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Rentals and logistics


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DC on 3/4/2008 6:38:13 AM:
am planning a trip for mid April 2008 to ride the trail from the Kansas City MO side (Clinton) to St Louis MO (St Charles). We would like to rent bikes in or near to Clinton and return them in or near to St Charles or St Louis. Are you aware of any way this can be accomplished? I see that some one way riders take the train and return by bike, we would like to avoid the need to add this extra step if we can. We only will have 4 days to ride and epect that the train will kill most of one day only giving us three (3) to ride, which might be a bit aggressive, your thoughts on this?

 
Ray (webmaster) on 3/4/2008 6:41:15 AM:
That's a good question. I am not aware of any bike rentals that can be picked up at one end of the trail and left at the other end. Most of the bike rentals are small independent bike shops, not affiliated with other shops at other points on the trail. You might want to call a few of the rental places on either end of the trail to see if they have any ideas. One possibility is to get a shuttle service to haul the bikes back for you They typically haul bikes and riders, but I would imagine they'd be happy to do just bikes. But you may end up paying two or three hundred dollars to have the bikes transported cross-state. I would suggest calling a few shuttle services to check prices and feasibility. You are correct that the train would require a day of your time. What's more, the trains frequently get behind schedule. It's a nice way to travel, but not when you're pressed for time. As far as whether three days is reasonable for doing the whole trail: that's a pretty fast schedule, but many people do it in three days. It just depends on whether you're in condition to ride three consecutive 75-mile days.Perhaps others will have ideas - I am posting your question and my answer on the Katy Trail Forum just in case someone out there has other suggestions.Good luck, I hope it works out for you!

 
BB from LV, NV on 3/4/2008 1:45:32 PM:
Shiping bikes back to Clinton of Sedalia would be much cheaper than shuttling them.

 
Trek Biker on 3/5/2008 7:40:37 AM:
It seems this issue comes up from time to time.....how do I or my things get to the other end of the state now? Its a shame someone out there that wants to ride the trail can't share the rental expense and enjoy a one way ride back to the west side for you.