Retro Grouch 

I took a short ride on the Katy Trail this morning. The air temperature was nice but the trail was soft. It reminded me of my mountain biking days.

20 years ago I had a pair of Specialized Storm Control mountain bike tires. They would have been perfect this morning. The thing that made them different was they had some oddly shaped knobs with rounded ends. They were real self-cleaning and would shed mud when everybody else's tires were completely clogged and acting like slicks. Unfortunately, they weren't particularly great for any other trail conditions. I used to take 2 wheel sets with me to our weekly rides - one with whatever was the popular tire-of-the-day and one mounted with Storm Controls for when it was muddy.

Just for fun, I googled Storm Control tires today to see if they were still available. There are Storm Control tires, but they have a different tread design. They don't have the rounded knobs that I remember. The new ones make do with widely separated square knobs. I wonder if they shed mud as well as I remember.

JerrySTL

They just announce the Missouri DNR's Katy Trail Ride for 2018. I need to get over to your neck of the woods and get some miles in before June.

https://mostateparks.com/2018ktride

Retro Grouch 

Is there a motel option for that ride? At the end of a day of riding I need the big 3.

And I wouldn't be in too big of a hurry to build up Katy miles unless you have a pair of old style Storm Control tires for your bike.

JerrySTL

There is a motel option. It costs $20 more per day per person for to/from transportation plus the cost of the room.

I use the Padre's Tent Service which is cheaper than the hotel room but nearly as nice.

Retro Grouch 

Still lacks the big 3 - hot showers, flush toilets and air conditioning.

Take the train back from Sedalia?

I could picture myself doing it (with motel option) but it might not be in the budget for this year.

JerrySTL

It does have hot showers. They bring in a shower truck!

50/50 on the flush toilets.

No AC to speak of.

For $70 they provide a chartered bus service from Clinton back to St. Charles.