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This is a video of a fun bike ride I did through the New Orleans French Quarter earlier this month on a single speed $169 Ultralite folding bike with 16" wheels. Outfitted from the factory with a carry rack and coaster brakes, this folding bike is simple to operate yet nimble. The bike was a great platform for shooting video while zig zagging around horse drawn carriages, oblivious motorists, street performers, tourists staring at architecture, etc.

The Route
I started out on the eastern edge of the Quarter at Frenchmen & Decatur and rode west on Decatur towards Cafe DuMonde. At Ursuline St, I turned right. I rode past the high wall of the Ursuline's Convent and past one of my favorite bakeries - Croissant d'Or. I turned left onto Royal St and biked past Brennan's Restaurant, antique shops and the Louisiana Supreme Court. I circled the courthouse and rode up Chartres towards St. Louis Cathedral.

I spun past K Paul's, the Napoleon House (a bar with an aura of old world intrigue & charm) the Pontalba Apartments and (of course) St. Louis Cathedral. I circled the art wall along the wrought iron fence of Jackson Square, pedaled through the French Market and past the headquarters for the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park (where a traditional jazz concert was taking place). I ended the ride by pedaling along the Moonwalk on the Mississippi River and made it to the steamboat Natchez just as it was pulling away from the dock for a river tour.

What a great place for a bike ride!

Larry

Labels: bike-ride-video, French-Quarter, New-Orleans-bike-tour

New Orleans recovery czar Dr. Ed Blakely will be leading a public bike ride this weekend to tour the St. Roch neighborhood for a hands on view of the hurricane recovery there. If you'd like to participate in the bike ride, following are the details.

When: Saturday, October 06, 2007 9:30 AM-11:00 AM (GMT-06:00) Central Time (US & Canada).
Where: 2381 St. Claude Ave

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Start at St. Roch Market (2381 St. Claude Ave.)
Left at St. Roch
Right at Marais
Left at Franklin Ave.
Left at N. Villere
Right at St. Roch (Stop a Fire Station, 1415 St. Roch)
Right at Roman
Left at St. Roch
Left at N. Johnson
Left at St. Roch
Right at N. Prieur
Left at Marigny
Left at Marais
Right at St. Roch
Finish at St. Roch Market (2381 St. Claude Ave.)

Larry

Labels: Dr-Ed-Blakely, New-Orleans-bike-tour