first timer

Hey all,
I've been looking for an adventure for my week of layoff (June 7- 14) from work and this caught my attention right away.
Now, I have some concerns... I'm not an experienced biker, I'm not a fit athlete, and I'd be doing this alone. On the plus side... I'm ready for an adventure, I'm young (25 male), I've been backpacking (the real kind), I have the time, and I'm stubborn enough to do it!
Either way, I'm inexperienced and that could bring up problems. So, I'm looking for any and all help! I'd like to bike the entire Katy Trail. Can you help me?
Can you point me to resources on how to pack for a trip like this? What to pack? What to expect? Bike advice... I'd have to buy one this week (under 1k in price preferred, mountain bike) Where to drop off my vehicle and how to get back to it (shuttles sound like the way to go for this?)
I know this may sound naive but I have to start somewhere... Thank you for helping me figure out this adventure!

Too much to reply to here, but you can call me at The Rendleman Home (click Bluffton above) and I'll be glad to answer questions and offer some more resources for help setting up your ride and finding a good bike.

1. Don't buy a mountain bike, buy a light hybrid or a road bike that can run wider tires and has braze-ons for a rack.
2. Get a rack and panniers to put your stuff in. Pack what you need.
3. If you're camping, pack light. Don't camp on the trail.
4. Then just do it.

If you're going to do the Katy next week, you might want to pack a big inner tube -- for flotation purposes! Just kidding, I hope the flooding subsides. I agree that a mountain bike is a lot of extra work for the Katy; but you should buy for whatever purpose you are going to use it long-term, not just for one particular trail.

Thanks for all the advice guys/gals. I'd like to use the bike in the long term as a trail bike but you're right... a mountain bike isn't a good fit for the Katy Trail, maybe a compromise on hybrid to fit my other interests. I'm going to the local bike shop after I leave work to get some advice on that front.
Doug, thanks for offering to let me call. I'll take you up on that hopefully later this evening if I get back at a decent time.
I found the post on flooding and that's unfortunate. Maybe my trip being a week out will allow enough time for flooding to subside and I'll just have to worry about debris. My eyes will be open for more information on that!
Thanks to everyone that helps out on this site!

Sorry I didn't get a chance to call you yet Doug, busy bike/equipment hunt day.
Possibly found a bike. Test drove 3 of them
1) 2013 Giant Revel 0 29er
2) 2013 Rockhopper Specialized 17 29er
3) 2013 Cannondale Trail SL 4 29er
All seem to be nice bikes (many things I have yet to learn about) but the Rockhopper seemed to feel the best to me. I'm leaning towards that one when I go tomorrow to pay and pick out. I'll do some more researching tonight and let you guys influence my decision if you'd like :)
Do you guys have any suggestions on other equipment? I'll post what I find online after I look in a little while.

Do any of you have suggestions on places that I really should stop at?

Are you camping or staying in hotels / B-Bs?

I'm hoping to do half and half. The camping gear is coming along but I really want the experiences of a B&B... never been to one! Plus, since I'm doing the trip alone it'll be nice to see people.

To Dennis Weber






You'll get lots of advice but it seems to me if someone will take time to find out more about what you want to do would be the best one to listen to.

If your around the 100.8 marker; Mckittrick Mo.
you may want to take a peek at the town of Hermann. Filled with great architecture and character. Try to stay away from the grease fried food. They also having camping. I would rather camp in Blufton if it is available at Doug Rendletons place or nearby. Check out the Merck in Mckittrick and see the effort of the town to be a better place to live or visit.

