Rock Island Trail Forum

Much of the discussion on getting to the Katy in St louis mentions going from Kirkwood. I think it is 20+ miles. What about taking amtrak to the union station and then taking the metro train to the airport? All of the amtrak schedules I see arrive late in St Louis. I would rather have a short drive on the night I arrive (Stay at a local motel near the airport) and hit the trail early with a short bike. Comments?

The metrolink trains only run a generally east-west route that ends at the airport, so you would probably have to take the bus. I have not ridden the busses here - I understand some/several of them have bike racks. It is about 20 miles from Kirkwood to St. Charles - you are best to find a cab that can take a bike, a shuttle service or a buddy.

Metrolink DOES run from Union Station to the Airport, but I don't know an Airport-to-Katy route.

Sorry, read Kirkwood, not union station :(

Again, apologies Karl. It may have taken 4 days for someone to answer, but at least it only took 24 hours for someone to prove me wrong. Hopefully your question is answered ;)

I planned on doing that. I mapped out this route:



http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=53112



I ran it by some friends but did not ride it. We'll be going from Kirkwood after all, thanks to Amtrak's trailer policy.

I'm interested in getting dropped off at the Kirkwood Amtrak station for a one-way trip west, and I was wondering about the best way to get from there to the trail. Is it a safe ride or is getting a shuttle the way to go?

I put together a page discussing this issue - click here for details. I'd love to get feedback from anyone who has ridden from Kirkwood (St Louis County) to the Katy Trail.

I did the opposite in August 2004. That is, I rode from the KATY trail to the Amtrak station in Kirkwood. From the Page Bridge and Creve Coeur Park Connector Trail, I took the following roads:

SE on Marine Ave.

Straight on Westport Plaza Dr.

Straight on Craig Rd.

Left on Olive Blvd.

Right on Mosley Rd.

Left on Ladue Rd.

Right on Spoede Rd.

Right on Clayton Rd.

Left on Geyer Rd.

Left on Argonne Rd.



Except for the long, steep hill on Marine Ave., this turned out to be a pleasant, fairly quiet ride. In addition to the hill, Marine was pretty narrow, twisty, and busy. Much to my surprise, no one honked at us and most vehicles passed in a courteous fashion. However, I would only recommend this route to very experienced riders.

I'm planning to ride the Katy in early May & want to take Amtrak from LA to (near) one end of the trail and back to LA from (near) the other end. Haven't got any decent maps yet, not sure which Amtrak stations would work best for this approach. I'd rather ride 20-30 miles on bikeable roads than wait around for a local connector train. I'm bringing along a Bike Friday NWT folder w/suitcase trailer & don't want the hassles of sending my bike-in-a-suitcase through airport security, or I would consider flying (but where?)



Any suggestions gratefully accepted & considered. Thanx, Sharron Sussman, Julian, CA, sharronsuss@earthlink.net

My thought would be to do Sedalia for the west end and Kirkwood (see above) for the east end. You would end up missing out on the Clinton to Sedalia section, which is probably the least scenic part of the trail anyway (I like it, too, but it's a more agricultural/prairie area). The Hotel Bothwell is a reasonably priced old restored hotel that is an easy ride from both the Amtrak station and the trail, if timing works out such that you need to stay in Sedalia one night. There is a good Italian restaurant in the hotel, but it is closed Sunday nights.

Lococo House ll, Bed & Breakfast is three blocks from the St. Charles Trail Head ----- we provide shuttle service to Amtrak Station in Kirkwood ------ you can leave your car here ride the train, to the chosen desination of your choice and then ride back to your car ----or you can ride train from your destination to St Charles and then we will shuttle you to train station and you can ride back to your vehicle ----- or we can pick you up at the Airport ---- the choices are yours --- we only require you stay with us one night ---- either coming or going ----- and a small shuttle fee, we have a quaint Old Town St. Charles, which will provide you with entertainment and many restaurants to choose from ---- give us a call or look us up at www.lococohouse.com

I've mapped out the second route in gmaps. Is this the shortest one of the options? I assume that avoiding the traffic has recreational cyclists in mind. I commute by bicycle, so a bit of traffic doesn't bother me. I need to get off the train around 3 and get about 40 miles of trail down before dark, so I'm hoping to get there as fast as possible with a reasonably safe route in mind. The route to Creve Coure is 16 miles.

