Quote:
Originally Posted by GirlsandBeer
They have a different route every year, this includes the starting and end points so it will never be the same as a ride in years past.
You guys realize the organizers did this on purpose right?
The reason is because 2 years ago the # of riders got to about 20,000 so last year (and this year) they made starting points out of the way to intentionally decrease participation.
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IMHO, 2009 was the year that almost killed this ride. Riders were groped and manhandled and sitting ducks as they stood still in busy downtown streets, choked with bikers.
Ever since that time, organizers seem to have become preoccupied with reducing the "heat" of this event, so to speak, especially en route. There are serious safety concerns.
This years ride gathered at a park farther away from downtown than any previous ride. A lot of it has to do with what kind of effort riders have to put in just to get there. Since most riders tend to live east of the Willamette opposite downtown, their travel distance to the start point was significant this year. I don't know how the numbers will stack up, but I'm guessing the days when this was just a cozy little east side/downtown ride are long gone.
KLondike