“When shit goes down, bikes rise up.”

That’s the rally cry from Ayleen Crotty, one of Portland’s most dedicated and prolific purveyors of bike culture. Crotty’s Filmed by Bike started as a local event but has grown significantly in the past 18 years and now includes tour stops nationwide and an impressive list of submissions from around the world.

Originally scheduled for May 15-17th at the Hollywood Theater, the coronavirus pandemic has forced Crotty to postpone the event until September. But the world needs bike films now more than ever, so Crotty announced today she’ll host the Global Bike Festival on April 4th.

“I’m doing what I know how to do best in times of adversity,” she shared with me today. “Digging in on a new project, challenging myself to the max, and innovating. Here we go!”
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In case you haven’t heard, Portland’s bike-centric holiday gift fair is back! BikeCraft 2017 is December 15-17 at the Bike Farm (1810 NE 1st Ave.)

This year our friends (and BikeCraft veterans) at Microcosm Publishing have taken over the reins and it’s sure to be one of the best ever.
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It’s a big deal!
(Photo: Filmed by Bike)

A big street party in the parking lot behind Velo Cult will kick off the 14th annual Filmed by Bike film festival tonight.

This isn’t just any party. There will be live performance art, a bike confessional storytelling booth, live DJs, a beer garden, group rides all over the place, a slow bike race, and who knows what else.

But beyond the fun is something even bigger: This is our film fest. A local, bike-inspired event that we should all be proud of (and support!). A testament to what’s possible when a city’s bike culture is hitting on all cylinders.

Filmed by Bike inspires and entertains people all over the globe with its unique collection of bike movies, and it’s also an amazing success story. It’s hard to believe this little event that northeast Portlander Ayleen Crotty dreamed up way back when is now one of the best and biggest events of the year. In the past few weeks I’ve seen headlines about it in the media all over town. Now that’s inspiring.
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The 14th annual Filmed by Bike is right around the corner. The big event is May 6th – 8th at the Hollywood Theater and tickets went on sale today. Also today, organizers released the promotional trailer and poster — both of which are Filmed by Bike traditions and reflect the event’s growth into bona fide arts and cultural event.
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Watch it below.

Filmed By Bike, Portland’s homegrown bike film festival, just keeps getting better and better. Now in its 13th year, the festival takes place May 22-24 at the historic Hollywood Theater.

To up the excitement for this year’s event, founder Ayleen Crotty has put together a trailer that is sure to make you smile. We got an exclusive first look before it’s released anywhere else. Check it out below and see how many local fave riding spots you can identify…
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Two festivals of bike-themed short films from around the world — one New York show visiting town this Saturday, and one Portland-built lineup opening next month — are ready to ring in the warm season at the Clinton Street Theater.

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Outside the 5th annual festival, in 2008.
(Photo by J.Maus/BikePortland)

With two weeks and change until the submission deadline for Portland’s all-bike film festival, a jury has been named and plans are taking shape for four days of creativity at the Clinton Street Theater in April.

Founding curator Ayleen Crotty said Friday that the festival may cross a new threshold this year: an epic. At least by festival standards.

“We’ll definitely have that focus on very short movies, but this year we are considering a feature-length film,” Crotty said of the 95-minute submission, which if it’s a contender would get its own night of screening. “It’s just good.”

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This is how you’ll feel
at Filmed by Bike.
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

Filmed by Bike, one of Portland’s most beloved celebrations of bicycling, starts tomorrow! This is the 11th annual festival and organizer Ayleen Crotty has put together what looks to be another stellar event. The street party is bigger and more exciting, there are tons of special performances planned including live art creation, bike dancing, and music. And of course there are eight screenings of four distinct programs chock full of the “best bike movies from around the world.”

Ayleen recently shared a rundown of special events and other fun stuff you won’t want to miss.

The New Belgium Street Fest

• The Street Fest is all mew this year, it’s all ages and goes from 3-9pm.
• Dots Cafe is hosting New Belgium Beer and serving up food in the beer garden.

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The cycling world is reeling today as word spreads of a tragic collision that claimed the lives of a UK-based couple that was touring the world by bicycle together. Peter Root and Mary Thompson were riding their bikes in Thailand when someone driving a pick-up truck drove into their path. The couple had been on global biking adventure that started in July 2011.

Peter and Mary had also just recently learned that a film based on their biking adventures was chosen for the 2013 Filmed by Bike festival slated for Portland this April.

Festival Director Ayleen Crotty confirmed today that the couple’s film, Cycling Central Asia, was chosen by a panel of judges to be part of the event. Crotty said this morning that they plan to do a video tribute to Peter and Mary when their film is shown. “Filmed by Bike is producing a short piece to honor the love Peter and Mary had for each other and the adventures they shared.”[Read more…]

Filmed by Bike volunteer Meghan Sinnott
added a bit of glitz to the party.
(Photos © J. Maus)

Despite a bit of water falling from the sky, Portlanders took to SE Clinton Street on Friday night to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Filmed by Bike. There was drinking, dancing, talking, and being seen among a healthy crowd of bike-loving film-goers — or maybe it was film-loving bike riders. Either way, at Filmed by Bike it doesn’t really matter.

We even had bike celebrity on hand with mountain biking and bike industry icon Gary Fisher rolling up on the party accompanied by a big group of riders from the downtown Bike Gallery. Fisher’s bike (a borrowed Trek Allante) proudly hoisted the Filmed by Bike flag and he posed with scores of fans for pictures while dressed in red plaid suit and matching hat.[Read more…]