Katy Trail Social.
 

A number of posters have indicated interest in a Katy Trail get together ride. I propose starting in St Charles, riding west until you are 1/2 way tired, and riding back so each rider can pick their own distance. St Charles to the Defiance biker bar and back is about 35 miles. St Charles to Augusta and back is about 50 miles. The Katy Trail is crushed limestone so, unless it rains, your bike is going to get dusty. On the other hand, it's hard packed enough that road bike tires work fine for this section of the trail. During the summer weekends this section of the trail is heavily traveled so you will also encounter kids and dog walkers. For reference, I normally ride in the 12 to 15 MPH range.

East from St Charles the trail doesn't go very far but there's a network of paved roads between the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. All are table top flat and traffic isn't too bad. New town has a store and some outdoor vendors and seating area so I could put together a short Sunday morning ride.

St Charles has a number of attractions other than bicycling and it has a bunch of restaurants. I think this would be a good place for a social get-together.

As I write this my July weekends are all available. Who thinks they want to come and which July Saturday is best for you?

How hot is it there in July?

It can get hot and humid, Georgia boy, but you're used to it.

I think you can count me in :-)

I was planning to try a 25 mile run from where I live to the Archgrounds around time for Fair St. Louis, if my mother's health at the time permits, but I'll gladly pile onto this instead.

Right now the weekends of July 6-7 and 20-21 look good to me. Sundays on the 14th and 28th also could work.

I've posted this about a half dozen times, but it's worth repeating. There's a great organized KATY Trail 5-day ride starting June 17th. I've done it the last 2 years and plan on doing it yet again in 2013.
http://mostateparks.com/2013-katy-trail-ride

Very hot. Humid too. May is a very nice month. Or June?

It's kind of the opposite of Minneapolis. Folks who live in Minneapolis either decide to exercise outdoors all winter and buy the right clothes, or they hibernate indoors for 3 or 4 months. We're going to be riding in July anyway.

Didn't see July specified in your OP. I do now.

I'm from the Branson area. Don't know how available I'll be until I get closer, but I'm very interested. Will watch this closely.

I'm close by and I ride the Katy regularly but I'm not very social. I like the Katy for the peace and solitude.

OK, everybody who responded was vague about date except for Jerry who likes July 20-21. In the interest of bi-partisanship with our Illinois neighbors, I'm thinking a 30 mile (mostly) Madison County trail ride on Sunday might be nice.

Anybody else who's not afraid of summer in St Louis?

I'm in regardless of where. Too far out for firm schedules, but July is usually safe.
A question (and I don't care one way or the other, just curious): this started as a Katy out and back- why the shift to the MadCo trails (which are fantastic BTW for all you furiners)? Or is it in addition to the Katy O&B?

I was thinking separate Saturday and Sunday rides. I thought that anybody who came from out of the area to ride the Katy would be the kind of rider who would also enjoy a Madison County trail ride.

Makes sense. Both are good! And getting from one to the other ain't bad either.

Hmm. Bit of a long way to go for a 30 mile ride.

Let me talk vacation plans with the spouse. But I more or less persuaded him to go to BC this year. Not sure a total rethink would go down well.

It's on The List though.

I'm up for the Sunday ride. I work every Saturday.

Klondike Park in Augusta is an excellent place to camp and ride from. I might come out of my shell and ride.

The first two weekends in July I'm covered up but the weekend of the 20th looks good for me, and I could probably talk El Segundo into coming along too. We've been trying to get out to ride the Katy for a while now already. That would be two strong definite maybes!