Crusaders head north for double the fun
Posted by Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor) on October 24th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
event will be all about beer,
costumes, and...oh yeah, bike racing.
(Photo © J. Maus)
This weekend, scores of Portlanders will head north for the annual Halloween-edition of the Cross Crusade.
Held once again at the Clatsop Country Fairgrounds (in Astoria), this year organizers have planned the first-ever double weeekend of racing. And, as per Crusade tradition, in addition to lots of racing there will be lots of beer, partying, costumes, and good-natured mayhem.
Crusade director Brad Ross recently shared with the OBRA email list that he'll bring four kegs of beer for the Saturday night bonfire and there will be a beer garden at the event all day Saturday and Sunday. Several of this year's race venues, have not allowed alcohol, so I guess you could say there's a bit of pent up demand.
On Sunday, most of the Crusaders will race in costumes. Ross wrote that, "come prepared or you'll be ridiculed."
In addition to 'cross racing, there will also be a Hash run put on by the Hash House Harriers. Don't know what a Hash is? "All you need to know is it involves running and beer," says Ross.
Over one thousand people are expected to participate in the Crusade this weekend and many of them will be camping at the race site.
It is sure to be a great weekend and I hope to share a photo essay and recap on Monday (I won't be there myself but hope to have help from correspondents).
For a peek at how this event went last year check out the video below by Dan Kaufman of CrankMyChain! Cycle TV.
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Is it still Cross without the mud?
RecommendedWell, with all that beer, I'm sure we could create some mud, eventually...
RecommendedA little strange that this story is right after one about a rider with a .25 BAC getting hit by a driver with a .18 BAC. Have fun, but be careful out there!
RecommendedMake sure the Fairgrounds people don't switch fields on ya... they're notorious for showing up a couple hours into set-up and making you move to the smaller, way less suitable field...
RecommendedFooey. A beer garden does not replace the back stretch hand-ups.
Total bummer.
I could have used a boost of fizzy carbs on day two of the racing.
RecommendedBrian, were you actually there? The beer garden made next to nothing, and the DQ for beer hand-ups only counts if you get caught...
RecommendedThere were 45 cases of beer and 4 kegs! Not counting what people brought on their own.
Kt-
RecommendedHasn't happened at a Crusade race yet. The fairgrounds management were gracious in letting us run the course where we wanted. There were practically no limits. A big thank you to Gary for coordinating this event. Next year, MUD!