3 days or 4???

Go to Forum

Gayla from Azle, TX on 9/14/2006 11:50:59 AM:

My husband and I will be riding the whole trail from west to east. We are riding in November in order to escape the heat (we both really like COLD weather). I am having trouble deciding whether to ride it in 3 or 4 days. We are not in "top" physical condition, but we're training hard right now and will be in "good" condition by then.

mm from Olathe, Kansas on 9/14/2006 1:49:39 PM:

Gayle, my wife (35) and I (46) rode two days covering about 85 miles a few weeks back. Consider myself in decent shape. Anything over 50 miles would have become "less-enjoyable". Recommend the 4-day ride. Enjoy the sites and smells that time of year offers. I agree, the cooler weather is much better. Hope it stays dry!

Jim from St. Thomas on 9/14/2006 1:55:25 PM:

I think it depends on if you're riding just to say you did it or if you really want to enjoy the trail. Either one is a good reason to me. We rode the whole trail in May and took 4 days and it was a pretty comfortable ride. It's definitely doable in 3 days though. Another thing that's been mentioned is that you should include a couple of long rides towards the end of your shape-up program. Even if you're in good physical shape you still need to develop your "bike butt". By the way we're riding (or at least attempting to ride) from J.C. to St. Charles tomorrow. Never ridden 100 miles before......we'll see how that goes.

Nails on 9/17/2006 11:35:46 AM:

To give you good advice, we have to know how much riding you've been doing. If you haven't ridden 100 miles in a single day this year, forget trying to do the entire KATY in 3 days. If you haven't ridden 120 miles over a weekend, you should be asking, "5 days or 6?". If you can't easily ride 40 miles a day, day after day, it'll be a week or more.

sbikes from Kansas City on 9/17/2006 11:39:46 PM:

I agree with Nails. Does your "training hard" time mean time in the saddle on your bike?
How many miles? Are you riding days back to back? Or, does it mean time in the stationary
bike or time at the gym? Being in good physical shape will help, but nothing can substitute
for some back to back riding days and time in the saddle on your own bike. And, watch the
weather in November because it may be 80 degrees or it may be cold and snowy and icy, or
all of the above. Riding in the cold is no problem, if you are prepared. Riding in the snow
can be fun, too...riding on ice is downight dangerous. Also, that time of year if it has snowed
or rained you can run into some mushy trail and that will slow you down as well. I would
allow a week and then see how it goes weather wise and physical wise. Have a great ride!

Gayla from Azle, TX on 9/20/2006 8:40:03 AM:

Thanks for all the comments! I think I've decided to take at least 4 days to ride the trail. I've done all my training on local Ft. Worth trails with my mountain bike and plan on doing a 50-60 mile ride a few weeks before and see how I feel afterwards. Who knows, I may need to stretch it out even longer. I just don't want the trip to be ruined because I'm so worn out I can't get up the next day. Thanks again for your advice :)

Jim from St. Thomas on 9/20/2006 1:14:01 PM:

I don't think you'll have to stretch it out more than 4 days. A couple of things.....when we did it this spring the first day (Clinton to Pilot Grove) was the hardest day of the whole trip. There is a gradual incline for (what seemed to us) most of the way. After the first day the rest was gravy. Also, 2 of the places we stayed had hot tubs and climbing into them felt like heaven after a 60 mile ride. Good luck and have fun.

John from California on 9/20/2006 9:16:03 PM:

my son and i did the entire katy trail this summer (july 14-18). if i had to do it again - would do it maybe in the spring or sep/oct. it was hot. almost everywhere we stopped met the great people of missouri. i guess the thing that sort of surprised me a little was the trail surfaces needed some maintenance. and there is one stretch where finding water was a bit longer b/t stops than desirable. lastly would not really recommend a road bike like my son had.

Jim Pearson from Lincoln, Nebraska on 9/21/2006 10:03:57 AM:

I would suggest 4 or 5 days,my wife and I did the trail from St.Charles to Clinton last year, first week in Sept. our longest day was 65 miles and it was rough ride because of the heat. We had trained good, running and biking. We are 65 and 63 years old however. We are doing it again Oct 1-6th from Clinton to St. Charles. This time we are in even better shape doing some long training rides and I run 40 miles per week. I would suggest mountain bikes, last year we did road bikes with saddle bags and enough supplies for 5 days. Three days could be heavy duty unless you are in very good shape and do not care about seeing some of the sites along the way. Good luck.

