First Time Ride
- + What would folks recommend for a first time ride? My mother has always wanted to ride the trail. So it will be my mom, wife, and myself. I have a year of road bikin under me but the women folk are ...
Discussion started 03/12/2007 08:51 PM by Mike - 3 replies (last reply by Norm at 03/14/2007 09:43 PM)Mike from Dallas on 03/12/2007 08:51 PM
What would folks recommend for a first time ride? My mother has always wanted to ride the trail. So it will be my mom, wife, and myself. I have a year of road bikin under me but the women folk are not big cyclists. Since we are flying in from St. Louis and mom will meet us there can you give us ideas?
Cliff from Edwardsville Kansas on 03/13/2007 11:47 AM
I would recommend the Rocheport area. I know it's a long drive from St. Louis but definetly worth it. You could ride east along the bluffs and river, I think it is the most scenic ride on the trail. The trail is flat and very easy to ride. Last fall we rode from Rocheport to Hartsburg {28 miles} which would be a nice ride for first time trail riders. We stayed at the Hartsburg Inn, nothing fancy but very clean and nice. We ate at the Summit Hill Winery and Dotties Cafe, both places were very good. You could go on east or ride back to Rocheport. The Katy Trail Bed and Breakfst was very nice in Rocheport and I would recommend the Rocheport General Store for a meal. If you ride on east I would suggest Herman. The people that own the Bike shop in Herman also own a Bed and Breakfst called the Secret Vine and they would come and pick you up on the west side of the bridge in Herman. I hope this helps. Have a great ride!
missouri on 03/13/2007 12:59 PM
mike from dallas, pretty much what cliff, from edwardsville, kansas said. don't forget the rocheport tunnel that is a must. defiance to augusta is a nice ride also and not quite as far as rocheport from st. louis, and with some nice rest stops in between. though not quite as scenic, it is still a nice ride, with snack shops on both ends. also there are some b & b's in augusta i believe. any which way, have fun.
Norm from Raymore, MO on 03/14/2007 09:43 PM
I agree with the Rocheport area for a first ride. At about age 56, when I took my first ride 15 years ago I rode from Rocheport to Jefferson City (about 35 miles). It turned out to be more than I had expected and I was really exhausted when I met my wife at the end. Since then I have taken shorter trips and enjoyed them more, taking pictures and just enjoying the outdoors. I've also learned to turn around and head back BEFORE I start getting tired. Enjoy the Katy Trail!
St. Charles to Clinton or Clinton to St. Charles? Which one?
- + I'm thinking about riding the full trail this year and was thinking were I should start. Is there one direction that would be easier with more downhill grades and maybe less wind (I was thinking the ...
Discussion started 03/11/2007 08:56 PM by KJK - 7 replies (last reply by dale at 03/14/2007 12:18 PM)KJK from Kansas City, MO on 03/11/2007 08:56 PM
I'm thinking about riding the full trail this year and was thinking were I should start. Is there one direction that would be easier with more downhill grades and maybe less wind (I was thinking the wind would generally go west to east, but it might not even matter since it would be so random). Also what are some less obvious things I should bring that I would not be thinking about. I do not plan on camping, but staying at hotels. Thanks for your help.
Jason from Huntsville, AL on 03/12/2007 09:40 AM
We rode the trail in October last year from west to east. In general, I think that this is the easiest direction to go. As you know from being a cyclist, you never know which way the wind is going to blow and it seems like you always have a head wind. We did encounter a strong headwind several days, but it did help to cool things off. I think that either direction is fine...there is hardly any elevation change at all. As for what to bring...of course plenty of water and snacks, extra tubes and a pump/Co2 inflator, sunscreen, and a good camera. Have a blast...you will love it!
