chain really needs to be nicely lubed and while a nice shiny chain LOOKS nice the performance can be poor.



For KT riding I would say the Ice wax is good. Make sure to apply it the night before your ride, or at least 1 or 2 hours before or it will come right off.

Twice a year doesn't seem very often, but it may be ticket. I'd rather degrease when it needs it and not be on a time frame. Thats quite typical though.....we've all been told to change our car oil by the miles logged and not when the oil is dirty and actually needs changed.

I'm confused here. Are you experienced folks suggestiong we thoroughly clean/degrease our chains every night on a 5-6 day ride or degrease perhaps in prep for the trip then wipe clean and re apply ice wax or other product each night.

Thanks

I'd say wipe the chain down at the end of the day and apply a little of your favorite lube. When you finally get home you may want to clean the chain more thoroughly. As well as the rest of your bike.

Are there shuttle services available along the Katy trail that will transport luggage only from one location to another? We want to plan a multiple day trip, but don't want to have to carry all our belongings along the way.

I believe shuttle services along Katy trail would drop you off to start your ride or would pick you up after your ride (advanced reservation required, of course). Some have a fixed run schedule as listed on "Shuttle Ride" link of this website. I think you want supported ride which is not what the shuttle services would do. Try Independent tourist who is advertising on this website. MO dept of Natural Resources (DNR) hosts supported tour once a year in the month of June. Its website is at katytrailstatepark.com

I was on the trail last week and used the shuttle run by Katy Bike Rental in Defiance. They were easy to deal with and very cooperative so you might want to check them out. Call Tod at 314-578-7300. I found them on the Share a Shuttle page on this web site.

I wonder how this would work? Timing of leaving your luggage could be an issue, and they would probably have to charge just like they were doing a regular shuttle, don't you think?

If you have your trip planned out so you know where you will be staying, one option would be to ship a portion of your belongings to you in care of the B&B or hotel. This should be arranged with the management of course to see if it is do-able. Once you arrive, you could then ship some of your "used" belongings to your home address.

Correct me if I am wrong, but doesn’t the DNR sponsored Katy trail ride in June limit you to one bag of “luggage” per person?



I went one year and stayed in hotels, so no big deal. However, if I wanted to camp, I am not sure I really want to stuff all my things in one bag considering that my camping gear may be dirty/soaked.

"Correct me if I am wrong, but doesn’t the DNR sponsored Katy trail ride in June limit you to one bag of “luggage” per person? "



The year I did the ride (2007) I brought along a large duffel bag with most of my stuff and carried one pannier on my bike with things I might need on the trail, such as fresh socks, sunblock, first-aid, snacks, and tool/patch kit. I camped out and didn't have any problem packing my camping stuff in the duffel and picking it up again at the end of the day.

The annual DNR-sponsored Katy Trail ride in June allows you to bring two 50-lb. bags of luggage. I've ridden the ride twice and was successfully able to shove all my gear and one-man tent into two duffel bags. I'm pretty sure they both weighed 50 lbs apiece at the beginning of the ride. They seemed heavier towards the end of the ride. :)

"Correct me if I am wrong, but doesn’t the DNR sponsored Katy trail ride in June limit you to one bag of “luggage” per person? "



How does this relate to the original poster's question? He doesn't say that he's doing the DNR ride, just wants to shuttle some luggage

to avoid carrying it all.

Gary, if you read the second post, somebody mentions the DNR ride and the fact that they shuttle luggage for you. I thought it relevant was the fact they limit luggage (as it turns out to 2 bags, not one), and if the original poster was interested in that ride, they may want to consider that.

On Sept 11th there will be a structured ride from the Katy Depot to the Tour of Missouri

Time Trials at the Fairgrounds. The ride will be led by a group of local high wheelers and

there is a pep rally to kick things off with a vintage Bike Display here at the Depot. Once you

get to the fairgrounds there is a secure bike lock up for Bikes while you watch the Time Trails

of The Tour of Missouri. There is Tour Bound shirts, water and bike lock up included in the

registration. For more info go to www.katydepotsedalia.com. Hope to see you here in Sedalia

on the 11th.