Bike Packing the Katy Trail (made easy)

#bikepacking #biketrip #gravelgrinder #katytrail
Bikepacking the Katy Trail State Park in Missouri can seem like a monumental challenge, or a walk in the park. It all comes down to your prep and your style of adventure. We wanted to make things pretty luxury for our first bike packing trip and having a pick up option close by with the RV was pretty critical since maybe not everyone on this trip was ready for the full mileage. It all worked out 100% perfectly! Thank you to the crew for conquering this bike adventure and making me find my joy on the bike again. Mike was an exceptional part of the team as the RV driver and it gave us a ton of confidence that we could tackle the whole Katy Trail in 4 days. I have ridden the entire Katy Trail a few years ago solo and did it in 2.5 days which was fun, but a much different experience. I was nervous about having to go slower this time, but being able to spend time with my friends made it worth it. In the end I am so glad we didn't try to go faster - knocking out the Katy Trail is not about speed, it should really be about just enjoying the trip and I think we did that pretty well! Congrats to Jeremy, Adam and Ike on the trip and a special Katy Trail Angel award goes to Mike! Lets do it again!
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Questions? Let me know via email [e-mail]
P.S. Here are some of my favorite things to power your ride on Amazon...some weird stuff and some basics (I do earn very small commissions on the links on this page):
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Who am I?
Brian Davis, inventor of Fix It Sticks, Backbottle and The Weatherneck System and creator of Fo//ow Ho//ow Performance Alpaca brand - I discuss race tactics and strategies to be a faster, fitter and smarter cyclist.
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Questions: [e-mail]

[@HuritAlgonquin]

This is absolutely incredible

[@BrianDavisraces]

Thank you! Those guys worked hard!

[@Minnesota_Matt]

Solid video. I appreciate the fellas that aren’t avid cyclists giving it an honest go. Probably more than I’d be up for if I was in their shoes. Thanks for posting.

[@BrianDavisraces]

Thank you. I really appreciate that and I’ll let em know.

[@freddixon]

Fun, fun, fun. Fun crew, fun bicycle ride, fun memories. Thanks for sharing ;

[@BrianDavisraces]

I miss that trip all the time. Hoping to do it again with those clowns!

[@dogonmyneck]

Great video! That is the way to do the trail it looks like a lot of fun and good times!!

[@BrianDavisraces]

We’re currently plotting next year. We had a great time! Thx for the positive vibes in this comment Tim.

[@PissedoffAmerican1159]

What a good friend you are to lift them up!

[@BrianDavisraces]

Aww thanks.

[@mikegg7510]

So cool vlog Brian 😀. Now I know where I’m going wrong …. every tour needs an RV Mike ! Proper classy way to finish after a hard day on the trail: good friends, beers, laughs and an RV. I think our British camper vans would fit on the front seat 😂. Way to go + hope you and the guys had a blast. Back to Race Face fella, roll on, Mike

[@BrianDavisraces]

She was a big one! It was great having a rolling base camp (even through the snoring 😂). We had a ton of fun and are chatting about next year already!

[@FortheLoveofCycling]

Cool ride with cool guys.

[@BrianDavisraces]

thanks - they'll get a kick out of that! Appreciate the positive comment!

[@TrailoFire]

Amazing video content thanks for sharing, instantly subbed. This trail is on my bucket list amongst others, I can't wait to do it . Currently live in Springfield

[@BrianDavisraces]

Thank you a

[@BrianDavisraces]

Thank you so much. You’ll love the trail. It’s perfectly manageable and very very pretty! Thx for the sub!

[@paulcardsfan]

That's expressive not a simple bike trip . Good job

[@BrianDavisraces]

We had a blast. The RV made life so much easier!

[@peterlanganke6716]

Excellent fellas 👏. Specially lot of yous are not cyclest. Long time friends. Keep up the great work Brian. Love your channel.

[@BrianDavisraces]

Thank you Peter - that means so much to me to hear - hugely appreciated - I think we may have a couple of those guys hooked now - we'll see!

[@christopherwatts1742]

What a great uplifting video Brian 👍

[@BrianDavisraces]

Thank you. Hugely appreciated - I’ll pass it on to the boys too!

[@tomf3969]

I've watched a lot of Katy Trail videos over the past month and this was my favorite. Good group, good sense of humor......had me laughing.

[@BrianDavisraces]

Thx Tom. I’ve passed it on to the boys. Very happy to read this. We had a blast. Glad that came through.

[@stephencoupland4764]

Fantastic chaps

[@BrianDavisraces]

Thx Stephen. We had a whole bunch of fun!

