Mountain - Plains - Johnson Co - Lenexa - Ks

I ride around I-435 and 95th and I am an older moderate paced rider, currnetly 13-14 mph, and riding alone. I'm currently riding about 15-20 miles per ride 4 days a week. If anyone else is looking for a ride partner let me know.

I almost made it out to your area in July. I live N of the river and rode over Chouteau bridge River Front Rd Guinott thru City Market and west bottoms over the James St bridge thru KCK over the 12th St bridge W on Metropolotan and then on the Mill Creek trails.

I am nursing a tenden pull right now. (probably not bike realted) Hope to get back into distance rides in the Fall.

Wow, that was quite a ride. The Mill Creek trail is a nice trail, I think it runs almost 30 miles. But it gets used quite a bit. OK for family rides.

Greetings All!
Cruz, I think we rode together a bit on the day you mentioned. I followed you on the Mill Creek trail up the Oak Ridge Mountain riding a red and black Trek 7500FX. We rode together until the Wilder Road access trailhead where I gave you directions to get back to 435 from the Mill Creek trail. I almost never post on forums anymore but I thought I had to say hi this time. Once a few years ago I met up with a couple I suspected were forumites on another board but I neglected to say anything at the time. A day or two later after some discussion on the forum I found out it was them. They say it's a small world, don't they?
Dean, I messed up my shoulder at work yesterday so I'll have to stay off the bike for a couple of weeks. After I heal I might be up for a ride. I usually ride alone but would be interested in a riding partner now and then.
FWIW, Mill Creek is 15 miles long. It starts at the river and ends at the 15 mile mark where the trail meets 119th street just east of Wodland Rd in Olathe. A spur just short of the 15 mile marker will take you to Kansas City Rd and Ridgeview in Olathe.

I have been as far north on Mill Creek trail as the softball complex at Johnson Drive and as far south as College, on different rides. It is a good trail, those hills below the dam around Shawnee Mission Park really kick my but. Leave a message when you are ready to get back on the road, you shouldn't have to worry about me leaving you behind.

Will do. Have you ridden Mill Creek since they started using that rubber-like stuff to seal the cracks? It gets my bike squirrelly and makes me feel like I'm going to crash. I wonder if anyone else feels the same way? I've only experienced the crack repairs on 25c tires and have another bike with 32c's that might feel more stable. It's ticked me off enough that now I either ride Indian Creek or the road. Until I find that they have fixed the surface on Mill Creek I don't think I want to return. I used to have a blast on the downhills and now the fun is over.

Since I got my Trek I have been a dedicated roadie!! I might cut through there tomorrow evening on my ride, between 83rd and 95th. But, no, I have not experienced the sealer stuff you are referring to.

dirty driver

It is a small world when you look at it from a cycling point of view. It’s great to make
contact and maybe ride together in the fall.

PS the crack sealer may not be as bad when the weather is cooler.

I hope your right about the sealer issue improving in the cooler temperatures. I do miss riding there.

Nice to see some local riders here on the forum. I mostly ride further out south past 135th street. Anyone thinking about any upcoming local organized rides?

jman

I would be agreeable to a ride out that way on the weekend. Which way do go?

I live in OP and ride in SM park quite a bit. I've been on Mill Creek all the way to the KS river and south into Olathe (not this year though). I've found I like riding out by the Arboretum on 179th St. this summer. From there I can ride the roads all around and get a lot of miles in with out having to backtrack much at all. I usually ride about 20 miles - or less if I don't have time, and I usually average about 14 mph. (I'm a tourer, not a racer :).

I would be interested in hooking up with you guys sometime if we can.

I'm going out today, I'm flexible on my time this afternoon. I plan on doing about 25 miles. Right now I've been waiting fo the street to dry. I'm meeting a guy at noon who is picking up a used bike I sold, then I'll go out sometime after that.

Well it doesn't look like I'm going to be able to go this afternoon - my wife and kids are here for the weekend and will probably be leaving mid-afternoon. Maybe after that.....

