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Reply to Need Advice: Riding From Sedalia to St. Charles
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Kurt from St. Charles on 8/31/2010 8:23:43 PM:
Hey all. I’m a veteran of riding on the Katy Trail for short, intense training, but I’m going to set out on a multiday ride on September 19th to go from Lenexa, KS to St. Charles, MO. I’ll hook up with the Katy at Sedalia. My plan is to ride ~100 miles the first day Lenexa – Sedalia. Day two ride ~100 miles on the Katy to Tebbetts and get a hotel room there. Finally day three ride Tebbetts – St. Charles. I’ll be doing this on my mountain bike with knobby tires. I don’t have a trailer or bags for the bike. I’m planning on just taking a messenger bag. I’m not going to have much in my pack as I plan to just wear the cycling gear over again each day (gross, I know, but saves weight). Also, I’ll only take sports bars because I plan to go to restaurants. I’ll be doing this alone.

My question is if there’s anything you all suggest? I’m open to all suggestions such as what to take with, different stopping points, etc..

Here’s my list of things to take with so far:

ELECTRONICS: GPS + charger, ipod + charger + headphones, watch, light + battery, phone, flashlight
FOOD/WATER: water bladder, extra water bottle, protein bars (6), gummi snacks (5), creatine
TOILETRIES: toothbrush, toothpaste, ibuprofen (15), allergy med (10), antibiotic ointment, bandages
CLOTHES: sunglasses, jersey, shorts, sweatbands (2), helmet, socks (2 pair), gloves (2 pair), shoes, casual shorts, casual t-shirt
GEAR: 2 tubes (I ride tubeless 2.1” mtn bike tires w/ Stan’s No Tubes sealant), patch kit, multi tool, pump, tire lever
OTHER: bug spray, trail guide, bungee cables (2), duct tape (4’)

Please let me know if anyone with experience in long, multiday trips can see any problems with this plan.

THANKS!

 
Chris from Centralia, IL on 8/31/2010 9:45:00 PM:
Kurt, I have done St Charles - Sedalia - St Charles 3 times and can say that you are sure traveling light (and I like to travel light). The bigest concern is staying in Tebbetts and "get a hotel room". There is only the Turner Shelter, which is cheep ($5) has shower and bed but no bedding, towels... If you really want to travel this light, you should probally change your overnight to a larger town that has a B&B or motel, othwise get a trailer or paniers. Another concern is food. You will be out in the middle of nowhere most of the time, and you WILL go hungey unless you have a way to take more food than you have listed.

With that said, you can still do it your way, but take my advice and keep your expectations low: You will get hungry (for real food), maybe thirsty, uncomfortable and cold. But you will live through it and will be a good experience to look back on. If you decide to do it as you plan, I would take some light, but warm cloths and sone more food, like tuna packs, crakers, dried fruit...light stuff

 
Darrell from Jeff City, Mo. on 8/31/2010 10:17:47 PM:
Sounds exhausting. At Tebbets there is only the Turner Katy Trail Hostel. To stay at a hotel or motel you would need to stop in Hartsburg (80 miles) or Jefferson City at 90 miles. Not sure if the bridge can be crossed safely, they are working on the pedestrian/ bike lane at JC. Also, Sept. 20 & 21 are Monday and Tuesday, open eating establishments will be scarce. I would get at least another pair of bike shorts, not cheap ones, and wash a pair at the end of the day. I recently wore a pair of cheap ones for a forty mile day which caused a chafed crotch for the next days 90 miles in good ones, won't wear those again. Thats all I've got for ya. Good luck!

 
bikerstuff from St. Charles, MO on 9/1/2010 2:42:46 PM:
I agree with Chris and Darrell. 100 miles per day on the Katy with your mountain bike is doable (but not for most riders), and it will be very tiring. I personally would bring a lot more stuff and foods to reenergize myself every 10-15 miles. Add apples, bananas, chips, and gatorade mix. How about that rain gear? You travel way too light for century ride x 3.

 
Doug from Bluffton on 9/2/2010 1:09:24 AM:
If you can find your way to Sedalia without the GPS I'd ditch all the weight of the electronics, you sure won't need it to follow the Katy, take a change of bike shorts and jersey instead of the casual clothes and try to find some way to carry what you have on the bike frame instead of a messenger bag. That weight high and moving around will tire you out. The Ipod is no weight tho and for that much time alone probably worth it. Food is sparse along the trail but available. Just don't pass up any opportunities to get some. Tebbetts with no bedding is a whole 'nother deal. It's inside at least, and you might be able to sleep in your warm change of clothing. Chris is right. You'll live, go and have fun.

 
Anonymous on 9/2/2010 6:58:27 AM:
Just looking at your list:
1. I'd concur on the GPS suggestion. There's no need for it and the weight it involves. You should be able to follow the Katy from Sedalia extremely easy. As for your trip from Lenexa, just write out a cue sheet and be done with it. It'll be much lighter, and you'll have more reason to be confident of the route's reliability. There are several good websites that can aid in this matter for you.

2. To that sheet, I'd add information about how to reach different services (water, food, shelter, emergency services) along the Katy or along the route from Lenexa. Nothing worse than panicking because you need something and don't know where to find it.

