Realistic daily ride length

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Johnny 3 from Dalton, GA on 7/23/2014 10:35:14 AM:

Planning to ride the Trail from St Charles to Clinton this summer. My wife and I did the Natchez Trace parkway last year and averaged 75 miles per day on road bikes. Anyone have a realistic guess as to how many miles we might be able to average per day on the Katy Trail? It's going to be a lot flatter but the surface is probably going to be a little more resistant to rolling. Thanks for the advice.

ArkyKenny on 7/23/2014 10:49:52 AM:

I am a former Dalton Guy who has also done Natchez Trace,

I always say that 85 miles on the Katy is like a century on the road. The great thing about the Katy is that it is flat and tree lined so there are not really hills, and there is much less trouble with wind as compared to riding on the road. The surface is hard with a loose top, so there is a little more rolling resistance. The down side, for me anyway, is that just like there are no hills to climb, there are no hills to coast down. Said another way, the rolling resistance is more or less constant, and that means that it requires a different type of "Being in shape". Not bad, just a little different. I find that surface will cost me about 2-3 mph as compared to pavement, so that is something to consider too. (although if you've ever ridden a newly chip and sealed road, I'd say Katy is faster than that with less rolling resistance).

If you think that 75 on Natchez is a good ride, then 60-70 on the Katy would be a good amount.

Johnny 3 from Dalton on 7/23/2014 11:56:21 AM:

Thank you so much for the response! That is exactly the information that I needed to plan the trip.

Don from Ellisville, MO on 7/24/2014 4:03:05 PM:

Johnny, I agree with Arky -- the biggest adjustment is to expect that you will be pedaling almost 100% of the time. As he said, rolling resistance is about 2-3mph, or as I measure it, one gear on the bike lower. At 75 miles a day, you will finish the trail in 3 days, but you won't have time to see any of the great sites or history of the area (Daniel Boone, Lewis & Clark, etc.). That stuff may not be for you, but I would not be a Missourian without pointing it out. BTW, is Dalton still the carpet headquarters of the US?

Anonoh on 7/25/2014 8:47:04 AM:

If the Trace is paved, the KT is not paved. The mph adjustment is accurate. However, there are many ruts, loose rocks, debris, blind crossings, small animals, tire puncture elements along the KT. I call it "active" more off road riding than on paved sight seeing trails. Actually a woman in the last few years crashed and died riding on the KT when she fell off her bike and hit her head. It is by no means a take lightly trail.

MidSouth from Rogersville on 7/25/2014 3:49:20 PM:

People fall and die almost daily in this country on paved trails and roads also...

ArkyKenny on 7/25/2014 6:25:38 PM:

I was a lot more concerned with being hit by a car on Natchez Trace than falling in a crack on Katy.

But that does lead to the "what bike" discussion. A road bike will work, but put the biggest tires on it that will fit. Consensus on this board says that you need at least 28's, and I like 32-40mm wide tires. Knobbies are not necessary. A pair of $15 slicks from WalMart on an old trusty mountain bike is, for me anyway, a better option than a $2000 road bike with 23mm tires on it for the Katy. I usually ride a touring bike with 32s when it is dry, and 40s when it is wet. Many people ride hybrids, so if you are looking for a reason to get a new "path" bike, you have one.

Anonoh on 7/26/2014 8:16:33 AM:

You need no less than 28's unless you want to slide around on the KT.
Not very dry river bottom areas or the horse areas around Sedalia also cause sinking and sliding easier with road tires. Bike safety is primary on any surface you two gomers.

MidSouth from Rogersville on 7/26/2014 8:56:03 AM:

Gomers? The Katy is one of the smoothest and best maintained gravel rail trails in the country, and I have been on dozens of them, but you seem to describe it as some sort to death trap. Getting me and my bike to the Katy Trail is much more treacherous than riding the trail.

MimiandPapa from Springfield, Mo. on 7/26/2014 3:17:20 PM:

I have to agree with you MidSouth! Hope to see you on the FHT soon!

MidSouth from Rogersville on 7/26/2014 3:46:00 PM:

I was on FHT Thursday and Friday morning. Too hot today but going back early tomorrow. Next week looks great for trail riding.

MimiandPapa from Springfield, Mo. on 7/26/2014 5:11:13 PM:

Hope to see you Monday morning! Hopefully we will be on Katy in fall.

MidSouth from Rogersville on 7/26/2014 6:03:57 PM:

We are going to do the George Mickelson trail in SD in September!

MimiandPapa from Springfield, Mo. on 7/26/2014 6:37:45 PM:

Let us know how it is! We will have to until my "stoker" retires!!

Anonymous on 7/26/2014 8:36:16 PM:

For what it's worth...

I agree with the speed assessment. When going Clinton to St. Charles I do 3 days.

I ride 28s...with GREAT flat protection.

Horses Honk on 7/27/2014 7:57:11 AM:

The best flat protection is a horse.

Anonoh on 7/27/2014 3:23:37 PM:

If you are in decent shape and want to do 5-6 hrs a day for 70+ miles and have some idea where places are to eat and visit its OK but if you are a first timer, 4 days would be better to get a good feel for the trail.

Colorado on 8/1/2014 6:07:27 PM:

A friend of mine and I did the trail a couple of years ago. 50 miles a day was a full day. But we stopped at all the historical markers along the way and checked out most of the small towns also.

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