Biking the Katy Trail, Missouri - 4 Days Self-Supported Biking and Camping - Hot Weather and Storms

[@katebariteau]

Windsor, Mo (depot between Clinton and Sedalia) has many hidden gems-- take the Rock Island trail to the city camping spot, or several B&Bs just blocks from the depot. Historical society open most weekends, & lots of local happenings -- look for the ice cream suppers!

[@daveoutdoors4949]

We’ll done and you have a perfect narrator’s voice.

[@briansadventures]

Dave, I'm sure that isn't true, but thank you!

[@georgemacheel2039]

Thanks for your wonderful images, Brian. My sister and I did this tour, self supported and camping, in early October, 2020. The weather was perfect. I have to say that this is the most relaxing and stress free tour that we have done (we are retired and have the luxury of time). This tour has a website that provides useful information about trail conditions, and trailstops and their camping and resupply opportunities. We met unforgettable characters along the way. I particularly enjoyed the western (prairie) segment where the trail corridor provides a haven for the plants and animals that have otherwise been supplanted by agriculture. Near the middle, we took the scenic 10 mile side trail north to the lovely university town of Columbia for a night of hotel comfort and laundromat. Keep on pedaling.

[@briansadventures]

Thank you! It is a wonderful trail. I think I will ride it again sometime, maybe taking Amtrak to the start. I think October would be a great time of year to do that.

[@lizchilders4154]

Am considering this trail for the fall. What is the website for trail info. Does it also supply RV campgrounds right along the trail?

[@leland2014]

Great shots of the trail. I'm lucky I live in St Charles so I'm on the trail all the time.

[@briansadventures]

You are lucky! Great trail and St. Charles is beautiful.

[@CiaofCleburne]

Have been wanting to explore this trail since I live 20 miles from the trail head of Clinton, MO. Cannot get anyone to meet me and I am 61…don’t really want to do this totally alone. But now I am working on a new trail, cuts right thru a gorgeous property with a fun, quirky campsite. Maybe I will meet some hikers there one day and we will all make a day trip of KATY exploration! Of course there is always the lichen/moss preserve to fly kites, the Monegaw Springs cliff/cave area or just kayaking on the lake. Lots to do here!! Love your video!!!

[@briansadventures]

I do hope you do the trail. Thanks for the tips on other things to do there too!

[@trailsandsmores]

Thanks so much for posting this! ❤

[@briansadventures]

Your welcome. Thank you!

[@Raveler1]

Looks like you rode the KATY in the opposite way that I did, but experienced the same trouble with mud! My 4th day out, it rained all day long, and through the night. Though the rain stopped on the morning of day five, the rock island spur was just caking up on my bike, reducing my speed down to less than 6mph, and utterly exhausting me. Luckily, I was able to get a ride out, but I regret not completing it all the way from St. Louis to KC. Maybe I'll have to try it again, this time going W-E, and taking the main route! Thanks for the great video.

[@briansadventures]

The bad mud I experienced on that trip was all around construction. It was a thick paste. I have no idea why.

[@mikedkc]

Nice video. I can tell you had a great time.

[@briansadventures]

Thank you Mike! Yes, it was a great ride.

[@TrailoFire]

Just found your channel, awesome content. The Katy Trail is on my list of trails I want to do. Thanks for sharing and I subscribed.

[@briansadventures]

Thank you!!! I enjoyed the trail and hope you will too.

[@ReimaginedAdventures]

thanks for taking us along were headed here this year this was a great ride threw video

[@briansadventures]

Thank you! I appreciate that.

[@captainjonphaler4341]

Thank for the descriptive places you stayed and ate. Converted them to GPS cords for an upcoming trip on the KATY.

[@briansadventures]

Thank you! I hope your trip is a great one.

[@JohnRobinson-sl9gk]

Enjoyed your video. Great easy going comentary!

[@briansadventures]

Thank you John!

[@miriamgeraci3755]

I really enjoyed this video! I haven't ridden the Katy Trail yet but will sometime in the future! Thank you... beautifully done.

[@briansadventures]

Thank you!

[@jag1870]

Nice video! Just might be the trail that my buddy and I tackle next year.

[@briansadventures]

Thank you! It is a nice trail, I enjoyed it.

[@John_Ridley]

We're going EBO starting April 25 this year. Thanks for the video.

[@briansadventures]

Thank you! Have fun!

[@pascalchavanon1930]

Thank you .great job. On my list for next summer. Just did the Mickelson trail. It was amazing.🤓👍🇫🇷

[@briansadventures]

Thank you! I have not done the Mickelson Trail yet. I'm sure you will enjoy this trail next summer!

[@nyccollin]

Did you ride it this summer?

[@pascalchavanon1930]

@@nyccollin yes,in July. It was very hot. Doing the East coast Greenway right now. Approaching South Carolina. Should be in Key west in about 10 days.

[@indybikeman1]

Great video

[@briansadventures]

Thank you Andy!

[@philiporourke7896]

Great vid, dude. Thanx.

[@briansadventures]

Thank you Philip!

[@walterbright1396]

Thanks for the video. Only done the Katy in short stretches passing by on my way cross country but would like to do a multi day on it in the future. This helps.

[@briansadventures]

Thank you! I hope it was helpful and I hope you do get to make the multi-day trip. I enjoyed it a great deal.

[@RideAlongAdventures]

Great channel, Brian. Subscribed for sure.

