[Find the Mercury‘s Queer Guide in print—available in more than 500 spots citywide!—eds.]
Despite the campy spandex uniform worn by those truly dedicated to the sport, cycling still has a reputation for having a certain straight guy “bro” quality that can make it intimidating for non-men and queer folks to get involved. But in Portland, that “bro-iness” is on the way out.
In recent years, leaders in the local bike scene have made a concerted effort to make the community more inclusive. That’s reflected in the Pedalpalooza ride calendar, where you can find an abundance of queer-led and pride-themed bike events to participate in all summer long.
Already this summer, there have been several rides explicitly meant for Portland’s queer community—the annual “Pride Ride’’was on June 3, and the “Slut Pedal,” a ride centering queer and BIPOC sex workers, took place the day before—but there are plenty more to come. And those involved in Portland’s blossoming queer cycling community say it doesn’t stop at Pedalpalooza rides: There’s work to do all year long to make sure the local bike scene is welcoming to everyone, especially people who have been left out in the past.
