![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfa05saHed4cZ9FSss9Xo4DSL2f5mlcyd9Kji_z42q8pKDVw6q0ZNUbcx4bJGrrWUXvd8Q7gbcHiO2jZL3UE0mX2-WSFBWarWGZNDPtyco_ib3LWdJRGR2c8g-ifrx4e601WMwrQiKnE48/s400/SSCXWC+start3.jpg)
Sunday was the third and final edition of the SSCXWC, the single speed cyclocross "world" championships, held here in Portland. This race has become a huge spectacle and the stuff of legend. Basically, 250 costumed riders, race around a muddy cyclocross course on singlespeed bikes, for glory, fame, and a free tattoo! The start was crazy (see above), with 250 bikes laid out in the center of a field and all of the riders lined up 50 meters away, 125 riders on one side and the other 125 opposite them. The race course featured the ususal cyclocross obstacles like wooden barriers to jump over, hills to run up, and a mock up of the "Thunderdome" from the Mad Max movie with Tina Turner (hence the poster advertising the race, below).
Oh, and most everybody was in costume, including this cross dressing nun!