I grew up in Missouri but left the area long before the Katy Trail was conceived. My parents currently live in St. Charles, though, and about 4 years ago I managed to do a couple of day trips on the trial near St. Charles. Had to rent a bike. All the rentals at the local shops were heavy bikes with fat tires and without toe clips. But it turned out you needed fat tires for the crushed limestone surface. A skinny-tired road bike would not have been good there. I was on the trail in the summer when it was bloomin' hot and most of the stuff along the trail that would have catered to cyclists was closed.