Rich Lauer

It is 6/4/13, you are planning to start, 6/7/13, and the river is high. Read Dawn's comments about flooding, then plan around that. Hopefully the water will be down by then. But maybe not. In Rocheport I've stayed at the SchoolHouse B & B, and the Katy Trail B & B Bikefest. I recommend both. In Hartsburg I've stayed at the Globe, great place. The other B & B in Hartsburg also gets good reviews. I think they also have some camping in Hartsburg. For Jeff City, I live here. The Cliff Manor has just re-opened, and will be a great place to stay. The Briar Rose B & B has also gotten lots of good feedback on this forum. The bike/pedestrian bridge is not accessible now due to flooding. But if you could get close to Jefferson City both of those B & Bs and some of the motels may be willing to provide shuttle service. The Baymount Hotel, and Truman Hotel also have provided shuttle service in the past (before bike bridge was built) and the Doubletree. If you can get to Jefferson City, and due to flooding had to stay here an extra day or so, there's neat stuff to do. The capitol is incredible, there's tours of the old MSP (Missouri State Penitentiary), our downtown has interesting places to eat, it's very walkable and enjoyable, if you are ok with biking on hills, you could investigate the older part of town on your bike. And most importantly go to Central Dairy for ice cream. Call our CVB for info. Now, further down the trail, I've stayed at Rendleman's B & B, Doug is outstanding, cooks you dinner and breakfast. And he can give you a lot of information about biking the trail, as he cooks. Now, if water is high, he may have his hands full dealing with that. Water may not get in his house, but he helps his neighbors who do have water issues. I've stayed at the Little House B & B in Marthasville, it's great, but you get the whole house, which you may not need. I've stayed at Country Inn in St. Charles, it's a hotel right on the trail, I like it a lot. My best advise is call asap

Cathy,Jeff City
If your ever passing 100.8 Mckittrick stop by the Merck and see the renovation the got us on the National Register of Historical Places.
It would be nice to meet yet another informative rider.

Rich Lauer

My comments are based on several trips across the KATY from Clinton to St. Charles... Hope they're useful.

If you want a 29er for other uses...that's great. You can certainly ride a 29er on the KATY but those big nobby tires are total overkill on the KATY. You'll work harder than you need to in my opinion.

I've had nice stays and good service at:

Lococo House in St. Charles
Dollhouse B&B in Rhineland on more than one occasssion
Vinchester Inn in Hermann - more than one stay. Very basic, but clean and unless there is some festival going on...pretty cheap by Hermann standards
Globe in Hartsburg. Marvelous lady who owns it. Very, very gracious person. Stay was fine, but you should only stay there if you like cats. I don't, so won't return.
Casino in Boonville - probably going to smell like smoke even if you ask for non-smoking. Depending on the day you can sometimes get a decent rate. Can't beat the convenience.
Comfort Inn in Boonville. Long ride from the trail. Pretty rough condition compared to most Comfort Inn's that I've stayed in.
USA Motel in Clinton. Used it several times. Basic and a bit dated, but clean and I don't think you can beat the price. Also close to the trailhead.

Lots of great places to eat along the way. The only place I really don't like is the Trailside Cafe in Rocheport. I have been there several times and have had mediocre food and bad (even RUDE) service every time. After several attempts, I'm done stopping there even though it is right on the trail. There are just too many options to put up with bad/rude service in my opinion.

I don't camp at all on the KATY so I travel light. A change of clothes for the evening/restaurant that gets worn every night since I only have it on a couple hours. I wash out the bike clothes when I check in and they're fresh and clean and ready to go the next morning. A tooth brush/toothpaste. A jacket. A tire

Thanks Cathy. Water is down here and just a few muddy spots on the trail. 94 still under a few feet about 100 yards west of me. I haven't done much to help neighbors this time other than a parking lot and place for us all to visit. And have a fish fry. Just wade over and pick up the one you want to eat.

IL central, you're a young kid just wing it... but seriously Anon and Cathy's B&Bs are the best advice. Go light, no 29 unless you want to float off into a creek or the MO and hit the hotels and B&Bs and I guarantee, you will be KT hooked and back this summer again.

I think the 29er is a very versatile bike. Mine is full rigid and will take just about any tire made, you don't have to use wide nobby tires. I use 32c touring tires on mine for the Katy.

I agree with MidSouth. My touring bike has 29er wheels: I have 700c x 28, 37, 40's, and 1.9" knobbies that I can put on it for whatever suits my ride of the day. There REALLY isn't a lot of difference between a rigid 29er and a hybrid bike--not even weight if you buy a quality 29er. If it's comfortable, and allows you to bring what you want to bring, and do what you want to do, go for it.

Also, the bike style of choice for people who do things like The Tour Divide is a hardtail rigid 29er mountain bike with a straight bar and an aero bar bolted on. I prefer drop bars for all day riding, but many people who go a lot further/spend more time in the saddle than me prefer flat bars with/without aero bars.

Anyway, the point of this little blog is that you can put different tires on any bike and make it, in many ways, a totally different beast that fits your needs.

Come and try out the new historic Haysler House Bed and Breakfast Inn. We have had several Katy Trail bikers recently, and they have all enjoyed the experience. Check us out under the B and Bs on the Trail, or under the Towns and Services.