Congressman Bob Brady saves Philly's 2013 bike race
Philadelphia will have a bike race this year and it'll include the Wall in Manayunk.
Congressman Bob Brady saves Philly's 2013 bike race
Congressman Bob Brady saved the 2013 bike race that was renamed the Philly Cycling Classic. (File photos)
Philadelphia will have a bike race this year and it’ll include the Wall in Manayunk.
The new 2013 race dubbed the Philly Cycling Classic will be organized by a team of sports event professionals with experience hosting cycling races, cycling advocates and local business and community leaders, Congressman Bob Brady announced today.
“The Mayor has called for a premier cycling event and the team we have pulled together intends to deliver nothing less for the City of Philadelphia in 2013,” Brady said in a statement. “As long as there is a Wall in Manayunk there will be a world class cycling event in Philadelphia.”
Shortly after David Chauner, founder of the Philadelphia International Cycling Championship announced there would be no race this year due to rising city costs and loss of sponsors, Brady immediately sprang into action to save this year’s race. Brady held a series of meetings with local elected officials, cycling enthusiasts and corporate leaders.
The new team of organizers for this year’s race does not include Chauner, of Pro Cycling Tour, who owes the city over $300,000 for last year’s race. Chauner’s relationship with the city has soured over the years.
The team includes Alan Morrison, business leader and founder of the Philadelphia Insurance Triathlon in 2005, Richard Adler, head of Philadelphia Triathlon, LLC, Karen Bliss, vice president of Marketing for Advanced Sports International, Ryan Oelkers, co-founder of the Cadence Cycling Fondation, Bob Clowry, a Manayunk-based businessman and certified cycling coach and Jane Lipton, executive director of the Manayunk Development Corporation.
Robin Morton of G4 Productions will be the Race Director. Morton has 25 years of experience managing sporting teams. She also worked with Keystone Open, a cycling group that initially wanted to hold a race in July in Fairmount, but was unable to find supporting sponsors at the time.
Philly Cycling Classic will announce in the coming weeks overall title sponsorship and race sponsors. A community and advisory board of local cycling leaders will also be assembled to help maintain the annual event.
Comments (64)
This is great for the city. I went for the first time to watch this race in 2010 took the Srt down into the city. Met quite a few awesome people and through them Even found Two great clubs. BCP and SCU. I do like what one poster put about making it a local event like a triathlon That would be pretty cool. Not sure what waterway could be used might have to settle for duathlon of cycling and running.
To all the naysayers manayunk has many bars So event or no event their will be drinking either way.— marcc- It is (almost) unbelievable how many haters there are in this city. When something bad happens, they're all over it. When something good happens, they are all over it, pooping away. I wonder how many of the haters have actually left the comforts of their recliners and beer meisters to attend the race? I worked as a volunteer on this race for many years, met some awesome people from all over the world, hosted teams in my home. No "hipsters" or "vomitors" or whatever nasty names you want to call them. Lots of very hard working and honest young athletes, not dopers, who work their butts off to compete and win, for not much money at all. Yes, the race has fallen on hard times due to a tough economy, the lack of it's US Championship status and the City imposing unheard of expenses on the organizers. Nutter speaks with forked tongue. Putting this race on takes huge amounts of work, mostly volunteer labor for race day and very small financial rewards. This is cycling, not golf or Nascar. My hat (or helmet) is off the Congressman Brady and the team of pro's he has organized to keep this race alive.— skippack_cyclist
- great. some dude from the northeast gives yunkers yet another miserable weekend in lockdown. thanks buddy.— Zampognari
- The race was saved, but where will the money come from? ... will announce in the coming weeks overall sponsorship... does that translate to the taxpayers paying?— junethe4th
- What about the $300K owed to the city by the previous committee? Does this mean a new debt clock starts running and the old debt is forgotten? I'm all for the event but if it's unsustainable and nothing may change then it's not worth it.— Phillies2008WSChamps
- What a @#$%^& hero! Geez Bob, thanks. How about you do something proactive for the first time in like, oh maybe, 40 frickin' years. Like resign, refuse the pension and get a real job like the other 2.6 million of us.— NW Joe
- Thank You Mr Brady,I know you care about Phila and do the right thing for it.Now its time to step up to the plate and talk to nutter about diverting a strike with city union workers.Dont wait till it comes to that.You step out the first race after you realized the democratic vote would have been split putting a republican mayor .Its time you remind NUTZER that without you doing that he would be working for ballard sphar.— cityslicker
- Thanks Lance for the continued diminished image of cycling. Corporate sponsors want nothing to do with dopers on saddles. The sport will disappear from the American psyche in a few years. LiveWrong.— PFCzar
- I live in the Art Museum area. I agree that the City shouldn't sponsor this and many of the events on the Parkway. Some are great, but it's come to the point where it's every weekend there's an event, and they're not that significant. But, they tie up traffic, create lots of little and block the city streets sometimes clear across town. Enough is enough.
