Hundreds of bikes of many different styles and descriptions descend upon the Pendleton convention center during Bike Week. Some wait to go on organized rides, others visit the vendors, and the numbers continue to grow through the weekend. Photos by the author.
Nestled among ranchland and wheat fields in the state?s northeast corner, reviewing the history of Pendleton, Oregon, conjures images of rough-and-tumble rodeo cowboys, Native Americans, woolen blankets and whiskey. Now for the fourth consecutive year, a new type of rough and “rumble” is settling in during the dog days of summer: Pendleton Bike Week, or PBW.
Local MC club riders were on hand with a sweet drone to provide aerial footage of the gathering and performances. Event organizer Eric Folkestad is no stranger to this type of venue, since he was previously behind the Hells Canyon Motorcycle Rally. After four years of great support from local officials, law enforcement and the community, Folkestad feels PBW will continue to grow and present enough to attendees to make the list of many riders? annual “go to” events.
A few dual-sports were sprinkled among the crowd, not the norm for this type of event but all very welcome.
Some great music was in the house, with sounds from the 1970s to today, played live by Foghat, Petty Fever (Tom Petty tribute band), Roni Lee and many great acts in between. Also on hand were the Seattle Cossacks stunt and drill team, who were celebrating 80 years of perfor...