I was hesitant to start a bike ride. I wanted to, but it felt like a big commitment. In true Samantha Morgan fashion, I ended up going all in and making the thing that wasn’t supposed to be an ongoing thing, not only an ongoing thing, but a weekly thing complete with a social page on every platform, a website, a newsletter, and now a line of merch.
I supposed I should tell you what the thing was supposed to be in the first place. Well, I could probably blame it all on my realtor.
Back in 2019, I was riding my bike from my mid-city apartment to my job downtown, pedaling through the Old South neighborhood. Over the years I watched as the neighborhood began to transform. The blighted houses were getting torn down and the ones that remained looked cute and reminded me of the neighborhood I grew up in. I saw a lot of potential.
My realtor told me he had a house available he thought would be perfect for me. He was right! When my partner and I went to look at it, we couldn’t believe it hadn’t already been purchased. It checked all my boxes.
Okay, the neighborhood was less than ideal. There are still a lot of problems to be solved, but I love a good challenge. More importantly, I love the location. It really cannot be beat! We’re in the middle of everything.
We purchased the house in February 2019.
Now, let's rewind a bit. When we bought the house, I didn't know much about the history of the area. I just saw potential in this beautiful neighborhood, now known as Downtown East. Fast forward to the opening of the Electric Depot, and I thought, "What better way to encourage people to explore this area than a social bike ride?"
The idea of the Downtown East Social Ride was inspired by the Capital Heights Social Ride, which Mika Torkkola revived. That ride kicked off at 7 p.m. every Wednesday at Ingleside Church. But here's the thing—I’m an early bird. I wanted a ride that wrapped up by 8 p.m. so I could be home, cozy in bed, at a reasonable hour.
Originally, the plan was simple: four rides in May, starting on Mondays. Why Monday? Because someone suggested it, and it sounded good to me. Plus, the Monday Metro Madness ride was the only bike event happening then, and it wasn't exactly thriving anymore.
The Electric Depot, with its bowling alley, became the perfect starting point. My partner loves to bowl, so I thought, "Why not combine biking with bowling?" Thus, the first ride was dubbed "Bike and Bowl." Six enthusiastic riders showed up, and we pedaled downtown, made a stop on the levee, and then headed back for a fun round of bowling. Spoiler alert: that was the first and last time we bowled after the ride.
As the ride gained momentum, we started venturing to different locations every week. It added a fresh twist and kept things exciting. When the days were longer, and daylight lingered, I'd sprinkle in a bit of history about the places we visited. We’ve covered everything from the Civil Rights movement and the Battle of Baton Rouge to climate change and environmental awareness. It’s like a rolling history lesson on two wheels!
Our longest ride takes us to the Eagle's Nest past Farr Park on the levee, a journey that never fails to amaze. The second longest trek is to the Goodwood Library, a favorite spot we hit at least once a year, sometimes more. These rides are a testament to our group’s endurance and spirit of adventure.
We've even delved into the film industry, exploring its impact on the city. We’ve stopped at some famous filming locations for mega hits, adding a touch of Hollywood glamor to our rides.
And then there’s our occasional Sunday Funday excursions. Picture this: we’d start with yoga in City Park, led by the wonderful Tina Ufford, then enjoy a leisurely bike ride, and wrap it all up with brunch at Leola's Cafe. We became such regulars at Leola's that we hosted special events there, like a Halloween bash with a live band, all of us decked out in costumes. Speaking of holidays, one year Halloween fell on a Monday, and we got to go trick or treating. Plus, our annual Easter Egg hunt, complete with prizes inside the eggs, is a tradition everyone looks forward to.
We’ve even had special guest speakers join us to share their stories at different locations. Their insights and tales added an extra layer of richness to our rides, making each outing unique and memorable.
Although I've never officially kept count, it's safe to say that we've had hundreds of riders participate over the years. The rides average around 15 people. The most we've had on one ride was around 50, and the least was five. The low number is directly related to the weather, which prompted rules related to when we should ride. If it's below 50 degrees during the ride, or the heat index is considered dangerous during the course of the ride, it's going to be canceled. The summer of 2023 prompted the most number of heat-related cancellations. The number of missed rides was only rivaled by COVID.
We did take a couple of months off during the COVID scare. At the time, I was confident biking was safe, but I wasn't so sure about the socializing aspect of the ride. Although the ride technically starts at 6 p.m., we don't leave until 6:15 for a couple of reasons:
1) So everyone can get there and get their bike unloaded, and
2) so folks can socialize and make introductions.
Over the years, we've had some injuries, too. Two of the most notable incidents involved ride regulars. The first happened in the ride's first two months, and I almost ended it there.
Fortunately, the person who was injured was such a good sport about it that she came back and rode the next week with her bruises and all. The second incident, although it didn't shake my resolve to keep the ride going, did prompt the inclusion of the Emergency Contact Form.
Sadly, we’ve experienced the loss of some of our riders, including our furry friend Maziey, who was a faithful passenger in the front basket on the bike of her master, Denise Landin. Maziey’s presence is still dearly missed.
And that, my friends, is how the Downtown East Social Ride was born. It’s been a fantastic journey, and I’m thrilled to see the community come together every week to explore, enjoy, and celebrate this vibrant neighborhood. Hop on your bike and join us sometime—you won’t regret it!
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