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2016 being the worst year imaginable for rock icons is having ripple effects across the planet. Some are positive, like Prince crashing the Billboard 200 following his death. Others are a bit of a bummer, like Portland’s annual Bowie vs. Prince bike ride calling it quits.
The ride — in which hundreds of cyclists decide if they’re Team Bowie or Team Prince and dress accordingly — was started all the way back in 2008. According to ride organizer Lillian Karabaic, the first year drew 500 riders to dance and bike along to their favorite tunes. But by last year the event had swollen to 900 cyclists. Karabaic says that this year will be the last year and that they’ll use the ride as a memorial to both of the late stars.
“I think this will be the final year for Bowie vs. Prince,” Karabaic told KATU. “We can use it as an awesome send off to both their lives.”
Karabaic said that she was considering making this year’s iteration a “Bowie vs. Bowie” ride, as she didn’t see many people wanting to be The Purple One in the wake of David Bowie’s death. However, the untimely death of Prince changed the ride back to its original theme.
“We felt like a lot of people wouldn’t want to be Prince in light of [Bowie’s death]. I guess for better or worse, it’s now going to be Bowie vs. Prince again,” she said.
If you need more reasons to book a flight to Portland this very second, check out our guides to the food and literary scenes of the Rose City. And don’t miss our selections of the best David Bowie and Prince songs.
(Via Citylab)
