Good times at the Cruiser Classic

A rider plunges down the Widow Maker; a steep drop into a ravine and climb up the other side that unseated many riders, including her.

Words + Black and White photos: Mike Blanchard

Color Photography: David Smith

The Cruiser Classic is one of those events that could only come from mountain bike freaks. It’s loose, friendly, techy, vintage and a comedy routine on wheels. It’s serious but there is a loony, irreverent vibe that makes it so fun.

The event, put on by the Good Times Crew, is a fundraiser for BONK, trail stewards who maintain the mountain bike trails along the pioneer trail.

As the name implies the event is for old school cruiser or klunker single-speed bikes but people show up with everything from high-end modern and custom bikes to vintage mountain bikes and thrift store junk. It doesn’t really matter what you ride. What matters is having a good time riding bikes. In this case, mission accomplished.

Cruiser_Classic_20210918_15 compressed.jpg — A bit of thrilling time trial action.

The Cruiser Classic was started in the late ‘90s by Ken Baker, Dave Rummel, Masud Wiggins and some guys from Chico. A lot of fun was had but eventually the ride died off.

In 2018 Alan Cook and David Smith helped Baker bring the Classic back. But it takes a whole lot of work and planning to put on an event like this; hence the Good Times Crew.

“GTC is me and Allan, and Jaime and G-Bum,” said Smith. “And our crew who we couldn't do any of this without.”

Cruiser_Classic_20210918_26 compressed.jpg

The ride goes from Skillman Horse Camp on Highway 20 down to Five Mile House, a ride of 10 miles or so. Some of the riders breezed through and some worked harder to to do it. This is a popular stretch of mountain bike trails and there were others on the trial while the ride is going on but everyone seemed to get along.

A lot of the participants camp out at Skillman before and after the ride which ads to the party atmosphere. A number of riders do the ride more than once. The ride at night is supposed to be really fun.

Some riders wear costumes or ride theme bikes. Last year there was a guy on a BBQ bike (cooking hot dogs and dispensing beer as he went) and two young women in tutus on a tandem. This year a version of Elvis rode along.

I drove up the day of. When I got to the camp people were riding from the sign-in area back and forth to the campsites having a beer and visiting friends. A kid was shoveling up a launch ramp on the side of a big fir stump.

Before the ride, there was a quick pause for a group photo and some loose instructions and then the whole thing coalesces and off we go, nose to tail, down the hill through 10-foot-high brush on some single track. It takes some concentration. You don’t want to pile up and have the young woman behind you run you over.

Every few miles there was an event or skill challenge; the Slow Race, the Widow Maker (a particularly steep plunge down a ravine and ascent up the other side), there was a short time trial with a log ride at the end, a good launch to get some style points and the Huffy toss at the end of the ride.

Halfway through there was a stop for snacks and barley pops. At the end of the ride all the riders and their bikes were trucked back up to the campground by the guys from California Expeditions for a pasta dinner. So pretty much a perfect event. There were a few wrecks but no serious injury.

The Pioneer Trail winds past some beautiful views.

At the end there were prizes for the best scores on the special stages as well as first blood and biggest pileup and a host of other prizes. And then they raffled off, or gave away as prizes, a bunch of bike swag. The grand prize a custom-made bike made by Noah Blum of Hillside Frameworks.

There is a feeling of community and camaraderie that you don’t see that often but which is a particular hallmark of the mountain bike community. It may sound corny but there is a level of excitement about bikes (old and new) and a commitment to having fun with like minded people.

I met people who had been several years and came with friends and people who showed up solo but soon made friends.

When we got back to camp the Crew began setting up to feed the riders, most of whom were off enjoying a beer and a sit down.

The kid and a couple guys got the jump finished and a guy was getting some air over the six-foot stump.

Alan Cook, working on the food, paused for a moment. “That was a sick ride.”

Yes it was Alan, yes it was.