Two Wheels Takes the Win!

May is National Bike Month. Who knew? (I didn’t until I went on the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia’s Web site.) Over the past few weeks, various events took place around here to celebrate the freedom of two wheels, including the Ride of Silence I blogged about.

In the BCGP’s annual staged race on Wednesday, three people commuted by bike, bus and car to see who would get to “work” the fastest. At 8:00 a.m., a man on a bike, a woman in a convertible Zipcar and a woman riding a Route 48 bus raced from 29th and Poplar Streets to City Hall.

True to form, two wheels took the win. Pat Cunnane, president of Fuji Bicycles, was the bike rider. Cunnane had this to say when interviewed for KYW:

"Cycling in the city, especially during rush hour, is the fastest way to travel…You just really have to pay attention. You have to be looking at the people in the cars to see what they might do. A lot of people don't use turn signals. A lot of people don't pay attention."

The bike rider completed the 4-mile commute in 12 minutes and 21 seconds, with the Zipcar finishing one minute later. The woman stuck riding SEPTA turned up after a 10-minute gap.

I didn't need proof that riding in the city is fun and fast. I just need to do it more often.

Philly Gets the Green Light

Philadelphia cycling fans (I know you're out there somewhere): You can breathe a collective sigh of relief today. The race is on.

Citing the economic crisis, the TD Bank Philadelphia Cycling Championship was in jeopardy of being called off. Sponsors were lost and the city faced a monetary mess of its own. Ten days went by before a decision was made.

Yesterday, two new sponsors—which will be identified at a news conference next week—provided the necessary $250,000. (Half of the $500,000 budget gap.)

This year’s race, which will take place June 7, marks the event’s 25th running. Go for the chance to watch the largest single-day, professional cycling race in North America—or for the daylong block party alongside the Manayunk "Wall."

Looking for a Good Time Ride?

I rode the new cross bike from Plumstead to Philadelphia last weekend via this route.


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It was the first time I’d ever ridden (my bike) on much of these roads, and the rolling 30+ mile ride was phenomenal—even in the misting rain. We cycled through Peace Valley Park (Doylestown), past centuries-old stone farmhouses (Fort Washington), next to the Whitemarsh Valley Country Club and ended up on Forbidden Drive in Fairmount Park.



Put our thang down, flipped it and reversed it the next day.