Katy Trail Packing List

Posted on by Darren Alff
12
May

You don’t have to travel around the world or live on the road for months on end to call yourself a bicycle traveler. Conducting short trips by bike in your local area (or even in your home country) is a great way to get out and experience the joys of bicycle travel.

Yesterday I flew from my home in Park City, Utah (USA) to Kansas City, Missouri. Now that I’m in the great state of Missouri, the plan over the next 10 days is for my friend Josh and I to ride our bikes across the state on the famous Katy Trail.

I’ll be sure to share photos, video and stories from the trip in a future article, but for now, here is the packing list for my 11-day trip to Missouri.

Hopefully this article will help you in preparing your packing lists for shorter trips by bike.

Bike Gear

Electronics

Camping & Cooking Gear

Clothing & Toiletries

  • Eddie Bauer 3-in-1 Rain Jacket
  • 2 Pairs of Jeans
  • Baseball cap
  • 2 Pairs of shorts
  • Sweat pants
  • 3 T-shirts
  • Fox Racing jersey
  • Fox Racing shorts 2 Pairs of black anklet socks
  • 2 Pairs of long socks
  • Underwear
  • Nike tennis shoes
  • Toiletry Kit
  • Road ID wrist

Paperwork

  • Wallet
  • Business cards
  • 2 reading books
  • Journal
  • 3 Pens

You should note that 1) I only brought a rear rack and two panniers with me because I don’t plan to use front panniers on this particular trip. I won’t need them because I am carrying less clothes and gear than I would typically carry on a longer trip by bike. 2) I am also carrying a whole lot more camera gear than your typical bicycle traveler might carry.  I have all this camera gear because I plan to bring you back a ton of great photos from my travels… and I’ll be working while I’m out on the road. So, this gear is necessary for me to continue running this website.

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Darren Alff

My goal as the "Bicycle Touring Pro" is to give you the confidence and inspiration you need to travel by bicycle anywhere in the world. I'm here to help you plan, prepare for, and execute your first bike tour and remove all the guesswork, wasted time and frustration that plagues so many first-time bicycle travelers.

9 thoughts on “Katy Trail Packing List”

  1. Emily says:

    Hi! I’ve really enjoyed reading your blog the last few months and this morning was super surprised to see you’re coming to Missouri! I live in St. Louis but my adventure racing team uses the Katy trail a lot to train. I have only been as far west as Augusta, but I’ve really liked what I’ve seen. Hope you have a great trip! Let me know if you need anything once you get to St. Louis.

  4. Craig says:

    I am looking forward to your updates on the Katy. I plan to start the Katy on the 29th from St. Charles and I want to know how badly washed out the trail is and how you coped with the conditions on your Bike Friday. I see the latest trail conditions state possible mudslides and a possible trail closing from Hartsburg to Mcbane if the river reaches predicted levels. Good luck and fill us in ASAP.

  5. Larry Hodgin says:

    Darren…I met you in Sedalia as you began your KATY ride. I was with Adventure Cycling, to begin in St. Charles. How was your trip? We aborted on Thursday, due to impending tornado and violent storms in Sedalia…safety for our participants is crucial.
    Love your site…
    Arrived home to find my biking buddy had put together a new ride…world tourist by Friday…I’ve sent him to your site.
    Larry

  6. Ed Catt says:

    Darren,
    How did the KATY Trail trip go for you? I live in Wichita, Ks, and it’s not that far to travel to get there, and I’m just curious how you found it. Your world-traveling experiences probably make the KATY pale by comparison, but, it’s a nice long trail for me starting out. Thanks
    Ed

  8. Joseph Delagarza says:

    I’m riding the month of May planning on doing the Katy Trail and connect to Mississippi River trail I have a military reunion Memorial Day weekend in Nashville

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