Katy Trail Forum

Flying into KC on Tuesday evening 5/2, have a near-airport motel room where I plan to assemble the Bike Friday & trailer. WHAT is the best route to the western trailhead? My parameters in order of importance: shoulders, traffic, distance, grade. It can be done before dark in one day's ride, can't it? (70-80 miles max)



Information/opinions much appreciated. I have a highway map from AAA.

I suggest checking the modot.gov website (if that's not the right address, go to mo.gov

and follow the links to department of transportation) and they should have a link for bike

friendly routes in Missouri to get you from KC to Clinton. I will think on this. Also, I live

pretty close to the KC airport. If you would like, perhaps the webmaster could assist in us

exchanging e-mail addresses and I would be happy to "talk" off-forum..help you out with

any last minute details. I will think on this as well as a good route to get out of KC. You

might pick up a city map from AAA, as well, as you will be going from the far north side of

KC to the far south side. I don't have a map handy, but my thought is that getting out of

KC will be trickier than getting from south KC to Clinton.

Sharon

Try this link; it has links to Missouri maps with traffic counts, shoulder indications, etc: http://www.mobikefed.org/momaps.php

Man I dont know if you really want to ride that. Atleast through Kansas City. I would prolly call a cab or find a somebody that can get you to clinton or atleast southern KC. Traffic in Kansas City isn't that all that bike friendly. Atleast in my experience anyway.

I would definently not want to ride that unless you are really hard core a pretty brave. REALLY bad traffic and scary neighborhoods. I'd strongly suggest renting a vehicle and driving to and from the trail head in Clinton.

Sharron, Would it be possible to carry your trailer and baggage on to a city bus? Some of our buses have bike racks on the front of them. Go to www.kcata.org and look at the bike 'n bus info (I'm not familiar with Bike Friday's enough to say for certain they will fit on the racks). If this would be a possibility, look at the I-29 express (route #129X) and the Blue Ridge (route #28). They both have bike racks and that could get you from the airport to the south side of the city. From there I would take: Longview Rd east to Raytown Rd north to 109th St east (across the dam of Longview Lake) to View High Dr south to 3rd St east to highway 50 in Lee's Summit. Highway 50 has a LOT of traffic, but it has good shoulders and I have seen a brave cycle tourist on it before. The traffic volume drops off once you get out of Lee's Summit and again once you are east of MO Route 7. There are directions on this website to get from Warrensburg to the trail head in Clinton or you could continue on Highway 50 to Sedalia and start on the trail there. I would encourage you to take advantage of sbikes offer of assistance. I would be offering also, but I will be out of town.

Sharron,

I read an interesting "travelogue" by a couple that biked the trail a few years ago. They had a similar problem with getting to Clinton from St. Louis. I believe they rented a small U-Haul to travel one-way. Ray, I believe that was a link from this site. Any ideas?

Congratulations Ray!

And Thank You......for a great source of information for all of the present and potential Katy Trail users.

http://www.mobikefed.org/2006/04/bikekatytrailcom-receives-award.php

And a big thanks to all of you who add to the website by sharing your thoughts and expertise here on the forum. Thanks also to all who make the website possible by buying products, supporting the advertisers, providing comments and suggestions, and just using the website in general!

adding my congrats to the web site also award. you have done a great job with it, and am glad i found it, and enjoy the whole site. thanx ray.

Ray, this is a great site! It has helped me a ton. Congrats on the award.

Clint

And may I also add my hearty congratulations Ray...also appreciate your sometimes viewable "peacemaking" skills. Again, Thanks....Mark of the Dalton Boys

Congrats Ray!

I am a hiker, not a biker, but this is by far the best site on the trail. I just came off a short walk this morning, the trail and the weather is great right now in Central Mo! Everyone who can should hit the trail this weekend.

Hi! The cabooses look like a really interesting, fun place to stay! Do you have any pictures of the insides of them?

Tracy Cookson

Hi! The cabooses look like a really interesting, fun place to stay! Do you have any pictures of the insides of them?

Tracy Cookson

Hi! The cabooses look like a really interesting, fun place to stay! Do you have any pictures of the insides of them?

Tracy Cookson

Unforunately, I think Cruces Cabooses may have gone out of business. Their website is dead, and no one is returning phone calls from the last number I have for them. If anyone knows anything about Cruces Cabooses, please let us know whether they're still open for business.

