Reply to Road bike on Katy trail

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Reply to Road bike on Katy trail

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Robgop from Ft. Worth on 6/27/2018 7:12:09 AM:

I have an opportunity to bike the trail next month but I only have a MTB and a Road bike. Is the trail doable on a road bike? Suggestions?

Jerry Whittle from Belleville Il on 6/27/2018 7:24:55 AM:

The trail is 'doable' on a road bike, but might not be the best choice. Unless your road bike can handle at least 700x28 tires, I recommend the mountain bike with semi-smooth tires. The Katy can beat you up with skinny tires and if soggy you might just sink in. My touring bike and I weigh about 260 pounds total and I ride on 700x32s with about 70 psi. I'm thinking about going to 700x35s at 60 psi when I need a new pair of tires.

Marna on 6/27/2018 7:42:53 AM:

Doable on a Raodbike? Yes. As much fun as it might be on your Mountain Bike? Probably not.

SpinmasterChip from Bella Vista, Ark. on 6/27/2018 3:47:52 PM:

My wife and I are doing the trail for the first time next week and I'm taking my MTB. I would not ride on crushed rock with a road bike ever. My wife's bike is a hybrid with 700x35 and I would not go below that.

Gary from Near Tebbetts on 6/27/2018 4:00:37 PM:

I once saw a guy riding a penny farthing on the trail, so yeah, just about anything with two wheels will do. :-)

Ryan from Arnold, MO on 6/27/2018 5:50:14 PM:

I just rode 32 miles on Sunday on my road bike with 700x30 tires. I had no problems at all. (Page Extension to Defiance)

Anonymous on 6/28/2018 7:18:21 AM:

Its a bit misleading to characterize the Katy Trail as "crushed rock." Yes, it may be crushed rock, but it is finely crushed limestone that when packed down leaves a hard packed lane on each side of the trail. That lane is relatively smooth and is an easy ride. 700x28's on the road bike, in the lane, is a good ride. Making the choice between the two, I'd take my road bike and leave the MTB at home. A hybrid is probably the better option for most rail trails.

Jerry Whittle from Belleville Il on 6/28/2018 9:49:40 AM:

While most of the trail is finely crushed limestone that is packed down, there are places where gravel has been used to patch it. Last week between Boonville and Clinton there was plenty of gravel which wasn't limestone.

OCtandem from OC, CA on 6/28/2018 9:56:15 AM:

Riding the entire trail 2 weeks ago we saw maybe 4 state park trucks checking and fixing holes along the trail. We only came across one downed tree, but that was before the storms so this was just regular maint. It was good to see the state takes care of the trail!

Greg from Colorado on 6/28/2018 11:17:02 AM:

What exactly is the consistency of the trail? Are we talking small rocks or very fine like crusher fines? I road a trail yesterday on my touring bike with 27x1.25 tires and it was fine but that was crusher fines type rock. Pea gravel or bigger would probably be a lot harder.

Jerry Whittle from Belleville on 6/28/2018 4:54:25 PM:

Most of the trail is crushed limestone. It is usually very flat, mostly smooth, and hard. If it hasn't rained in a while, it gets dusty. However there are places where it's more like like pea gravel especially where it's been repaired. Also there's the occasional stone or rock on the trail that has fallen from the bluffs.

There are also places that it's asphalt or concrete such as through Sedalia and Boonville or when crossing bridges such as going over to Herrman or Jefferson city. However only about 3% of the trail is like this.

Now if you take a side trip to the Rock Island Trail, it's much more gravelly. It may take a few years to get smooth like the Katy.

ArkyKenny on 6/29/2018 7:49:45 AM:

If your MTB is comfortable, I’d take it over a road bike. I would also put some semi slick tires on it. The road bike will work, but it may be hard to ride on the crushed limestone surface.

With all the trails going in around the country, this would also be a good excuse to buy a hybrid style bike—that is perfect for this, and so many other places. Spend what you want to spend, but $400-$600 can get a really nice aluminum framed rigid hybrid bike for many such adventures to come.

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