Trail Type

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Steven from Oneona, Al on 6/23/2009 3:10:07 PM:

I am a new resident to the St. Louis area and have heard alot about the Katy Trail. I am curious about what type of material the trail is made of: Rock, Chert, Concrete, Asphalt? Also would it be wise to use a Mountain Bike or a Road Bike for a ride?

Brad from St Louis on 6/23/2009 5:14:33 PM:

from this website's FAQ:

What is the trail's surface like?
It is covered in crushed limestone, which packs hard and is suitable for running, hiking, or any kind of bike (though mountain bikes and hybrids might be more comfortable than road bikes). The crushed limestone can be dusty; you and your bike will get dusty. For multi-day bike rides, you may want to bring along something to clean your chain.

The trail can get a little soft during extended rainy periods. After a rainy period, some horses may leave light hoofprints on the equestrian part of the trail. The trail surface is not suitable for inline skating.

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I don't think you need knobby tires, but a little wider is better. 700x32 or 26x1.25 or larger will help you get through almost all conditions. It won't always by dry and hard-packed.

C. King from Shelbyville on 6/24/2009 3:12:39 PM:

I recently rode the entire trail for the first time 6/4 thru 6/7. They are correct in that the trail gets dusty. Cleaning and oiling the change would be a good idea. I ride a hybrid which has fairly agressive tires but narrower than the mountain bike. I got along well. I was carrying about 35 lbs on the back which I will cut in half next time since I will know what to take. Can't wait to do it again.

David in St. Louis from St. Louis on 6/24/2009 3:40:35 PM:

Steven,

First of all, welcome to St. Louis.

To answer the second question, I would not ride a road bike on the Katy Trail, although I have heard that many people actually do it. I would say that a cyclocross is the best bike to use on a long ride (I did 61 miles on Saturday and it would have been nice), but either a mountain bike or a hybrid would be good choices (my experience is that 700X35's would work great).

I am not saying that you couldn't use a road bike, simply that I would not use my road bike, especially with 700X23's.

I moved here from the East Coast, and I love the Katy Trail. Once you have ridden it a few times, you might consider taking AmTrak from St. Louis (or Clayton, for that matter) to Hermann or Jefferson City. It's a great ride.

Good luck to you,
David

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