The Sunday ride for Jersey Action Riders was Wissahickon Park. The reason
it was chosen was because today was the Wachovia US Pro Road Race. So the
idea was to ride the park and then scoot over to Maneyunk and watch the
race.
Yesterday was a dreary day and today was not much better. Overcast and a
cool 56 degrees. But it wasn't raining when I reached the park. A couple
of us got there early so we rode the Indian Head trail to see the
conditions. Trecherous! Wet, slippery, and muddy. We decided to cut the
trail check short and go back to the parking lot. Wissahickon Park is a
very sensative area when it comes to trail use. There has been a lot of
bickering going on and we don't want to cause a riff by riding on wet
trails. So we met up with the rest of the group and headed down Forbidden
Drive into Manyeunk. We saw lap 1 coming down from the wall. It's amazing
when you are so close to the pack as they wiz by at 60 MPH. The sound of
whoosh and the wind they generate is intense. We watched the men and women
go by and then rode to the wall. The wall is a very famous part of this
race. It is the steepest section of Philadelphia (it's a real nasty climb)
and they have to do it 15 times! Half way there by the first "S" turn, one
of the female Webcor pro racers ripped here derailleur right off her S-Works
rode bike in a crash. Here support team was already way passed her so she
was stuck. Being the ever opportunistic men we are (there were no women on
our club ride today), everyone offered to help. So we converted her bike
into a single speed so that she could at least ride back to the support camp
at the Art Museum. I guess only mountain bikers carry a full tool kit with
them everywhere we go. I think we had six chain breakers out at once.
We then watched the men come around again and go up the wall. These guys
don't even switch gears. Then we tried our own little wall on the street
next to where the race was. I'll bet it's a little easier on the road bike,
but we made it. Thank god we only had to do it once. Now we people watched
for a while. It was one big party scene. People and beer everywhere!
We then rode down to Lemon Hill (the start and finish line) to watch some
more. It's a wild scene and a very popular race. I've never seen so many
people and their bikes in one place. Every spectator had some kind of a
bike. The group then split. Some went home and a few of us went to the
gear flea market at the museum. I picked up three Voler jerseys and a pair
of shorts for $60. I think $15 a piece to get all muddy and wet in is a
good deal.
We take our gear and ride back to the park and the car. All totaled 23
miles of paved and dirt road, but it was fun to watch.
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