
beer stop high atop Portland off of
Dixie Mountain Road.
(Photos by Mark Reber)
Saturday’s Constructor’s Design Challenge (part of the Oregon Manifest) race may have been for points and it was certainly tough, but the riders seemed to focus more on camaraderie than competition.
The day seemed to be an extension of the previous evening’s party, albeit without the DJ. The mood was light and joyful, the weather cooperated and there was excellent beer and food along the way.
Whether organizers at Oregon Manifest intended it or not, the day — from the first checkpoint where riders loaded a six-pack of Hopworks beer, to the lunch stop at Chris King’s home to the finish line — expanded what it means to have a biking culture and a bike community. The expectations of riders and visitors were exceeded and few could help but smile and laugh.