St. Louis Bike Shop Ride Guide

Whether you’re training for your next race, wanting to explore some new trails or just like meeting other cyclists, shop rides are a great way to do it. To encourage our readers to get out there together — the benefits of group riding include accountability, safety and sociability — we created this list of weekly rides leading into summer. Some shops were still planning their schedules at press time, and rides may change with the weather or the organizer’s preference, so be sure to call the shop or check its website or social media for the latest details. No matter what you do, ride safe and ride often.

MONDAY
Start the week off right with Trailhead Bicycles’ Monday Morning Ride. It leaves at 9:30 a.m. from the shop in Ellisville, Missouri. 636-220-6753; trailheadbicycles.com

Revolution Cycles’ Monday Ride meets at 6 p.m. at Farm To You Market on Old Highway 100 in Washington, Missouri. 636-390-9999; rev-cycles.com

Say so long to Monday with South Side Cyclery’s drop and no-drop rides (A, B and C groups). Plan to depart the shop in St. Louis promptly at 7:15 p.m. Lights required. 314-481-1120; southsidecyclery.com

TUESDAY
The long-standing Tuesday Night Ride at Alpine Shop in Kirkwood, Missouri, offers something for all abilities. Meet in the parking lot; rides roll at 6 p.m. 314-962-7715; alpineshop.com

Meet at Bike Surgeon in O’Fallon, Illinois, for no-drop rides for A, B and C groups (20+ mph, 17-19 mph and 14 mph). The fun starts at 6 p.m. 618-622-1693; bikesurgeon.com

Trans Am Cyclery in Farmington, Missouri, hosts rides for A, B, and C groups. Routes vary from 15 to 20 miles. Wheels roll at 6:15 p.m. 573-756-7888; southsidecyclery.com

Join The Bike Factory of Edwardsville, Illinois, for its no-drop rides at 6:30 p.m. Groups A and B ride a mix of road and Madison County Transit (MCT) trails; group C rides MCT trails only. 618-659-8706; thebikefactory.com

WEDNESDAY
The Alpine Shop in Kirkwood hosts a weekly Women’s Only Ride. The 15-mile, no-drop pedal leaves at 6 p.m. sharp. 314-962-7715; alpineshop.com

Bike Surgeon Outpost in Edwardsville has fun in the woods on the SIUE mountain bike trails. Meet at 6 p.m. at the R.C. Airplane Fields on the north side of campus. 618-692-5595; bikesurgeon.com

Pedal country roads and rolling hills with The Cyclery & Fitness Center in Alton, Illinois. Start time is 6 p.m., with a mileage of 10 to 20 miles. 618-468-1128; thecyclerys.com

Trade skinny slicks for midweek single-track with Trailhead Bicycles. Meet at the shop in Ellisville at 6 p.m. 636-220-6753; trailheadbicycles.com

THURSDAY
Drop ’em if you can on the Billy Goat Bicycle Company Thursday Throwdown ride. This fast-paced peloton rolls at 6 p.m. 314-821-0216; billygoat.bike

Cruise Washington on Revolution Cycles’ Ride Around Town. Meet at 6 p.m. at Riverfront Park for a 9-mile loop, then join the group for food and drinks afterward. 636-390-9999; rev-cycles.com

Bring the kids for the weekly Bike Surgeon Family Ride. The casual, no-drop event starts at 6 p.m. at the O’Fallon location. 618-622-1693; bikesurgeon.com

Got legs? Find out on Trailhead Bicycles’ Hammer Drop ride. Wheels roll at 6 p.m. from the shop in Ellisville. 636-220-6753; trailheadbicycles.com

Get a jump on the weekend with Velofix’s casual Thirsty Thursday rides (the second and fourth Thursday of each month). Meet in the parking lot of Civil Life Brewery at 6:15 p.m. facebook.com/velofixSTL

Head to The Bike Factory in Edwardsville for A, B and C group rides. Pedals down at 6:30 p.m. 618-659-8706; thebikefactory.com

Ride 20 miles with Maplewood Bicycle after the shop closes. The no-drop ride starts at 7:30 p.m. in Maplewood, Missouri. 314-781-9566; maplewoodbicycle.com

FRIDAY
Get sendy when Bike Stop Café leads a mountain bike ride to Bangert Island. Meet at the shop in historic St. Charles, Missouri, at 4:45 p.m.; ride departs at 5 p.m. Bring lights. 636-724-9900; bikestopcafes.com

SATURDAY
Ride backroads and bike trails with The Cyclery & Fitness Center in Edwardsville. The no-drop ride leaves at 7 a.m. and rolls for 40+ or 15 miles (with optional short cut). 618-692-0070; thecyclerys.com 

