Never get in the way of a hard-charging rhino - Josh Patterson / Immediate Media
A series of prologues were used to determine which racers would participate in the world championship race versus the party race - Josh Patterson / Immediate Media
If you missed out on snagging a spot in the prologues, you could sprint for the holeshot and kick a cone - Josh Patterson / Immediate Media
...or if that failed you could try your luck on the dual-slalom course - Josh Patterson / Immediate Media
Riders without dedicated singlespeeds were required to settle on a gear and zip-tie their shift levers - Josh Patterson / Immediate Media
There were no barriers, but there was a massive ball pit - Josh Patterson / Immediate Media
The ball pit was the scene of much chaos - Josh Patterson / Immediate Media
Wash your bike down when you get back to remove salt and grime. - Josh Patterson / Immediate Media
Skidmarks were a common site - Josh Patterson / Immediate Media
An on-site DJ kept the atmosphere festive - Josh Patterson / Immediate Media
...and a drumline kept racers motivated - Josh Patterson / Immediate Media
Umm... - Josh Patterson / Immediate Media
It technically counts as a dual suspension, right? - Josh Patterson / Immediate Media
Ewoks armed with marshmallow-tipped spears were one of the many course hazards - Josh Patterson / Immediate Media
Ride away! - Josh Patterson / Immediate Media
Inspector Gadget was equipped for the event - Josh Patterson / Immediate Media
You heard it here first: mixte CX is the next big thing - Josh Patterson / Immediate Media
Hydration was taken care of by Pabst - Josh Patterson / Immediate Media
You chose poorly - Josh Patterson / Immediate Media
There was a time when these wheels were not ironic - Josh Patterson / Immediate Media
When Poe Dameron isn't piloting his X-wing in a galaxy far away, he's spectating with lightsaber and cotton candy in hand - Josh Patterson / Immediate Media
This Stoemper blended in beautifully with the mud and smashed pumpkins - Josh Patterson / Immediate Media
Multiple mainframes make for many shouldering options - Josh Patterson / Immediate Media
Proper technique was critical to success - Josh Patterson / Immediate Media
If you didn't feel like puking from exertion, this will help - Josh Patterson / Immediate Media
Hand-ups are hard - Josh Patterson / Immediate Media
A battery of water balloon slingshots kept everyone on their toes. Incoming! - Josh Patterson / Immediate Media
Thanks for the hangover, Portland - Josh Patterson / Immediate Media
It was the best of times; it was the weirdest of times. Last weekend, Portland, Oregon, played host to the 10th annual Singlespeed Cyclocross World Championships. This very much non-UCI-sanctioned event saw hundreds of costumed ’cross racers vie for the title of the fastest man and woman on a singlespeed cyclocross bike.
The ball pit was the scene of much chaos - Josh Patterson / Immediate Media
Truth be told, only a handful of riders cared a whit about coming home with the victor’s tattoo. Most participants were focused on celebrating cyclocross in a mixture of mud and beer. Portland has a reputation for having a vibrant cyclocross scene and for being both hip and off-kilter. The event lived up to expectations, with a dash of serious racing, a lot of partying and a heaping of mud.
Ewoks armed with marshmallow-tipped spears were one of the many course hazards - Josh Patterson / Immediate Media
Scroll through the gallery for a glimpse of the organized chaos that was SSCXWC.
Josh Patterson is a BikeRadar contributor and former technical editor. He has spent most of his career working in the cycling industry as an athlete, mechanic and journalist. He holds a master's degree in journalism and has more than 20 years of experience as a cyclist and 12 years of experience riding and writing for BikeRadar, Cyclingnews, Cycling Weekly, Dirt Rag, RoadBikeReview and Outside Magazine. A native of the Flint Hills of Kansas, Josh was a pioneer in the gravel cycling movement, having raced the first Unbound 200 and many other gravel events around the globe. He considers himself a cycling generalist and enjoys road, gravel and mountain biking in equal measure. When not traveling for work, he can be found exploring the singletrack and lonely gravel roads that surround his home in Fort Collins, Colorado. In addition to his love of cycling, Josh is an enthusiastic supporter of brunch, voting rights and the right to repair movement.
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