Reply to Choosing the right bike for you Katy Trip.

One of the most important decisions to make is what bike to ride. Don’t get us wrong, you can ride just about any bike on the Katy. Some are just better than others for a long, comfortable day or week of riding. In the style of David Letterman, we give you...

Tony’s Top 10 Bikes for Fun on the Katy

10 - YOUR TODDLER'S TRICYCLE
We’re pretty sure this goes without saying, but you never know. If you do tackle a section of the Katy on one, we want to see the pics!

9 - UNICYCLE
We have to include this because...well, we needed ten different options for a top ten list and unicycles are uber cool. There, we’ve said it. Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, we wouldn’t really recommend a unicycle for the Katy Trail. Even though you’ll experience low rolling resistance, the cadence required to do double and triple-digit miles make a unicycle more appropriate for impressing kids around campus or doing tricks at the circus.

8 - BIKE YOU'VE NEVER RIDDEN BEFORE
You may have just gone out and purchased the top-of-the-line bike and are really excited about getting it out on the Katy. We understand. But if you’re planning on using a brand-new bike for a days-long tour, you’re going to be super sore. We recommend getting your new bike out a few times before you commit to a multi-day tour. Trust us, your bum will thank you.

7 - ROAD BIKE
A lot of people ask if they can ride their road bike on the Katy Trail. Although road bikes have less rolling resistance, skinny tires are a bit out of their element when the Katy gets a bit rough. With a road bike, you’ll have more chances of a flat tire or a wipe-out and the more aggressive body position puts a strain on your neck.

6 - MOUNTAIN BIKE
If you’re going to take a short ride on the Katy Trail, a mountain bike would be a fine choice since the fat tires and body position will make for a comfortable ride. If you’re planning on riding some serious miles or a multi-day tour, a mountain bike isn’t your best choice due to the fact that it is heavy and will require more effort. Two-inch wide mountain bike tires are more tire than you will ever need for the Katy unless you are exploring some of the many singletrack trails on the westward end of the trail. For that, we give major kudos for people that tour the Katy on their mountain bike.

4 and 5 - (Tie) CYCLOCROSS BIKE
For athletic riders looking to put down miles quick on the Katy Trail, this type of bike would do it for you. If you’re planning a long but casual ride, we wouldn’t recommend a cyclocross bike because of the stress put on your back and neck.

4 and 5 - (Tie) TOURING BIKE
Built for long rides, touring bikes with durable tires are a very good choice given that you are used to their body positioning.

3 - FITNESS BIKE
This category of bikes is one of the best-selling in the country, with good reason. These bikes do it all well--fitness rides, commuting, riding to the farmers market. They are fast, light, and sporty and can be set up for a comfortable or aggressive body position. If you’re going to use a fitness bike on the Katy Trail, consider what tires you want on your bike; 32mm tires with puncture protection and mild tread are a great choice.

2 and 1 - (Tie) RECUMBENT BIKE - Although not as popular as the other bikes mentioned, this list would not be complete without recumbent bikes. Considering the flat, traffic free and scenic nature of a ride on the Katy, recumbent bikes are a great choice for kicking back, taking your time and enjoying the panoramic views from the comfort of a fully supported backrest. This is like riding a lounge chair through rural Mid-Missouri. As with everything, there is a downside. The weight, cost, and trouble of transporting a recumbent puts this choice out of reach for the practical minded rider. Also, when leaving the trail, you will encounter some hills and au

Because the trail is so flat, I've wondered about using a "beach cruiser" along the lines of the type we rented in Key West. Those were single speed with seats the size of a hub cap and a comfortable upright position, and we rode them everywhere. Upright like that allows you to see where you are going and take in the scenery. But they would result in a lot of wind resistance and are heavier.

Some are made as 3 speed versions, but still have coaster brakes.

I don't know where the old 5 speed commuters like the Raleigh bikes fall in but that would seem to be a good option.

Also, I put fenders on mine and that ended the stuff flying in my face and the racing stripe of mud up my back.