My friends and I stopped in Clifton City the 18th of March and the honor system refigerator isn't stocked yet. You can go up the hill to a metal building on the left and there is a door on the side. It doesn't look like a business but it is a garage and they have drinks.

We will be taking the train to Sedalia, but want to start riding from Clinton. Does anyone know of ways to get to Clinton without having to ride to Clinton and then double back to Sedalia? Thanks

j y, check on some shuttle services. check this web site. it has pret near eveything you need. happy bikin and be safe. frank

Hi All,

My wife and I are new to the Katy and I myself am disabled and will use a elcetric assisted bike, It is a Huffy Luna comfort bike ( you can stop laughing now) Are helmets required? Will that bike be good enough for a 10 mile round trip.? It is for exercise and to get outdoors so I am not a bike fanatic by no means and have not ridden a bike in years but to follow doc's orders ride a bike.. any helpful thoughts / suggestions would be appreciated. Who knows maybe it will be a miracle cure for me..thanks

Antlerz around Portland MO.

I've heard many people say that cycling helped them overcome or better cope with illnesses or disabilities - I hope this will be your experience too! The Katy Trail is very handicap-accessible.



Helmets are not required, but they are highly recommended if you consider your brain worth protecting. True, there are no cars to worry about, but in theory you could end up butting heads with a tree if you accidentally waver off the trail, or a cyclist coming from the other direction who's not paying attention.



Just about any bike will get you 10 miles, but you might want to start with a very short trip just to make sure all the moving parts are working as expected and won't leave you stranded at the 5-mile turnaround point. And to gauge your own comfort on the bike, to make sure you're up for those first 10 miles.



One useful approach is to go 2.5 miles in one direction, turn around and go a full 5 miles (2.5 past the trailhead where you started), and then back to the trailhead. That way you get in a full 10 miles without ever being more than 2.5 miles from your car.




I'd also highly recommend you carry a spare inner tube. If you don't know how to change a flat tire, bring a wheel into your local bike shop and ask if they'll show you. It's easy to do, and good to know - especially if your disability would prevent you from walking back to the car in the event of a flat.



Good luck, and enjoy the freedom that cycling will bring you.

....AND Antlerz...remember that regardless what bicycle you're on, you are on a bicycle. There are plenty of elitists out there and don't let them bother you...you are doing the right thing both for your health as well as fitness and enjoyment. You may wish to do a search on your computer and look up "recumbent bicycle, and/or tricycle" and you may see something that piques your interest. Everything else....what Ray (Webmaster) said... Kindest Regards...Mark of the Dalton Boys

Thanks for the replies, I am sure we will both learn to love riding a bike again. Getting outdoors is what it is all about and having fun. Hope to see all of you someday on the trail..

Craig

Antlerz,



First of all, let me applaud your efforts. Biking is a wonderful, low impact exercise (provided you don't hit a tree!) & will bring you many hours of pleasure. 4 years ago, my wife & I were both getting very overwieght, my BP was up,etc. I'm 6-0, almost 50 years old, & got to 265. In any case, just on a lark, we bought a tandem from walmart for just under $300. I can tell you, it's the best money we ever spent. We started riding mostly just to have something to do. We live out in the country, & its exactly a mile to our mailbox. It took us 4 tries to make it round trip. But we kept trying, & even got a couple of singles to ride when one of us couldn't go. Since then,between the singles & the tandem, I've lost 50 pounds & my wife even more. 2 years ago we upgraded to better bikes. She rides a Fuji Odessa & I a Utah. The Odessa cost less than $250 & the Utah was slightly more. We've put over 1500 miles on them without any repairs.









You might look at one of these as an upgrade someday (ain't nuthin wrong with your huffy if it does what you want it to do). I mention it only because they have better wheels & such & will handle life's little accidents better. I wadded up the front wheel of a cheap bike once jumping down off a 6 in. curb.The Fuji never has any trouble with that spot & has survived 1 truly spectacular crash with no damage.














