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Terry from Huntsville, AL on 8/20/2011 8:20:21 PM:

Congratulation, Clay, on your accomplishment. I'm getting ready to do the trail from St. Charles to Booneville. When you averaged your mph did you include stops during the ride? My plan we to do 15-20 mph and am wondering if that's too aggressive/optimistic. I'd like to do about 50 miles a day. Any thoughts?
Also, do you have any advise on source for camping. The book and online sources show that sites are not available everywhere. Did you find any that weren't advertised?

DkB from Colorado on 8/21/2011 4:12:45 PM:

I think your optimistic planning 15-20 mph. We rode in June, and found that 50 miles made a full day. Of course, we stopped at most of the markers, checked out the local history at the trail heads, and had a GREAT TIME. The book is good for trail and town information, but is completely unreliable for food and water availability. We camped - city park a couple of nights, Tebbetts Hostel, and at the Round House. PS: Bring lots of water and a couple of meals. Places are closed, and water supplies can be scarce. Businesses turn off public water faucets to sell bottled water.

kevin from Jefferson City on 8/23/2011 1:01:54 PM:

50 miles a day is very doable, but 15-20 mph may be difficult. What's your hurry? Do 10-12mph and take a little longer to enjoy nature, the river and the attractions along the way.

zbiker on 8/24/2011 10:36:46 AM:

I agree with the other comments. Rode the full length last November in three days (75 - 80 per day), but took time for photos, etc, ending up riding in the dark each day. 15-20 is very aggressive. Riding in the dark slowed my mph, I averaged 8 - 9 with full pannier, headwind, etc. Long time ago a bike shop owner told me that riding 50 miles on the trail is equivalent to 75 road miles, due to surface of the trail. If your 15 - 20 is on pavement, that would then convert to about 10 - 12 on the trail. Having a loaded bike will also slow you down, in my experience.

kc from nj on 8/26/2011 12:28:28 PM:

I echo the above comments. I usually figure on 10mph as a comfortable rate, then I add an hour. For example, if I intend to ride seventy miles I figure that this will take approximately 8 hours. This includes snack, water and scenic stops, but not long ones. It is mostly biking time. Of course, an early start is always good in case of any unexpected delays. I like this pace, but pace is personal. 15-20mph sounds a bit too ambitious.

Dennis on 8/29/2011 12:09:05 PM:

I often ride certain sections at 17-18 mph. But I'm very familiar with the trail in these areas. And at that speed you pretty much miss seeing most of the things around you. If you ride 20 mph, I suspect your front wheel will go out from under you a few times. Loose rocks, small ruts, small limbs all come at you pretty quickly at that speed. And the squirrels have a death wish.

But I've found 15 mph to be pretty doable, giving sufficient reaction time for most obstacles. (Except those squirrels that dart right in front of you.) [Those are traveling speeds, not including stop times.]

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