Reply to KT General Questions

Scroll down to see the discussion

All submissions are reviewed for appropriateness. We reserve the right to remove or edit any comment that we consider incorrect, misleading, or inappropriate, at our sole discretion. Please remember that this is a family-friendly website.

Subject:

Reply to KT General Questions

Your Name:

This does not have to be your real name. It could be a "screen name", your initials, or just leave blank.

Your Hometown:

Optional - it's just interesting to know where people are from

Comment:

So we know you are a human, please answer this easy math quiz:

2 + 3 =

Demetrius J Karos from La Grange IL on 1/8/2024 12:25:53 PM:

1. I ride a bachetta ti recumbent. Tires are 23s. Is the trail hard packed for this type of bike and riding?

2. Hoping to ride in May. Possibly mid May. Generally how is the weather and flooding issues?

3. We are coming from the Chicago area. Where would you recommend parking and start riding. Plan to park and ride 1-2 days out and back.

Gary from Near Tebbetts on 1/8/2024 10:45:02 PM:

I consulted my magic 8 ball on the possibility of good weather on the Katy mid May and it came back it would be good weather “without a doubt”. So there you have it, the magic 8 ball would not lie. :-)

Bruce Laubach from Williamsburg, Virginia on 1/9/2024 6:59:27 AM:

I rode the Katy in mid-May, I had a few days of rain, temps in the 40s at night pleasantly cool for the days. water may not be available at all trail heads. It was during the Hight of COVID so I had to carry my own food because not all the eatery's were open.

Anonymous on 1/9/2024 9:34:27 AM:

Most of the trail has hard packed lanes.....one for each direction. Generally most of the trail is hard packed, but it can vary from location to location. Some areas have had large tire eating cracks. As always just watch where your going, no different than trash along a road shoulder. Trail maintenance may force loose chat, etc. It is doable on thin tired bikes though.

The weather in May is controlled by the Magic 8 ball. Closer to time for your ride would be a good gauge for the possibility of rain, flooding, etc. Riding is doable in May though.

We have left our vehicle for out and backs at several trailheads without issue....Sedalia, Rocheport, Hartsburg, Tebbetts, and Augusta. Times change but the North Jefferson trailhead has gotten a bad rap in the past. For that I've moved on to Hartsburg and played it safe.

Jerry Whittle from O'Fallon Illinois on 1/9/2024 9:40:29 AM:

1. The trail is pretty well packed near larger towns such as St. Charles and Columbia. However 23's are too thin for my liking on the Katy. I've ridden around St. Charles and Hermann on 25s and didn't like it. Away from the larger towns the trail can be loose and slippery especially in the rain.

2. If it's going to flood, it's in May and June. It can rain a lot in May.

3. With those thin tires, I'd recommend starting in St. Charles and riding out to Hermann. You could even throw in a 25-mile total out-and-back to Machens from St. Charles.

Alan from Sedalia on 1/9/2024 11:55:02 AM:

I've seen people riding the Katy on recumbent's several times and all seemed to be doing fine. I would want wider tires than 23's but I've seen people doing it on road tires. Most of the trail is pretty smooth and hard packed but there are rocky sections. You may encounter spots where work has been done recently and is soft. The trail is well maintained but there's always the chance especially in the spring of heavy rains and thunderstorms leaving washouts and downed tree limbs on the trail.

David A from Alameda, CA on 1/9/2024 8:18:27 PM:

Rode the Katy RT last May w/my brother & had mostly good weather w/a few days of rain in 12 days. Will take that every time!Trail remained solid even in the rain, but I'm a one-timer. Locals on this forum like Gary or Doug in Bluffton would be great resources for anything Katy. Doug I know is an ex extreme cyclist & could take a good stab at your questions. A stay at his Bluffton Barn & an evening with him is a hoot, & I think many would agree!

wroundey from Mexico, MO on 1/10/2024 3:06:20 PM:

I used to live in St Charles and rode the trail on recumbents all the time. both my singles and my tandem recumbent with my wife. I have ridden with 25s, but most of my bikes have 35-40s and I rarely have issues. Always need to watch out for loose sand/gravel which can pop up randomly. My wife and I plan to ride the entire trail on the tandem recumbent, pulling a trailer, this summer - exact date to be determined based on weather.

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 2024 BikeKatyTrail. All rights reserved.
BikeKatyTrail and BikeKatyTrail.com are registered trademarks.