Getting Ready For Race Weekend

Philadelphia Championship Bike Race

The racers pass by the Logan Circle fountain in Center City. (Daily News file)

Though I haven't seen it in the print edition yet, the Philadelphia Inquirer web site has been running this special feature on Sunday's upcoming Pro Tour race all week. You can read all the features here.

We're getting ready for the weekend in our own way. First of all, in combination with race weekend, Trophy Bikes is sponsoring its annual folding bike round-up:

ROUND UP USA RETURNS JUNE 6-7-8, 2008
6th Edition!
ROUND UP USA FOLDER FEST-- America's biggest little bike event.
Look for new challengers to Brompton's "fastest fold" title, more imaginative bikes from Pacific, some refinements to the classic Brompton folder, all set against the backdrop of the Commerce Bank Cycling Championship.

UPDATE--JUNE 1st
MANAYUNK HILL CLIMB ADDS FOLDER CLASS;
>>AND<<
Bike Friday is sending hot rider Rob English,
Read about the custom TIKIT Rob will ride in
hill climb here.

see below for details

HERE'S THE 2008 DRAFT SCHEDULE
PLEASE NOTE changes as of
May 10, 2008!:
FRI
Noon-4:30pm FOLDER DEMOs and informal talks
. Trophy Bikes, 3131 Walnut Street.

4:45 pm sharp FOLDER RIDE to Manayunk to watch hillclimb. Meets at Trophy Bikes.



6 pm COMMERCE BANK MANAYUNK HILLCLIMB, Main and Levering Sts., Manayunk. CLIMBERS WANTED!

If you're a good climber, please enter this event. TROPHY BIKES is sponsoring a FOLDER CLASS--with cash prizes for the top male and female folder bikers.

Click HERE to register.

OR... ride out with us and cheers as folder bikes from Swift, Dahon, Friday, Brompton (and more) take on the Manayunk Wall

.


SAT
7 am TIME TRIALS Art Museum, 26th & the Parkway. Cheer Swift Folders (and maybe others) racing against the big bikes in the Commerce Bank Time Trials along the MLK Drive.


(note FOLDER FORUMS time TBA)
10 am sharp -- FOLDER BIKE ON RAIL EXCURSION. Meet Trophy Bikes--we'll take the SEPTA 10:20 R6 at 30th St. Station, then ride back from Norristown along the Schuylkill River Bike Path.

ALL DAY –Informal folder demos and test rides. –Trophy Bikes.

2:30 p.m. FAST FOLD SHOWDOWN and BIFOLDATHLON.
Think you're pretty fast, pardner? Then bring yuhself and yuh folder to the FFS and ride/fold/sit/unfold/ride. Schuylkill River Park at Market Street. SEE THE '07 FAST FOLD HERE.



SAT EVE approx. 6pm --Evening folder gathering and ride . Bridgewater Pub, 30th St. Station. 30th and Market Sts. There may also be a informal video screening, TBA.

SUN
8:30 am FOLDER RALLY at COMMERCE BANK TRIPLE CROWN race start, Logan Circle, 19th and the Ben Franklin Parkway. Watch race start, visit bike expo.


10am-Noon FOLDER DEMOS and informal talks. Trophy Bikes.


3-5 pm MUSICAL FOLDERS variety ride. Test ride the max number of folder bikes in the minimum time. Schuylkill River Park at Walnut Street.

6:00 pm FOLDER FROLIC. Ride to a classic pub for a good meal.


I hope to get over to Trophy for some shmoozing Friday afternoon. Annie and I will walk over to the River park to watch the folding competition on Saturday afternoon. But the best part of the weekend will obviously be on Sunday. We have registered in the charity fun ride in the morning. We will ride the course of the entire race, including the Manayunk "wall" beginning at 7 AM. Then we'll hang around for much of the day watching the race and participating in all the hoopla surrounding it, including the Bicycle Club of Philadelphia picnic, the bike expo, etc.

The weather forecast for the weekend is good. Unfortunately it is not so good today. Cloudy with rain on and off. I'll ride but not too far from home.