Track bikes to invade Portland for ‘Bone Machine Criterium’ and bike show

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

8 years ago

Get ready for some exciting racing.
(Photo: J. Maus/BikePortland)

If you’re a fan of fixed-gear and track bikes, you’re going to love this news: Next weekend (September 9-11) the Bone Machine Criterium is coming to Portland.

Organizers have put together three days of track bike goodness that begins with an event at the Alpenrose Velodrome on Friday.

Ernesto Gonzalez is the man behind the crit. He says the race, which will take place on Sunday in Swan Island (and industrial zone in north Portland) is the first of its kind in Oregon. Riders must use track bikes with one gear only that is fixed — meaning there is no freewheel and the only way to stop is to push backwards on the cranks. Imagine a huge pack of racers riding inches away from each without any hand-brakes. Gonzalez says they’ll be flying through the course at about 30 miles per hour. There will be races for men and women and a cash purse of $2,000 (there is equal payout for men’s and women’s fields and women are especially encouraged to sign up!).

“I’m expecting a fair amount of people to come, race and have fun,” Gonzalez shared with us via email. “Many racers are flying from out of town.” Criterium racers from San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, New York City, Washington D.C., and Mexico are expected to compete.

Prior to the main event on Sunday, there will be a track meet at Alpenrose Velodrome followed by a party at Velo Cult Bike Shop and Tavern. At the party there will be a goldsprints competition ($5 to enter, winner takes all) and the talented group of riders and filmmakers from San Francisco’s Mash SF group will share a free screening of their new film (trailer below)

MASH SF 2015 from MASH TRANSIT PRODUCTIONS on Vimeo.

Another highlight of the weekend will be a show at Western Bikeworks curated by local track bike aficionado and photographer Amy Danger. She’ll have some “incredibly rare” track bikes on display including a one-of-a-kind Cannondale made for famed Italian sprinter Mario Cipollini. Danger says there will be more than 20 bikes on display. Here are a few of them:

A few of the track bikes that will be at Saturday's show in Portland. (Photos: Amy Danger) — A few of the track bikes that will be at Saturday’s show in Portland.
(Photos: Amy Danger)

Check out the full rundown of events at BoneMachineCrit.com.

— Jonathan Maus, (503) 706-8804 – jonathan@bikeportland.org

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