OMG Pedalpalooza
Pedalpalooza?! WTF is that? Look here! A calender of 250+ bike rides/events over three weeks!
I'm going to miss so much of it because of work this year. SIGH. That's life for you.
I'm still going to attend rides after work, most likely, depending on when I get home and my energy levels. But all my bike-y friends, when it's over, make jokes about finally doing laundry and wearing something that's not a costume and getting some sleep and not drinking so much and finally having time to cook food instead of eating food from carts every damn day. I've emptied my bank account some years just from eating out and drinking beer every day.
But the World Naked Bike Ride is this Saturday evening, and aaaaaaaaaaaaugh I'm so excited!! I'm planning to wear John's Red Pants and my Fourth Doctor Scarf. The red undies will come off before the ride itself, but I admit I'm hoping someone will recognize them. Oooh, and I have green over-the-knee socks that kinda match the scarf. (I love bragging about this: Portland's WNBR is the biggest in the world, with over 8,000 people getting "as bare as you dare" and riding bicycles. The police help us block off the route, just like they would for a parade!)
*looks at schedule* Oh thank the cycling gods, Bowie vs. Prince is also on a Saturday night, and late enough for me to go after work, and even (probably) have time to dress up. (Dear self: do not get as drunk as you did last year, especially since Shawn is leading a 3-speed ride the next afternoon.)
The Loud and Lit ride is on a Friday night, though, so that's out. Damn.
I know Shawn complains about how the rides have shifted over the years--it used to be heavier on ride-and-stop tours of things like heritage trees and historical locations; and while those are still there, they get maybe a dozen people, compared to the drunken party rides with costume themes where people have thumping stereos, that attract hundreds of people.
Huh, I didn't see a fountain2fountain ride listed this year. Maybe they're just waiting for later in the summer? There was one year where it was SO HOT that day, and it was so much fun to jump into the fountains around downtown Portland. I also didn't see a Doctor Who ride. Last year I was still working on my scarf and wore it anyway, with the needles dangling off and the ball of yarn I currently needed stuffed under my belt. I dressed as a half-assed Sarah Jane and still won second place in the costume contest.