4,000 expected for ‘Worst Day’ ride on Sunday

Funny folks from the 2009 edition.
(Photos: Jim Parsons)

The Worst Day of the Year Ride shoves off for the 10th year in a row this Sunday and organizers expect a record turnout of 4,000 participants. We caught up with Ayleen Crotty from Good Sport Promotion to share more about the event.

Crotty says the ride started as a way to challenge people to ride through winter. The ironic thing is that the weather has historically been far from the “worst” over the years. Also, given Portland’s huge growth in bike ridership in the past decade, Crotty says riding in winter, “Isn’t so much of a farfetched concept these days, but it’s equally fun!”

“If it’s part of my job description to wear a penguin costume in front of 4,000 bikers I’d be a fool not to love my job.”
— Ayleen Crotty, Good Sport Promotions

The fun factor is likely what has led this ride from its humble beginnings of 250 participants to the 3,500 that took part last year. Far more than just a ride, the Worst Day of the Year Ride has become a Portland institution, and a major fundraiser for the Community Cycling Center.

“When this ride started,” recalls Crotty, “the Community Cycling Center was a smaller organization with big dreams. Now, 10 years later they’ve been able to realize many of those dreams and they continue to progress as a strong organization. It has been exciting to watch both the ride and the organization grow over all these years.”

Ayleen Crotty

Crotty has been to all 10 Worst Day rides and this year she’ll be sporting the official penguin mascot costume on stage at the starting line. “I’m not so sure what I think of that, except to say that if it’s part of my job description to wear a penguin costume in front of 4,000 bikers I’d be a fool not to love my job.”

At least Crotty won’t be alone — this ride attracts all sorts of interesting and creatively costumed riders.

Online registration is closed, but you can still show up to Lucky Lab on SE Hawthorne Sunday morning to take part. Learn more at WorstDayRide.com.

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Founder of BikePortland (in 2005). Father of three. North Portlander. Basketball lover. Car driver. If you have questions or feedback about this site or my work, contact me 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 paying subscriber.

Thanks for reading.

BikePortland has served this community with independent community journalism since 2005. We rely on subscriptions from readers like you to survive. Your financial support is vital in keeping this valuable resource alive and well.

Please subscribe today to strengthen and expand our work.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

11 Comments
oldest
newest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Ayleen + Team Penguin
13 years ago

Thanks for chatting and for the write-up, Jonathan! We really are excited for the ride.

* You can register tomorrow at Pre-Ride Check In at the Lucky Lab (915 SE Hawthorne) from 2-5pm.

* You can register at the event on Sunday morning.

Come in costume. We have great prizes for the best (or most outrageously) dressed.

K'Tesh
K'Tesh
13 years ago

Just noticed something that you should look out for if you’re on the 45 mile route.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ufobike/5437024669

Just west of SW Pointer Road (mile 10.6 on the route), there’s the Hwy 26 MUP. If you are riding two or three abreast be careful as the MUP narrows suddenly, and has a slight turn. The rider near the wall could catch a pedal on the cement base of one of the three lamp posts that jut into the path.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ufobike/5437632798

I’ve alerted Good Sport about the area, but I’d like to see a permanent solution put in place by ODOT.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ufobike/sets/72157625902684397/

Be Safe… Have Fun!

K'Tesh
K'Tesh
13 years ago

I’ll add that I went out there and superglued a couple of reflectors to the first two bases.

Hart Noecker
13 years ago

I couldn’t find anything on the whole site that told what time the meetup at Lucky Lab starts Sunday morning.

Schrauf
13 years ago
Reply to  Hart Noecker

Try “About the Ride” and then “Schedule”. There are various times listed.

K'Tesh
K'Tesh
13 years ago

http://www.worstdayride.com/details.html#schedule

February 12, 2-5pm – Pre-Ride Check In at the Lucky Lab SE

DAY OF THE RIDE
We release riders in waves, meaning a few riders at a time, to help you stay spread out on course.

8:00am Registration, breakfast and check in opens for Challenge Route

9:00am 45-Mile Challenge Route course opens

9:00am Registration, breakfast and check in opens for Urban Route

9:00am Costume Contest judging begins

10:00am 45-Mile Challenge Route start line closes

10:00am Urban Course opens

10:15am Costume Contest ends

11:00am Urban Route start line closes

11:45am Rest Stop #1 Closes (REI PDX)

12:00pm Rest Stop #2 Closes (REI Hillsboro)
Challenge riders only

12:30pm Laughing Planet Lunch opens

2:00pm Rest Stop #3 Closes (Community Cycling Center)

2:30pm Rest Stop #4 Closes (Bike Gallery Sandy)

3:00pm Course Closes

4:00pm Finish Line Closes

mmann
13 years ago

Hart Noecker,

It’s in a pull-down menu
http://www.worstdayride.com/details.html#schedule

Hope to see you there!

Hart Noecker
13 years ago

Thanks for helping me use cyberspace, everybody.

K'Tesh
K'Tesh
13 years ago
Reply to  Hart Noecker

I kinda find it funny how your comment was replied to by three people within a minute of each other, but had to wait just over an hour before the first of us did.

kenny
13 years ago

This will be the first one I miss in a long time. Have fun everyone, it is a fantastic day of bikes, cool people, great food… too much too list.

K'Tesh
K'Tesh
13 years ago

Uploading the Pics now…
Here’s the link to the set:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ufobike/sets/72157626045187862