Loop Group

Every city has cycling traditions that define the sport in that area, and San Angelo is no different.  We have the infamous Loop Group rides (or at least, we had until they became small and not-so-infamous).

These group rides have taken place for years every Tues/Thurs evening during daylight-saving time, starting from the TxDot front parking lot (Knickerbocker Blvd and Loop 306) at 6:30 pm (usually 6:00 early in the season).  Be there on time or you’ll get left behind.


Loop Group rides are not organized by an individual or club - instead, riders just show up. There is no event permit from the city, no police support and no overarching event insurance. In past years the group size was often 30-40 riders each evening, although that's dwindled down to 6-10 on good days over the past couple of seasons.  Like groups rides everywhere, these rides allow riders at all ability levels to test themselves against other cyclists and enjoy the camaraderie.   Everyone is welcome – but please wear a helmet, ride safely, and obey all traffic laws.

Group rides have always been an integral part of road cycling. Teams and groups of individuals train together, cycling tours are usually large groups of cyclists, and most races start off as a group (“peleton”) until the action heats up.  Leaning to ride safely in a group is an important road bike skill and isn't something you'll learn on Google.

For some local riders, these twice-weekly Loop Group rides are the “Tuesday/Thursday World Championships” where they compete for bragging rights and less skilled riders just take pride in trying to keep up with that lead group for part of the ride.   For other cyclists, these rides are a biweekly social event. They meet at TX DOT on group ride evenings, enjoy the company of other riders and pedal around the route at a moderate pace.

On any given group ride evening, you’ll might find male and female cyclists ranging in age from teenagers to folks well over 70, an occasional couple on a tandem bike, and representation from all social classes and occupations.  Some of the local triathletes have been known to bring their running shoes and go for a transition run after the ride. The common thread is these people all enjoy cycling, and the Loop Group is the place to be on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.

Let’s take a virtual ride through a typical Loop Group evening. You want to show up early enough to unload your bike and get “kitted up” (cycling shoes, helmet, gloves, etc.).   Go through the checklist:  rest room visit (check), tires aired up (check), spare tube or patch kit (check), water bottles full (check), sunglasses (check).  You’re ready to ride.

At start time, the pack starts to form and at we roll out headed east along the Loop 306 frontage road toward the Concho River.  Experienced and steady riders take the lead positions and (for now) the pace is easy, friendly, and relaxed.  New cyclists ride near the back of the pack and learn from those with more saddle time.

The group passes Foster Road and rolls across the South Concho River bridge, veers back onto the frontage road, and crosses Ben Ficklin as we head toward the Old Christoval road overpass.  The pace is starting to pick up, and (as usual) we’ve got a side wind from the southeast. We turn left up onto the overpass (watch for oncoming traffic!), go over the bridge, and then make immediate right and left turns to get onto Fairview School road. This is a tricky corner – watch for traffic and potholes in the road.

The anticipation starts to mount as we head down Fairview road - this is usually where the attacks start.  We’re all riding hard to stay “on the wheel” of the rider in front of us to be in the draft and conserve energy.  Like clockwork, it happens – a few strong riders sprint off the front and pick up the pace up from a leisurely 18-19 mph to 25+.   The strong cyclists in the group accelerate and catch up with the break, while the rest of us get left behind.  Most of us are “OTB”, cycling talk for Off The Back.

From this point on, the initial Loop Group pack fragments into multiple smaller groups as people ride at a pace they can maintain.  Occasionally some new rider will get dropped by everyone and left alone to find their way back to TxDot (hey, that’s part of the Loop Group indoctrination tradition).

The hammerheads (fast folks) will go on to east Loop 306, then right onto Susan Peak Road, south to Waling Pecan Road, and work their way back into San Angelo via Mikulik, Schartz, and Country Club roads and then back onto the loop 306 frontage road as they complete a 35 mile loop.

The rest of us will turn right will turn right onto Mikulik shortly after passing under the Eden highway overpass and complete a 20 mile ride following Mikulik, Schartz, and Country Club roads.   We all end up back at TxDot before dark and spend a little time bragging about how fast (or slow?) we were this evening.

These Loop Group rides are a great way to meet other cyclists, improve you bike fitness, and test yourself against other riders.  It’s a San Angelo cycling tradition, so come out and join the fun.  Ride On, San Angelo, and remember – the Loop Group rides are not organized events .... riders just show up.