Bridge Pedalers take over the city

With no sign of the new Maus baby yet, I decided to wake up early Sunday and do my first ever Bridge Pedal! I joined nearly 20,000 other people for a bridge biking bonanza the likes of which have never been seen.

There were bikes and people everywhere. Bands on the bridges made for a party-like atmosphere and everyone was out for a good time…it was a cycling smorgasbord, a bike buffet…pedaling pandemonium! From Sellwood to St. Johns, not a bridge was left uncrossed.

I showed up to the ride by myself, but I managed to meet quite a few interesting folks (and bikes) along the way. Including:

• An old guy riding a vintage Pogliaghi road bike who raced on it back in the ’60s.
• A fellow Portland blogger who I had previously only known online.
• A woman who received a very cool Merlin Newsboy bike that morning as an anniversary present.
• The guy who founded the Alpine Challenge Century.
• Tons of really cool kids.
• Joseph Ahearne, framebuilder extraordinaire, who was wrenching on the Marquam Bridge.
• Jay Graves, owner of Bike Gallery, who gave my old bike a much needed tune-up (thanks Jay!).
• A woman from Holland who was riding one of those awesome “Gazelle” 3-speed city bikes.
• Commissioner Sam Adams who was handing out “Go Platinum, Portland” reflectors on the Fremont Bridge.
• Peter, a fledgling Veloshop racer sporting his pink lycra.
• Aaron Tarfman, bike activist and founder of the Body Power website.

…and many more of my bike-loving brethren.

Check out more great photos on the BikePortland.org photostream.

Posted on August 14th, 2005 at 10:10 pm. Filed under Bridge Pedal, News, Rides/Events, Front Page. Feel free to respond.

Possibly related posts

• Bridge Pedalers will get more room, fewer bridges
• Portland named “Best Overall Cycling City”
• Bryant Street Ped Bridge to close for repaving
• Bridge Pedal meeting results in changes
• Help me get to the National Bike Summit