Bicycling - Road and Mountain

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Flint Hill Trails in Kansas

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venoyboy
venoyboy Posts: 3
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Has anyone ridden any of the converted rail trails around Ottawa, Kansas? I'm heading up there next month and was wondering what they were like. The website says they're a combo of asphalt in the towns and crushed rock in the country. Was wondering about condition and if my "comfort bike" would suffice rather than a true mountain bike. Appreciate any info.

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  • ihadabadidea
    ihadabadidea Posts: 50 Member
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    I haven't ridden those trails, but in this region of the country, "crushed rock" means pea-size gravel made from chert dug up from old mines. You will have no problem at all with a standard tire or even a road bike tire provided it isn't super skinny.
  • gdjester1
    gdjester1 Posts: 32 Member
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    Did you do your flint hills ride? How was is? I'm from Missouri but I do a lot of work in eastern Kansas (Wichita, Topeka). I thought I might bring my bike along sometime and ride some.
  • faugsu
    faugsu Posts: 330 Member
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    Crushed trails are mostly in good shape but have a couple of differences. You will ride slower. You pedal or you slow down-coasting doesn't work as well! The problem is there can be soft spots & little ditches & gullies that are hard to see, usually found when driveways cross the trail. Reason is different materials are used & they pack/react to rain by washing out differently. These can result in flats, wheel damage & falls when encountered. My point is not to scare you or anyone, just to provide info. One person could ride a road bike without a problem, but mtn bike tires wheels frame will deal better with any surface irregularities.

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