John

those hills below the dam around Shawnee Mission Park really kick my but.

just killer...I found out the hard way just last weekend. The main trail going north toward Midland is just too hilly...really bad news...not ready for that. I found most of the Streamways Trail a little too hilly to enjoy...a good workout can be had but certainly not a 'nice' ride. I thought it was unfortunate because the park and trail are one of nicest around....just too hilly...did I mention its just too HILLY.
showme

I haven't tried them again yet. I've been thinking about it. I think now that I am in slightly better shape, and that I know they are there, I might be able to handle them. The rest of the trail is so nice and such different terrain than that one small section, it is enjoyable (if it is not too crowded with dog walkers). I do want to ride to each end, just to say that I did.

I've ridden to each end of the trail from SM park. It is a very nice ride each way. I don't find the hills too bad, but I'm riding a touring bike with a decent granny gear. South from SM park has fewer hills, and north from Midland doesn't have very many.

Indian creek trail is also very nice - I live near the access on 103rd street (just west of Metcalf) and usually ride from home and get on there. I've ridden many miles each way and never reached the end. Now it is closed at 435 and Antioch because of the road construction, so I'll have to find a way around sometime.

Sometime we should plan an outing and try to ride the whole distance of one of these trails.

John

I am not familar with Indian Creek Trail.

I ride Indian Creek Trail most week nights. I start at Gomer's 99th and Holmes on the Missouri side and ride into Leawood Park at 103rd & Lee Blvd., from there you can ride west out to 104th & Antioch where the trail is closed due to the I-435 construction. When the underpass tunnel opens you will be able to ride south out to 151st by Olathe North High School. That route when open will be about a 36 mile RT for me.

Or...Again from the park you can ride south to 127th and Nall...that's about a 16 mile RT from Gomers...

Quite often I manage to ride both legs (south to Nall and west to Antioch) for a combined 23 mile RT, daylight is making that tough right now.

All continuous paved trail with only a couple of dog-legs.
If you can make it to Leawood Park...you'll be able to figure it all out.

I get on the IC trail at the 103rd and Antioch park (Indian Creek park) and ride from there. It is a nice trail.

Today I got on my new bike (Trek 520 - I got it Thursday night), drove to Heritage park as a starting point and from there rode out to Spring Hill then across through Bucyrus and on to Metcalf, then went North back to 199th St. over to Lackman and back to the park. The trip meter said 46 miles. It was a beautiful day for a ride and a good shakedown for the new bike.

Dean, I saw your post for the charity ride, but not in time or I might have tried to make that. Maybe next time I'll be more on top of things.

Trek 520, wow I have been eyeing them lately. I was thinking of getting one and stripping the touring parts and using it as a road bike. They come with a pretty nice component set.

If you want to try and meet up for a evening or weekend ride let me know. I will probably ride T-W-T evenings this week. Weekend forecast looks sketchy right now.

I would like to meet sometime. This weekend looks like great weather and I'm in town. Send me a private email if you can.

The 520 is a great bike, for touring or just general riding. The stock gearing is pretty high, so you might like it. I got the LX crankset and its still plenty high for me. Honestly though there might be better "road" bikes for less money if you don't want the touring specific geometry and brazeons.

John

:D So who is ready to ride :D
Most of the snow is gone... ;)

I'm hoping Sunday, but it is going to be cold.

FYI, I live just about 1/2 mile from the northgate access to mill creek streamway park. My dad and I rode from there just past the 95th/prarie star access, then turned around last weekend. It was about 12 miles if you count riding from my apartment all the way out and back.

I might be down for a weekend ride every other weekend or something. Kind of depends on the wife's plans. Today would have been awesome, but I'm still recovering from riding in the mud, slush, ice and foot-deep snow. I commuted all this week except for yesterday. The snow is what finally killed my legs. I was spinning in my 22-23 and 22-25 for more than 3 miles thursday night, with lots of uphill (119th and strang line to Sheridan and Clairborne via Santa Fe) and that was after treading really gently on 3 miles of solid ice on thursday morning, and slogging through 3 miles of sandy, gooey slush wednesday evening. This week was a butt-kicker. 3 miles is nothing, but it seems like 15 when it gets like this.

Anyhow, I'm in the area. I'm more of a commuter than a recreation rider, but I need the exercise. If anyone wants to try to plan something, PM me and I'll give you my cell # and email address.