A shark ramp (to jump the shark, get it?) was one of the many creative obstacles on the course.
(Photos by Rob Kerr)
The officially unofficial Singlespeed Cyclocross World Championships (SSCXWCXPDX) are now nothing more than a memory — or a hangover if you were lucky enoughy to be out there.
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Come for the bike race, stay for the costumes (and the party, and the fun people, and the beer…).
(Photos: J. Maus/BikePortland)
The most anticipated weekend of cyclocross in Oregon is just two days away.
With half of the eight race Cross Crusade series in the books, organizers have a special event in store this year with a few new surprises and an entirely new course. Thousands of competitors and fans from throughout the state are expected to make the pilgrimmage to Bend for the traditional Halloween weekend. As usual, the festivities will be based on and around Deschutes Brewery in Bend’s Old Mill District.
As you get your cowbells, bikes, bodies and costumes ready, here are few things to keep in mind…
There’s an entirely new course this year. It’s got a bit of everything: straight pavement sections, tight trails, and is likely to have some unexpected surprises. Organizers say race sponsor Red Bull is “bringing something very cool,” to the course. We’ll also get to pedal closer to the Deschutes River than ever before as the course winds its way behind the Les Schwab Ampitheater. Oh, and there’s a massive stair run-up that already has people buzzing. Our friends from Deschutes Brewery shared this preview video of it on Instagram on Monday…
As is tradition, there’s a huge blowout party on Saturday night. This year it’s called “Altercross” and it’s a benefit for Oregon Adaptive Sports. The name is a reference to what organizers describe as, “An immersive alternative reality experience.” “The theme dictates anything can happen,” they continue, “from light, airy, whimsical & fun to dark, scary, creepy & odd… and everything in between!” These parties are known for excellent on-stage entertainment and this year is no different with over a half-dozen acts already lined up.
The headline band is Deltron 3030 an “alt-rap” trio from Oakland, California whose 2000 album, “warped space, bent time, transcended genre and blew minds, creating an album that still stands today as one of the most important records in the annals of underground hiphop.”
In years past this 21-and-over party has had to turn people away, but it’s in a new, larger space this year. Advance tickets are already sold out but plenty will be available at the door for $25. Check out the official event page on the Deschutes website or the Facebook event page for the latest updates.
If you want to experience true Oregon cyclocross — and arguably one of the best-run ‘cross events in America — you won’t want to miss this weekend. The team vibe is always strong at this event and this year will be no different. You have the best racers in the state, one of the largest race series in the world (in terms of participation) and the silliness and fun of Halloween costumes all over the place (the official costume day is Sunday). And did we mention it all happens on the grounds of one of the 8th largest craft brewer in the U.S.?!
There will also be a cross-country running race thrown into the mix on Saturday afternoon.
If you go the event, look for me and say hi. I’ll be there all weekend to race and soak up the atmosphere and I’ll be spending some time in the Giant Bicycles booth showing off my new bike!
— Jonathan Maus, (503) 706-8804 – jonathan@bikeportland.org
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Last night at the Portland Trophy Cup cyclocross race we had an unexpected visitor: Dozens of bright orange bikes with a Nike swoosh on the side of them. Yes I’m talking about Biketown bike share bikes.
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Liepold Farms in Boring, Oregon (yes that’s the name of the city) is a working farm 364 days of the year. But for one day each year it’s also a cyclocross race venue.
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In case you missed the memo yesterday, cyclocross season is upon us. As the sun recedes and the leaves fall, it’s time to turn your pedals and jump into the local ‘cross scene.
Portland is lucky to have one of the most vibrant and accessible ‘cross cultures anywhere. Whether you want to race, dip your toes in the mud to try it out, or spectate — these next few months have a lot to offer.
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[Publisher’s note: We plan on having lots of cyclocross coverage this year (in part because I’ll be out there racing!) and we’re kicking things off with selected images from the talented eye of Daniel Steinle of Yung Pine Photography. Stay tuned for more great ‘cross photos, info, and stories. — Jonathan]
Portland’s cyclocross scene is envied the world over. And for good reason. We have a full calendar of races (many just a short distance from town), a very strong organizing body in the Oregon Bicycle Racing Assocation, and a supportive and fun community that surrounds it. Whether you’re a fan, a beginner or a seasoned pro, Portland cyclocross is where it’s at.
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Brad Ross, the man behind the Cross Crusade, which has grown into one of most successful cyclocross race series in the world, has announced his retirement. Ross was also the director of the Cascade Cycling Classic and many other races during his career.
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We are excited to announce that six and-a-half years after we first told you about Gateway Green, supporters of the project have planned their first official bike event. Yesterday on their Facebook page, the Friends of Gateway Green unveiled plans for “Community CX,” a cyclocross exhibition race that will take place on November 15th.
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Gladys Bikes, the woman-centric bike shop on Northeast Alberta Street, keeps coming up with interesting new projects that prove how important great retailers are to a city’s bike infrastructure.
The latest we’ve caught wind of: A series of low-cost courses for people who identify as “‘cross curious.” As in cyclocross, of course.
“It was an idea that came from our advisory board – GAB, the Gladys Advisory Board,” Gladys Bikes owner Leah Benson said in an interview Thursday. “The more conversations we had, the more we realized a lot of people were interested but had never tried it.”
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