[@briansadventures]

Thank you - and right back to you. You have a great channel as well. www.youtube.com/@RideAlongAdventures/

[@margaretash9706]

Great video. I continue to be disappointed by the State Fair Campground. They could do so much better. I've always wondered if they let people camp at Cloverdale Park that's just a mile or so west of the Katy Trail Trailhead. DT Sedalia is just off the trail and has an historic hotel that is cycler friendly, a cycle shop and at one point a microbrewery.

[@briansadventures]

Thank you! Yes, I was disappointed in the campground too. Some trees would have made a world of difference. But I get it, many state fair campgrounds are little more than parking lots for those coming to the fairs to stay in their RVs during the fairs. I made a last minute change, and I'm sure I missed better opportunities to stay as a result. Glad it all worked out though.

[@matthewrschuler]

Great channel Brian! Watching your videos makes me look forward to next years riding season. What video camera setup do you use to record your rides? The imagery looks great.

[@briansadventures]

Thank you! For the past two years I have used an Insta360 one x camera. These are nice because I don't have to worry about which direction the camera is pointed. It takes video with a 360 view, and then I'm able to edit it to choose the angle of view after.

[@tomordr]

I also watched your OTET video and am curious which of these trails do you feel was more scenic? Thanks for the video!

[@briansadventures]

That's a heck of a question in a little difficult to answer I think. Both have beautiful areas, and both have some areas where you are riding straight along the rail trail through a green tunnel. I think the OTET has the advantage because it is longer and there's more variety. There are straight areas, curvy areas, cities, rural areas. Each day of the ride can be very different from the day prior. With that being said, the KATY Trail also has beautiful areas and some great towns to go through.

[@PartyMartysLLC]

Are you a narrator for PBS? Your voice sounds very familiar.

[@mountainsnmoore256]

Dude...is that an Alabama tag that I spy on your Challenger? Looks familiar. We live in NE Alabama. Planning to hit the KATY, later in 2025.

[@briansadventures]

No, those are Ohio plates. Hope you have a great ride on the trail!

[@mountainsnmoore256]

@@briansadventures Ahh, okay. Couldn’t see the entire tag, but looking at the rest of your vids, most seem to take place north of me. Are y’all getting the winter weather this go-around? They are all in a tizzy about us possibly getting some at the end of the week. Down here, an inch shuts us down.

[@criticaloptimist]

I just moved near the Katy trail and am shopping for a bike. I used to have an old nishiki road bike and I remember my hands got numb riding it on gravel. Maybe it was that old steel frame? Seems like you didnt have any problems with a road bike on the Katy trail.

[@briansadventures]

If I were to guess, the numbness in the hands is probably more due to bike fit issues than the material the bike is made of. In fact, steel is a great material for bikes, especially for longer rides, because it helps to smooth the ride. Its a bit heavier than aluminum and carbon, but its still the material of choice to many who tour for a variety of reasons. Also, each has their own preference, but mine is for drop bars as it allows me to reposition my hands on the bars to alleviate numbness. I find that each year I deal with a different bike fit issue. I am going to share a link to some wonderful bike fit videos at the bottom of this comment. One year it might be be numbness in the hands, another issues with the posterior, and this year I had a little issue with numbness in the feet. There is a triangle between those points of contact that requires careful balancing for a comfortable fit. For example, I believe the issue I had with my feet this year was because I installed slightly shorter cranks, which in turn called for an adjustment in the saddle height and its its fore and aft position. In terms of handle bars, I heard (in the videos I'm about to share), that the goal is to get the positioning correct so that your hands are on the bars like a piano - very little pressure. I hope you get it sorted out. kzbin.info/www/bejne/rH7Qk4t3jMianpY

[@criticaloptimist]

@@briansadventures this is super helpful, thank you so much! I’m going to take my time and try to find the best fit. My old bike was way too tall for me, fit was definitely an issue. It gave me knee pain that I’ll have forever. I’m too old to be accumulating more injuries. lol

[@Conraildan]

Excellent video 😊 what brand is your tent?

[@briansadventures]

Thank you!. I used a Zpacks Duplex tent on this ride. Ultralight, Dyneema, spacious to me. However, they are very expensive, single walled and don't compress for packing as much as I would like.

[@mcclayton5001]

What video camera did you use to capture this trip? I’m planning my trip for September 2023.

[@briansadventures]

I have switched to insta 360 x cameras. They capture a 360 view that I can then edit after - helps to ensure I capturing everything when I'm recording.

[@buzzman4860]

Thanks. Is there long term parking in St Charles? I am thinking about taking Amtrak to Kansas City.

[@briansadventures]

I used a shuttle from the Bike Stop Cafe in St. Charles to get to Clinton and then road back to St. Charles. They let me park my car in their lot. There are large parking lots at the trailhead in St. Charles. I have read that you can call the Katy Trail State Park office at 573-449-7402 when parking long term to them with the vehicle make, model and license plate number contact information and length of stay.

[@bordenpetrycia5364]

Is it possible to credit card the Katy trail?

[@briansadventures]

I'm sure it is, many people do, though I chose to camp.

[@williamearl546]

What bike are u riding

[@briansadventures]

A Surly Midnight Special. surlybikes.com/bikes/midnight_special

[@kevinbraden9445]

Boring trail

[@Sr89hot]

Rode about 220 miles of the Katy in September 2021 over a weekend. Trail was in great shape, so we were able to do 100+ miles a day. However it was hot as heck, and on Sunday the trail was food starved. I was bonking bad when I reached the car.

[@briansadventures]

There are definitely some sections where food is more scarce, especially on a Sunday or Monday. That is some serious riding to get it done in a couple days!