We both wear helmets, fingerless gloves, (if you fall,it will save your palms),& carry a small tool kit, a spare tube, & plenty of water, a snack (granola bar, etc) & a cell phone for emergencies.

happy trails!








Bryan

Bryan & Spouse - My heartfelt compliments to you both!!!! You both are what cycling should be all about....its not what you ride so much as you ride. Remember...when in doubt, ride your bike, or tandem, or recumbent etc. Enjoy the Voyage.....Mark of the DaltonBoys

Bryan,

Thanks for your inspiration, I hope to achieve what you and others have done.

I have found this site very encouraging and looking for some warmer weather.



My electric assist should be here any day now can't wait to give it a spin.



thanks to everyone.

Antlerz

Mark and Antlerz, thanks for the kind words. Hope you enjoy many years of riding. I guess I should have introduced her, my wife's name is Carolanne, by the way. As of yesterday, we have offically booked our first two nights for our spring break ride. We are going to start in Hermann and ride west. Kids are going to drop us off one weekend and pick us up the next weekend at where ever we get to.



Happy trails.

After the trip write in and let us know how it went. Regards.....Mark of the Dalton Boys

Only 2 more weeks to go till the big ride.



Antlerz....is your bike working out ok? Have you been able to get out and ride much? The weather here has kept us indoors more than I like, but oh well...I don't ride in ice and snow!

Bryan - when my brothers and I were two weeks out from our KATY ride it may just as well have been two weeks before Christmas!! I'm happy for you and jealous. Regards........Mark of the Dalton Boys

Well, finally, the big day is here. We leave in the morning, bound for Hermann. Yeah, I know the forecast ain't so good, but oh well. Instead of shorts and tanks, we've packed sweats, windsuits and thermal underwear.



WOO-HOO!! I'll report in when we get back.



Bryan

Five of us will be on the trail this weekend. We will start at Clinton about 1:PM, Friday March 17. Spend the first night at the Hotel Bothwell in Sedalia. The next night at the Globe Hotel in Hartsburg and the last in Marthasville at the little house. It is going to be COLD. Hope to see someone else out.

I don't imagine it will be crowded. :)

after reading this forum for quite some time now, there are obviously some serious bikers out there, so i am askin for help. i have a raleigh bike with 1"-1 1/2" wide knobby tires. have rode the katy numerous times as well as some other tails. not into mountain biking at all. no problem with flats. have been told by some pretty seious bikers that i need narrower tires for ridin, it would make pedaling much easier. i question the narrow tires on the katy's surface. was told it wouldn't matter.



any advice from anyone out there!!!!!!!! i needs some advice on this!!!!!! thanx loads in advance.



you can hit me here or at my e-mail. cleo-beo@earthlink.net thanx folks and happy bikin. frank

Hi Frank,

I'm not sure if I qualify as a serious cyclist (I wear a $5 reflective safety vest instead of $75 cycling jerseys when I ride on the road). I think you are wise to question the narrow tires for the Katy. If the primary purpose of the bike is casual riding on trails and around town, I would buy tires with a smoother tread, but I would not go narrower than 1.25".

I definitely don't qualify as a professional on the subject but based on several combinations that I have tried and observing what others are using on the trail, it seems that 700 X 32-37mm tires offer the best combination of relative puncture resistance, low rolling resistance and comfort. Most road bikes don't have clearance for tires over 28mm, which is problematic if the trail is wet and/or soft or if you are carrying extra weight such as bags etc. Thus the bike choice would be a touring, cyclocross, and most hybrids. I have emailed you an article regarding specific tire choices.

I am going to ride the trail from Clinton to St. Charles this coming weekend. The 17th - 20th. This will be my 4th time to ride on the trail. On my mountain bike I used a continental Goliath 26x1.6. This tire is slick on the bottom with small knobs on the side. Now I am riding using a continental contact 32mm. It is wide enough so that it won's sink so bad in soft spots but still small enough so it won't have so much drag. It is also supposed to be practically flat resistant. One of my friends is using a 35mm tire. It is very practical too.

