My new "Katy Bike"

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ArkyKenny on 9/20/2012 10:52:30 AM:

I am TOTALLY loving my new Katy Trail bike: It is a Salsa Vaya--basically a drop bar steel touring bike (fairly upright posture, with drop bars) but it has 29er wheels and disc brakes. It came with Schwalbe Mondial 700c x 40 kevlar tires that hold 85# of pressure. No flats so far. The big tires roll easy, and keep me on top and out of ruts, whether loaded or not. I've got 300-400 miles on it on the Katy so far, and I could not be happier. It is a little heavy (28#) but because the Katy is flat, it's not that big of a deal. Highly recommed it, or something like it if you are looking.

Darrell from Jefferson City, Mo. on 9/20/2012 7:49:57 PM:

Alright! Good for you ArkyKenny! Those are pretty slick bikes, looks, components, and build design.

You are set for touring the Katy Trail or the roads to get to it. Very nice touring bikes, congrats!

MidSouth from Rogersville, MO on 9/24/2012 3:03:06 PM:

Lucky you! This is the bike I want next. I'm trying to justify another bike or at least another frame, but I have a bunch of money in my Niner MCR the last two years. In my mind it's totally justified. In my wife's mind, well that's another story!

ArkyKenny on 9/24/2012 4:41:04 PM:

MidSouth, it is easier to get forgiveness than permission. Just saying.......

MidSouth from Rogersville, MO on 9/24/2012 4:47:59 PM:

Yep, if you don't ask, they can't say no!

Anonymous on 9/28/2012 12:58:16 PM:

re: what bike to bring next month on Road Scholar trip on the katy. Hybred or is road bike with thinner tires OK? Please respond. We heard there might be nuts of some kind on the trail making bigger tires better in Oct. Is that right or not? Thanks Dick

MidSouth from Rogersville, MO on 9/28/2012 1:56:48 PM:

After logging about 1000 miles on the KATY the last couple years, the overall majority of bikes I have seen are hybrids with 32-38c tires. We ride with 32c or 42c touring tires. I see road bikes from time to time, but very few, and the majority of them don't look to be doing long stretches with gear, mostly training rides.

ArkyKenny on 9/28/2012 9:14:03 PM:

You will get every answer to your question. The only consensus you will get is that you need Kevlar. I think bigger tires are better (especially if you are carrying a lot of gear) because I like to stay out of the ruts. The surface is hard, so you can run with quite a bit of air pressure, and because it is flat, you don't give up that much speed. So I run 700c x 40 tires. Previously, I rode 26x 1.5 sliicks. Others will tell you to ride 700 x 25 or 28's on your road bike. Think about how you like to ride, think Kevlar (Walmart has strips you can put in if you don't want to buy $90 worth of tires), bring a patch kit and a pump, and have fun

Anonymous on 9/29/2012 9:21:50 AM:

ArkyKenny, what kind of average mph do you get on your Salsa? Those 40s seem fat to me but I understand the upside as well.

ArkyKenny on 9/29/2012 10:00:04 AM:

I average 14 to 15 mph loaded with about 45 lbs of stuff (including water). I am 48 yo 210 lb 6'2" dude, who rides quite a bit. By comparison, I average about 17 or 18 mph on my road bike with skinny tires on the road. I wouldn't choose the 40's if I was trying to do the whole Katy in one day, but I don't do that. The 40's are perfect for me.

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