The Chariot Wars are this Saturday.
(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)

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Competitors in the Chariot Wars — including the eventual champions on the left — making their way around the course.

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These guys could only be headed to
one thing... Mini Bike Winter!
(Photo © J. Maus)

Zoobomb's big annual event, Mini Bike Winter, starts tonight. Now in its ninth year, the four-day event promises a mix of performances, parties, and pure fun that is sure to help ease your winter doldrums.

This year, in addition to usual favorites like the "Ben Hurt Chariot Wars" (just what they sound like, only crazier and with more smoke and blood), the "Mini Bike Winter Olympics" (which includes "bike bowling" (see below) a launch into the Willamette known as the "Cupcake Challenge" and more) and the "Badass Challenge" (a race to climb up the hill to Washington Park on a 16-inch bike), the event includes a special screening of "Bike Smut," a collection of short bike movies. (more...)

Sprockettes wowed the crowd with some awesome new material

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The gladiators and the crowd brought lots of intensity to Chariot Wars last night.
- More photos below / Gallery -
(Photos © J. Maus)

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Chariot Wars, a proud Zoobomb tradition.
(Photos © J. Maus)

Zoobomb's annual Mini Bike Winter fest has begun! The event, which lasts through Sunday, started last night when the Irondelles (Portland's all-female tall bike gang) led a ride to spruce up area ghost bikes and do some craft-making for upcoming events.

Tonight, Zoobomb takes it to a whole other level with the much-anticipated return of the Ben Hurt Chariot Wars. (more...)

A scene from the Ben Hurt Chariot Wars held during Mini Bike Winter 2010.
(Photo © J. Maus)

Our friends over at Zoobomb have announced the dates and events that will make up the eighth annual Mini Bike Winter. If you've never made it to this, you should definitely mark February 17th - 21st on your calendar.

I know it looks scary, but they actually rules and referees and stuff.

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The Ben Hurt Chariot Wars were held Saturday in North Portland.
- Chariot Wars Gallery/Slideshow below -

The seventh annual Mini Bike Winter ruled the streets of Portland this past weekend. Hosted by Zoobomb, the event showcased one of Portland's distinct brands of bike fun. (more...)

Carnage awaits at the Chariot Wars event.
(Photo © J. Maus)

This year's Mini Bike Winter is shaping up to be one of the best ever.

The event -- which tries to capture the fun and creative culture of Portland's beloved Zoobomb community -- features parties, competitions, and this year, even a panel discussion.

Mini Bike Winter kicks off on Thursday night (2/11) with a panel discussion titled, "Should Bikes Save the Planet?" Panelists include: Author of Efficiency Shifting, Conrad Schmidt; Bicycle Pornographer Reverend Phil Sano; President of Umbrella and Director of the Willamette Pedestrian Coalition, Stephanie Routh; owner of Portland Pedicabs Ryan Hashagen; and PSU Professor of Sociology, Erin Rose Michaels.
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"Bump" showing his skills.
(Photos by Elly Blue)
-Slideshows below-

Mini Bike Winter is Zoobomb's answer to all of Portland's summer bicycle fun -- but less of it, and on small bikes.

The festivities go on for several days, and after missing the glorious Hamster Ball on Saturday night I determined to head out on Sunday to catch some of the action. I arrived at the Esplanade just in time to catch the Bicycle Belles, Seattle's answer to our own Sprockettes. I took some photos:
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