Our Fiets of Parenthood

I am breaking my trend of posting bike events this summer--this post is going out in a timely manner.

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The second annual Fiets of Parenthood took place this last Sunday on a side street next to Clever Cycles, a large seller of cargo bikes and cargo bike related love in Portland, OR. Fiets of Parenthood is a family oriented bike "competition" for kids and families with an emphasis on cargo bikes.

There is a list of wonderful people to thank for putting on this free and fun family event. I know how hard it is to organize events, especially those for families, and I thank you all for your time. Clever Cycles, of course was the happy host; Sarah Gilbert and Shetha kept the machine going; mcguire/barber designs created the superb logo; and Julian originally wrote about his idea for a Fiets of Parenthood, sharing with the rest of us.

I ring my bell thrice to you all.

Our family started at Peninsula Park where we met up with one other family for one stage of a Kidical Mass ride to Irving Park. From Irving, we rode to Clever Cycles, showing our children and everyone out that day that kids are, in fact, capable of riding a bike in the street. Biking is safe. Along the way, we observed traffic rules and educated the young. For our family the bike ride was an 8-mile round trip that an 11-, an 8-, and a 6-year-old completed on a scorching hot day (Thanks, Jewetts for having the water cups and supporting water breaks).

As the families on bikes (30 or so people) rounded the corner to Fiets of Parenthood, we heralded our arrival with joyous ringing of our bells.

First up was the Kindercross, a kid-centric cyclocross. Few things put a smile on my face like watching kids have fun on their bikes. Our own sons, Soren and Kael Wittwer, took second and third place respectively. Way to go Wittwer Kids!

Bike decorating was a big draw for our sons. Kael offered to customize helmets for kids and adults alike. Kael's helmet was especially awesome--a dragon. (I take credit for this son of ours.)

Next up was the Family Obstacle Course which used the same course as the Kindercross, but had the added difficulty of items to pick up as well as needing at least one child on board. One family, the Beerhorsts, did the course with six children. Props just for doing that. I used to get looks for carrying my three sons and groceries.

I ring my bell double thrice for you all.

I had two of our four sons as my co-cargonauts on our Bullitt, Asa, age 6, and Kael, age 11. We achieved a first place (tie with another family) in the Adult Obstacle Course. Asa did a full on Dukes-of-Hazard jump out of the box to obtain the dropped toy and Kael jousted the rings marvelously and lifted the groceries as if he had done that before.

Ruhiyyih and Soren, age 8, also took to the course on our Yuba, Soren jumping off the long tail and plunking those groceries easily in the huge Yuba Go-Getter bags.

A benefit of having an annual event is that it gets better each year. This year, the event course was more involved, and was a better use of the space.

• The Start is in the center of the course, then soon after a right turn to the
• Teeter-Totter which was difficult not because it teetered, but because it was so soon after a stop. The speed needed to go over it and the parallel orientation of a cargo bike was difficult. After the teeter-totter came the
• Joust which consisted of 4 rings magnetically attached to a pipe and a sword for the child to poke through as many of the rings while cruising by. Points deducted for rings not jousted. Turn right and then right again and you hit the serious
• Slalom through the cones, most of which we were able to do by just riding straight, then two right turns and it was time to load up on
• Groceries, two bags which included some pipe insulation and paper towels for the upcoming winter. A right turn and then is was the
• Slow Zone where Shetha would count to 3 and then you could take off again, turning right to get to the ... Oh, NO!
• Dropped Toy. After the dropped toy recovery it is a
• Speed Lap on to the sidewalk and then off of the sidewalk to the
• Finish Line.

Average time (unscientifically) was somewhere around 1 minute 30 seconds which is pretty cool considering all that was done within that time. The Wittwer time, with the additions and subtractions of feats accomplished, was 1:09.

(For a complete walk through of the course with photos, go to my Fiets of Parenthood Course set.)

Heading home afterward, I was struck by the numerous missing families. Where were the all of the cargo bike families that I see on Sunday Parkways or at the pool? Where were the cargo curious families who wanted to view the performance? Maybe the event coincided with nap time. I know how valuable that time is, but I was left with a feeling that there was a large chunk of families missing; that only a small slice of the cargo bike coalition was present.

Next year, Portland. Next year. Get yourself out there!

The full 2011 Fiets of Parenthood photo set.

Fiets of Parenthood is a Northwest version of the Mama Bakfiets Race.

Start them young!