May is National Bike Month, celebrating the great sport, commute option, and leisure activity. Cycling in OKC is a thriving sport, and the city offers plentiful options for commuters, weekend warriors, and serious cyclists alike! Whether you’re looking for information on bike rentals, wanting to try a cycling tour around the city, interested in joining a cycling community, or simply want to find a safe route to enjoy solo, this article is for you!
Rent a bike to get a taste of cycling in OKC.
- Spokies is Oklahoma City’s bike share program. They have been around since 2012 and began with a grant for energy efficiency administered by the City of Oklahoma City’s Office of Sustainability. You can find their classic bikes at the eight Spokies stations around the city, in addition to 25 dockless bikes. To use their services, you download an app that allows you to choose your bike and organize the most convenient pickup and drop-off. You can learn all about how the program works on their website.
- Ride OKC offers another option for bike rental, which is better for your planned adventure. Their bikes come in three sizes, which can be further adjusted to fit the rider’s height and comfort. Optional front-baskets and helmets come with each rental. In addition to letting you take the bikes on your own journeys, they offer two pre-planned tours: Bikes+Brews and Art+Architecture. They can also create a customized tour for your group, which is awesome for anyone who wants a themed excursion without the hassle of planning.
- Phat Tire Bike Shop has a small, but growing number of electric mountain and road bikes for rental. They offer them on a day rate at $90 for the mountain bikes and $45 for road bikes. These bikes are a bit more suitable for riders interested in tackling higher distances and intensities on their rides.
- Al’s Bicycles NW OKC has a fleet of comfort series bikes for an on-the-road upright and relaxing stroll around the lake. You can rent them for $10/hour. Renting from Al’s is an affordable option for a casual ride of any skill level.
Join a cycling group ride and find a community on two wheels.
Each of these rides is offered on a weekly basis, and though they tend to remain active throughout the year, it’s good to check their websites or Facebook pages for the most updated information. Additional public and private group rides can be found, but this list provides a good starting point with groups that have been historically strong, consistent, and welcoming of new riders.
- Oklahoma Bicycle Society
- Saturday Morning Donut Ride
Time: 9 a.m.
Location: 3400 N Portland Ave, Oklahoma City, OK
Length: ~11 miles
Average Pace: 8-10 mph
- The Bike Lab OKC
- Monday Night Ride
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: 2200 W. Hefner Road, The Village, OK
Length: 28 miles
Average Pace: 17-18 mph
- Thursday Night Ride
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: 2200 W. Hefner Road, The Village, OK
Length: 35 miles
Average Pace: 20-21 mph
- Saturday Morning Shop Ride
Time: 7 a.m.
Location: 2200 W. Hefner Road, The Village, OK
Length: 45 miles
Average Pace: 19-20 mph
- OKC Wednesday Night Ride
- Wednesday Night
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: 900 N Broadway Ave, Oklahoma City, OK (Trek Shop)
Length: 33 miles
Average Pace: 16-18 mph
- 2021 Training Rides
- Tuesday Night
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Location: 4333 SW 15th Street, Oklahoma City, OK
Length: ~22 miles
Pace: 16-18 mph
- Saturday Morning
Time, location, and length vary. Join the Facebook group for details.
- Francis Tuttle Bicycle Training Ride
- Saturday Morning
Time: 8 a.m. (7:30 a.m. in June, July, August)
Location: Southeast parking lot of Francis Tuttle Technology Center, NW 122nd and Rockwell, Oklahoma City, OK
Length: 45-50 miles
Pace: 15-18 mph
- Boxcar Derby
- Sunday Morning
Time: 8 a.m.
Location: 2100 N. Eastern Ave. Suite 3, Moore, OK
Length: 39 miles (A group), 30 miles (B group)
Pace: 20+ mph (A group), 14-15 mph (B group)
- Phat Tire Bike Ride
- Sunday Morning
Time: 9 a.m.
Location: Soldier Creek Industrial Park, 7250 NE 23rd St, Oklahoma City, OK
Length: 10-15 miles
Pace: Varies based on skill level, all are welcome.
- Hide and Go Bike
- Thursday Evening
Time: 6:45 p.m. Meetup, 7 p.m. Roll out
Location: Mesta Park
Length: 10-15 miles
Pace: “Party Pace,” all are welcome.
Visit a local bike shop to learn more about the sport and make your next purchase.
Oklahoma City has no shortage of bike shops. When you’re ready to learn more about the sport, get your bike tuned, or purchase some new gear, our community provides! Al’s Bicycles has been around for over 40 years, has three metro locations, and is Oklahoma’s largest independent bicycle dealer.
For a full list of bike shops in the metro, visit the Oklahoma Bicycle Society’s website for locations, contact information, and website links.
Discover some of the best road biking routes in the state—an especially great option for solo cyclists.
It’s not always easy to know where to go for a safe ride when you are new to an area. Traffic, road conditions, and friendliness towards cyclists vary greatly within any city, so it’s important to plan ahead and find a route that will provide you with a positive experience. Ride with GPS and Strava both offer great resources for finding and downloading routes for a successful ride. If you’re averse to using technology, you may consider visiting the routes below. Each offers a simple and straightforward option for time in the saddle.
- Lake Hefner Loop - 9 miles Suggested Parking Location: Stars and Stripes Park, 3701 S Lake Hefner Dr, Oklahoma City, OK
- Lake Overholser – 8 miles Suggested Parking Location: Route 66 Park, 9901 NW 23rd St, Yukon, OK
- River Trail - Suggested Parking Location: Bass Pro Shop, 200 Bass Pro Dr, Oklahoma City, OK
- Lake Stanley Draper – 16 miles Suggested Parking Location: Lake Stanley Draper Marina, 8301 SE 104th St, Oklahoma City, OK
Follow the local road rules for cyclists in Oklahoma City and know bike safety measures before you head out.
Like most communities, Oklahoma City has a list of rules intended to keep cyclists (and all who share the road) safe. In general, cyclists must obey the same traffic laws as all vehicles on the road. They should move in the same direction as the traffic and as close to the right side of the road as possible. Only on roads dedicated as bicycle routes is it safe to use the entire right line. Riding on sidewalks is not recommended and is prohibited in business districts.
When you are out on the road, it’s good practice to wear a helmet and ensure you have working brakes. Making a conscious effort to communicate with other cyclists and drivers through hand and verbal signals helps everyone prevent accidents from happening.
Support a bike-focused non-profit organization in OKC.
Outside of choosing biking as an outlet for personal fitness or community building, there are also opportunities to give back through cycling-related non-profits. For those who are interested in a hands-on volunteer opportunity, Bike Club is a great organization to consider! They are always looking for passionate volunteers to help with their programs. Each school-year, Bike Club runs for 20-25 weeks, encouraging students to begin riding and learn both cycling and life skills. Upon completion of the program, each child receives a bike. The Wheels Project is another local non-profit that uses bikes to create change. They provide bikes to members of the homeless population, helping remove the transportation barrier which prevents access to education or work opportunities.
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