Pasadena’s midweek fixture is the Tuesday and Thursday evening Rose Bowl ride. On weekends, groups either lap the Rose Bowl Loop or head up Angeles Crest Highway out of La Cañada Flintridge.
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How group rides work in Pasadena
The Rose Bowl ride. From about mid-March until the clocks change on Nov 1, it rolls at 5:55 pm on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and laps the stadium about ten times. The 3.1–3.3-mile loop is closed to cars and shared with walkers, so it’s fast but predictable. Any Tuesday or Thursday ride a club lists lands on this page.
Weekend climbs out of La Cañada Flintridge. The long weekend ride is Angeles Crest Highway (CA-2), about 4,600 feet of climbing in 18.5 miles to Red Box and Mt. Wilson. Storms and fire repairs shut sections of the climb without much notice, so check Caltrans QuickMap for CA-2 closures before you leave.
Pick by start city. A ride card shows where the group gathers (usually the Rose Bowl or somewhere in La Cañada Flintridge), not the route it climbs. Read the description or ask the club for the exact spot, and arrive ten minutes early with pumped tires, a spare tube, a pump or CO2, water and ID.
Lights for the evening laps. Once daylight saving time ends on Nov 1, 2026, the Tuesday and Thursday laps finish after dark, and California law wants a white front light and a red rear reflector or flashing light. Most Rose Bowl regulars use a rear light year-round, since the Arroyo Seco gets dim early.
Drop or no-drop. The Rose Bowl ride is fast and drop-style: it won’t wait at the back. Many weekend club rides regroup at the top of each climb. The ride cards don’t say which is which, so ask the club, or try a shorter Rose Bowl evening before you take on Angeles Crest.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Rose Bowl ride in Pasadena?
Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 5:55 pm, from about mid-March until daylight saving time ends on Nov 1, 2026. It’s been going for more than 40 years and rolls about ten laps of the 3.1–3.3-mile Rose Bowl Loop. When a club lists it or another Tuesday or Thursday ride, it shows up on this page.
Where do weekend group rides from Pasadena go?
Most either lap the Rose Bowl Loop or climb Angeles Crest Highway (CA-2) from La Cañada Flintridge toward Red Box and Mt. Wilson: about 18.5 miles and 4,600 feet of climbing to the summit. Check each ride’s distance to see how far it plans to climb.
What should I check before a ride up Angeles Crest?
Caltrans QuickMap, before you ride past La Cañada Flintridge, because sections of Angeles Crest Highway (CA-2) close after storms and fires. After the January 2025 Eaton Fire, the dirt above Altadena, including the lower Mt. Wilson Toll Road, stays closed through December 31, 2027, so weekend rides from Pasadena stick to the paved climb.
Do I need to sign up to join a group ride in Pasadena?
No. You can see every ride without an account, and the RiderFinder app is free. Whether a ride needs an RSVP is up to the club organizing it, so check the ride or club page, or tap “Join the ride” in the app to let the group know you’re coming.