ET from Columbia on 10/5/2006 1:51:56 PM:

Don't forget the advice mentioned on this forum in other places: Plan ahead and, especially in the off-season, make sure the places you are counting on for food and lodging are open! That said, I think you will find November to be a good time--often the weather isn't terribly cold yet, and having the leaves off the trees will make for some longer views, especially of the bluffs. I'm not sure if the eagles are on the river by then, but we have had some great, fairly close views of eagles along the river in the winter. Also, you might want to check with DNR--they may turn off the water fountains and flush toilets in freezing weather.

rfc from Shoreview MN on 10/7/2006 5:55:47 PM:

My wife and I rode from Clinton to St Charles in 3 days and returned in 4 days. The three days there were a real grind and we enjoyed the four much better. Even then, 225 miles in 4 days ammounted to 40-65 miles per day which is a bunch. Next time, take 5 and smell the roses.

Ken from St. Charles on 10/7/2006 9:39:12 PM:

A friend and I just finished Clinton to St. Charles in 3 days. I agree it is a real grind. I would suggest that unless you have been riding a bunch in preparation, do it in 4 or more. I rode 1500 miles in 2006 to get ready, and it was very difficult riding between Clinton and Pilot Grove. The trail is mostly uphill until you get to Pilot Grove. It is an unrelenting grind that seems to have no end at times. We also had headwinds all 3 days although we were riding west to east. That made it harder each day as well.

Ken

Ken

Eric Kramer from Wichita, KS on 11/7/2007 6:24:16 PM:

My neighbor (age 41) and I(age 51) did the entire trail in Oct '05 (St. Charles to Clinton, or from East to West) in 3 days. This equates to about 75 miles a day. My 24 year-old son-in-law had to quit after Day 2 due to the required pace and knee problems. We were hard pressed to manage it, but we did it. Arrived in Clinton after dark on the third day drenched in sweat. Would recommend 4 days if you want to stop and enjoy the many sights and opportunities along the way. A 3-day trip is more like a job than a pleasure.

El Toro on 11/8/2007 3:44:35 PM:

I rode across (west to east) in 3 days in October, 2006. Clinton to Hartsburg (hard day of about 114 miles), Hartsburg to Rheinland (50 miles - easy day) and finished up 67 miles Rheinland to St. Charles.

It's quite doable, but 100+ miles on the trail become a grind. I loved the trip! Obviously days 2 and 3 allowed alot more time for looking around and taking pictures, etc.

Next fall is the first chance I'll have to ride the entire trail again and I'll probably look at 3 days again.

GC from Columbia, Mo. on 11/9/2007 7:56:15 PM:

I am principally a walker, but I can't imagine riding it in three days. Slow down, relax, enjoy the scenery and people. I wouldnt want to do it in less that five days.

biker from Dallas on 11/26/2007 8:36:51 PM:

Me and a group of friends (also from DFW area) rode the trail in Oct, W to E. 1st Day: Clinton to Boonville. 2nd Day: Boonville to N. Windsor. 3rd Day: N Windsor to Hermann 4th Day: Hermann to St. Charles. 5th Day: Amtrak to Sedalia, then back to Clinton. All of us are in good physical condition. Any attempt to conquer the trail in less time would have been difficult and taken away from the enjoyment. Have a nice trip!

FEEDBACK! - Please let us know if you have suggestions, corrections, complaints, or ideas. Your input is valued and appreciated - thanks in advance!

More info: KT Home Katy Trail Map Trip Planner Travel Timeline Forum Towns & Services Mileage Chart Events Trail Merchandise Search Advertise Contact Us

By using this website, you agree to the Terms and Conditions.
how this website uses cookies
This information may not be copied or reproduced in any way.
© Copyright 2025 BikeKatyTrail. All rights reserved.
BikeKatyTrail and BikeKatyTrail.com are registered trademarks.