More cargo bikes than you can shake a crank-powered radio transmitter at.

[sara]

Had great fun yesterday at the Eugene Disaster Relief Trials, a cargo bike event which is half bike race, half obstacle course: competitors have to haul a five-gallon bucket of water, a five-gallon bucket of dirt, and an orange cone around an urban course, cross obstacles (often with bystanders pitching in!), deflate and inflate tires, and generally do silly things.

I was not competing (I'm only just getting back in the saddle after a lengthy recovery from concussion -- from driving a car, not a bike accident, and yes, I DO wish I'd been wearing my helmet while driving -- and will not be fit enough for something like this for at least a few more months) but we did go down on the tandem, hang out with friends, and watch all the different ways people configured their equipment to meet the challenge! It's also neat that about half the bikes competing were locally-built (everything marked "Bike Friday" is local, as are many of the cargo bikes that look like nothing you've seen before, which mostly come from the Center for Alternative Transportation).

Big photoset on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ethanjewett/sets/72157636484496484/

p.s., because I know it may be of interest to some of you: organizers very actively tried to recruit more women competitors; sadly several were, like me, on the injured list, while others had other commitments on a Saturday afternoon. The associated "Fiets of Parenthood" competition was a shorter distance and more evenly gender-balanced (you had to cover an obstacle course with children on your wheeled-and-geared device, and obstacles included "picking up dropped toys" and "hauling groceries.")

Comments

[onlysmallwings]

Thanks for sharing the link! That looks like it was a fun day!

[darkemeralds]

These DRTs are the most amazing thing, aren't they? We had the Portland one a few weeks back. (I didn't participate or spectate, but read a lot about it.) I love the cargo bike configurations, and it's exciting to me to see this whole area of bicycle use expanding. Bikes really can make the difference in disaster situations.

This is a terrific collection of photos. I especially like the Batman guy! Eugene is at least as weird as Portland!

[darkemeralds]

PS: I'm sorry you couldn't participate, but I'm glad to hear that you're recovering from your injury and getting back in the saddle. Best of good wishes making a complete comeback soon!