3. The others covered most of the rest. If you want an actual motel/hotel room, Tebbets is not where you want to go, and the eating establishment comments kind of fall in line with #2. In that sense, you need to make sure what you plan on being available is available (on my last ride, I didn't plan on the trail head water fountains and toilets being shut down but they were. Didn't know until I was on the trail, I know better next time).

 
Trek on 9/2/2010 12:03:06 PM:
A handheld type GPS can store a good deal of the information on the cue sheet...how to get to food, shelter, hospital, etc. Mine has a clock on it, so I usually ditch my watch when riding (your phone probably has a clock on it too). Mounted on the handlebar, it also is the speedometer, odometer, and lets me know other ride data like elevation, ride time, moving average, fastest speed, sun rise/set, etc. It can instantly let me know how far it is to the next watering hole from anywhere on the trail...no higher math required! On the bike, mine is used more for information and data and not so much for point to point direction like the one in the car.

I don't think mine weighs too much. Weight may be an issue at times, but on a honk'n mountain bike with knobby tires the basic premise doesn't appear to be low weight, less friction, better rolling resistance. Stap on the GPS, weightwise you'll never know its there.

 
Anonymous on 9/2/2010 1:43:05 PM:
Off topic: Trek, what band of GPS do you carry? Sounds like the perfect one, especially for the Katy.

 
Anonymous on 9/2/2010 1:43:54 PM:
Off Topic: Sorry 'bout the spelling. What BRAND of GPS do you use.

 
Clayton from Archie on 9/2/2010 2:39:45 PM:
We rode from St. Charles to Clinton then to Archie the first week of Oct. last year. That time of year can be the most pleasant or horrid depending on how much rain and how cold. We rode 3 days in the rain and it was COLD! Take a wind breaker, arm and leg warmers, and gloves (full). They were life savers!! As you know wind breakers are light and compact. Please post how it was. 100 miles on Katy is very aggressive especially on a mountain bike. I am not that tough. Happy riding!
Clayton

 
Trek on 9/2/2010 4:03:13 PM:
It's a Garmin that I bought on Ebay a few years ago to use while hiking. I later bought the handlebar mount and started using it on the bikes when my bike computer quit working. I couldn't see spending money on another bike computer with less functions and ability. Also, there are no wires or sensors to mess with. Whether hiking or biking, if you come across something of interest you can strike a waypoint, name it, and return to that location.

 
Anonymous on 9/4/2010 12:22:14 PM:
In buying food along the trail, the following Internet article gives a few tips on it: "Bicycling - How and Where to Chow Down Along the Missouri Katy Trail."

The bar-grills generally do not open early, while the groceries, markets, convenience/general stores, and gas stations do. The bar-grill in Portland is out-of-business. The one in Trealor was supposed to re-open in mid-August? Good luck. You'll survive okay!

 
Michael Rodemeyer from Hartsburg on 9/6/2010 1:33:35 PM:
The best place to eat, period, in mid Missouri is the Claysville Store (plus the Hoibrinks are the best people on the trail) but they are only open on Saturday and Sunday. If you only do sports bars the Big Muddy in Hartsburg is good food but only opens in the afternoon.

 
Anonymous on 9/6/2010 3:38:29 PM:
Are you serious about riding knobbies????????? 1.5 inch street tread is prefect for a mountain bike, Cross and road bikes ride skinnier tires.

 
Scott from Lawson MO on 9/7/2010 1:02:07 AM:
The little bit of advice I can offer: I rode 80 miles of the trail over the weekend, I have a 26" Mountain bike that I put 1.25" road slicks on, it really lightened and smoothed out the ride, especially since your ride is partly on the road, and it is a fairly inexpensive conversion.. Here is a link to the tire I got at Nashbar http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product_10053_10052_175439_-1_201492_10000_200518

 
Anonymous on 9/8/2010 4:23:36 PM:
Jeff City is not the best place to be bicycling especially over the bridge.

We stayed at Meyer's Farm & B&B in McKittrick. Great place to stay. Maggie fixes an awesome breakfast for cyclists (especially the oatmeal pancakes).

I would not recommend the Harbour Haus Inn in Hermann. Hwy is very close so you can't get much sleep (unless you like highway noise).

Country Inn & Suites in St Charles is very close to the Katy & it is nice.


 
Darrell from Jeff City, Mo. on 9/8/2010 8:59:57 PM:
Jefferson City may not be another Copenhagen but it is a good city to ride a bicycle in. Cyclist all over Jefferson City think it is fine, evidenced by their numbers. I have to question your conviction on your entire comment, because you remain anonymous.

Yes, the bridge is problematic at this time, but not the whole city. If you or anyone wants to tout their chosen B&B fine, I am and probably most people are happy to hear about it, but come on, be fair. All the communities along the trail would appreciate that consideration.

 
Cathy from Jefferson City on 9/8/2010 11:38:59 PM:
Jefferson City is a lovely city. We do have a few hills, but not enough to intimidate a serious cyclist. If you want to spend the night in Jefferson City, and don't want to bicycle over the bridge during construction (my advice is do not bicycle over the bridge) you could check with the Cliff House B & B and the Briar Rose B & B, the Capitol Plaza, the Truman Motel and the Hotel DeVille. I've heard they each provide a shuttle over the bridge, probably free if you are staying in their place. I've heard that Briar Rose (573-338-0284) and Cliff House (573-635-4208) treat Katy Trail bicyclers really great.