Round Trip Estimate

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Dr. La Shonda Nuggets from Frontenac on 6/5/2013 9:08:28 PM:

I was wondering how many days it takes to bike the Katy trail round trip from Machens to Clinton and back. I need to know how much time to take off work. New to this, so hopefully I don't die!

MidSouth from Rogersville, MO on 6/5/2013 9:29:20 PM:

Only you can answer that question. What is the longest you have ridden on the Katy in one day so far? Take 476 miles and divide that by how many miles you can ride in a day. There are a few that can do it in 2 days, but most will take closer to 2 weeks.

Dr. La Shonda Nuggets from Frontenac on 6/7/2013 12:24:23 PM:

I have never rode the Katy trail before and am very new to cycling... I am wanting to work towards riding the entire Katy trail in the fall.

Paul K from Florissant,MO on 6/7/2013 1:00:32 PM:

My friend and I did it last summer (out and back from Machens to Clinton) and did it in 9 days. She was not used to riding many miles and did fine. We averaged about 11mph overall.

kevin from Jeff City on 6/7/2013 1:26:09 PM:

Go out and ride the trail for a few miles. See how you feel afterwards. Go farther next time until you know how far you are comfortable going.

It's all pretty flat, except for some parts out west, so you'll be pedaling all day. Do you want to do 30 miles? 50? 70 miles a day? You get to decide, as MidSouth suggested.

MidSouth from Rogersville, MO on 6/7/2013 2:41:59 PM:

When my wife and I started out we tried a couple overnight trips before we decided to bite off the whole trail. Our first trip on the Katy was from Hartsburg to Rocheport, spent the night and returned the next day, 25 miles each way. Easy enough, but decided on about 40 miles per day for our first complete crossing. We were in our late fifties when we started.

Anonymous on 6/7/2013 8:45:10 PM:

I have been riding quite a while and overall put in about 5000 miles a year.

With that background...7 days RT.
Clinton-Boonville
Boonville-Rhineland
Rhineland-St. Charles
St.Charles-Machens and back (kind of a rest/recovery day)
St. Charles-Rhineland
Rhineland-Boonville
Boonville-Clinton
Not counting the St. Charles-Machens day...63-90/day. Doesn't leave lots of time for taking pictures and smelling flowers.

If you want to do that...I think the recommendation above of about 40 (maybe 50) a day makes a lot more sense.

However you do it - ENJOY!

Dave from Overland Park on 6/7/2013 9:27:38 PM:

I'd suggest you allow 7-8 days. I rode from Clinton to Machens in 3 days. You may want to plan to do 60-65 miles/day.

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