Frank - What the last three respondents said...can't add to, or take away from any of their observations. enjoy the voyage....Mark of the Dalton Boys

I have ridden the trail a lot for many years and love it. I rode with knobby tires my first

year on the trail and my personal opinion is that knobby tires are just overkill for the trial.

I ride a Trek mountain bike with Kevlar messenger bike tires, Panaracer brand, 1.25 inches

with smooth tread and never had a problem. But, I am a roadie at heart and ride for

speed. I love riding the trail because I can zoom along without worry about cars and

rudeness. The trail between Clinton and Booneville is larger rocks, rougher surface and I

have had no problems. Between Marthasville and St. Charles most of the trail is hard

packed and last time I was there saw lots of road bikes. I would never take my road bike

out on most of the trail.



Regardless, the trail is great...have fun!

Hello, my son is a senior in High School we are planning to bike the trail on his spring break which starts March 17. We are going to start at Clinton. Is anyone else planning to do the trail at this time? Are we crazy to do it so early in the year? We are just casual bikers but experienced campers (backpackers) and plan to take it slow and camp whenever we can. I know the weather can be iffy but we are prepared for that.

I will say that I have been disappointed in the bed and breakfasts I have researched. For one thing they are so expensive. (The cheapest are usually $100, and some are $150-$200 for ONE NIGHT!) For another thing they are all about the "romance". I am not looking for romance with my 18-year old son! What do people do that are traveling together but are not a couple? I can't imagine paying that much for a room and then having one of us sleep on the floor.

Most B&B's are priced that way throughout the continent and globally as well. Being a camper as well, I would say that you both being experienced campers will carry the day for a March ride. You live in MO. so you know the weather in March as well as anyone. Most trail concessions are not open but some will be. This website has a wealth of information in terms of lodging. There are other benefits to riding the trail in the "off-season", most notably, you will have the trail quite largely to yourselves and the resident wildlife. enjoy the voyage......Mark of the Dalton Boys

mary and son, wish i could go, i want to ride the entire KATY one day myself. as far as camping, call ahead to the towns ya'll plan on staying at. also, i believe there is a hostel at tebbets with hot showers. ya might consider that also. use this webite as much as possible, it has a wealth of info and contacts. as far as the B and B's go, can't help there at all. enjoy the ride and good luck. frank

Mary ---- we have rooms for KAty Trail riders for $85.00 and it has two double beds ---- we are at the end of the trail ----- or the beginning ----depends where you start ---- we have a nice hot tub and you can get a massage here ---- call us if you need us ---- Rhona Lococo -----Lococo House ll, B&B

Mary,

My wife and I will also be on the trail that week. We are starting in Hermann and riding west. Will be out there all week so maybe we'll see each other. I'll be on blue and silver Fuji Utah, and my wife will be on gray and white Fuji Odessa.



Have a good trip!



Bryan

oh, I almost forgot. We got 2 nights at Birks in Hermann for less than $150. Do some digging on the websites, call the resorts on the phone. You'll be surprised the deals you can get. Found Birks from a link on here.

I think you can find places for $85--try the Doll House in Rhineland--they definitely have rooms with twin beds. So does The Globe in Hartsburg, and The Officers Quarters in Boonville--not sure about prices. Katy Trail B-B in Rocheport is the least expensive there, but may not be open that early. Also, there are several motels in towns along the way, that may be less expensive and have rooms with 2 beds.

Tibbets is on donations and the Globe Hotel in Hartsburt is under 100. Have a good trip. I will be on the trail from the 17th - 20th. I remember a few years back that you wouldn't see anyone on the trail this time of year.

Another place to check is the Hotel Bothwell in Sedalia. They give a significant discount if you tell them you are riding the Katy, and have double room "suites" that we use as a family.

My friend and I will be on the trail from the 22 to the 25. Maybe we'll see you.

If you don't mind cats and make it into Hartsburg there is always the Globe Hotel B&B 573 657 4529. Rates run about $50 single, $70 double. Or like to camp there is the Volunteer Park. The bike shop is open Friday thru Monday 10:00 to 4:00 at this time of the year, hours and days expand the first of April.



It can be a little hit and miss on the trail at this time of the year. Many places have limited hours open only because bike season generaly runs April to November. It is still a great time to be out on the trail.