road or mtn. bike?

My brother and I are planning a trip on the Trail for fall and have heard mixed reports on whether to road or mtn. bike the Trail.

Any suggestions? experiences?

Thanks for the help.

Sue Griffith

I think the most ideal is a "hydrid" bike or a similar cross between a mountain and a road bike. We ride hybrids when on trails and reserve the Santana longbike for the road for which it was designed.

I've ridden the trail on both a road and a mountain bike. The trail's surface is fine for a road bike if you don't get a soaking rain. A mountain bike is slower, but is better if it rains and the trail's surface turns mushy. Trek Biker is right, if you have access to a hybrid it's the ideal bike for the KATY.

ROAD OR MOUNTAIN- Q RESPONSE-depends on your ride style....like to go slower and in no hurry to get to the next town...use mountain bike....like to go fast and get to next town faster use road bike-*some road bikes can take a 700x32c tires or at least a (700x28c.)this is the size most riders talk about. Trains do not do hills. and the trail is for most conversation kind of flat it can be ridden on both. If it rains you are in trouble with the (speed thing) on both. I have drafted a road bike at around 18 mph with my mountain bike. I could (not) have PULLED that speed with my mountain bike. If a great rider is a CAT 1 Then I am around a CAT 7 or 8 FAST/SLOW-I always think about going fast end up going slow-...cleated with a good spin and little power. HYBIRD is probaly best but anything beats walking the thing. I have seen everything on this trail--E-BIKES-recumbents-side by side tandams-foldup bikes with 20 inch wheels -old 3 speeds-single speeds ,lots of Mr. (Huffyheavys ) and everything in between. Most of the go slow is from the road not the wind like on a road bike. That may point to tires again. A 26x1.50 mountain tires are about the same as a hybire 700x38c..close enough for goverment work as we say. Wheels are heavy on entry mountain bikes but get lighter as the quality level going up. Cheap HYBIRDS (entry level will most likely have a heavy wheel. ANY THINGS BETTER THAN WALKEN ...enjoy ya will. see ya says old Dale

cyclocross works well too.

I just road 40 miles on the Katy with an old Raleigh 3 speed pulling a child carrier. I averaged 6 mph and found the riding comfortable and the pedaling not difficult. It had rained heavily before the ride but the trail was not mushy - a few puddles which could be avoided. Hope this helps. Sandra

I would definitely suggest a mountain bike or hybrid. In the fall there are a lot of hedge apples and other debris on the road which is rough on a bikes tires and dangerous for a road bike. We've ridden the trail in the spring and the fall and have found washouts, gravel and grade changes when you cross roads that would be more difficult for a road bike. Road bikes are faster but why do you want to go fast on the trail? Take your time and enjoy it. It's worth it.

Wouldn't do it on a road bike. Some people have had on problem on a road bike, but I wouldn't take the chance. Always use my hybrid, no problems and is much more forgiving for ruts and avoiding flats. Try to stay with the lightest weight hybrid you can afford if you don't already own one.

I have had the opportunity to ride the trail on numerous occassions - including end to end - and I think the style of bike matters not.

I think size of tire is a much more important bit of information to consider. It is a very personal choice. I personally like the 700 x 32 on my cyclocross bike...I frankly think it a wonderful compromise for trails like the KATY...

In addition, I have ridden alot on the trail with a buddy who only owns a road bike and he has never had problems, even during/after a hard rain.

Just my 2 cents.

I ride the trail end-to-end every summer. I carry camping gear in my panniers and camp every night. I ride a mountain bike with narrow, smooth tires. They work great! I love my road bike, but it would be uncomfortable (and probably unsuitable) on the trail.

You'll get a much better view with a hybrid or mountain bike. Or even better with a recumbent. That does add to the enjoyment of the trail.

My wife just completed 130 mile trip on the Katy Trail April 7 - 11, 2008. She was on her road bike with 27 x 1 1/4" IRC Road Winner DURO II tires. These are kevlar belted tires. No flats and no problems. In 2004 we rode from Clinton to St. Charles on the same tires mounted on road bikes with no problems at all. Compared to some other rail trails we've done, the Katy Trail is very hard packed. In 2004 we rode one day on the trail in heavy rain. The trail got a little mushy and was pretty sloppy. We had fenders on our bikes and kept quite a bit cleaner than those in our group without fenders.