With miles of farm-to-market roads and bunches of gravel options, the Brazos Valley has great road and gravel cycling offerings. As road bikes become more capable, the lines between these two disciplines have blurred leading to more diverse route options which is why we chose to put them together on the same page.
Check out some of our favorite road specific routes. Some are our own and some are borrowed from the Brazos Valley Cyclists organization. Check out the BVC if you are looking for a great group of road cyclists.
Wellborn Breakfast Ride - 19.5 miles
This route is great for a relaxing morning ride. It passes by the Taqueria Allende (mile 4) and Track Side Kolache (mile 13) for great taquitos and kolache. This route does include a small segment of gravel with offshoots down to the Brazos River and passes near historic Brazos Valley farmland.
Elevation Gain: 541 ft.
Surface Type: Pavement and chip seal with 1.4 miles of gravel
Route Beta: Any road bike with confident bike handling will be fine, at least 28mm tires might be nice for the short gravel section. Track Side Kolache sells out on weekends in the late morning so make sure to get an earlier start.
Independence Country Cruise - 32.8 miles
Explore the rolling hills of Independence and William Penn, this route starts at Washington-on-the-Brazos and passes through green farmland on it’s way to Independence and back. During the spring, this route is often full of Indian Paintbrushes and Bluebonnets. This area is full of history and is a nice quiet ride.
Elevation Gain: 1,157 ft.
Surface Type: Chip seal with a very small section of highway
Route Beta: There are not many services along this route, but Independence does have a small general store. Before or after your ride check out the Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic site as well as the Barrington Living History Farm to learn more about the early years of Texas.
Traditions, Campus, and Downtown Bryan Meander
29.3 miles
This is one of our favorite morning rides from the shop. It uses some of the bike paths in town, passes through campus, and gives an opportunity for some climbing through the Traditions neighborhood. There is also the option to continue to Downtown Bryan on a dedicated bike lane. This route explores a large portion of the urban area in Bryan-College Station and is a great way to start to learn the town on bike.
Elevation Gain: 626 ft.
Surface Type: Paved with some bike path
Route Beta: Avoid this route during football games or graduation. Breakfast and coffee is available at POV near the Stella Hotel in Traditions. Downtown Bryan offers many dining options as well.
Saturday Banker Ride - 55.7 miles
This is one of the classic routes of the BCS cycling community with a large group riding it every Saturday Morning. There is typically a regroup and turnaround option at the Millican Post Office (mile 14). Connect with the Brazos Valley Cyclists on this ride.
Elevation Gain: 810 ft.
Surface Type: Pavement and chip seal
Route Beta: The ride typically leaves the Prosperity Bank on Rock Prairie at 7am during the summer and 7:30am during the winter. Riders also join at Pebble Creek 15 minutes later.
Iola BBQ Gravel Ride - 60.0 miles
Starting from Aggieland Cycling, this ride can be a great mixed surface metric century, or when started from Long Trussel Road it is a nice 90% gravel, 20 mile ride for some good BBQ! This route is also a good introduction to the Long Trussel area to open up more gravel routes near the Navasota River.
Elevation Gain: 1,211 ft.
Surface Type: 33% Gravel, 66% Pavement and chip seal
Route Beta: The BBQ joint is called Mallet Brothers, right in the center of Iola. They offer outdoor seating and have been very accommodating to cyclists every time I have visited.
Old Hearne and Jackrabbit Road Gravel - 61.3 miles
This route explores some of the scenic gravel on Old Hearne Road and some of the less traveled paved roads near Lake Bryan. There is a good food opportunity at Top Of the Hill Greasy Burgers on the way as well. Jackrabbit Road offers some rolling hills and more gravel on your way back to town.
Elevation Gain: 1901 ft.
Surface Type: 25% gravel with the majority of the rest being low traffic paved roads
Route Beta: This route passes through the communities of Smetana founded by Bohemian settlers in the 1880s and Benchley, founded by Irish in the 1820s.