Bike Culture Thrives in Philly
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Bike culture thrives in Philly hiladelphia pulls out all the stops for cycling the first week- end in June. Police officers block off major roads. Amateur racers Pdescend on the Wall to tackle the famed climb before the pros do. College kids turn the streets of Manayunk into an extended block party. Cycling aficionados set up camp on Lemon Hill cheer- ing for riders with the passion of Italian tifosi. It may be the closest thing to a European stage race this side of the Continent. And if just a sliver of that passion seeps into the pores of Philadelphia residents, then its retailers stand to reap the rewards. While the TD Bank Philadelphia International Cycling Cham- pionship happens only once a year, everyday cyclists are getting sup- port from the city and its pro cycling mayor as well. Continues on page DT12 Photos by Jake Orness Jake by Photos DT12 Continued from DT1 Bike culture thrives in Philly As we experienced during our Deal- are no parked cars er Tour of Philadelphia in June, Philly’s is a safety factor,” streets have plenty of pitfalls for urban said Rosenblum. cyclists—from deep trolley tracks to large Other Cen- potholes to errant car doors. But city of- ter City retailers ficials are consciously taking strides to like Lee Rogers at become more hospitable to cyclists. And Bicycle Therapy those efforts appear to be working. note the increase Jay Rosenblum, owner of Jay’s Pedal in bike commuters Power Bikes, recalled when riding Philly over the recently streets was like playing Frogger. renovated South “I remember the days when riding Street Bridge, one was a sport, between all the cars and of the main arter- trucks,” said Rosenblum, who has been in ies for bike travel his Fishtown location for 30 years. “Now into the city. “It’s there are certain areas and corridors become a hipster where you see a constant flow of bikes.” thing to do to get a Rosenblum and others credit the Bi- cool bike and trav- cycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia as el around town,” the moving force behind a growing bike said Rogers. movement in the city. According to the Despite the Electric bikes take up the entire floor Dealer Tour riders hit Center City shops on SE singlespeeds. Bicycle Coalition, Philadelphia has, per large urban and at Philly Electric Wheels. capita, twice as many bike commuters as surrounding sub- any other big city in the country. The or- urban population ganization found that 2.16 percent of the across the Delaware River in New Jersey, Across the Delaware River in the markets such as Wheat Ridge Cyclery city’s population commuted to work by the retailing environment is fractured suburbs of New Jersey, other indepen- in Colorado or Bike Barn in Texas that bike in 2009. That’s up from 1.2 percent without one major player. Locals attribute dent retailers such as Action Wheels and draw customers from miles around. that commuted by bike in 2006. this to the once-dominant Bike Line chain, Keswick Cycle have thrived. But Kes- Hackford said that the model for That jump may be due in part to more which once owned more than 70 franchis- wick co-owner Brian Hackford cited a East Coast retailing works very differ- cycling infrastructure such as the recent es throughout the Delaware Valley. challenge of operating in such a dense- ently. “There are large stores but not be- installation of dedicated bike lanes on Though Bike Line still has 14 loca- ly populated area: traffic is so heavy hemoth stores,” said Hackford. Spruce and Pine streets. While on the tions, its influence has waned. Some of that people rarely drive to neighboring Still, he has bold plans for Keswick Dealer Tour, we rode these dedicated its former franchisees still operate in the towns. “Places you can drive to in 20 to take advantage of the geographical right-side one-way bike lanes, which are market under different names, such as minutes don’t exist,” said Hackford. boundaries by opening new locations. gently buffered by painted white lines Human Zoom with two stores in the area. The two Keswick locations are 18 But he said with any additional loca- and designated by bike stencils. As Bike Line has shrunk over the miles apart and serve entirely different tions, he will strive to live up to the long- “That was a big concession last years, it has allowed strong indepen- clienteles. “It’s so dense that people shop time reputation of the store. “When you year—putting true bike lanes on Pine dent operators like Breakaway Bikes and in their neighborhoods. They rarely go have a reputation within the commu- and Spruce. That’s huge in that