Beach cruisers are good for shorter leisurely flat smooth surface rides maybe 10-miles around Roosevelt Road without ruts and fallen branches that puncture the fat tires. Also the wide handle bars don't help steering when approaching oncoming bikes. You need hand brakes on the KT for quick stops crossing roads. Leave them in KW.

Each to his own, I suppose, but my memory of those BC bikes in Key West was we routinely rode ours up and down Duval Street and all over town.....riding in heavy traffic and dodging cars and pedestrians with no issues or worries about the handle bars or coaster brakes. But I grew up on single speed bikes riding on gravel roads in the country and never had anything but wide handle bars and coaster brakes. They never failed me once.

During our KW trip, I never did have the issues I get with my back and neck and butt from my Jamis Coda, sitting on that tiny peg seat or the pain in my wrists from carrying the weight of leaning too far forward to "get low". Switching to a Brooks saddle helped the butt issue, but I still know I have a seat under me and anyway, my wrists now give out before my butt does.

My point is if a person looked at the list of options the OP gave us, missing from that wide list of potential usable bikes (in which he even included a tricycle) was this widespread, older class of bikes. For a lot of folks, they may have merit. They may have gone out of style in favor of "new and improved" but for some, they might well be a good choice. Maybe not for a century ride, but for day trippers and shorter rides, they might be.

I believe the fitness bike with upright handlebars an more comfortable seat with 32 cc puncture-proof tires fits the KT, MKT an RIT with good compromise. I think recumbents are too low to be seen by other riders and traffic. If you have a medical condition an require them or trikes no problem but if not lounging at home is safer.

That sounds reasonable.

For those who may not know exactly what that means, is it possible to name names as far as makes and models of bikes that fit that description? I doubt there is any rule against it, and perhaps naming several options from Trek, Giant, etc. might keep us in good standing?

Concerning the height of recumbents: I rode bike-e and bacchetta recumbents. While riding I could see over the tops of compact cars and was at least eye-level with most other cars and small pick-ups. Being seen was never a problem.

I've ridden it end to end on several different bikes including a single-speed. My favorite - most comfortable - most hassle free bike for riding the KATY: My Salsa Warbird Ti w/ 35mm tubeless tires. AWESOME. Can't wait to do it again.

The same bike performed FLAWLESSLY through lots and lots of MUD on the C&O Towpath/Great Allegheny Passage from Washington, DC to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania last summer on the Dirty Kanza 100...and lots of other places.

I like this bike A LOT!!!

If I had to own just one bike (and fortunately I don't - because I love bicycles) I think this would be the one.

Maybe the newer carbon fiber version of the Warbird...but I like this one just fine!!

My understanding is that the Salsa Warbird Ti does not have rack and fender mounts. The two things I like about the it are the drop-style handle bars and the fact that it does NOT have the front fork suspension like most hybrid bikes do. I rode the KATY on a Specialized Crosstrail; the front shocks are OK but I think they are overkill for most general riding--on the gravel as well as the road. Why push the extra weight around when you don't need to, right? I think my ride on the Crosstrail would have been a better experience had my stem been angled up a little more, thus raising the handlebars a bit--a little more comfort-bike looking without going overboard. I have an adjustable stem on there at the moment until I find the most comfortable angle.
Going without a rack and panniers was not an option for me, and the fenders are nice if there's a least bit of wet conditions. I have 33 tires but I put the original 38's back on the bike for this trip (with Mr. Tuffy liners). I wish I had stayed with the 33's (again with Mr. Tuffy liners).

I was afraid to ride my road bike on the KATY given the narrow tires and found my old hybrid was making me work way too hard. So, I bought a cyclocross/gravel bike, specifically a Focus Mares Ultegra with a carbon frame. I absolutely love it. I can ride much farther and much faster on the KATY than I ever could with my hybrid. It has significantly increased my enjoyment factor on the trail. It handles gravel, soft spots, most ruts and smooth sections very well and when I am on pavement, it is fast. If you like riding long on the KATY and would like a bike that is faster and that you can take on other trails that are a little rougher (e.g. Hamburg), I strongly recommend a cyclocross/gravel bike.