Three Day Ride 12-14 March Full Trail

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William Cleveland from Knob Noster on 2/18/2019 5:12:09 PM:

I will be starting at about 0800 in Machens at mile marker 0 (past the trail head). Day 1 is 105 miles stopping in McKittrick. Day 2 ends 80 miles down the trail at Rocheport. Day 3 will end in Clinton. Each morning will start at approximately 0800 (trying to ride by daylight). If you are interested in making the ride at the same time send me an email.
This site has provided me with a wealth of information. Thank you to everyone who has posted.

Jim from St Thomas on 2/18/2019 8:35:42 PM:

I believe your day one mileage is off. Should be around 74 miles to McKittrick. I don’t envy you that 85+ mile ride on day three on the hardest section of the trail. It’s gonna feel good when you pull into Clinton.

Bobby from Fort Worth on 2/18/2019 8:48:53 PM:

I am riding the same dates but in the opposite direction. Starting on RI in Pleasant Hill jumping on the KATY in Windsor. Good Luck and wish for warm weather!

William from Knob Noster on 2/19/2019 12:21:51 PM:

My day one milage should be off because I am starting at the end past the trailhead.
I have read about the section between Booneville and Sedalia being tough.
Right now I am debating whether I need to buy winter cycling shoes.
See you on the trail (at least in passing) Bobby.
Thank you for
replying back so fast.

Anonymous on 2/19/2019 4:47:58 PM:

The end of the trail is 30 miles from the Machens trailhead?

That'd put you across the river wouldn't it?

William from Knob Noster on 2/19/2019 5:52:12 PM:

Looking at the map available on the site (waiting on my physical copy to arrive in mail). It would be 26.9 miles. It looks like I rounded when making my original calculation.

Jim from St Thomas on 2/19/2019 7:25:31 PM:

You have peaked my curiosity. I was not aware the Katy went past Machens but I’ve ridden east of St Charles. When I look at google maps I don’t see anything resembling a rail bed - does it run along the back roads?

William from Knob Noster on 2/19/2019 7:56:18 PM:

It looks like I needed to examine the map a little closer. I guess I am starting at the road just past the trail head. A whole 187 feet.

The weather today has convinced me that I need to go ahead and get the winter riding boots.

In order to ride those extra miles I would have to start down the road.

Jerry Whittle from Belleville on 2/19/2019 8:52:30 PM:

The Katy Trail mileage markers can be confusing. It's what the railroad people used for going all the way into St. Louis. The end of the trail at Machens is at MM 26.9. I had assumed that William might have been starting from St. Louis.

TheRammer from DFW, TX on 2/20/2019 2:38:02 AM:

3/12 3/13 3/14
Historical Average High/Low 54°/35° 55°/36° 55°/36°
Actual Temperature 2018 47°/30° 49°/28° 57°/24°
Current Forecast 2019 59°/30° 59°/30° 45°/26°

One can dress for cold weather riding, but these temperatures are too cold for all day riding, for me. Personally, I prefer a low temperature of at least 50°. This would suggest a start date in mid-April.

Good Luck.

P.S. You could start your ride exactly 26.9 miles from the Machens trail terminus, if you want your trip to match the mile markers.

William from Knob Noster on 2/20/2019 3:26:22 PM:

Thank you for the advice.
Due to timing between college courses the next time I would be able to do this ride would be May. I'll be wearing Lake MXZ 303s with wool socks and I will be equipped with hand/feet warmers.
I did a 3 hour ride in 30 degree weather with summer cycling shoes.
I plan on doing a 3 hour out and back a week or two before.
I will follow up in a couple weeks with a pre-ride.

Jim from St Thomas on 2/21/2019 2:41:51 PM:

We’ve done rides in mid-October where the starting temps were in the low thirties. Never had a problem with my feet getting cold - it was always ears and hands. A good knit cap takes care of the ears and wool gloves with an outer shell works for the hands. Hand warmers sound even better.

Cathy from Pittsburgh on 2/25/2019 7:44:18 PM:

Since you are doing this in March, and it is in Missouri, keep in mind the weather can be good, bad and ugly, even without climate change. As they say in Missouri, if you don't like the weather, stick around and it will be completely different tomorrow. Sometimes in March the weather goes from freezing to in the 40s to 50s and up. And that causes the trail to freeze and thaw. In those conditions it is like biking on wet cement. Hopefully you won't run into that, but if you do, well, it will be quite unpleasant.

Dave Murray from Fox on 2/27/2019 7:44:54 PM:

I totally agree with Cathy, Be prepared for precipitation in the form of rain, sleet or snow with variable winds most likely from the west southwest gusting up to 25-30 mph. Or to your benefit it could be calm winds with clear skies with highs in the low to mid 60s. Good luck.

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