Unforunately, I think Cruces Cabooses may have gone out of business. Their website is dead, and no one is returning phone calls from the last number I have for them. If anyone knows anything about Cruces Cabooses, please let us know whether they're still open for business.

Unforunately, I think Cruces Cabooses may have gone out of business. Their website is dead, and no one is returning phone calls from the last number I have for them. If anyone knows anything about Cruces Cabooses, please let us know whether they're still open for business.

I'm happy to report that Cruces Cabooses is still very much IN business. I spoke to the owner last night, and he says they've been having website problems, but you can still reach them by phone at 816-229-8389. This is definitely one of the most unique B&Bs around.


To answer Tracy's question: sorry, I do not have any photos other than the exterior photo showing the two train cars. Maybe there will be some on the Cruce's Cabooses website, whenever it's back up again.

I'm happy to report that Cruces Cabooses is still very much IN business. I spoke to the owner last night, and he says they've been having website problems, but you can still reach them by phone at 816-229-8389. This is definitely one of the most unique B&Bs around.


To answer Tracy's question: sorry, I do not have any photos other than the exterior photo showing the two train cars. Maybe there will be some on the Cruce's Cabooses website, whenever it's back up again.

I'm happy to report that Cruces Cabooses is still very much IN business. I spoke to the owner last night, and he says they've been having website problems, but you can still reach them by phone at 816-229-8389. This is definitely one of the most unique B&Bs around.


To answer Tracy's question: sorry, I do not have any photos other than the exterior photo showing the two train cars. Maybe there will be some on the Cruce's Cabooses website, whenever it's back up again.

Top notch service. We had the pleasure of meeting George on our westward leg and Todd

the next day on our way back east. A great Father-Son team. Friendliness must run in their

genes. This is a must stop. There is no hard sell here ... they don't have to, you will want to

give them your business. The service is great, the prices are the best going, and the smiles

are free.

Top notch service. We had the pleasure of meeting George on our westward leg and Todd

the next day on our way back east. A great Father-Son team. Friendliness must run in their

genes. This is a must stop. There is no hard sell here ... they don't have to, you will want to

give them your business. The service is great, the prices are the best going, and the smiles

are free.

I have to agree. These are some of the most friendly people that you will meet. They truly care about people. It is an ingredient that you need to have to be in that kind of busniness. I am from Moberly MO and did a ride on 2 different occasions. One being with my Mom and all my brothers and sisters. We all agreed that George and Todd are the greatest! Keep up the good work!

I have to agree. These are some of the most friendly people that you will meet. They truly care about people. It is an ingredient that you need to have to be in that kind of busniness. I am from Moberly MO and did a ride on 2 different occasions. One being with my Mom and all my brothers and sisters. We all agreed that George and Todd are the greatest! Keep up the good work!

Does anyone know of a place to camp (tenting) in Clinton? I will be riding into Clinton the night before and taking the shuttle out of Clinton. Thanks! Looking forward to the experience!

Call the Community Center in Clinton and ask if you can camp on their lawn. You might also

call the Chamber of Commerce and ask if there is a city park you can camp in. A few years

ago, they let me camp on the lawn of the Community Center which was nice because I could

use their showers and restroom facilities. There is a link to the Chamber on this site under

towns & services. Have a great time on the Trail! Sharon

Any really romantic restaurants/wineries/other on the route?

I'm certainly no authority on romance - I'm a fourty year old bachelor headed towards full curmudgeon status - but Les Bourgious Winery at Rocheport gets my vote.

http://www.missouriwine.com/home.htm

A friends sister had her wedding reception at the A-frame several years ago, before the bistro was built. Since they built the bistro it has become a popular for weddings.

This is not my area of expertise either...BUT, I have to agree with savage24...Les Bourgious

(sp?) in Rocheport gets my vote as a great choice. I have eaten there many times after riding

the trail (by myself mostly) but, the food is great, the service is excellent and it gets the

romantic vote...the view from the restuarant overlooking the river is fantastic.

Any of you guys seen "Six Days, Seven Nights"? While the Katy isn't an island, I think it applies..."if you don't bring it here, you won't find it here". I been married 28 years next month. Romance is not where you find it, it's where you take it. It can be Sonic or the fanciest french joint you can find. A picnic with some cheese, summer sausage and 5 dollar wine, or filet mignon in a candlelit bistro, don't matter. If you love your partner, make it special...every minute of the day. It took some time to learn this, and we almost hung it up a couple of times, but we kept trying, and we made it. Now, 2 kids, 1 grandchild and a several dogs and cats later, we still don't have it figured out. But we'll just keep trying to figure it out. That's what matters.

