‘Ben Hurt’: Portland bike warriors smash and crash

This year’s Chariot Wars were held on about 100 square feet of concrete on land owned by Union Pacific Corp.

Ten minutes after Penfold and Schlabach won the trophy, police and a railroad official showed up. They talked with 28-year-old Jon Dutch, last year’s Chariot Wars champion. The railroad official said a train was coming and the crowd had to leave.

“What’s it gonna be, Dutch,” said the official, who declined to be identified. “Do you want one of your brothers or sisters pinned under a train?”

Dutch shuffled his feet. He looked at the crowd of mismatched, overgrown kids in red hoodies and green skirts and purple leggings.

They all got on their kiddie bikes and into their chariots, heading for a post-Chariot Wars party that went late into the night. Some managed to make it to “bike bowling” and other two-wheeled mayhem the next day.

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Nigel Duara can be reached on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/nigelduara

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