New Bike Race Organizers Try to Shift Philosophy

The new Manayunk Bike Race organizers want to change the dynamics of the race for the better.

New Bike Race Organizers Try to Shift Philosophy

The new Manayunk Bike Race organizers want to change the dynamics of the race for the better.

Alan Morrison wants this incarnation of the Manayunk Bike Race to be different.  He talks in terms of the old race versus the new race.  He talks about a shift in philosophy. “We’re trying to change the whole dynamic of the race,” Morrison said.  “We want to give the race a European feel.” Morrison, along with his team, was brought on to revive the Manayunk Bike Race just a few weeks ago after the previous organizers and sponsors dropped out. Morrison is on the clock.  The bike race is scheduled for June 2—just eight weeks away. “It’s a personal frustration of mine that we don’t have enough time to do everything that we want,” Morrison said.  “But we’re trying to create an atmosphere that people want to be a part of.” To say the Manayunk …

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Debbie Thomas

3:18 pm on Monday, April 8, 2013

I am convinced that people will find any little minor thing with reference to being "inconvenienced" by the bike race, to complain about. I think more than enough notice is given with reference to streets being closed off and where to park. For heaven's sake......it IS only for one day.   more ›

New Manayunk Bike Race Course Announced

The new 12-mile circuit travels through Manayunk, East Falls, Kelly Drive and Fairmount Park.

The new course for the Manayunk Bike Race was announced Tuesday featuring a more compact race after the future of the race was threatened earlier this year. The new course will start on the Manayunk wall loop around to Kelly Drive through East Falls then back again down Main Street. The new race will be sponsored by Parx Casino after the old race had trouble finding a corporate sponsor. There will be two races held on June 2.  The first race will start at 8:30 a.m. where female riders will do the 12-mile loop five times. The men's race is set to start after the women's race finishes, and they will complete the loop 10 times. Race organizers are excited because for the first time ever, the $60,000 in prize money will be split evenly between…

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This Week: Girl Scouts Robbed, FBI Raid and More

Find out what's been going on around the region this week that you might have missed.

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Bike Race Assault Reported, Police Say

The following arrest information was supplied by the 5th District of the Philadelphia Police Department. It does not indicate a conviction.

Although Philadelphia Police touted a bike race with zero citations issued, a related aggravated assault was reported the next day. A male resident told 5th District Police June 4—the day after the Philadelphia International Cycling Championship—that he was assaulted on the 300 block of Roxborough Avenue during the June 3 event. The man and a witness said he was punched several times by another man with his hands and feet. At Roxborough Memorial Hospital, the man was treated for a broken nose and bruising under his eyes. He provided police with a description. Philadelphia Police disclosed the report in weekly part one sheets provided to Patch. Roxborough Car Break-in Thwarted Philadelphia Police arrested two people June 5 for breaking into…

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Police: Zero Bike Race Citations; Neighbors: It's Getting Better

On the whole, residents agree the bike race was less rowdy.

Editor's Note: An earlier version inaccurately cited information from a NewsWorks story involving the Friday night court. It has since been corrected. Walking down a random Manayunk or Roxborough street Sunday afternoon during the Philadelphia International Cycling Championship, there certainly were instances of open containers and loud music playing. However, there also existed families taking in the race, owners walking pets and casual people just enjoying a Sunday. Rachel Wexler grew up attending the race and is now a homeowner in the area.  "It got out of control in a lot of years. It was a big deal. (This year) was the least, out-of-control it has ever been," she said. She said that although the party house on her block was loud but …

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Video: Women Climb the Manayunk Wall

The first lap up the wall during the 2012 Liberty Classic.

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