Friday Funnies - Black Friday Edition

Looking for the perfect yet whimsical present for your favorite cyclists? Then search no more.



Looking for a Turbosoke for that special person in your life? You can find it here; http://www.amazon.com/Turbospoke-the-Bicycle-Exhaust-System/dp/B002WJ2Q5E

Bilenky Junkyard Cross - 2013

On Saturday, December 7 the Bilenky Junkyard Cross will ride again. Finishing a heat is a prize unto itself. Set in a junkyard abutting the Bilenky shop this race requires you to navigate a wide range of surfaces with barriers and hazards you would never normally encounter.

The course surface varies from dirt, packed earth, gravel, to pavement along with some oil, radiator and transmission fluid mixed in. Then of course there are the barricades; the junk yard provides a wide range of obstacles. So what are some of the things you can do to prepare for the race if your trying to place in your heat?

1. Don't ride clipped in. Last year I saw several riders switch from clipless pedals to BMX pedals. They were off and on their bikes so often they were losing time and position when they struggled to clip in. BMX pedals are wider so they are easier to get your foot on and they are still grippy enough to keep sneakers from slipping.
2. Wear sneakers instead of cycling shoes. Riding shoes with cleats will leave you at a disadvantage on many of the sections of the course which may require you to run on a wooden walkway or climb over the hood of a car. Shoes with cleats will leave you off balance with no traction.
3. While you are going to see many people riding standard cyclocross bikes, the course does not always give you the time to shift gears. Some of the fastest and most aggressive riders are the riders on single speed mountain bikes and BMX. These are the competitors who think nothing of bunny hopping a car used as a hurdle. Or pulling wheelies through the start/finish line like one competitor did last year.
   4. Do not underestimate the influence of the spectators. Last year in the middle of a heat the car hurdles were quickly mofided with ramps and the second car had ramps on both sides. When one racer squeezed through a gap between the car hurdle and edge of the course, spectators filled in the gap with car tires and when that racer came around again they had quite the surprise. 

There are some suggestions I would also like to make to the course designers.

The frequent comment I heard from the competitors was there was no place to pass. It may be time to reconsider the course design. The car hurdles create a larger than normal hurdle, but they only allow for one racer at a time to get over it. The same can be said for the mini van used as a tunnel. 

With all of the options of things that can be found in the junk yard perhaps its time to revitalize the course to allow for passing and faster speeds in certain sections. By making the hurdles and barricades able to accommodate more than one person at a time. Create a slalom with tires stacked three high and tied together in groups of three to form a triangle for stability.

Another challenge faced last year was in one of the last races ended a few laps short when some of the spectators started yelling “you won” as the pack came through the start/finish line, when the heat had not ended. Purchase a standard, checkered finish line flag so there is a clear indicator as to when the heat is over.

Some other concerns include increasing the number of port-a-potties as last years were full to capacity at the end of the day. As well as the possibility of moving the food truck to a location that is not right on top of the course.

As always it goes without saying that the Bilenky Junkyard Cross has become one of the most popular and challenging local Cyclocross races. It has developed such a following that last year a saw numerous out of state license plates including; New York, Maryland, New Jersey, and Indiana. This is a must see race that should be on everyone's list of things to do.

2010 Documentary
Bilenky Junkyard Cross (A Short Film) from In The Crosshairs on Vimeo.

2012 Race Highlights
 

Do you know the owner of this bike?

Do you know who owns this bike recovered by the Philadelphia Police?

https://twitter.com/PPDBrianKorn/status/400349403879186433

Tweed Ride Philadelphia 2013

On Saturday November 9^th the Philadelphia Tweed Ride held its 6^th annual ride and I rode along with 100 participants. A Tweed Ride is vintage bicycle ride that uses the early 1900's in England as its theme. The ride started gathering at 11:00am behind the Philadelphia Art Museum at The Waterworks. Which attracts the attention of many of the tourists and locals out to enjoy the day. The participants dress in looks that are either vintage or modern twists on vintage clothing.

At 12:00 the ride set off on its route through Philadelphia with questions from onlookers about what we were doing, was this a parade, and why were we dressed up. Rolling past businesses and residential neighborhoods often drew clusters of people taking pictures or shooting video on their cell phones.

A stop for picnic on Washington Park gave everyone a chance to rest and enjoy snacks before moving on to the final destination, Rembrandts, where prizes were awarded for various categories to participants. This included Dapper Chap and Snappy Lass as voted on by the participants and other categories awarded by judges were part of the ride.

Dapper Chap as voted by the judges
Wearing an authentic British cycling outfit accessorized with a monocle

Dapper Chap as voted by the participants

Snappy Lass

Best Picnic complete with a Tandem bicycle

Best Mustache
Created by growing a beard and trimming it a week before the ride

Was this as fun as it sounded, yes. The organizers have also created a low key fundraiser for Philabundance with $800.00 donated by the Tweed Ride participants with the simple pass of a hat. If you would like to stay informed about future rides including a possible spring ride please like the Tweed Ride Philadelphia Facebook page. To see more pictures by other photographers go to the event page. 

Super Saturday

On Saturday, November 9 there will be a multitude of bicycling events with something for everyone.

My personal favorite is the 6thAnnual Philly Tweed Ride 

A bicycle ride that incorporates a period theme, reminiscent of a 1950's car rally. Attracting over 100 riders the Philadelphia Tweed Ride theme is England from the 1900 to 1920 so the riders do wear a great deal of tweed. The Philadelphia Tweed Ride website is full of photo galleries from previous rides, many of the men and women look as if they have stepped off the fashion runways of that era. Many of the participants have vintage bicycles or bicycles that look vintage, along with modern bicycles as well.

Philadelphia Kidical Mass

Looking for something that you can take your children with you, then join Philadelphia Kidical Mass. Kidical Mass is a variation of Critical Mass, a group ride for families and their children through Philadelphia side streets and bike lanes. While using a mass of riders to create a safe cycling experience. This ride will be a one mile ride to the Philly Bike Expo.

Philly Bike Expo

Since its first year the Philly Bike Expo the attendees have braved blizzards and hurricanes to participate in its opening day and every year the number of vendors and attendees have grown. So much so that this year the have moved from their original home at the 23^rd St. Armory to the Pennsylvania Convention Center. In addition to a very diverse collection of vendors in the exhibit hall there will be seminars books signings by Bike Snob NYC, planned rides and valet bike parking.