Bowie, Prince fans battle in the streets and everyone wins (Photos)

Bowie vs Prince Ride-10

A partial group shot taken at Sewallcrest Park before the ride began.
-More photos below-
(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)


Last night was the final hurrah of what has been a truly phenomenal month of Pedalpalooza rides. It was the annual Team Bowie vs. Team Prince ride and dancing and fun lasted well into the night. There were a ton of great costumes, several booming sound systems, a huge mass of riders that took over the central eastside, and of course, lots of dancing in the streets.

Bowie vs Prince Ride-19

Bowie vs Prince Ride-20

Bowie vs Prince Ride-3

Bowie vs Prince Ride-21

Bowie vs Prince Ride-14

Bowie vs Prince Ride-27

Bowie vs Prince Ride-25

Bowie vs Prince Ride-28

Bowie vs Prince Ride-33

Bowie vs Prince Ride-24

After stops for merry-making attracted police attention (they were very nice, just probably responding to noise complaints) at Washington High School and Laurelhurst Park, we ended up in front of the Clinton St. Theater (SE 26th and Clinton). With a good number of people already at there for Phil Sano’s Bike Smut screening, and other rides like the Bike Club Vest Ride and the Flash Dance Ride converging on the spot, the group was so large it just took over the entire block.

Not surprisingly, a mass dance and street party was inevitable. Bike lights spun like disco balls, making sparkling costumes shimmer, new friends were made, and it looked to me like a good time was had by all. What a way to cap off Pedalpalooza!

Here are more of my favorite images (see them all in the gallery):

Bowie vs Prince Ride-35

Our fearless leader Lily!
Bowie vs Prince Ride-34

Bowie vs Prince Ride-38

El Diablo!
Bowie vs Prince Ride-39

Bowie vs Prince Ride-47

Bowie vs Prince Ride-45

Bowie vs Prince Ride-43

Pedalpalooza for the win!

Even if you missed last night, you can still enjoy some of Portland’s fun-loving and creative bike culture at the Multnomah County Bike Fair (MCBF). It starts at 2:00 pm today at SE 12th and Alder. There will be tons of live music, fun bike games, freak bikes, kids activities and crafts, local vendors of all types, and more! Check out the Facebook event page for more details.

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Founder of BikePortland (in 2005). Father of three. North Portlander. Basketball lover. Car owner and driver. If you have questions or feedback about this site or my work, feel free to contact me at @jonathan_maus on Twitter, via email at maus.jonathan@gmail.com, or phone/text at 503-706-8804. Also, if you read and appreciate this site, please become a supporter.

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Hart Noecker
Hart Noecker
11 years ago
dmc
dmc
11 years ago
Reply to  Hart Noecker

Look at all the attractive men and women in these photographs. Perhaps it’s their bicycles that make them so appealing. One of many reasons bicycle related people flock to Portland. Trying so hard to get a job across the river and enter this amazing culture.

Spiffy
Spiffy
11 years ago
Reply to  Hart Noecker

Hart Noecker
More photos here from the Prince side of the ride: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.385812921482807.88501.100001623066825&type=1
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Hart Noecker
11 years ago
Reply to  Spiffy

Album is set to public, give it another try.

Gasper Johnson
11 years ago

Beautiful! J. Maus, could you please refer to the erotic collection of erotic bicycle movies as “Bike Smut”?

Thanks!