(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)
Portland’s only sanctioned downhill skateboarding race, the Mt. Tabor Downhill Challenge, will feature a mini-bike category. The event takes place this Sunday on the slopes of the popular southeast Portland park.
This is the first time the MTDHC has had a mini-bike category and to my knowledge, this is the first officially sanctioned mini-bike downhill race in Portland’s history. Veteran Zoobomber Gabriel Tiller says Zoobomb actually started on Mt. Tabor 10 years ago, so this event marks an anniversary of sorts and a return to its roots.
Event organizer Billy “Bones” Meiners says all bikes that enter must have have a stock, 16-inch frame and 16-inch wheels. Some mini-bikers add weight to their rigs to increase speed, so there’s a 10 pound limit on additional weights. Bikes are also allowed to have fairings.
Here’s more from Billy:
“For those of you not familiar with Zoobomb or Mini-bikes, the Mini-Bike race will feature people racing down Mt. Tabor on children size bikes (see photo below). The pedal/push distance will be limited so that people won’t be tempted to build a bike with a crazy gear ratio and pedal all the way down the hill.”
A few years ago I accompanied Team Zoobomb, a team of gravity-bikers from Portland, to Maryhill, Washington for the Festival of Speed held on the famous Maryhill Loops Road. I was very impressed with how fast these guys were willing to take their tiny bikes down a winding road just inches from the pavement.
It would be great to see more events like this held in Portland. Good clean fun on bikes. Anyone considering giving this a try?
— More info on the event at TaborDH.com.
[NOTE: I changed the photo in this story because the original one was confusing people. ]