Urban Assault Ride

by Rick Glos 5/27/2008 7:11:00 AM

Well, it ended right at the start for us.  Heidi and I did our first 'race' together on Sunday, the Urban Assault Ride.  More of a bike ride scavenger hunt and obstacle course, you have to find the most efficient path given a list of checkpoints around the city.  Two checkpoints are only figured out by deciphering a secret clue and at each checkpoint you complete some sort of obstacle course, like riding big wheels.  It ends with beer and a party.  Sounded like fun.

We started downtown at Pioneer Square lemans style, bikes on the ground with a running start.

Urban.Assault.Ride.Start.Portland

We boycotted the online quiz because it was just a bunch of question where you had to scour each sponsors website to find the answers.  Not fun.  This meant we started in the last wave and I made a mental note that we were in dead last as we exited the start chute.

We turned north and were mixed amongst a group of novice riders.  After only four blocks, the group made a startled stop at an intersection.  This caught Heidi off guard.  I'm not quite sure how this happened but as I looked out of the corner of my eye I see Heidi starting to go over the handlebars head first.  It seemed like slow motion.  She hit the pavement and sprawled out, crushing her basket.

When she looked up at me with her big blue eyes I could see tears started to form.  It was much like this:

image

Her chin was bleeding bad as well.  I pulled her and her bike off the street and her chin definitely needed stitches.  Some quick thinking to lock up her bike and the hop on the trolley had us in the emergency room.  I rode home, got the truck, and drove back to the ER just as they were finishing up stitches.  We then picked up her bike which, other than the crushed bike basket, was fine.

On the ride home, she told me she was looking at a storefront on her left as we approached the intersection and was startled when the group made an abrupt stop.  I thought it strange at the time that they rode so nervously, someone even made some sort of shout.  It was only a yellow light.  Also the intersection had some metal grate on the road and was where the trolley and train tracks crossed.  Not an easy crossing for a novice rider.

So like I said, it ended right at the start and poor Heidi has bruises and stitches.  So I'm not so sure when we'll do our next race together.  Especially on rainy days...

Later

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5/27/2008 11:10:12 AM

Ryan

It must be something about chicks and bikes this weekend. Mandie had issues also. I took her to Grand Geneva to ride the course for her first time and not more then 10 yards into the single track she decideds to eat it. Not once but twice. She wanted to give up but I wouldn't let her. She then rides and Falls 3 more times at various places on the trail and has a Grand finale by busting her chin on a tree and messing up her legs pretty bad. That was enough for her. She did the walk of shame down the Ski hill to the Car. No stiches but she'll have a hard time shaving her legs for awhile. I Hope Heidi feeling better!!!

Ryan us

5/27/2008 6:01:02 PM

mandie

tell her to feel better!!!! I still hurt......it was fun though!!!

mandie us

8/10/2008 10:54:00 PM

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About the author

Rick Glos Rick Glos

Moved to the Portland, OR after living 35 years in Chicago, IL and Milwaukee, WI. Write software to pay the bills. Aquire bills by being interested in bicycles, computer gaming, movies, and books.

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