Lessons learned, advice unsolicited

My wife and I rode the Clinton to JC stretch, with a side trip to Columbia, last weekend. We have been glowing about the trip ever since. I am writing a long journal-like thing that I would love to post here. In the meantime a few things we've learned.

1. The Katy is awesome. Period. First-rate, high quality, awesome. If you haven't done it, do it.
2. Ride your bike. By this I mean, don't sweat the bike choice. If your bike has got you this far, don't worry about the "right" bike. Just ride your bike. Dance with the girl that brung ya.
3. How far to ride? This of course will vary by abilities and interests. We did 156 miles over three days. For us, pretty tough. Enjoyable, but tough. If I had to do it over again (and God willing I will) I would actually slow down. Maybe 40 miles a day. We rode 78 on day one, which was glorious. But on days 2 and 3 we struggled a bit w/ mileage around 40. A 40-mile average for me is enough. (We are both 46 years old by the way, pretty physically fit though just casual cyclists.)
That's all for now. I love this site, and love the Katy. I know the eastern end very well but have never "toured" it such as we did. It was just an awesome, high quality experience. Can't wait til the next ride.

I agree Hank. My wife and I, and sometimes a kid or two, ride a different stretch of the trail periodically. We don't have a SAG so we ride to a destination,l turn around and then go back. Next weekend we are doing the Sedalia to Booneville stretch. We will stay overnight and do the ride back the next day. One thing we have learned is that the wind....and I mean wind, blows west to east so we try and do the east to west the first day and ride with the wind the second. It helps on day two. We have two more day stretches like that and on Labor day weekend hope to finish from JC to Machens. Good luck and enjoy the Trail. We love it too!

Hank and Tim,

I rode with the DNR last week. It was my first time riding the entire trail. The Katy certainly has an appeal. I plan to do the BikeMO ride and probably a ride this fall. I just wished I lived closer.

Just completed another Clinton to St. Charles on Sunday and am already missing it. Love riding the KATY. I, too, wish I lived closer.

(Also agree on the bike choice...ride what's comfortable and what you have. Just ride.)

I know what you mean about the wind Tim. I just did the Katy from Machens to Boonville, and man near the end, the wind was blowing so hard against me that I had to downshift about 4 gears. There was a very comical point when I was passing a jogger that I actually was beginning to wonder if I was going to even be able to pass. I finally did and stopped about a 1/2 mile up the trail to take some pix and catch my breath, and shortly the jogger came by. We just looked at each other and laughed a little.

Great to hear such positive comments. I'm coming in to ride about 150 miles over four days starting next wee. Aside from concerns about high temps, I am looking forward to it.