Reply to Bikekatytrail.com Users Ride

"I have wondered if we could somehow get the "regulars" on this forum together for an informal day ride sometime. Rocheport East and back perhaps. I don't want to mention names as I would likely leave people out by mistake but it seems like a fun group. And of course anyone, forum user or not, would be welcomed."
- posted 7/15/2009 6:08:31 PM by MLH , Overland Park, KS

I started this thread because I think "an informal day ride" is a different topic than riding a Century. I've often wondered about this too MLH. I've met several of the business owners along the trail through the years and have enjoyed that.

To take the concept a bit further, I've often wondered about a bikekatytrail.com users group. Other trails have supporing organizations that put rides together as well as benefits to raise money to support their trail. In concept....we could do the same. We could have a benefit ride to support this website....to raise money for a bench or two on the trail.....to give a kid or two a bike and a helmet for Christmas....and so on.

There was a recent post about the Katy Trail Merchants group. Their goal as I read it was to promote the Katy Trail. I'd think that they too could put a ride or two together...perhaps giving the riders a list of member merchants to patronize along the way.....help us out a bit by letting us know who they are. Wouldn't a ride on the trail to see what it's all about be a good way to promote the Katy?

In concept perhaps the website users could work with the merchants group. We all are after the same thing I think. The merchants want to make money. And we all want the merchants there at our next stop.

Your are right Trek. I didn't mean to hijack the Century thread as indeed I was thinking more about a shorter Rocheport to Hartsburg for lunch and back ride or equivalent. Time and right knee constraints limit me to about 50 miles per day on Rail trails this year.

Heck it looks like a great weekend coming up. I plan to be in Rocheport by 0930 on Saturday 7/18 (unless the weather forecast changes drastically) so if any of you see a guy on a black Cannondale cyclocross bike with fenders, come join me.

not a bad idae. good thinkin

Stomping pedals for a cause is all the better. The Katy Trail is a great place to just be out in nature and my most favorite place to ride. It sounds good to me, Trek!

Buy local!

Trek, you have some excellent ideas, and it would be great to get together in "real life" with some of the folks who are part of this online community.

The only thing you said that I would decline is "ride to support this website" - moral support is fine but I would not want a ride to raise money for the website. It's an advertising-supported site, so you all can support the website by supporting the advertisers.

The biggest problem of course is actually organizing the ride. It's ideal if, like MLH's post above, someone says "hey let's meet at some specific trailhead at some specific time" and people just show up. Putting together a sponsored-type organized ride is a much bigger matter requiring someone to volunteer a lot of time and effort. Personally I would not have the time resources to organize something like this, but I think you hit upon a great idea with the Merchants' Association. I will pass along the idea of a Merchants' Assn-sponsored ride to the lady who coordinates the association.

Thanks to all of you who come to the forum to share your ideas and experiences. You are adding value to the Katy Trail itself by helping build this wealth of information for newbies and experienced riders alike. This online community actually feels a lot more like a real community than most.

Happy trails!

thanx should go to you ray for starting this website. and trek did have a great idear for having a ride of all the regulars. i frequent the gosmokies website dailey, and have had the pleasure of meeting some of the regulars in person from that website. hope it works out. it would be pretty neat to meet everbody.

happy bikin and be safe.

I'm in! One day, weekend or more. Trek just put down a date and we'll see who can show. I could at least be there for a day. Would love a longer ride though if possible. If you would like some help email thru my web. Doug

I'm in, Trek.
Great idea!