As a woman in her "late" 30's (or possibly early 40's) who hasn't found romance in the way

you have...but, my married friends all assure me it is out there...it is nice to hear success

stories! Thanks for sharing!



P.S. I still think the winery in Rocheport qualifies...candlelight, nice glass of wine, great food!

But, as I said in my earlier posting, what do I know?!!

Thanks Bryan - although a bachelor, the "re-grounding" was a pleasure to read...again thanks. Regards....Mark of the Dalton Boys

I've seen people finding romance along the Katy.....just barely off the trail even! And, I've seen em in their car at Sonic...prolly the same folks for all I know.



For me....I'll take my romance with me, order from the menu at Les Bourgeois along with a bottle of their Riverboat Red or White over a corndog any day of the week!



http://www.missouriwine.com/BlufftopBistro.htm



It's all good folks!

There are plenty of romantic spots to stop and have a good time at. Les Bougious is one, Summit Winery in Holts Summet near the N Jefferson trail head. Hartsburg has a winery and a couple of really neat resturaunts to eat at.



Best thing to do is decide where your going to start and just go until you find something. Just being on the trail with your loved one and sharing in that experience is going to be pretty romantic in itself.

Katfish Katy's is a charming neo-Victorian store right on the trail in Huntsdale with the friendliest proprietors you could ever hope for. We had the privilege of being their first campers of 2006! The proprietors opened the campground and store earlier in the season than scheduled and even restocked with things we wanted to eat! They also had goodies for kids and ours were particularly crazy about the glow sticks. We had a spacious site to park our 25-foot camper and conversion van, with a view of the river just over a small levy. There are electric and water hookups, and picnic tables for each RV site, and spotless showers and restrooms. We purchased wood at the store and they delivered it right to our site! Linda drove down Sunday afternoon as we were leaving to warn us of bad weather coming so we were able to leave a bit early to miss the worst of the storms. We really appreciated her concern! Katfish Katy’s is a great location to start from when you have kids. Ours are 7 & 8. The first afternoon we rode to McBaine and back as a test ride, and the next day we started early and rode to Rocheport and back. Lots to see! We will definitely be camping at Katfish Katy’s again! We look forward to being able to enjoy their spring-fed pool in the hot summer months!

Katfish Katy's is a charming neo-Victorian store right on the trail in Huntsdale with the friendliest proprietors you could ever hope for. We had the privilege of being their first campers of 2006! The proprietors opened the campground and store earlier in the season than scheduled and even restocked with things we wanted to eat! They also had goodies for kids and ours were particularly crazy about the glow sticks. We had a spacious site to park our 25-foot camper and conversion van, with a view of the river just over a small levy. There are electric and water hookups, and picnic tables for each RV site, and spotless showers and restrooms. We purchased wood at the store and they delivered it right to our site! Linda drove down Sunday afternoon as we were leaving to warn us of bad weather coming so we were able to leave a bit early to miss the worst of the storms. We really appreciated her concern! Katfish Katy’s is a great location to start from when you have kids. Ours are 7 & 8. The first afternoon we rode to McBaine and back as a test ride, and the next day we started early and rode to Rocheport and back. Lots to see! We will definitely be camping at Katfish Katy’s again! We look forward to being able to enjoy their spring-fed pool in the hot summer months!

You are right! This is a fine place to camp. The people are friendy and helpful, the campground is tidy and scenic. I always stay here.

You are right! This is a fine place to camp. The people are friendy and helpful, the campground is tidy and scenic. I always stay here.

Is there any kind of bike that won't work on the trail/parts of the trail? I can't tell if I would need a mountain bike, or what will work. Don't want to get flat!