— Jim19130 - BFD, now if Brady could do something that would really help the city.— Borkey
- I love the race as I am a cyclist and out club always has a big barbecue on Lemon Hill to watch it and have fun. Unfortunately though the race has lost a lot of its luster the past few years and is no longer a race where pro-cyclist can gain points......as a result, it no longer pulls in big talent.— Sarmani
- Some of you don't have a clue. I live on the path on Manayunk Ave. and everyone I encountered was respectful and having fun. Lots of families, etc. Philly=home of the most haters in the world.
- Good job. We should be promoting these types of events in Philadelphia.— Vote for Dickie
- right on Bob keep up the good work— darkchild
- right on Bill keep up the good work— darkchild
- It's one of the few events that caucasians in this city actually enjoy. Better than Jay-Z's ghettopalooza on the Parkway last summer. Keep it.— SouthPhillyRolls
- So how much is this going to cost the taxpayers?— Wildman Bill
Hey Beef - great job but Northeastern Hospital is still closed.— The Monk- Just thinking that maybe Blondie R. Brown and Thomasine "I had a gorgeous reputation" might have some time on their hands to help out with a race. Just keep your hands on your wallets.— b,ill at,kins
- We had great schools before diversity. Why does BRady live in an all white neighborhood?— DiversityDestroyedPhilly
- We had great schools before diversity. Why does BRady live in an all white neighborhood?— DiversityDestroyedPhilly
- I hear there will be a surcharge on traffic court fines to underwrite the race. I know Brady can make that happen.— Paul Deon
- To all of you who wrote or agree with the above negative comments, I suggest you go to the race and see for yourself. I am an avid 70 year old bicyclist and I think Philly would be a better place if many more of its citizens took up cycling as a sport and also for regular transportation. All sorts of people attend the bike race, not just "hipsters", whoever they are. It is great to meet teams from all over the world in Fairmount Park. The UK team walks by and we yell at them,"Hey - you guys burned down our White House!" There are Australians, Italians, etc. It is a great experience for Philadelphians and adds a new valuable dimension to our city— prenestino
- good job Bob i knew you could do it. im glad the race is going forward me and my family love it. see you at lemon hill— mmadonna
- Can you see it for what it really is, "Free Cheese"! 16.5 Trillion Dollar National Debt and Bobby Brady is giving you cheese.— tlee
- So who did Bobby extort money from this time?— jcc1960
- Great article. Not a word on who is picking up the tab. I smell a Pulitzer...and a rat.— Konstanty
- Why do so many people hate EVERY civic event in their own city? Parades, bike races, concerts, you name it, this site explodes with negativity. Big civic events are part of the fabric of a city. If you don't like the things that come with them - partying, overtime, road closures - why would you choose to live here? I just don't get it. Negadelphia indeed.— bosstime01
- Just remember. Big Beef Brady gets 10% off the top and his wife gets to be the head cheerleader at the Wall.
Now back to sleep, sheeple.— Wilhelm Von Humboldt - Comcast is the biggest Philly based business. They should be asked to sponsor this.— drjk888
- Thank god the race has been saved. Stu Bykofksy was running out of material for his columns.— cookie23
- Amgen, the manufacturer of Epogen, the erythropoietin produced using recombinant DNA technology (EPO) is a sponsor of a big race out West. Philly has bio-pharm...cycling has bio-pharm. Let's go.— tooly
- Great for the city - not so great for those who live near the bike race route. Public drunkenness, urination, vomiting, fights - can't wait! Please let us know the date of this so we can get out of town!— stillaflyerfan
- Yob should be flipped onto his back by a girl half his height. Just sayin'.— Another_1
- So happy to this event continue. Its a fantastic event, and a great thing for the city.— asv
Congratulation Congressman Brady, once again you show how leadership solves problems that scheming deadbeats leave behind for the public to pick up after and pay for. This is a great sporting event with real skill, stamina and strength on display, as opposed to say, driving cars around in circles and declaring a winner. Surrounding this great activity is the celebration of life and living, eating and drinking which is of course what we human beings do. Again, good job, another victory for Philadelphia in overcoming the obstacles of failed businessmen who never built anything in their lives other than a bad credit rating.- Yo, the event should be named WEED "well everyone else does"... juice up. win a dopey race, write a book, get rich...then confess on Opera TV...well everyone else does!— rex nemorensis
- Yes! All the trolls had their moment of glory snatched from them by The Wolf, Bob Brady! Rejoice trolls, you now have one more thing to complain about!— Cheesesteak
- Compared to the pigs and strippers at the wing bowl and the clowns and sophomoronic sets and dancing in the mummers parade (after the muscians they are all a bunch of drunks) the race is a true test of skill and endurance.....and a major ride in the cycling world and respected by cyclists from all over the world....Sure it is a party....for spectators...but no more than a football game tailgate at the Linc or a tailgate at the baseball game at Citizens Bank....Thanks Bob...."the WALL" is unique to the sport and the pros love to test their skill on it....and if cost is the issue....the mummers will be gone....so chill out...enjoy a real sport and walk the Wall and tell me how you feel about those that ride it faster than you can run it....— nuggett
- Bob is going to lead the pack, on his bike, to the start finish Line in his Spandex shorts and cycling bib...I'll pay to see that. Good for Bob, now he can focus on getting us another Casino.— 72Tiger
- ANT-TAX......you are an idiot....all sporting/music/entertainment events are charged fees for the services they use......ie street clean-up & police and sanitation....should the city residents pay these fees.....this cycling event brings less revenue to the city than the Welcome America/Made In AMerica/the Dad Vail Regatta and many other events, because less people actually travel from out of town for this event thus less people staying at hotels, and shopping for this event....The Pro-Cylcing Organization is poorly managed, and failed to find a sponsor....why is that this city's fault? every event we host in this city is somehow able to find sponsorship.....unfortunatley this was just a failed shake-down attempt by Pro-Cyling Org a dead-beat that still ows the city money— genius1977
- another usless politician doing something doesnt matter at all...good job— eisfresh
- Brady agreed to huff and puff up the wall. When he comes up to the top totally covered in sweat, he will look more like Lance Armstrong.— Aces high
- So anti-tax
So instead of organizers bearing the services, you're saying that taxpayers should pay for City services provided to the race?
