Photos and memories of the 2016 N.O.I.S.E. Ride – an urban singlespeed rally

One of the stops in the competition involved racing around a mini-velodrome that was constructed by visitors from Seattle and installed at a picnic area in Peninsula Park.
(Photos by Christopher San Agustin)

One of the many strange skills I’ve accumulated in 11 years of running this blog is an ability to judge whether or not something that happens in our community — an event, a ride, a news story, an issue, a project — is a big deal or not. Since a large part of my job is to monitor buzz and feedback, I can usually get a sense whether or not people care about something based on how much chatter comes my way via emails, phone calls, what I hear on the street, texts, and so on. With the advent of social media in recent years, I have even more tools to monitor the various frequencies where these bits of buzz happen.

Case in point: The N.O.I.S.E Ride — which could be short for the N.orth O.regon I.nternational S.ingle speed E.xhibition Ride, although that’s unconfirmed — happened nearly two weeks ago but I’m still noticing people post glowing reviews and heartfelt memories about it. I missed it this year, so when participant and photographer Christopher San Agustin dropped me an email about it yesterday, I was more than happy to be able to share some of his images and thoughts.

For the unitiated, the N.O.I.S.E. Ride has been going on for 12 years now. Rumor has it the event started after the inaugural SSCXWC event in Portland filled up and turned competitors away so they decided to do their own thing. It meets at Fresh Pot in north Portland where the urban singlespeed rally begins. There are requisite stops at popular hangouts and various skill competitions that can change depending on who’s leading the ride.

Here’s the recap from Scott Wanhala, who also happened to be crowned champion of this year’s event:

Rules are meant to be broken and the only existing one is comrades who partake have to be upon a single speed rig. This event was put on for folks that couldn’t make it to SSWC years and years ago. So the urban adventure rally churns through the streets like you are kid on your Hutch Pro Star BMX or a 30 year old looking for the best curb islands to launch…

JLO the winner of the 2015 event organized quite the feats of strength for this years event. No bones were broken this year but many bags of Cinnamon Bun Oreos and Olympia beer were crushed. Bike-Buzkashi was had at the first stop with the black dice team taking the win after the bike polo folks decided that their smash abilities were working. Many other events occurred throughout stops in our fair haven of NOPO, and you will just have to come out for the 2017 event to experience the majesty of launching your hefty soul across the single track of the Willamette.

Last but not least. The Seattle crew came South and set up the mini battle drome at Peninsula Park where the battle of the belt took place for the 2016 winner. If anyone knows how to throw a party it’s when Portland and Seattle get together aboard a wooden track of shred.

For more photos and memories of N.O.I.S.E 2016, check out San Agustin’s blog post or the event’s Facebook page.

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

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