it allows Bicycle Therapy to capture more sales in out to other places,” he said, contrasting nity,” he said, “it’s important you don’t timid riders to ride and the fact that there Center City. that with destination retailers in other forget about that.” —Megan Tompkins Philadelphia as a cycling city has moved beyond the nod eople have been doing it for years. yond the nod thanks to the work of The traders on their way to and countless advocates and a mayor who Pfrom Babylon did it. American set- really gets it—not so much as a cyclist tlers did it. Car drivers at the beginning himself, but as someone who wants of the last century did it. Early morning our city to be efficient, progressive and runners do it. And cyclists in most cities green. still do it. But what I noticed when rid- We saw Mayor Michael Nutter at the ing on the last day of the BRAIN Dealer race on Sunday following the end of the Tour in Philadelphia is that, in Philadel- Dealer Tour. Mayor Nutter told BRAIN phia at least, bike commuters no longer publisher Marc Sani that while taking a do it. lane away from cars on Spruce and Pine I’m referring to the nod—you know, and giving it to cyclists was not popular, that respectful acknowledgement you it was the right thing to do because the give someone when they do something streets are to be shared; they are for cy- a little unusual. But as the unusual be- clists, too. comes the usual, the nod fades. That is He also explained that he would be where the cycling community is headed closing a car traffic lane that goes north in Philadelphia. Cycling is becoming to south to help make cycling safer and normal. more abundant. Honestly, if the Dealer Tour riders So, here’s a nod to Mayor Nutter, the had nodded at all the other bike com- sporting your favorite team’s or club’s race—the Philadelphia TD Bank Inter- mayor of the most bicycle friendly big muters we saw that Friday in Center uniform, you looked a little out of touch. national—took over the city, with heli- city in America. City, we would have looked like bobble In Philadelphia the first weekend in copters following the breakaways rather heads. The same was true over the week- June is all about cycling. For the 27th than fires or traffic jams. Patrick Cunnane, end. If you were not wearing Lycra and year in a row, the largest one day U.S. Philadelphia cyclists have gone be- Advanced Sports International July 15, 2011 DT3 DEALER PROFILES CADENCE CYCLING & MULTISPORT CENTER Main Street boutique goes beyond retail Brian Walton hen three-time Olympian and fits and physiological testing. They ex- Walton said bringing veteran road racer Brian Wal- panded with a second store in New York in Cannondale a few years Wton got the call from Jay Snider shortly after. Both locations sold mostly ago to complement higher- asking him to become a partner in a new custom builds. “We didn’t have a bike priced Cervélo, Kuota and retail venture, Walton jumped at the op- under $1,000,” Walton recalled. Wilier bikes was a big move. portunity. Though targeted, that strategy This year, they brought in “I had an Olympic background and proved somewhat narrow and alienated Ritte Racing, another brand I wanted to give that experience to the many customers. “We were so polished, that offers a more casual take average consumer,” said Walton, 45, who people were like this is too technical for on road. rode with 7-Eleven, Motorola and Saturn me,” Walton said. That image along with Still, coaching and train- before retiring from racing after the 2000 a troubled economy took a toll on the ing makes up one-third of Sydney Olympics. Manhattan store, which closed in 2009. business with tri-focused The Manayunk boutique on Main Snider and Walton have since broad- coaching growing from 20 to 40 percent ter, I can’t put enough trainers in here,” Street opened in April 2004. From its ened their approach, becoming a coach- of the total over the years. Its fitting ser- said Walton, while giving us a tour of the early days, Walton and the other part- ing center for pro teams and people vices are also popular. Staff does 300 to second story loft lined with treadmills ners—five when the business started, learning to ride or interested in dropping 400 bike fits a year, Walton said, charging and trainers. On the same floor, framed now only Snider and Walton—focused a few inches off their waist. Employees on average $175 a pop. bios on its eight coaches line a wall next on the high-end, offering science-based lead no-drop group rides on the week- The shop also has made a name for to a recovery room with three pairs of coaching and training services, bike ends, and now custom builds are few.