Road Rides

“The mission of Soul City Cycling is to promote good health through cycling while fostering diversity, unity, and camaraderie among cyclists within our communities.”

The Jackson Metro Area features several great places to ride and has many standing rides sponsored by various cycling groups.

If you are new to cycling or are unsure of your fitness/skill level, use the recommended categories below to determine which rides to attend.

A – Select Riders. 24+ MPH average. Fast energetic riding with excellent bike handling skills. Excellent pace line skills are required. Riders participating in these fast-paced rides are expected to be self-sufficient and able to navigate on their own if dropped.

B – Very Fast Riders. 21+ MPH average. Fast energetic riding with above average bike handling skills. Excellent pace line skills are required. Riders participating in these rides are expected to be self-sufficient and able to navigate on their own if dropped.

C – Fast Riders. 18+ MPH average. Brisk riding with good bike handling skills. Pace line skills are required. Riders participating in these rides are expected to be self-sufficient and able to navigate on their own if dropped.

D – Intermediate Riders. 15+ MPH average. Moderate riding with basic bike handling skills. Some pace line skills required. Typical rides are either “No Drop” or “Regroup”.

E – Beginner Riders. 12+ MPH average. For riders just starting out. Typical rides are either “No Drop” or “Regroup”.

***Ride categories vary based on terrain and weather conditions.***

Local Rides in Jackson Metro Area

Monday

Soul City Cycling (SCC) Encouragement Ride – A (Select) to E (Beginner))
The Monday Encouragement Ride begins in late March and is held every Monday night at 6:00 P.M. This is an out and back route, so feel free to ride at a pace that is safe and comfortable for you. This local ride is well attended and is a good fun ride. The route is approximately 20 miles in length with an elevation gain of 457 feet. Make sure to bring a chair to hang out afterwards!

Here is the link to the route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/37765078
Contact Arree Williams at 601.942.9532 for more information or check the Soul Ci t y C y c l i n g F a c e b o o k G r o u p.

Yandell Step Down – D (Intermediate)
Starting March 13^th, the Yandell Step Down is hosted by The Bike Crossing (TBC) in Ridgeland. This ride is designed for intermediate riders who want to ride at a controlled pace. The goal of this ride is to help riders improve their paceline skills and overall fitness. Riders participating in this ride are expected to ride at the pace of the group. It’s not about speed. The ride starts at TBC at 6pm with a social afterwards at Lost Pizza. The route is 28.75 miles with an elevation gain of 930 feet.

Here is the link to the route: http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/1450926946
Contact Scott at The Bike Crossing at 601.856.0049 for more information.

Tuesday
Community Ride – A (Select) to E (Beginner)
Starting after the time change in March, this local ride leaves at 6pm from the Canton Multi-Purpose Building. This is an out and back route, so feel free to ride at a pace that is safe and comfortable for you. This route doesn’t have a lot of traffic, so it’s a great place to learn how to ride in a group.
Make sure to bring a chair and hang out after the ride. This local ride is well attended and is a good fun ride. The route is approximately 22 miles in length with an elevation gain of 660 feet.

Here is the link to the route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/31512755
Check the Madison/Ridgeland and Germantown Cycling Facebook pages for weekly updates.

Thursday
Soulshine Ride – A (Select) to C (Fast)
Starting in late March, this local ride leaves at 6pm from behind the Soulshine Pizza Factory in Ridgeland. This 20 mile route has an elevation gain of 798 feet and has several sharp challenging hills. It should be noted that this route travels on Hwy 463 for approximately ¼ of a mile. This ride typically breaks up into multiple groups. While the slower groups may regroup, we recommend familiarizing yourself with the route beforehand.

Here is the link to the route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/19506401
Check the Soul City, Madison/Ridgeland, and Germantown Cycling Facebook pages for weekly updates

Encouragement Ride – E (Beginner)
The Encouragement Ride is a social and talking paced ride that leaves from the Germantown High School parking lot on Thursdays at 5:00 p.m. This 10 mile route have minimal elevation changes and is an excellent ride for anyone just starting out. Here is a link to the route.

Here is the link to the route: https://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/1482220852
Check the Madison/Ridgeland and Germantown Cycling Facebook pages for weekly updates.

Saturday
Germantown – B (Fast) to C (Intermediate)
Germantown typically has two routes of 30 and 42 miles. The 30 mile route is a modified “no rider left behind” ride where riders stop at known points to regather. The average pace is 15-18 mph with stops every 5-10 miles. Water is available on the 30 mile route, and the 42 mile route stops at a convenience store along to route for water and snacks. The 30 mile route has an elevation gain of 857 feet, and the 42 mile route has an elevation gain of 1,357 feet. Here are the links to the routes.

30 Mile Route – https://ridewithgps.com/routes/15445207

40 Mile Route – https://ridewithgps.com/routes/15445257
Start times vary with the seasons and the weather, so check the Germantown Cycling Facebook page for weekly updates.

Hartman Ride – B (Fast) to C (Intermediate)
On Saturday, David Hartman hosts a ride. Routes vary, so keep an eye on the Madison/Ridgeland Cycling and Rankin County Riders Facebook pages for David’s posts detailing each week’s ride.

Sunday
Lake Caroline – B (Fast) to E (Beginner)
The Lake Caroline ride typically starts from the Mermaid Café at 2pm. There are two 27 mile out and back ride with several “Regroup” points along the route to choose from. While most treat this ride as a recovery ride, there are several sections of the route where people like to “open it up” in the flats. Here is the link to the route.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/37907168
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38649128
Start times vary with the seasons and the weather, so check the Germantown Cycling Facebook page for weekly updates.

Local Facebook Cycling Groups:

Tips for Road Riding in the Jackson Metro Area

Road riding in the metro Jackson area involves trade offs most of the time. On smooth roads with few potholes, traffic can be heavier and on routes with little traffic, road conditions can be less than ideal in many cases. For most routes in the area, a little of both can be expected so it is important to come prepared.

Make sure to have good visible lights on both the front and back of your bike. If your route includes the Natchez Trace Parkway, you are required to ride with a front and rear light. Check out this list of bike shops in the Jackson Metro Area if you need to purchase equipment.

Wear visible clothing, especially if you are riding in the dark! Drivers suffer from distractions just like everyone else, so be as visible as possible and make sure they can see you

Our country roads have potholes (and some city roads do too), so make sure to bring a spare tube or two. Some roads are in better conditions than others, and potholes can be aplenty. It is not uncommon to flat both your front and rear tires if you hit one, so make sure you have what your need to get back to your starting point. Carry at least one tube and a pump or C02 canister for repairs.

Bring some food and water. Mississippi is hot and humid in the summer, and you will need to stay hydrated! If you are planning a longer route its a good idea to bring some food along as well. There are a couple country stores that are pretty popular in the area that make for a great place to stop and grab a cold drink or a light snack.