Swim Bike Run in O’Fallon, Missouri, hosts a 37-mile, drop-and-regroup road ride starting at 7 a.m. 636-688-8181; sbrtrishop.com

Big Shark Bicycle Company in Richmond Heights, Missouri, hosts two rides at 7:30 a.m., the Shop Ride (35 miles, 16-19 mph tempo) and the Mellow Ride (21 miles, slower pace, no-drop). 314-862-1188; bigshark.com

The Saturday morning ride from Momentum Cycles in O’Fallon, Missouri, leave at 7:30 a.m. It’s a fun and supported 25-mile no-drop road ride that regroups at St. Paul’s Church at the midway point. Everyone will be accounted for! Helmets are mandatory. 636-240-9232; momentumcycles.com

Tour Columbia and Waterloo, Illinois, with Sunset Cyclery and Trek Bicycles Store of Arnold. This single-group, no-drop ride meets at the Schnucks supermarket in Columbia at 7:30 a.m. and rolls at 8. 314-966-5505; sunsetcyclery.com or 636-287-6700; trekbikes.com/us/en_US/retail/arnold/

Urban Shark (Big Shark’s downtown St. Louis location) hosts a moderate-paced ride along the Mississippi Greenway starting at 7:30 a.m. from the shop on Locust Street. 314-881-0322; bigshark.com

The Hub Bicycle Company offers a 30-mile ride for multiple levels: race pace (20+ mph) at 7:30 a.m., fast pace (20-17 mph) at 7:45 a.m.; and conversational pace (17 mph and slower) at 8 a.m. A Women’s Only Ride rolls at 8:05 a.m. (June to August). 314-963-0300; thehubbicyclecompany.com

Big Shark Bicycle Company in Chesterfield, Missouri, offers a 31-mile gravel ride along the Monarch Levee Trail and exploring the August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area. It starts at 8 a.m. 636-534-8080; bigshark.com

Both Bike Surgeon shops in O’Fallon and Edwardsville host Gears & Beers. A and B group rides (30 miles) start at 8 a.m.; C group ride (25 miles) rolls at 10 a.m. Stick around for a cold beverage post-pedal. 618-622-1693; bikesurgeon.com

Meet at Billy Goat Bicycle Company in Kirkwood for a 35-mile, 18-mph, no-drop ride at 8 a.m. 314-821-0216; billygoat.bike

Revolution Cycles rides leave the Washington shop at 9 a.m. in A, B and C groups (17-19 mph, 14-16 mph and casual pace). All are no-drop. 636-390-9999; rev-cycles.com

SUNDAY
Explore some mountain bike trails with Sunset Cyclery at 7 a.m. Call for details. 314-966-5505; sunsetcyclery.com

Hit the dirt with Swim Bike Run in O’Fallon. Depart from the shop at 7 a.m., loop through Lost Valley Trail and return to the store. 636-688-8181; sbrtrishop.com

Bike Stop Café leads a 20-mile tour of Creve Coeur and the Katy Trail. Meet at the café parking lot in St. Charles; ride begins at 8 a.m. Helmet and patch kit required. 636-724-9900; bikestopcafes.com 

Billy Goat Bicycle Company serves up a Sunday Morning Long Ride of 53 miles (17 mph, no drop), with pedals down at 8 a.m. 314-821-0216; billygoat.bike

The Trek Bicycles of St. Louis hosts a 30-mile, no-drop ride open to everyone. Roll from the shop in Ballwin, Missouri, at 8 a.m. Pace depends on the group. 636-394-2453; trekbikes.com/us/en_US/retail/st_louis_ballwin/

Join Urban Shark for a hilly tour through South City and South County. Meet at the downtown St. Louis shop at 8 a.m. 314-881-0322; bigshark.com

Big Shark Bicycle Company’s Two Bridges Ride from its Chesterfield location is a 27-mile loop across the Daniel Boone and Page Avenue bridges and sections of the Katy Trail; 14-mph average pace. Wheels up at 9 a.m. 636-534-8080; bigshark.com 

Spoked Bikes & Stuff’s Easy Like Sunday Morning ride is one large group and no set route, speed or mileage. Meet at the shop on Cherokee Street at 9 a.m. and roll at 9:30. 314-875-0368; spokedbikes.com

Can’t make it to a The Bike Factory ride during the week? Try its Sunday no-drop rides at 6:30 p.m. Groups A and B ride roads and MCT trails; group C rides MCT trails only. 618-659-8706; thebikefactory.com

Nick Brennan is a contributor to Terrain Magazine and mountain bike geek; he occasionally snowboarded when he lived in Southern California.