(Photo © J. Maus)
The annual Cirque du Cycling bike fest on N. Mississippi Avenue is this Sunday. The event brings together many facets of Portland’s bike scene and this year organizers have added yet another — a cargo bike race.
It was bound to happen as Portland’s cargo bike scene has gone absolutely bananas in recent years (I’ll try to share more photos and notes from a recent cargo bike meet-up soon).
The Cirque includes a family ride, an art/freak bike parade, a very competitive criterium race, and it’s a benefit for Albina Youth Opportunity School. Event organizer Ayleen Crotty says the Cargo Bike Race is a natural addition.
“We are very excited for this,” she shared via email, “It’s our first year doing it; so we’re keeping the race simple with hopes to expand it.”
Crotty says the field for the cargo bike race is already shaping up and features some well-known local names (registration is closed and was limited to 10 racers)…
Track stand/World Messenger Champion, former cargo-bike delivery professional, bike-powered music tour veteran, and currently the service manager at Joe Bike on SE Hawthorne, Mike Cobb…
Joel Metz from Magpie Messenger Collective (Portland’s original — and only — cargo bike messenger company) says he’s competing to win and he’d be “embarrassed if he were beat by a longtail”…
Charlie Wicker of Trailhead Coffee, who completed the 7-day Cycle Oregon with his custom Metrofiets cargo bike last year…
Ken Weatherell from Portland Pedal Power on his modified Yuba Mundo…
Local filmmaker and founder of Crank My Chain TV Dan Kaufman with his “Disco Trike”…
James Newman, a former big-time racer who did a stint in Europe and is now known as the Thomas the Tank Engine and Boat Bike guy.
The race will be mass-start and riders must complete three laps, picking up “oddly large items” on each lap.
Sounds like it’ll be an epic battle. May the best cargo-biker win!
More about the Cirque at CyclingCircus.com.
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Joel Metz all the way.
Jonathan that cargo bike bunny hop shot is fantastic. It’s my vote for action photo of the year!
“My money would be on this guy.”
That’s my good friend Jamie from Metrofiets.
Unfortunatly, I found out last night that he will be across the country and won’t be able to participate. However, several of his bikes will featured in the race.
Good luck everyone!
Ooooh… I want to see this. I know who I’m rooting for!! JOEL – SLAY THEM ALL, MF!
Please, this is not a race; it is a marketing game for bike businesses on the “in crowd”. It’s their choice, and good for them.I support them. But don’t call it a race as much as a dog and pony show.
I raced Lance Armstrong, got 2nd in the Illinois State Crit Championship, and was ranked 17th in Cat 1,2,3 in Texas. I don’t think they want competition really. So un Amerikan.
I’ve asked to be put on a wait list. We shall see.
I’ve noticed several marketing events (er, rides) and am torn what to think. Why not, I guess. As long as “the truth is out there” and there is no mis-representation. I just hate guerilla marketing and commodifying my favorite sport, but I guess there’s no escape. We are the corporate states of america after all.
Actually, it had nothing to do with marketing. We just thought it would be fun…..
Some people are still into fun.
“The race will be mass-start and riders must complete three laps, picking up “oddly large items” on each lap.”
It sounds like a fun race. I’m sure you’re too hard-core.
anyone accusing me or magpie of being in the “in crowd”, or any kind of marketing, is deluded. we are spending too much time working as actual cargo bike messengers for that kind of thing.
and i can bunnyhop a long john at least as high as jamie.
i was bummed that it was a size-limited field, and even moreso that its limited to 10 – but stoked for it all the same.
and yes, i will be (momentarily) embarassed if i – or ANYONE on a long haul – is beaten out of the win by a longtail.
heres hoping for hay bales and full beer kegs as cargo.
Why haven’t we done this sooner!?! Can’t wait to see it. I hope I can make it there!
How about a cargo bike zoobomb!!?
Team Beer will be there rocking our new cargo bike!
Next year: weight classes!
() pizza delivery
() shopping with toddler
() grocery shopping for two teenage boys
() WTF
I like q’Tzal’s idea of weight classes- or something like draft horse pulls at the state fair- each lap see if they can carry something bulkier/ heavier…
We’re super excited for this event – thanks to Kevin Ziemke from Team Beer for creating the event!
We’re keeping the event simple this year to work out kinks and test the waters and keep it manageable.
There are still volunteer slots open for the event and volunteers will help the event go smoothy so we can expand it in the future. Volunteers get an exclusive t-shirt (available only to volunteers) and free Mississippi Pizza (yum!).
Info is on our website: http://www.CyclingCircus.com/volunteer.html
Hope to see you all out there!
I really think that Joel is going to take the competition -sorry Ken. I will send you a better picture of Ken on the PPP bike. The one you have of the first version of the bike and my belly. The bike and Ken are much better looking 🙂
My friend Sam said he’s racing in this and he doesn’t even have a job, so I’m not sure what the hell that guy above meant about this being for marketing. Maybe that Sam is marketing how awesome Sam is? Because he is.
Joe, You sound like a super cool guy. You should move back to Texas.