Classic & Vintage - The City of Brotherly Love Wants YOU!

Philadelphia is often a punchline...we're that city between NYC and DC. Our sports teams often lose big, we blew the 1976 bicentennial, our politcians are some of the most corrupt in the nation and we're best known for attacking Santa Clause (which is actually one of the things I love best about Philly!). Only in Philadelphia could Rocky be a more important boxer than Bernard Hopkins or Joe Frazier.

In short, we're a city that rarely gets it's due.

Well my fellow C and V bike fans...most of you are well educated, intelligent, thoughtful folks who are concientious people. You're the best overall group of folks I've found. WE, Philadelphia...WANT YOU! We're one of the best places for cycling in the country (I'd say THE BEST, but I'm biased), we have more parks and trees than nearly any other urban environment...we have arts, music, food...EVERYTHING. Bonus...we have a huge number of universities, schools, tech sectors...we have it all, with low property taxes and low rent/home values (comparatively). Come here for the cycling, stay for everything else.

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20110510_As_city_considers_new_bike_lanes__report_says_Phila__leads_big_cities_in_bike_commuting.htm l

If I come for a ride can we visit the Fresh Prince? iiiiiiiin West Philadephia!

Ha! Actually the park where that scene was filmed is in Fairmount...not West Philly.

My family escaped from South Dover Street near Grey's Ferry in the 60's. Still have family in S. Philly, can't imagine cycling through the streets of the old neighborhood without Gatorskins or Panaracer TG and few extra tubes. But your right, the parks have gotten better, Center City is cleaned up....but really a cyclist paradise? Have you been using OA baths without ventalation again?

so Philly is like the sister city to Desmoines? corruption? I thought all big city Mayors gave there family lucritive pay parkinglot contracts.

Grey's Ferry is still a bit rough and really hasn't been gentrified much (yet). There are still a lot of areas where you want tougher tires...which is part of why I get mid-price tires...they're often tougher. Still, overall...we have a ton of lanes, we have several trails, the citie's topography is conducive towards cycling, as is its balance between neighborhoods and center city. Drivers here are usually pretty good about dealing with bikes (the pedestrians suck), we don't have hostility with the police like some areas and there's a lot of riders. We have tons of great shops...lots of vintage bikes for sale...some great racing events...custom builders.

You'd be surprised...the riding is good here (much better than NYC). The bicycle Coalition does a terrific job, our Mayor is actively pro-cyclist and neighborhood bike works is a terrific resource.

Damn straight! I agree, but I can't come to Philly because I'm already here.

How about an organized Philly ride some Sunday morning when traffic is light? I must admit in the last five years the amount of bikes seems to have doubled or tripled in the city.

And yes, one thing you need in Philly is punture protection. They don't sweep the streets here, so broken glass and srews pretty much pile up until the street is repaved. Every time I have made the mistake of having standard tires, I have gotten a flat a week. For a while I had a bike with Kendas on it that picked up everything in the road. I would get three flats a week w/ a 16 mile round trip commute. My tubes were 80% patch. The day I got two flats on one ride, I walked it to the shop and asked for their most punture-resistant tire. I just ordered some Delta Cruisers - I hope they are up to the task.

I am just glad that they finally paved around city hall. Smooooth.
It's like a urban velodrome with weaving among traffic and running lights...
I had gotten so used to the pot holes and road ripples...

ps. I ride tubulars, which are good downtown, but not so good around trolley tracks & contruction debris.

Nikko...absolutely in.

I am just glad that they finally paved around city hall. Smooooth.
It's like a urban velodrome with weaving among traffic and running lights...
I had gotten so used to the pot holes and road ripples...

ps. I ride tubulars, which are good downtown, but not so good around trolley tracks & contruction debris.

I've definitely noticed that the roads are also rougher this year...more pot holes, more problems. We're low on cash and it's been a consecutive two rough winters.

A Pilly ride could be just like the TDF , Cobblestones, ummmm...ummmm.....well you could finish round City Hall. Oh you could do an afterdark ride throught South Philly and call it "Survivor".

1. the cobblestones are really contained to Olde City and easily avoidable. Personally, I find them rather fun.
2. I've ridden through South Philly a fair bit and the roads can have debris, but the drivers are actually well mannered in my experience.

My son is starting at Drexel in September. I imagine I'll be there quite a bit over the next few years. But hopefully not in the winter!

I lived in Philadelphia for the first two years of my undergrad life (UPenn). I really, really liked the city and spent a lot of time wandering around, often walking from West Philly down to the waterfront. I didn't ride a bike then, but I did run a lot along the river. Too bad I didn't like the school and transferred to another. But we visited last year for a wedding, staying downtown and had a terrific time. It was nice to see the large number of vintage bikes and lots of riders. My kids really want to go back!

Neal

I am in for the "Philly Ride".

Aaron.....I'm having fun with you...well for the most part. Philly is a nice place, bike friendly, and lots of historic sites and interesting places. If you ever do a week day ride, I'm in!

Velognome...no worries! I don't have a sense of humor during work hours :D