David Bierbaum

If I were more on my game, I'd have way more pics of this event, but getting lost on the way in, and heading back before lunch to see my nephew before he went to the Cards game (succesfully executed!) kept me from photographically documenting the Historic St. Charles part of the trip.

We started off in the sunlight, as the rain went away and left us alone.


I was forcibly reminded of the difficulties in taking a pic while riding on a less-than-smooth surface.


But then, stopping to take the pic has it's own travails...


We passed Green's Bottom. ... I can't help it! "Green's Bottom is the place to be! Biiii-cycling is the life I lead!" A discussion of Green Acres ensued.


Glimpses of the Missouri River were few and far between. This was about the best glimpse I got of the "natural beauty" of the river.


Los Quattro Amigos! The only bad thing about this shot, is that we didn't get a shot of the person taking this pic. We have nicknamed the intersection where this was taken "Bikini Crossing" in honor of this intrepid photographer...


This was the far point of our ride, at approximately 12 miles out. Here we took a break.


Wait, we were taking a break?


So now, sadly, it is time to head back.


I'm sorry I don't have any pics of the neat stuff in the St. Charles parking lot, or the Trailhead Brewing Company. Mea Culpa.

I'm not looking forward to finishing the cleaning of my ghostly-white dust-caked bicycle. That limestone dust gets all over everything...

Oh, and I tried my bug-hairnet, but took it off. It cut the ventilation too much.

DnvrFox

Hey - thanks for sharing. Nice to see other 50+'rs.

Dudelsack 

So, do these shady looking characters have names?

David Bierbaum

Sure! ... ... what were their names again? They've told me point blank, and I've already forgotten! GWARG!!! Excuse me as I go sink into the murky depths of short term memory loss...

Edit: And I've just noticed, in the quad shot, I'm the only one who's legs are coated with limestone dust to the point of looking like chalk sticks.

JerrySTL

Hi Dave,

Thanks for the photos. Definitely the camera was pointed in the wrong direction at Bikini Crossing!

That's me 3rd from the left - the tallest of the group in the 'other' red jersey..

Here's the Garmin Connect link to the ride.
https://connect.garmin.com/activity/345546988

BTW Dave - you just went over 1,000 posts! And I still have the theme song to Green Acres playing in my brain thanks to you.

Let's do it again next year if not sooner! Great ride

Retro Grouch 

So does that mean you'll make the trip next year?

DnvrFox

I would love to.

Dellphinus

That's me on the right, in the 50+ Jersey, leaning on my bike. She made my knees weak.

Nice pics Dave! Thanks for taking/sharing.

billydonn

Well done guys!

Blues Frog

Guess I have to get the Cameron Bicycle Club somehow motivated. We must make it a full trail trip that some can come and go as they need to. That looks like a trip I shouldn't miss. I went from Rocheport to Hartsburg and back in the fall two years ago. A lovely trip in the fall air. The wineries had to be checked afterwards. Don't remember seeing any pie there though! Glad all had a good time.

Retro Grouch 

We're thinking we should make this an annual event and at about the same time so that would be July 12&13 or July 19& 20 next year. Dellphinus and Jerry STL arrived early and rode to Machens and back before the "official" Social so they got in roughly 50 miles on the day. David Bierbaum and I wimped out and only rode 25 but the combination worked perfectly for everybody. We'll definitely make the Machens out-and-back an "official" part of the Social next year for the folks who want it. For various reasons we decided to skip the Madison County, IL ride but will plan to include it next year with a choice of distances. We hope to have more riders and hopefully some out-of-towners next year.

JanMM

Is the limestone surface consistent and is it perfectly ok for most bikes/tires?

Nice ride.

JerrySTL

The Katy Trail is excellent for hybrids, cyclocross, and touring bikes with somewhat fatter tires. Mountain bikes are overkill but would work.

There are people who ride on it with road bikes having tires as small as 700x23. I've done it myself for short distances, but don't recommend it. The Katy isn't perfectly smooth and you can run into some soft patches where skinny tires can sink in.

Riding on the Katy is the main reason I bought a Windsor Tourist touring bike from Bikes Direct. The 700x32 tires are perfect for me on the Katy. I do the entire Katy about once a year.

David Bierbaum

It is semi consistent, except in areas where construction is going on. I think it is okay for most tires, since the crushed limestone is basically crushed into powder. I think I brought half the trail back home with me. I'm STILL cleaning my bike!

I wonder how the Collinsville ride today went.

Edit: Yeah, I didn't think about skinny tires there, I just was thinking "treads" or "slicks".