Isn't that counter to you name?— ald - PEDs will be flowing down the street on Manayunk!!— DelcoSchmelco
- The only reason he "saved" it is because police and city workers love it for countless hours of overtime. It's certainly not because he wants people to have a good time. It's all about money.— masterncommander
- Brady said so himself that police count on the overtime from this event. Well, guess what Bob, nobody should "count" on overtime. That's why they get a salary. — masterncommander
I don't partake of the Philly Bike Race AT ALL.
But I understand COMPLETELY that such events makes for a better Philadelphia.
Thank You Congressman Brady.— Cuddles- Put the race out of its misery. It lost $300,000 last year. Who's going to pay that $300k this year, Philadelphia taxpayers? All so a bunch of suburbanites can come to manayunk, get hammered and urin ate publicly?
— hannibal barca - Put the race out of its misery. It lost $300,000 last year. Who's going to pay that $300k this year, Philadelphia taxpayers? All so a bunch of suburbanites can come to manayunk, get hammered and urin ate publicly? — hannibal barca
- Events like the bike race are good for Philly, even though it had declined in popularity since its heyday with CoreStates/First Union. Less money was put into it. You folks who feel it's only for the "hipsters," will always have your wingfests, drunkbowls, etc., so everyone is a winner with this attempt to keep a good thing going.— Yob
- "The Mayor has called for a premier cycling event...deliver nothing less for the city of Philadelphia for 2013". Huh?
— Wiseman6 - Once again the city/nutter charges outrageous fees to an organizer and Brady comes to the rescue. Way to go Bob.— anti-tax
- Yay! The hipsters can get drunk and ignore the race! That was a close one!— bleck78
- no hipsters in manyunk, all yuppies/preps...gotta go down to fishtown for the hipsters. — templephan
- With all do respect to the race, all of these events are dependent upon sponsors. Without the sponsors the races do not exist. Cycling is such a tainted sport now. The Lance Armstrong race in question, saw the first 21 finishers test positive for PEDs. Philadelphia is a city of neighborhoods...Manyunk represents one that resurged a while back...that should be embraced. Perhaps creating a different type of race, like a Triathlon, or a team based race incorporating the wall and other aspects of the city would be more beneficial. The majority of the cyclist are not from Philly, where as most of the near 40,000 participants of the Broad Street Run are locals.— reasonableihope
- It's actually the premier cycling competition in all of the United States. You can let it go. Others will strive for greatness.— flyers70
- Actually you are incorrect. Its no longer a sanctioned event for the professional cyclists, which is why both attendance and interest have declined. Its now nothing more than a drunken vomitfest. — intelliwoman
- Just like the Mummers, the Wing Bowl, and beating Rangers fans at Geno's. Now those are noble Philadelphia traditions. — cookie23
- Oh no! Young people peacefully having fun. The horror! — TGPhilly919
- Why? It is an event that has failed to support itself.— stphilajb
- The race is just another expensive reason for college kids to drink & get drunk. Let it go.— tonyS
- TonyS = sad, bitter, loser with no friends. What do you like to do for fun TonyS? Watch a lot of TV? — FixThisCityPlease
- Don't be a hater just because you're old and bitter. — TGPhilly919
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David Gambacorta spent a small eternity writing about cops, drug dealers and serial killers. Now he’s writing about power and politics – which sometimes reminds him of the old crime beat. He joined the Daily News in 2005. And yes, he knows you’re not quite sure how to pronounce his last name. E-mail tips to gambacd@phillynews.com
Follow Dave on Twitter.
Jan Ransom, a native New Yorker, joined the Daily News in 2010 after graduating from Howard University. She has since written about the difficulty of filing police complaints, tax deadbeats and life after violent home invasions. She joined the Daily News City Hall Bureau in 2011 and has plunged headfirst into reporting on administration budget battles and City Council shenanigans. E-mail tips to ransomj@phillynews.com
Follow Jan on Twitter
Sean Collins Walsh is from Bucks County and went to Northwestern University. He joined the Daily News copy desk in 2012 and now covers the Nutter administration. Before that, he interned at papers including The New York Times, The Dallas Morning News and The Seattle Times. E-mail tips to walshSE@phillynews.com
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