Anonymous on 03/12/2007 11:35 AM
There are some long slow grades on the western end..definately not hills...just long low grades that go on for a mile or two. For me, I like to get them done first (OK, I'm over 50 and when fully loaded, to me they are tiring..maybe it's more a mental thing as they seem to go on forever). I have found that most riders under 50 don't even mention them, and maybe only 1/3 of the riders over 50 agree with me. Guess it's what you're used to. Once you reach Boonville and continue east, it truly does become FLAT except accasional little bumps over roads/levys. I've done the trail 3 times and have gone west to east each time. Jason covered most essentials. Definately bring spare tubes and a pump/CO2. Watch for the viney things that tend to trail over the surface of the trail in spots as they do have thorns. A camera is also a must. On the western end, all trailheads have drinking water avail except for Clifton City. On the Eastern half, you have to be careful as all trailheads do not have water (although you can usually find water/soda if you check out local establishments). There was a thread on this board last fall re which trailheads had water avail.
Have fun!
Trek Biker from St. Joseph, MO on 03/12/2007 11:49 AM
There is a rather long gradual incline from Pilot Grove to Boonville which ends with a nice decline on Lard Hill to the trailhead. Nothing major…..but just enough to know that it’s there.
sbikes from Kansas City on 03/12/2007 07:37 PM
And, you know that there really aren't "hotels" most places along the Trail? Plan ahead with
some reservations where you plan to spend the night or you may find yourself "camping"
without intending to do so! Sharon
Arkie from Fort Smith on 03/12/2007 08:45 PM
I did the trail from west to east last October and had a grand time. I stayed in hotels in Clinton (Hampton Inn), Sedalia (Best Western), Boonville (Holiday Inn Express), Columbia (Holiday Inn Select), and B & B's in Jeff City, Hermann and Augusta.
GC from Columbia, Mo. on 03/13/2007 07:25 AM
The Hotel Frederick in Boonville should be open sometime this spring, and definitely should be up and running this summer. With Glenn's Cafe located in the lobby, this should be a premier stop on the trail.
dale from springfield, mo on 03/14/2007 12:18 PM
i've ridden the trail both directions. AND I rode it during the hottest week of the year alone, fully intending and planned to campout. it was glorious and marvelous. ok ok, the heat wasn't but the trail either direction was great. watch out for those ruts that naturally occur in a trail. Either direction was fine as far as i was concerned but then i'm an avid cyclist riding about 3000 miles a year. Plan for the worst but don't dwell on it. enjoy the sites and sounds of the trail.
Safety on Trail
- + i was riding down there on the katy trail just out side of windsor and noticed that the cross arms that are up had no reflectors on them is this just a issue that i am having or has anyone else seen t...
Discussion started 03/13/2007 08:14 PM by chris jeffers - 3 replies (last reply by sbikes at 03/13/2007 09:39 PM)chris jeffers from gladstone mo on 03/13/2007 08:14 PM
i was riding down there on the katy trail just out side of windsor and noticed that the cross arms that are up had no reflectors on them is this just a issue that i am having or has anyone else seen this, just a question, also has anyone heard any updated news on the booneville bridge drop me a line and let me know please, im riding it in september
Nails on 03/13/2007 09:06 PM
Why would the State put reflectors on the cross arms when the State has dictated that the park is closed at night?
chris jeffers from gladstone mo on 03/13/2007 09:16 PM
what if you were riding early in the morning and there was fog, i was just curious.
sbikes from Kansas City on 03/13/2007 09:39 PM
Reflectors work by, well, reflecting light...most folks don't ride with the bike light on except
when it is dark and the park hours are only during daylight hours so, even if there were fog,
the reflectors would be of no help. Plus, if the fog is so heavy you can't see the gate, then
maybe its not such a good idea to be riding as there may be other obstacles on the trail like
deer, other bikers, road debris, etc.. Last I heard there is no resolution on the Booneville
bridge and so I would expect it to be the same in September as it is now...Sharon, also from
Gladstone.
Glenn's Cafe at the Frederick (Boonville)
- + Great Prime Rib, Great Chicken fried steak. Yum Yum...... Thanks Steve for a great meal !
Discussion started 03/13/2007 01:01 AM by Tony T - 0 repliesTony T on 03/13/2007 01:01 AM
Great Prime Rib, Great Chicken fried steak. Yum Yum...... Thanks Steve for a great meal !
Tony T on 03/13/2007 01:01 AM
Great Prime Rib, Great Chicken fried steak. Yum Yum...... Thanks Steve for a great meal !