Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Touring
Reload this Page >

Katy Trail Alternative retun route

Notices
Touring Have a dream to ride a bike across your state, across the country, or around the world? Self-contained or fully supported? Trade ideas, adventures, and more in our bicycle touring forum.

Katy Trail Alternative retun route

Old 03-11-19, 12:12 PM
  #1  
TheRef
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
TheRef's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 465
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 122 Post(s)
Liked 13 Times in 8 Posts
Katy Trail Alternative retun route

I'm on my early stages of planning a late spring/early summer trip on the Katy trail. I'm coming from Chicago's suburb and I'll be starting from St Louis leaving my car there and riding West. I still have many details to work out as far as carrying sleeping gear or sleeping indoors and bringing as little as possible. If I'm able to take enough days off work I will ride back but the idea of doing the same trail on the opposite direction is boring so I'm thinking of taking roads and parts of the trail to get another route/perspective of the area.

Has anyone done anything like that (I'm pretty sure someone has)? Should I look north or south of the trail? Zig-Zag? Make straight lines to have the shorter route back? How's the terrain? Are services available off the main trail? Water, food, shelter?
Are locals roads bicycle friendly? I hear a lot of scary stories about pick-up drivers in the south.

If I don't have enough time to ride back one option will be to have my wife drive to pick me up or taking a train back to St. Louis. Are there commercial shuttles available??
TheRef is offline  
Old 03-11-19, 12:13 PM
  #2  
TheRef
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
TheRef's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 465
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 122 Post(s)
Liked 13 Times in 8 Posts


Rough idea of what I'm taking about.
TheRef is offline  
Old 03-11-19, 12:58 PM
  #3  
boomhauer
Senior Member
 
boomhauer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 780
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 226 Post(s)
Liked 45 Times in 32 Posts
At Windsor Missouri head north on the Rock Island trail and head to Pleasant Hill MO. From there it is a short pavement ride to the Amtrak station in Lee’s Summit, MO. If you want to ride to Downtown Kansas City for the hell of it there is also an Amtrak station there.
Riding on the road back to St. Louis isn’t too big of a deal. Check out the Missouri state highway traffic volume map or the bicycle map. You can pick your spots.
You wont get hassrassed by one tooth hillbillys.
i have been yelled at by grain trucks during harvest season.


Last edited by boomhauer; 03-16-19 at 10:55 AM.
boomhauer is offline  
Old 03-11-19, 01:08 PM
  #4  
mstateglfr 
Sunshine
 
mstateglfr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 16,535

Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo

Mentioned: 123 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10901 Post(s)
Liked 7,390 Times in 4,148 Posts
if you take the train, you need to reserve ahead of time as there is room for 4 bikes per train. just an FYI.

use this site to plan your details for food, water, shelter, etc. https://bikekatytrail.com/planner.aspx
mstateglfr is offline  
Old 03-11-19, 03:28 PM
  #5  
robow
Senior Member
 
robow's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,860
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 595 Post(s)
Liked 278 Times in 189 Posts
The roads will be much more hilly than the trail, lots of rollers but nothing too steep.
robow is offline  
Old 03-12-19, 10:03 AM
  #6  
TheRef
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
TheRef's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 465
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 122 Post(s)
Liked 13 Times in 8 Posts
It looks like if I want to take the train back it will add one full day riding to Lee's Summit. I also see that Clinton has a Enterprise car rental. I'll explorer the option of renting a car one way to St. Louis.
I'm still hoping to be able to take enough time off to do it round-trip on my bike.
TheRef is offline  
Old 03-12-19, 10:52 AM
  #7  
alan s 
Senior Member
 
alan s's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 6,977
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1496 Post(s)
Liked 189 Times in 128 Posts
The train stops in Sedalia as well, which is right on the trail.
alan s is offline  
Old 03-12-19, 01:51 PM
  #8  
JoeyBike
20+mph Commuter
 
JoeyBike's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: New Orleans, LA USA
Posts: 7,491

Bikes: Surly LHT, Surly Lowside, a folding bike, and a beater.

Mentioned: 31 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1422 Post(s)
Liked 315 Times in 210 Posts
^^This. Or....

I biked the Katy westward to Booneville, then up to Kansas City, then Omaha, Nebraska where I caught AmTrak directly to Chicago. I know you have a car stuck in St. Louis under your current plan but figured you might like someone thinking outside the box.

I enjoyed the trip to Omaha from Booneville. The Steamboat Trace trail is along the Missouri on this route, as are a few other Rail-Trails. Also quiet roads through cornfields. Shoot for Council Bluffs which is across the river from Omaha (cheaper lodging if you have to wait a day or two for the train). Check out the very fine Omaha Zoo, hop the train, and relax back home. The Omaha train station had bike boxes.

Cheers.

