Criterion’s are like the NASCAR of cycling. Messengers are like the rednecks of cycling. Combine the two and you get some really enthusiastic fans at a otherwise button down Portland bike event. We put together an improvised beer and whiskey garden at Park and Flanders right after one of the hair pin turns. This turn out to be a great location for a few good wrecks. So when one of our own, Ira Ryan, ate it right in front of us we cheered as loud as we could. Then he drank our beer. Later there was a Cat 1 spandor hogging the portapotty. When the couriers waiting politely opened the door he was rumored to be snorting back a couple rails. I am sure this cannot be true. Don’t they test these guys? We boo’ed him loudly just in case. As the night came to a close C Murder and I took a few victory laps on the cargo bike around the course and did a little crowd slaloming.
