(Photos by M Andersen/BikePortland)
Pedalpalooza 2015 rolled into Portland Thursday evening with a swarm full of smiles as something approaching 1,000 people took over East Burnside for the city’s first big ride of the summer.
The route (led by Nathan Jones of Ride Yr Bike‘s regular Thursday night rides) snaked through central east Portland and through Lone Fir Cemetery before a stopover at Basecamp Brewery, where some peeled off and others continued toward festivities into the evening.
Before and after the ride, we buttonholed a bunch of participants to ask what rides this year they’re most eager to be part of.
Advertisement
As for the Kickoff Ride itself, it was a joy as usual, despite some slowdowns for unusual stunts like the trip through the cemetery. Some good times from the ride started at the meeting place, Salmon Street Fountain:
And continued through the Better Naito multi-use path pilot project (yes, this is a tiny house with no brakes being towed by bikes):
Over the Burnside Bridge:
And up into Portland’s east side:
Then through the cemetery:
And back into the streets:
And there was a trapeze being pulled by bike!
The Kickoff ride is always one of my favorites of the year because more than almost any other bike event in Portland, it’s a gathering of the tribes. This was another great one and it got me stoked for the month to come.
Great time! As my wife observed, it’s like the naked bike ride, only with clothes.
And with daylight, so you can see all the fun. We should have a kickoff ride once a month, a Critical Circus Ride.
There were a lot of highlights last night but your team was top of the pile. Was that the trapeze’s first ride?
Thanks, Carl.
We did some test rides in the neighborhood over the past few days with it, but this was its debut. Look for it in upcoming Sunday Parkways. 🙂
I was all set to do this one this year. Was looking forward to it. Then. I got pneumonia. Fun times.
The ride was a blast!
The Lone Fir loop was a sanity check on my part, was getting conflicting reports on splinter groups, I send the Thursday rides there as regroups when we get split up.
And thanks for the mention! 🙂
That was a much-needed and elegant-done regrouping. Nice work, Nathan! Biggest kickoff ride I’ve seen in quite a few years!
The kick off ride was awesome! I’ve never had the pleasure of riding with so many other riders before, it was exhilarating!! A fabulous ride with interesting people through this glorious city!
Thanks for the coverage! Great Photos! Note the sticker on the #grillbike following the photo with “one less car”
For a moment when we rode up Clinton to 39th, I thought we would go over the hill and ride down Powell to the corner of 26th which would have been quite a signal!
During the entire ride when the crowd took one lane and drivers hand to gingerly pass us in the other, I could only think that for once drivers had the experience, bike commuters have every day: to be surrounded by big group that you need to adjust to…
…and I think we set a great example: even though we were a large unorganized group, I am not aware of any accidents, even though we rode very close to cars!
I’m grateful to everyone who helped. The big awesome trailers, decorations, the trapeze, the photographers, the corkers, and to Nathan himself.
Almost 1000 people is incredible!
(I would have suggested avoiding the cemetery both for logistical reasons and for respect for anyone who might’ve been visiting loved ones) Otherwise the route was very fun
The only crash I saw was the impatient soccer mom in the minivan at SE 28th and Pine who, after trying unsuccessfully to push her vehicle through the ride (she had a stop sign and we had the right of way; thanks, corkers!), then backed into a parked car while trying to turn around.
Technically you did not have the right away, hence the corkers. Sharing the road does not mean taking.
Wrong. The corker, in that particular instance, was there to stop an impatient driver. It wasn’t a four-way stop. Traffic on 28th (the ride) had right of way. She did not.
Of course, there were numerous other places where the ride did NOT have right-of-way but, by and large, other road users waited patiently (and, in many cases took pictures and gave high fives) as the ride passed.
The soccer mom was the only pissed off person that I saw. What an awsome event!
Mi gusta Corking!
Maybe Nate means the “Pioneer Century”, since the Portland Century is in August?
Love the photos, thanks Jonathan.
Especially liked the dog riding in the custom bike box with the super dog on the side ( disclaimer the guy who makes the bike boxes is a friend check out his work @ Badger Bikes).
Great ride, thanks Nathan and other organizers.
Nice pic of the supertinyhouse, Michael, thanks for sharing. And, we did have brakes…
Ted Buehler