Last edited by JoeyBike; 03-12-19 at 01:55 PM.
JoeyBike is offline  
Old 03-16-19, 10:12 AM
  #9  
TheRef
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
TheRef's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 465
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 122 Post(s)
Liked 13 Times in 8 Posts
It's looking like it's gonna be a one way on the Katy. A friend offered to drive me to the beginning or pick me up at the end. The wife might drive the other leg which would complete eliminate the need to ride the trail.
Now I need to set a date and confirm which direction I'll ride east-west or west-east, decide the pace and how much to carry.
I could do 3 80 miler days carrying the bare minimum and paying for lodging or 5 days and carrying camping gear. I'll not bring cooking gear and will pay for food along the trail.

What are the must see along the trail? Which towns would have better facilities for camping and which would be best to get lodging?

Still too much to learn and research before deciding on a firm plan.
What are your thoughts on riding a road bike with 25 or 28mm tires? (I've seen you tube videos of people riding road bike set ups with skinny tires)

Last edited by TheRef; 03-16-19 at 10:18 AM.
TheRef is offline  
Old 03-16-19, 11:02 AM
  #10  
boomhauer
Senior Member
 
boomhauer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 780
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 226 Post(s)
Liked 45 Times in 32 Posts
Originally Posted by TheRef
I
What are your thoughts on riding a road bike with 25 or 28mm tires? (I've seen you tube videos of people riding road bike set ups with skinny tires)
I think the skinny tires are okay EXCEPT for the springtime, which your time frame borders on.
There could be some wet spots that require patience. 35mm tires would be preferred.
boomhauer is offline  
Old 03-17-19, 06:27 AM
  #11  
John N
Full Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Tulsa, OK
Posts: 451

Bikes: Co-Motion Americano Pinion P18; Co-Motion Americano Rohloff; Thorn Nomad MkII, Robert Beckman Skakkit (FOR SALE), Santana Tandem, ICE Adventure FS

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 169 Post(s)
Liked 64 Times in 48 Posts
"I could do 3 80 miler days carrying the bare minimum and paying for lodging or 5 days and carrying camping gear. I'll not bring cooking gear and will pay for food along the trail. "

Friendly reminder that 80 miles on the trail is much harder, all things being equal, that pavement. The crushed limestone takes about 15%-20% extra energy, especially if the trail is the least bit wet. It is doable of course, but if your pavement limit is 80 miles, you will be tested doing 80 miles on limestone.

Tailwinds, John
John N is offline  
Old 03-17-19, 09:19 AM
  #12  
jamawani 
Hooked on Touring
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Wyoming
Posts: 2,854
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 347 Post(s)
Liked 141 Times in 91 Posts
Please be aware that there is already significant flooding along the middle Missouri River.
The Missouri Basin has a near-record snowpack with spring rains still to come.
There may be long closures of the Katy in late spring and early summer.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...ations-n984086
jamawani is offline  
Old 03-17-19, 07:59 PM
  #13  
robow
Senior Member
 
robow's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,860
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 595 Post(s)
Liked 278 Times in 189 Posts
Originally Posted by TulsaJohn
"I could do 3 80 miler days carrying the bare minimum and paying for lodging or 5 days and carrying camping gear. I'll not bring cooking gear and will pay for food along the trail. "

Friendly reminder that 80 miles on the trail is much harder, all things being equal, that pavement. The crushed limestone takes about 15%-20% extra energy, especially if the trail is the least bit wet. It is doable of course, but if your pavement limit is 80 miles, you will be tested doing 80 miles on limestone.

Tailwinds, John
Couldn't agree more. We were set on doing 80 miles a day over three days many many years ago but unfortunately the riding conditions were not the best and it was brutal. By adding that single extra day, it was so much more enjoyable where we could actually stop and see the sights and smell those roses.
robow is offline  
Old 03-18-19, 11:57 AM
  #14  
JoeyBike
20+mph Commuter
 
JoeyBike's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: New Orleans, LA USA
Posts: 7,491

Bikes: Surly LHT, Surly Lowside, a folding bike, and a beater.

Mentioned: 31 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1422 Post(s)
Liked 315 Times in 210 Posts
Originally Posted by jamawani
Please be aware that there is already significant flooding along the middle Missouri River.
The Missouri Basin has a near-record snowpack with spring rains still to come.
There may be long closures of the Katy in late spring and early summer.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...ations-n984086
Yeah, ^^This.
JoeyBike is offline  
Old 03-20-19, 09:21 AM
  #15  
TheRef
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
TheRef's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 465
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 122 Post(s)
Liked 13 Times in 8 Posts
Originally Posted by JoeyBike
Yeah, ^^This.
I've been following the situation and doesn't look like early spring will work out well. Specially on a skinny tire road bike.
TheRef is offline  
Old 03-21-19, 10:13 AM
  #16  
JoeyBike
20+mph Commuter
 
JoeyBike's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: New Orleans, LA USA
Posts: 7,491

Bikes: Surly LHT, Surly Lowside, a folding bike, and a beater.