[@SFCRambo60]

You guys need to do it on Tadpole Recumbent Trikes. I'm 73 and own a Catrike Dumont Trike and wish I had it 50 years ago. No more neck pains, no more shoulder pains, no more upper back problems, no more numb wrist and hands, NO MORE BUTT HURTS! That's the greatest score, no more balance issues. Please try a Trike you may never go back. My 2 wheel is the Trek Mountain Bike 1000 thats cost me $2,300 at the time and can be lifted with one finger. Sit back and enjoy a Recumbent Trike.

[@markleppy]

I give those guys tons of props. That’s a lot of mileage and time on the saddle for guys who are not used to riding. That looks like a fun adventure and makes me want to do something like that with my buddies. 👍🏻

[@BrianDavisraces]

Boom. Mission accomplished. Inspiration spreads - thx for the comment Mark. I’ll pass along to the boys

[@billysbikesbrews7183]

Great Video.. Bonding with friends is always great.. I hope to Katy Trail more sooner than later.. Thanks for sharing🚴😃

[@BrianDavisraces]

Thx Billy. It was a super fun trip and even more fun remembering it!

[@steveoconnor7069]

Great video, excellent tunes too.

[@BrianDavisraces]

Thx Steve. It’s a great trip

[@BrianDavisraces]

I'd like to see an FKT attempt on the Katy - there are A LOT of road crossings on this trail so going fast is tricky, but lets say someone had an ebike running interferencec ahead to clear the intersections - hmmmmm - whatcha y'all think?

[@jht09]

I am enjoying your videos thanks for making what make and model bikes did you guys ride on I’m looking for my first bike and plan to do this trail and some others plan to pack my gear looking for ideas thanks

[@BrianDavisraces]

I was on a Santa Cruz Stigmata, Jeremy who crashed was on a road bike with 25c tires, everyone else was on a "gravel bike" with 28's I believe. Tires are by far the most important variable for a ride like this - the bike isn't a big deal. Tires are a big deal...have fun!

[@mosulmedic7048]

" welcome to St. Louis" *Nowhere near St. Louis 🤣

[@jirwin8219]

Great video! One correction - Cooper’s Landing (your second day stop) is in Easley, not Jamestown.

[@BrianDavisraces]

Excellent. Thank you for adding that.

[@JohnTate-h1s]

What app are you using on your phone for the speedometer? Your trip looks like a lot of fun.

[@BrianDavisraces]

It was a lot of fun! I use GARMIN VIRB software for speed/power overlays. It’s a whole thing - plenty of KZbin vids on how to do it but it’s a pain! I’m pretty sure that’s what you meant. If I misunderstood lmk where you see it with timestamp and I’ll fill in details if my answer was not accurate.

[@katelennon5435]

RAGBRAI is next!

[@BrianDavisraces]

Good call. That would be perfect!

[@lizchilders4154]

Looks fun, but I don’t want to go as far per day as you guys. Were there campgrounds (for RVs) along the route besides where you all stayed the nights…..Sedalia, Jamestown, Herman, St Charles?

[@BrianDavisraces]

Good question. There were some airbnbs and camp options so yes. I’d say there are ample oppty to break it up further. Have fun!

[@MrEMann]

100' climb? Do we do that all at once?! That made me laugh out loud, now everyone in the office thinks im weird and know I'd rather be riding my bike!

[@BrianDavisraces]

I think that was my favorite moment in the video. Lmfao

[@partsman53]

Love the video maybe turn down the music little. Love to hear you comets much better

[@BrianDavisraces]

Thx for that feedback. It always changes so much from my headphones to KZbin. Where’s this AI I keep hearing about? Lolol

[@csbstar53]

What brand bikes did you ride? What size of tires?

[@BrianDavisraces]

I and 2 others were on 35c and Jeremy (who fell) was on 25’s. And those would be Perfectly manageable except for that 1 sandy bit where he fell. Like 20 feet of the whole trail. LoL. I think 28’s or larger would be just right

[@spaceghost8995]

I just did the Rock Island from KC to Windsor and the Katy from Windsor to Sedalia. It all pretty much SUCKED. The Rock was too sandy and it took WAY more effort to pedal than it should have. Also zero services from Lees's Summit all the way to Windsor. NOTHING for 59 miles. The scenery on the Rock is just flat farmers fields and open land. The Katy trail surface was marginally better but horrifically boring. I bailed in Sedalia and jumped on the Amtrak back to my car in STL. From there I drove to Pittsburgh and rode the wonderful GAP Trail again!

[@kevinbraden9445]

Yea I hear ya I’m close to the Katy trail I will not ride it looks too boring and I prefer staying on the road

[@csbstar53]

Where did you camp along the way?? Names of places?

[@BrianDavisraces]

Night 1- State campground

[@BrianDavisraces]

Night 2 - coopers landing