Crazy around every corner: Photos from the Cross Crusade Halloween weekend in Bend

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This running-of-the-bulls inspired costume was one of the most creative of the day.
(Photo: J. Maus/BikePortland)

The River City Bicycle Cyclocross Crusade was at an entirely different level over the weekend. With its annual stop in Bend for races number five and six in the eight-race series, it was Oregon cyclocross at its peak. There was creativity, debauchery, inspiration, and fun around every corner.

As a competitor and as a spectator it was truly something to behold: There were brilliant costumes, enthusiastic crowds, and some serious (and not so serious) racing on yet another slippery and challenging course.

From the woman dressed in bondage gear spanking everyone who passed with a leather whip (we got it in slo-mo), to the cheeto and Oreo cookie handups, to the couple dressed like KISS rocking out as riders passed — I’m still reliving all the unforgettable moments in my head.

Speaking of which, there were guys in my race (category 2/3) dressed like tacos and handing out actual, real Taco Bell tacos for anyone who would take them. And another guy in my race dressed like a banana and had a bunch of peels in his pouch that he dropped like booby-traps on the course as he raced! Who does that?!

Before it gets too late on this Halloween night, I wanted to send you out with a sampling of the craziness from the weekend…

Whip me please!

Slo-mo vid of the bondage whipping woman. (Pics below if the video doesn’t work)
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Our friend Maria Schur!
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Even the elite racers got into the fun.
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The peak of a steep grassy climb was one of the loudest spots on the course.
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A racer accepts the Oreo cookie handup!

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There was something crazy around every corner — including this KISS duo complete with guitars and a sound system.
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Jellyfish.
There were quite a few costumes based on current events and politics.
There were quite a few costumes based on current events and politics.

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Sure, why not stop for a beer mid-race?
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I heard this guy get brilliantly heckled by a fan: “Four score and seven years ago is how long you’re taking to ride this course!”
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I’m glad she wasn’t in my race. Scary!
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Even the kids got into the act.
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This young bull-fighter raced with the rose in his mouth — and he posed for me!

And yes, I dressed up too…

Thanks to Chris DiStefano for the photo and Giant Bicycles for the scary fast and fun bike.
Thanks to Chris DiStefano for the photo and River City Bicycles/Giant Bicycles for the scary fast and fun bike.

Have fun out there tonight! There’s a Halloween Ride leaving from north Portland at 5:30 pm if you can make it.

And if you want to take part in this cycling spectacle, you are in luck. This Sunday the Crusade returns home for a big event out at Portland International Raceway (just north of Kenton).

I’ve got more photos from Bend over on the BikePortland Flickr page.

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

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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.

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Paul H
Paul H
8 years ago

These pictures just made me smile: all the creativity and joy. Nice!

Mike
Mike
8 years ago

Everyone’s so giddy and upscale, but a Trump supporter on a bicycle? C’mon…..

Mike 2
Mike 2
8 years ago

“Sure, why not stop for a beer mid-race?”

Because it will get you DQ’ed and the person doing the hand up will be asked to leave the venue.

If you’re not there to race, then don’t race. If you just want people to see you in your super creative costume, then wear it to the party.

Zimmerman
Zimmerman
8 years ago
Reply to  Mike 2

Some people don’t care about a DQ and are just there to participate with the like-minded. Why do you care?

Classic.

Mike 2
Mike 2
8 years ago
Reply to  Zimmerman

Why do I care?
Because some people are there to race. Stopping on the course right before the barriers so you can drink alcohol is not safe or considerate. There are reasons that the rule is in place.

Like I said, if your only goal is to ride a bike and drink alcohol and show people your awesome jumpsuit, great. Do it. Just not during the race where it is specifically prohibited.

mran1984
mran1984
8 years ago
Reply to  Mike 2

Shooting for the WC this year? Good luck in Europe. Pretty serious for cat 4.

Mike 2
Mike 2
8 years ago
Reply to  mran1984

I guarantee you couldn’t hold my wheel – but it would be kind of fun to watch you try.

SE Rider
SE Rider
8 years ago
Reply to  Mike 2

You clearly need to steer clear (see what I did there) of the Halloween race. It’s not like it doesn’t have a decades old tradition for this type of stuff.

Mike 2
Mike 2
8 years ago
Reply to  Zimmerman

Classic would be the mindset of:
“Even though it is against the rules (laws, norms, etc.), I do not/can not acknowledge what I am doing is wrong – therefore I can continue to do whatever I want. If anyone has an issue with me breaking said rules (norms, laws, etc.), I can tell them to mind their own business and make it seem like they are being the selfish jerk.”

Zimmerman
Zimmerman
8 years ago
Reply to  Mike 2

But in this case, you kind of are.

