Reply to Riding the trail...

I'm planning to bike the Katy Trail the end of Sept for 5 days...
I have a few questions:
#1: My sister was supposed to go with me and canceled out...am I insane to do it alone (mid-age woman)??? (I'm an experienced rider...rode down the west coast on hwy 1 from SF to Tiajuana last summer with a group of 10). I'm in great shape, can change my own flat...it's the 'woman alone thing". My husband thinks i'm a bit nuts (!)my daughter thinks it's perfectly fine. (she, who just got back from traveling in South America!!!).
#2: Road or Mt. ??? I have a Specialized Alaiz...can't imagine subjecting it to the limestone (my poor baby)! BUT...My Mt. Bike (Gary Fisher, Cake 2 duellie) just seems so heavy! I put semi-slicks on it and it's better now on the limestone trails here. I was thinking of getting a little more upright stem (it's in racing position now) and making it a really COMFY ride. Try to forget about speed and "smell the roses"(!). I know the duel suspension will be nice to have but I'm still worried about the weight. Any thoughts? Oh, i'm planning on carrying a back rack and just the bare esentials. (staying in B&B's along the way)
Thanks for the comments...bring em on! : )

i see no problem with u ridin alone. i have seen many women ridin alone on the katy. as far as the bikes go, i have a raliegh with 1"-1 1/2 inch wide knobbys that came on it. it does just fine. NEVER (and knock on wood) have i ever had a problem. what ever u do, good luck and have fun. it's a great trail to ride.

You should go ahead with the ride. The Katy Trail is under the state park system and a group of volunteers ride sections of the trail to help folks. I usually ride the section between Jefferson City and Hartsburg daily. Cell phone service usually works in most areas. Bicycle...I ride a hybrid but use a mountain bike if it rains when the trail can get soft in spots. Good luck!

I rode the entire Katy alone in 2003 (female and 50) and had no problems at all. Did it with my sister last year, and will possibly do it alone again this October. Stayed at B&Bs/Hotels and had a great time. Just be prepared for a possible flat. I've had 3 on the trail in the past 3 years. Seems like some of those tiny rocks are mighty pointy and sharp.
Go and enjoy!

If you want to read some inspirational stories about the "woman traveling alone" thing, look up the writings of Kira Salak. Most recently she rode the Alaskan Highway. She made almost the entire trip north until she blew her knee out.

Wonderful writer, incredible stories.

Big Rick

Onwhim - Riding the KATY by yourself isn't the issue....more to the point the equipment is and you are on the beam. I can only add that depending on clearance you could use your Allez with 28 or so tires and rumours of a lot of excessive dust from the pug are exaggerated. Now if the trail gets really soaked it won't be pretty, but then it is a Rail/Trail. I applaud your switching to slicks on your GF...get some Slime liners, (not Slime itself) and your tires will be nearly bulletproof. I used my trusty hard-tail Myata MTB pulling a BoB trailer, the bar was flat with bar ends. Front forks and a shock suspension seat rounded up the bike parts. Tires were cheapos w/Slime liners and had one flat, rear tire of course. Regards....Mark of the Dalton Boys

I use a racing hybred on the trail. I use a size 28 tire with no problem. I prefer a hybred road bike over a mountain bike on the trail (covers a lot of distance with ease). I also use road bike handle bars. The dust is over-exagerated. A couple of notes: 1) I do not use my bike (28 tire) on the trail when it's wet, you would probably do better with a mountain bike if rain is predicted. 2) You may not be able to use side trails with a road type bike.