I hear that the only good part of St. Charles to Machens segment, is the ability to say that you did it.
I wish they'd connect the Katy at Machens with the West Alton trail (and fix up the West Alton trail to be passable

), so you could just MUP it all the way across the Clark Bridge and keep going down the Confluence or up the Sam Vadalabene trail.
The redone wheel in back is like greased lightening! Going down Kendall Hill on Edwardsville Road, I was keeping up with traffic just by tucking in and coasting! Thank you, spoke angel!