A Summer Bike Adventure

Contributed by: Marty Sinclair, The Hive Overland Park

When was the last time you rode a bike?? Last summer, a group of women from the Overland Park, KS Hive decided it was time to jump on a bike (well, maybe "jump" is an overly aggressive term for gently climbing onto a bike so as not to injure ourselves) and enjoy a couple of hours on the bike trail.

After researching bike trails and figuring out the necessary logistics, we put together an overnight trip full of adventure and F-U-N! We needed the biking to be on a flat trail that everyone could enjoy regardless of their fitness level. Of course, delicious food and drink were a must-have to keep up our endurance.

Welcome to our adventure!

We met in a little town about two hours outside of the Kansas City area called Rocheport, MO. Missouri has a fantastic bike path throughout the state called the Katy Trail. Fun fact, it is the longest developed rail-trail in the country, which means most of the trail is flat and fairly easy to bike.

The fun began at....Meriwether Cafe and Bike Shop. What a hidden gem of a place - so cute and friendly! We started our morning off with an amazing breakfast outdoors under umbrellas. The cafe sits right next to the Katy Trail so you can watch other cyclists while enjoying the delicious food and signature lavender lemonade. Bonus: they also rent bikes which means you don't have to haul a bike in your car.

After a leisurely breakfast, we hopped on our bikes and hit the trail! It was a beautiful path lined with blooming trees and tall rock cliffs. We stopped frequently for photo ops and to take short breaks. We had a great time!

After a few miles, our backsides were aching. We knew it was time to turn around and begin the journey back to Rocheport. On the way, we stumbled upon their very cute downtown area. It was filled with adorable shops and art galleries just off the trail.

Our last stop included a local winery, Les Bourgeois. What a treat! The venue overlooks the picturesque Missouri River, which is a perfect way to enjoy a glass of wine. We sipped and chatted the afternoon away all while making connections with new friends. A glorious way to end a day of grand adventure!

Want to plan your own summer bike adventure? Tips to help planning:

• Look for a bike trail in your area with a starting point that offers bike rentals (downtown cities would also be fun to explore and most now have bike rentals).

• Ask a few friends and then have them ask a few friends - it is great way to meet new women and create new connections!

• Plan your route with potential stops along the way or a restaurant to start/end at.

• Be flexible with your plan. Make adjustments along the way as we did with the shops!

• Laugh a lot and bring a few bandaids and Motrin - we needed both!

• Take photos and share them with us here or social media - @thehivewomen

We would love to hear from you! Please leave a comment below: