The Prairie Spirit Forum

Got off to a 7am start Tues (7th). The heavy fog eventually lifted w/o aid from a breeze. A perfect day for trail riding. No wind. More notably, the trail’s bogs and creeks now have splashing riffling water in them. Good to hear that sweet noise again.

Saw lots of wintercress, garlic mustard, rose verbena, wild strawberry, western buckeye, wild parsley, blue phlox and others I need ...

Got in my first 50 miler of the year today, riding south to Garnett & back on the trail. Trail is in EXCELLENT shape. It was a little bit soft due to recent rains - more so in the morning heading out than later-morning on the return - but it wasn't not bad at all.

There was a MASSIVE Boy Scout presence on the trail today, which was good to see. A ton of them descended on the ...

I am currently experimenting with both and am having trouble choosing between the two. Is there anything that I am missing?...

Just thought I'd share for the folks that are curious but haven't yet gotten onto the trail since our huge snows and rainfall.

Yesterday I rode from Ottawa to Princeton & back. Conditions on the trail are surprisingly good within that stretch. Trail is still a little bit soft, and damp, but not as bad as I feared. Some kind of equipment has gone through and bladed the s...

Once again Timon, please forgive the tangential topic, and if need be, please feel free to delete it.

Just thought I'd throw the Q out there as to if any regular visitors to the site are riding RAGBRAI this year. I am; it'll be my first RAGBRAI and I am super excited.

If anyone's riding and interested to meet up once there or prior to, that'd be c...

Anyone have any idea when the Humboldt extension of the trail will be complete? I am trying to plan some training rides toward the end of March or maybe early April. Will probably ride the trans am west to Chanute and jump off toward Humboldt and eventually the prairie spirit. I tentatively plan on camping at one of the lakes in Garnett then north to Ottawa and Big O before heading back south o...

Any of the hard-bitten PST fans on here planning to do (or already done) any one-day out-and-back PST centuries or a 2-day Ottawa-Iola-Ottawa or Iola-Ottawa-Iola tour this winter? (Mr. K, I'm looking at you!)

I have a habit of drinking lots of water when I ride, even (although less) when it's cold out, so the fact that the trail's halfway-point Garnett station remains...

Cross posted from news section

Randy at Kansas Cyclist has made me aware that the city of Iola has some city statutes that will be of interest to those of us who are pedaling through town. The relevant sections of the municipal code are:

ARTICLE V. BICYCLES*
_________

*State law references: Authority to regulate bicycles, K.S.A. 8-2002(21); bi...

After 13 years, the ownership of the Colony Diner is changing here at the first of 2013. Lets hope it all goes well and the dining experience there continues to be the quality seen in the past....

The Coffee Loft has a new sign posted on its door: Out of business! Too bad, really nice owners....

Update from the South - Most all of the brush and trees have been cleared between Humboldt & Iola. Volunteers have worked almost every Saturday since mid-May. Bridge fencing will soon start. Grading may also be close at hand. While the actual ownership is not theirs, the volunteers have voted to name this section the "Southwind Rail Trail" South denoting its position to the PSRT, Southwind because...

Guys (TofA especially):

Sorry that this is slightly off-topic, but myself being "one of our own" I thought I'd share this writeup with you.

You guys may remember that I've been working for a while to lose weight & get myself in shape to do the full Katy Trail in about 4-5 days. Well, I finally did accomplish that (4 days, Clinton to Machens) from October 10...

I am currently planning an excursion from Bushong to Osawatomie along the Flint Hills Nature Trail. The main problem right now is the gap in trail construction between Vassar and Ottawa. Since this trip will most likely detour along Hwy 68, I thought I would check out the short extension to the west of Ottawa.

I left the Ottawa Depot and crossed the river. If you stop and look hard ...

I rode my first-ever century this weekend (Saturday), putting in a full PST ride from Ottawa to Iola and back. Not easy on me, but I'm really happy to have knocked it out.

I have a full writeup on the adventure on my blog here:

http://yeahthisistheone.wordpress.com/2012/10/07/my-first-century-ottawa-iola-ottawa-via-prairie-spirit/

The round-trip to...

Stopped here today in the middle of a 50 miler from Ottawa to Garnett and back.

While I had heard that there was good food here, I was not prepared for a very impressive bistro atmosphere with marble-top tables and an impressive menu.

While I had a very good reuben, my traveling companion had a chicken artichoke panini which looked better. The staff was very attentive...