Mentioned: 31 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1422 Post(s)
Liked 315 Times in 210 Posts
Originally Posted by TheRef
I've been following the situation and doesn't look like early spring will work out well. Specially on a skinny tire road bike.
I got stuck in Council Bluffs motel for a week during a Spring flood event while on tour. I had just left the Katy Trail under sketchy high water. I had been on the road about one month of a 3-month trip. As soon as they got the Amtrak back running through there I got on it and went home. I planned to do some stuff around the house and continue the trip later in the Fall. This was 2005. You know what kept me from ever finishing that trip? A tramp named Katrina that flooded my house and city. That kept me busy for, hmmmmm, ten years. I am STILL dealing with some of those loose ends to this day. Should have just gone with my instincts and burned the house down and moved. Of course now it seems weather related mayhem is pretty much worldwide.

Last edited by JoeyBike; 03-21-19 at 10:17 AM.
JoeyBike is offline  
Old 03-21-19, 02:58 PM
  #17  
JerrySTL
Senior Member
 
JerrySTL's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Near St. Louis, Missouri
Posts: 1,471

Bikes: Giant Defy Advanced, Breezer Doppler Team, Schwinn Twinn Tandem, Windsor Tourist, 1954 JC Higgens

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 36 Post(s)
Liked 9 Times in 7 Posts
Originally Posted by TheRef
What are your thoughts on riding a road bike with 25 or 28mm tires? (I've seen you tube videos of people riding road bike set ups with skinny tires)
25s are probably a bad idea. 28mm could be OK. I weight 220 lbs and have used 700x32 tires the 8 times that I've done the entire Katy. I have ridden short sections of it on 25s but it was rather rough.

I just bought a gravel bike with 650bx47 tires which is probably overkill for the Katy, but I'm looking forward riding it there shortly.

One thing that I would recommend is fenders. They really help if the Katy is wet or even dusty dry.
JerrySTL is offline  
Old 03-28-19, 11:43 AM
  #18  
RidingMatthew
Let's Ride!
 
RidingMatthew's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Triad, NC USA
Posts: 2,569

Bikes: --2010 Jamis 650b1-- 2016 Cervelo R2-- 2018 Salsa Journeyman 650B

Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 327 Post(s)
Liked 37 Times in 24 Posts
Originally Posted by JerrySTL
25s are probably a bad idea. 28mm could be OK. I weight 220 lbs and have used 700x32 tires the 8 times that I've done the entire Katy. I have ridden short sections of it on 25s but it was rather rough.

I just bought a gravel bike with 650bx47 tires which is probably overkill for the Katy, but I'm looking forward riding it there shortly.

One thing that I would recommend is fenders. They really help if the Katy is wet or even dusty dry.
thanks @JerrySTL that is helpful information. Now if I can just get from NC to start it is on the bucket list.
Is it camping friendly or should i schedule stops in AIR BNB and stuff?
RidingMatthew is offline  
Old 03-28-19, 07:52 PM
  #19  
JerrySTL
Senior Member
 
JerrySTL's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Near St. Louis, Missouri
Posts: 1,471

Bikes: Giant Defy Advanced, Breezer Doppler Team, Schwinn Twinn Tandem, Windsor Tourist, 1954 JC Higgens

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 36 Post(s)
Liked 9 Times in 7 Posts
Originally Posted by RidingMatthew
thanks @JerrySTL that is helpful information. Now if I can just get from NC to start it is on the bucket list.
Is it camping friendly or should i schedule stops in AIR BNB and stuff?
There are plenty of places to camp if you schedule carefully. There are also plenty of B&B opportunities. Here's a good resource for all things Katy Trail.
https://bikekatytrail.com/default.aspx

If you'd like to do a supported ride in mid-June, I highly recommend this one. I'm signed up for my 9 time with this group.
https://mostateparks.com/2019ktride

It often sells out well before May so you might want to check it out soon.
JerrySTL is offline  
Old 03-29-19, 07:44 AM
  #20  
RidingMatthew
Let's Ride!
 
RidingMatthew's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Triad, NC USA
Posts: 2,569

Bikes: --2010 Jamis 650b1-- 2016 Cervelo R2-- 2018 Salsa Journeyman 650B

Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 327 Post(s)
Liked 37 Times in 24 Posts
@JerrySTL thanks i have seen the first link before. I was going to do the BAM on the Katy this year in October but had to cancel due to circumstances. it is on my dream list.

i have checked out the other website you listed and it looks great. It might be what I do for my ride.

Last edited by RidingMatthew; 03-29-19 at 07:51 AM.
RidingMatthew is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
johan_h
Pacific Northwest
11
05-08-18 03:51 PM
Hondo Gravel
Touring
6
04-06-18 12:49 AM
woodysroad
Touring
2
03-19-15 05:39 AM
Medic Zero
Pacific Northwest
13
10-08-13 07:04 PM
Chalupa102
Northeast
8
02-09-11 07:07 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.