Alexa Morris’ social media bio reads, “Looking for a scoop, Riding my bike”
We met her last year at Joyride where this philosophy, her smile and joy for riding fit the all-new weekend format perfectly. Our connection was made thanks to ride scholarships offered by the Cycle Oregon Foundation with the aim to reduce or remove the financial barrier that may hinder cycling participation from underrepresented communities.
With a look ahead at a 2025 cycling calendar that now includes Joyride and events across the U.S, Alexa hopes to inspire the joy of riding a bicycle with others by sharing her journey to Joyride with us.
“I’m so grateful I could attend Joyride and hope I can pay it forward to someone else, or maybe even this Q&A would encourage someone to give Joyride a chance — I’m glad I did!”
What brought you to cycling and why do you keep pedaling? I started cycling in 2021 as a way to hang out with my friends while maintaining social distance. My life has been changed by the people I have met in the cycling community. I continue to cycle as a way to spend time with the people I love as well as a way to push myself.
How did the Cycle Oregon Foundation scholarship help you? I had the opportunity to experience Joyride through a scholarship I received from Lisa Congdon via her connection with Cycle Oregon. This was my first time participating in a cycling event and the registration fee is daunting when you’re not sure if the experience is the right fit for you or not. The scholarship allowed me to get outside of my comfort zone and try something I would not have otherwise done on my own.
What about Joyride appeals to you? Joyride was a chance for me to step outside my comfort zone. When I woke up on Saturday, my plan was to stick with the short route (12 miles) since the longest I’d ever done before was around 25 miles. But at breakfast, the energy was contagious—everyone was buzzing with excitement, and most were gearing up for the mid-distance Main Route (34 miles).
Feeling inspired and swept up in the moment, I decided to go for it and joined the mid-distance crew! That day, I pushed past my limits and rode farther than ever before—the full 34 miles of the Main Route! The encouragement and support from everyone along the way kept me going, especially during the tough moments.
Shoutout to Shannon the Cyclist and Marley Blonsky for sticking with me until the very end.
What is Joyride like? What would you tell your hesitant self a year ago as you considering signing up for the event? The people are what make the experience. We spent the weekend swimming in the river, doing yoga, going on walks, listening to a live recording of an All Bodies on Bikes podcast recording (link), and simply enjoying great conversations. I truly didn’t want the weekend to end! I pushed myself to ride farther than ever before, and it was all thanks to the support of the incredible people I met during this event who made the Joyride experience so special.
What’s next for you in your bicycling journey? My experience at Joyride has given me the confidence to push myself further on my bike; I signed up for the 50-mile race at Mid South in Stillwater, Oklahoma this March. I’ll be taking skills I learned from cycling coach Annick Chalier during the Gravel Clinic at Joyride with me to that race.
Her favorite Oregon riding route? Any ride that has a coffee and ice cream stop along the route is a dream ride for me.