Mike 2
Mike 2
8 years ago
Reply to  Zimmerman

What rules am I breaking? Who am I telling to mind their own business?

Why is calling someone out for bad behavior (if their on a bicycle) such a bad thing?

Zimmerman
Zimmerman
8 years ago
Reply to  Mike 2

I was talking about the selfish jerk part.

I have a theory that the only buzzkiller to be upset about a beer hand-up at a Cross Crusade race is you. That’s cool though, your crusade seems to be about rules while the Cross Crusade has historically been about fun while racing your bicycle. You weren’t, by chance, the guy that flipped Hodala’s fire pit and tried to fight everyone at the tent over heckling, were you?

Dave S
Dave S
8 years ago
Reply to  Mike 2

If that’s how you feel about beer hand ups you might want to stay away from Single Speed Worlds in Dec…

Mike 2
Mike 2
8 years ago
Reply to  Dave S

I guess it would be different if the rules stated it was allowed, huh?

I think I can wrap my head around that.

Eric H
Eric H
8 years ago
Reply to  Mike 2

Sounds like someone forgot that Sunday was the costume race, got heckled for not dressing up and taking the Masters 4 a little too seriously.

Mike 2
Mike 2
8 years ago
Reply to  Eric H

Nope. Dressed up, but didn’t race. I saved the beer for the drive home after the race.

Pete S.
Pete S.
8 years ago
Reply to  Mike 2

So drinking during a bike race is a no no but drinking and driving is A-ok?

Mike 2
Mike 2
8 years ago
Reply to  Pete S.

Hey, I wasn’t hurting anyone. Don’t be a buzzkill. Maybe you are a slow driver in the Cat 4 masters category. Those rules don’t apply to me.

Dan
Dan
8 years ago
Reply to  Mike 2

You’ll get DQ’d but not asked to leave the venue unless it’s a dry venue.

Mike 2
Mike 2
8 years ago
Reply to  Dan

You are correct. I should have written that you COULD be asked to leave, not WILL be.

Mike 2
Mike 2
8 years ago

I agree – they are.

Here is the issue though – the rider is caught breaking the rules, rules that are very difficult to enforce considering OBRA’s lack of officials and how poorly those remaining officials are treated by riders and spectators alike, that do not believe the rules apply to them.
Now we have a very popular blog showing pictures of bad behavior and making it out to be acceptable. When it is pointed out why the behavior is NOT acceptable, it becomes time to berate and insult the person making the observation.

Yep. A buzzkill that rather than acknowledge that the behavior was poor (or not say anything at all) it is more important to go on the attack.

dwk
dwk
8 years ago
Reply to  Mike 2

This may be the dumbest thread ever… Get a life.

Eric H
Eric H
8 years ago
Reply to  Mike 2

Here’s the thing though, 3 folks were DQ’ed for handups during the Sunday race. This guy was probably one of them, so you got your wish and sounds like you had a great race on Saturday. I know I had a blast both days and I even stopped for 2 beer, 1 marshmallow, and a $1 handup without getting DQ’ed, nobody was hurt, and no bunnies were killed. Hope you have another great race this weekend.

Dan A
Dan A
8 years ago

The ‘no handups’ rule is pretty lame for some races.

bradwagon
bradwagon
8 years ago
Reply to  Dan A

I am completely fine with hand ups that do not give a competitive advantage, the likelihood that an elite racer would take a piece of bacon, drink beer or shove money in their shorts is very unlikely and the lower level races… who cares? As long it is not a dangerous maneuver (stopping on the edge of the course is no more dangerous than someone who has to stop on a run up) what does it matter if someone else wants to intentionally slow themselves down?

Dan A
Dan A
8 years ago
Reply to  bradwagon

Somebody put a donut on top of a beer at a PIR race I was in a couple of years ago, right in the middle of the course. So hard to not stop, but I didn’t want to be DQ’d near the end of my race.

bradwagon
bradwagon
8 years ago

That’s a legit David Pumpkins trio.

Eric Porter
Eric Porter
8 years ago

Hey Jonathan, thanks for the great write up and pics. We go to Bend for Halloween every year, and always have a great time mountain biking, going to the brewery party, and watching the races on Sunday and cheering on our friends. I think the best thing about Sunday is that it’s about SPIRIT and having fun. That’s why 90% of the riders are dressed up, even if it’s just a little, because they’re out there to have fun. That’s what biking should be about. Instead of writing negative comments on a bike blog, some people should go ride their bike! And yeah, I’m the David S. Pumpkins pictured above, and me & the skeletons had a ton of fun cheering people up the climb. ANY QUESTIONS?!?!