All loops are different so it is possible to mix it up. I tend to do a variety of things. The most common is just to go out and ride, upload to strava and see what happens.
Occasionally I’ll plan a route and notice a cool segment and put in a dig to get a good time. Do this a lot on holidays in Europe where there are famous climbs- does anyone not give it some welly up Alp d’huez?
I occasionally get involved in strava battles. Normally with racing friends. Some one takes a KOM, messages the other person to mock them and then a tit for tat battle commences until one person puts in an unbeatable time. Particularly common around the hill climb season where people are doing short hill intervals anyway.
During the hill climb season I go out twice a week and do intervals. I do a loop of local hills. Often the climb courses themselves but that gets a bit repetitive. So I also look for segments and go out to take KOMs. It is good prep for racing. Also leads to mini battles as above.