road bike

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Genevieve from kansas CIty on 4/4/2012 7:26:55 AM:

I would like to know if the trail is road bike friendly, or, which section of the trail is asphalte ?
thanks !

SalsaBoy from Farmington, AR on 4/4/2012 11:48:03 AM:

None of it is asphalt. As for being road bike friendly, there is a huge difference of opinion on that matter: I don't think it is--and I'm a roadie. Others think it is. Ride the Katy for yourself, and jump in on the conversation.

Bike Choice on 4/4/2012 8:17:30 PM:

It is if you have good "kevlar" tires.

Anonymous on 4/4/2012 9:18:35 PM:

I agree that generally speaking a road bike is fine, but totally agree that you want good "flat protection (i.e. kevlar belted)" tires of some sort.

My experience is that the further east you go the better road tires work.

I find the stretch from Clinton to Sedalia generally "softer" and less well-packed and therefore a bit harder to ride on road tires than say the section from Boonville to Jeff City or Rhineland for example.

As noted - lots of different opinions.

That's mine...

Adam on 4/5/2012 8:43:43 PM:

This is a Chevy vs. Ford discussion. I have found the katy to be almost like a newly resurfaced chip and seal road at times, and like a sandy dirt road at others. My buddy has a touring bike with "Good Kevlar tires" that are 700c x 28. He occasionally gets flats. I use cheap 2 inch wide mountain bike slicks that have a smooth strip in the middle, and have never had a flat with them. I gladly give up 1-2 mph for comfort, stabillity, and no flats. I also cross onto the pavement with worries. The 60# of air pressure makes for a much better ride too. I don't understand why someone would ride skinny tires with 100#+ air pressure on the Katy. I also like Chevy's. :)

Tom from Baton Rouge LA on 4/6/2012 10:28:00 AM:

We just rode from Rocheport to Hartsburg, and most of the bikes were road bikes or at least had road bike tires. Didn't see anyone with a flat. Didn't see any of the infamous "sticker vines" either. The aggregate was embedded in the dirt on most of the trail, and even the newly laid stuff was very thin. We had cruiser bikes and I put Tuffy Tire Liners in them for an extra measure of protection and didn't have any problems.

RoadiJeff from Wildwood, MO on 4/9/2012 9:40:48 AM:

I just did 143 miles on the Katy Sunday, from the Page Ave extension west and back. I have a road bike with 700x25C tires. No problems with flats and the surface was packed pretty well along 99% of the trail where I was at.

Old Roadie on 4/9/2012 10:45:48 AM:

Go further to the West over by Pilot Grove and you may change your mind about road tires (even those with Kevlar). Maybe I've just gotten old, but I've gotten so I'm not that fired up about riding road tires on the road, so I sure don't want to ride them on a dirt trail.

Paul Toigo from Kansas City, MO on 4/12/2012 12:34:57 PM:

I've ridden extensively on road bike (700x25 single, 700x28 tandem) tires. Last weekend, we rode from Columbia to Jefferson City on the tandem. Owing to trail repair, we found it difficult in several spots.

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