Not kidding about the alley part: A scene from 2009's Urban Enduro

After the last several months of cold wind and slippery, wet streets, all but the most hardcore of all-weather motorcycle riders are starting to get squirrely about getting back on their bikes. Just in time, Portland’s easiest-to-introduce-to-mom motorcycle club, the Sang-Froid Riding Club, are hosting two events to get you back in the saddle for springtime rides: First up on Friday is a visit from cult icon Austin Vince of Discovery Channel/Mondo Enduro fame, talking about some of the highlights of his travels in motorcycle adventuring. Says SFRC’s Becky Ohlsen, “He and his crew did a round-the-world trip in 1995 that set the precedent for what Ewan McGregor did much later, only Vince did it on crappy old dirt bikes with no support and no sponsorship. They were among the first westerners to see post-Soviet Russia, and the first to cross Siberia without taking the train. His presentations are reportedly wildly entertaining, covering everything from low-budget adventure travel and Soviet iconography to garage bands, spaghetti westerns and team-building.” Also, make note that it’s for “adults only,” so you know, it’s that kind of story. Friday, Portland Motorcycle, 10652 NE Holman, 7 pm, $7

On Saturday, watch out for the “Alley Sweeper Urban Enduro,” racing through the streets, described as a “ridiculously fun” ride that “serves as a Critical Mass-style public service announcement on motorcycle awareness (but louder, and without costumes).” If you can’t beat ’em, maybe you can join ’em? It’ll kick off at See See (611 N Tillamook) with free coffee at 9 am, heading out at 10. And you can bet they’ll be swarming at least one Portland watering hole after the ride: You’ve been warned!

Not kidding about the alley part: A scene from 2009s Urban Enduro

  • Not kidding about the alley part: A scene from 2009’s Urban Enduro

Marjorie Skinner is the Portland Mercury's Managing Editor, author of the weekly Sold Out column chronicling the area's independent fashion and retail industry, and a frequent contributor to the film and...

14 replies on “Motorcycle Weekend!”

  1. In my neighborhood, the alleys are full of kids and pets. I remember these assholes motorbikes speeding down the alley from last years ride – they scared the absolute shit out of several moms, and annoyed the rest of us. Why don’t you assclowns take your ‘ridiculous’ fun somewhere else? Somewhere where there are no humans to breathe the foul stench you emit?

  5. Nimby Annoyer is right. The “alleys” are public right of ways, just like the street in front of your house.

  7. Just because your kids got all excited and want to ride motorcycles now, there’s no reason to be upset. Learn to let go of things out of your control.

  8. Ummm, the “hardcore of all-weather motorcycle riders” are not getting squirrely as they have been riding all winter. It’s the lazy fair weather riders that are getting squirrely… suckers.

  10. No, they are nothing at all like the streets as they are not maintained in any way by the city. I have placed piano wire across OUR alley, so have fun today. Watch your head…. You’re loud, you exceed allowable noise limits and your “fun” is all about bothering other people. If you want to be the type of people you seem to want to be, you should live out in the country. The city is for the civilized. Civil being the operative part of that word. (Oh, and I was just kidding about the piano wire…. or was I?)

  11. Oh my god! I just got woke up from a peaceful sleep in my alley fortified home off 67th and woodstock. You scoundrels! Don’t you know that I, Mr.PDX, work nights? Can’t you leave the alleys to the prostitutes and Honda Civic thieves as I intended? One day a year is much too often for a drug-free, non-violent activity in my city! My little Johnny wanted one thing for Christmas and that was to play in the muck,urine, and dog feces that saddles my house on March 26th. He had been patiently biding his time making dream catchers for homeless vets. Now I am forced to burn them. And Johnny? I just kicked him in the nuts since I’m grumpy from lack of sleep. I hope you Hells Angels wanna-be’s are proud of yourselves. May you all foul many,MANY plugs! Yea, I said it. ROOST IN HELL!

  13. This is the best thing since Critical Mass!!! Love it!!! Motorcycles are everywhere. Alberta Resident should thank you for shaking his little world up a bit. I bet like hell he will notice motorcycles more when heis driving and the streets will be safer for it.

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