I once saw a gentleman do the G.A.S.P. (Greater Austin to Shiner Pedal & 90+ miles), on a BMX with an empty child trailer. Odd, but it was done and thus any human powered conveyance "can" work...just may not be the most efficient. A mountain frame will work fine, and to prevent, (not exclude) flats I would recommend a heavy tire with Slime Liners and that will get you ahead of the game. Unless you're on "airless" tires" there is no absolute prevention of flats. whatever you do enjoy the trail, be safe. Regards.....Mark of the Dalton Boys

The only bike I wouldn't take on the trail would be a road bike with skinny road bike tires. I

ride a mountain bike frame that I have put relatively narrow tires (panaracer messenger) that

have kevlar sidewalls. I have had one flat in years of riding the trail. A hybrid would be fine,

a mountain bike is fine, I would just never take my road bike out. Most of the trail is small

rock, but every once in a while there is some mushy parts and the trail as you get nearer to

Clinton is larger rock and closer to St. Louis is more like pavement. Plus, it is very dusty. I

think a mountain bike frame is built better to withstand the bumps and jostles along the

trailway. But, do pack a few spare tubes and a pump and make sure you know how to change

your own tires.

I've read lots of comments on lots of websites and several books on the Katy and it seems that almost any bike will work. I've ridden pieces of the trail, but not all of it. I've seen folks out on hybrids, mountain bikes (that's what I use for everything), recumbents, road bikes, even saw an EZ-3 trike once. I do agree with the other folks though on tires. You'll have a better time with the heavier, wider tires like those typically found on mountain bikes. Most of the trail is paved with "pug", a finely chopped limestone. When its dry, its pretty dusty, when it's wet, it can be mushy in places. The narrow tires will sink deeper in the soft spots. There is a thorny vine that grows along the trail in places too. The knobby tread patterns will hold you up above most of the thorns...most of the time. Not always. Carry flat fixing tools and a pump.



Other than that, bring what ever you need to be comfortable, some sunscreen, a camera and have a good ride!

I've ridden a mountain bike, hybrid and road bike on the KATY. By far the hybrid works the best. The mountain bike also works well, but most have knobby tires that you don't really need on the KATY and they tend to cause your speed to be reduced. Road bikes work fine as long as the trail is dry, but if you get a rain the narrow tires sink badly. So my two cents is, use a hybrid.

Agreed with TR....I ride a hybrid....it works fine. Bigger knobby tires and narrow street tires (when the trail is soft) equate to more rolling resistance....more work involved for a what should be a pleasant ride.



No one WANTS to get a flat....always take a spare tube and know how to use it.....but all this talk about flats is hype as far as I'm concerned. I've yet to have a flat riding any rail-to-trail path.

i rode the trail round trip on a la monde road bike with 28mm tires

never had a problem but i was simply LUCKY! the trail is haphazardly strewn with ruts due to shifting of the trail, settling, and rainouts, etc etc. they are deadly to any kind of bike or tire width, watch out for them. But don't let that stop you from enjoy the trail. it's GREAT!

Trek Biker,

I'm very happy for you to have had such good luck with your tires. I too have had pretty good luck, having had only one flat in the last 5 years. That was caused by a roofing nail of all things, that I picked up in my back tire (while riding my mt. bike on a city street). By the same token, I've also only had 1 flat on my truck in about the same amount of time. All of this is due largely to maintaining good quality tires on both vehicles, and a portion of just plain good luck. My commute to work is more than 30 miles round trip, some of it over some nasty gravel roads. Inspite of all that, I still carry spares and tools appropriate to change or repair as needed. It won't be "hype" as you put it when you're 20 miles from home and have no way to fix it.

I always carry a spare, tools, and a pump. Thats why I said "No one WANTS to get a flat....always take a spare tube and know how to use it." Traveling prepared takes the worry off the radar screen and allows for a pleasant ride!

I'm planning to ride the trail west-to-east May 3-10 on my Bike Friday NWT with little (20") Schwalbe tires - high-pressure but not too narrow, think they're about 1-3/4". Will of course carry a pump, patch kits and spare tubes for both bike and trailer (12" diameter) tires. But the Friday wheels will accommodate low-pressure kiddie-bike tires you can pick up most everywhere if the Schwalbes aren't working well on the trail.



I too have had pretty good luck vis-a-vis flats. Only had simultaneous front-and-rear deflations once, in a blinding downpour on the Oregon Coast!

Pack the phone number of Hartsburg Cycle Depot (573-657-9599) just in case. They are a

full serve bike shop, unlike most of the bike shops along the trail which cater more the

rentals. The Cycle Depot has a certified mechanic on staff and is open year round.



You should be fine with those tires. Are they kevlar belted? Sometimes there are sharp

pointy things on the trail!