What is your opinion of the Manayunk Bike Race from a civic prospective? We all know it's a great party, but what do you think of it in terms of helping or hurting Main St. Manayunk?
MNC & MDC, what is your opinion?
Residents, what do you think?
Business owners?
I'm asking because I am currently helping the founders of the Pro Cycling Tour Philadelphia International Championship (a.k.a. Manayunk Bike Race) generate donations to help off-set new costs incurred because of the poor economy the past few years. Namely, the Bike Race must now pay additional fees for police and trash removal the City can no longer afford to cover financially.
I may have already stopped by your place of business on Main St. to drop off a letter I drafted regarding donations along with an endorsement from the Bike Race founders. If I haven't visited yet, I'll likely do so in the coming weeks. I'm targeting the bars & restaurants first, as they reap the most rewards from the Bike Race and should be in the best position to help an event that helps them.
I'm going to share everyone's comments with the Bike Race founders, so fire away. Let them know what you really think, good and bad.
I (resident) think it's great. Yes it's noisy and messy, but it's a great giant party that puts a great spotlight on the area. Given the # of people it brings in I thought it went extremely smooth.
Civics and most residents seem to hate it (just another extension of the 'college kids' griping)
My main concern for this year's race would be the state of Manayunk Ave after the work that's been done on it and the 'repairs' that were made to it. There are stretches of that street now that still look like Baghdad, and are uncomfortable to drive on with a car. Seeing how the bikes usually gain quite some speed on this stretch of the course, I can see many accidents ahead.
Malloy graciously gave me permission to post the Bike Race Donation letter I drafted. Please consider making a donation. Every dollar helps! Here it is:
Hello Manayunk Neighbors & Friends!
The 26th Annual Philadelphia International Cycling Championship, a.k.a The Manayunk Bike Race, is scheduled to run Sunday, June 6, 2010, less than four short months from now. Philly’s most popular sports event & party will be here before we know it!
However, the Bike Race still needs help! Because of the continued poor economic climate, the Bike Race is again challenged to meet the city’s costs for road closures and required course permits. WE CAN HELP!
With the blessing of race founders David Chauner and Jerry Casale of Pro Cycling Tour, LLC, the “Friends of the Manayunk Bike Race” has been created to raise money to help ensure this event we have all grown to love endures for generations to come.
For many local business owners, the Bike Race is the most lucrative single business-day of the year. For tens of thousands of others, Bike Race day is simply one of the most enjoyable of the year. This great event can disappear in a hurry. Let’s do everything we can to prevent this from happening!
The first year fundraising goal of the Friends of the Manayunk Bike Race is $50,000. Please consider donating. No amount is too small. Working together as a Community, we WILL reach this goal and make a difference in strengthening the financial base of this “City Treasure!”
Please make donation checks payable to Pro Cycling Tour, LLC and send to Friends of the Manayunk Bike Race, 3800 Manayunk Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19128. Everyone who makes a donation will be recognized in a special insert in the Official Race Program and special prizes will be offered to the biggest donors.
Thank you for your time and consideration!
Sincerely,
Tim Horan
Co-owner & CEO
Philadelphia Sport and Social Club (PSSC)
Donation Endorsement Letter From Bike Race Founders:
February 19, 2010
Mr. Tim Horan
Co-owner and CEO
Philadelphia Sport and Social Club
3800 Manayunk Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19128
Dear Tim:
On behalf of all of us associated with the annual Bike Race, I would like to thank you and the Philadelphia Sport and Social Club for offering to raise money in support of this great annual tradition.
Difficult economic times and the recent city requirement to recover all costs from city permitted events have created financial challenges to all of Philadelphia’s best-loved special events. The Bike Race is no exception and is particularly vulnerable due to the size of our circuit and six hour event duration.
As we discussed, PSSC is authorized to solicit funds for the race. All money raised will be applied to the annual race budget to help us meet staging costs. We are pleased to offer the following incentives for various levels of support:
Platinum Supporter $2000 • Four VIP tickets to Champions Row
• Eight Tickets to Philadelphia Bicycle Show
• Four Official Event Ball Caps
• Patron Listing in Souvenir Program
Gold Supporter $1000 • Two VIP tickets to Champions Row
• Four Tickets to Philadelphia Bicycle Show
• Two Official Event Ball Caps
• Gold Listing in Souvenir Program
Silver Supporter $500 • Two Official Event Ball Caps
• Four Tickets to Philadelphia Bicycle Show
• Silver Listing in Souvenir Program
Bronze Supporter $100 • Two Tickets to Philadelphia Bicycle Show
• Bronze Listing in Souvenir Program
I owned a home in myk and lived there from 2003-2007. The bike race was a great event but I only recall it being a one day event. On that one day, almost all of the businesses shut down on Main Street. Might there be a way that Main Street and Manayunk can promote the bike race the week prior and hold some official events leading up to the race? Maybe there were other events, but I don't recall them.
It's great for Manayunk. Businesses, restaurants, people selling parking spaces, etc. all do well on that day.
People have tried to make it a weekend event which can help promote the main event and help people in MYK/ROX more.
Do they still have the climb The Wall for amateurs? The problem with this as I saw when I attended was there were many people at the finish line in ROX.
I have a suggestion. A monument or sculpture at the top of The Wall with a list of the names of the professionals that have won the race. All I can think of is a large column 30-40 ft. tall with the names and a bicycle wheel on top.
Or maybe a walk of fame with plaques in the sidewalk with the each of the winners names. You could have plaques for each year listing the times of the winners, the overall winner, the National winner.
There used to be a King of the Hill prize, if this is still given as a prize how about recognizing them. They could have the column, and the winners could have plaques.
And when we say bike race we have to remember that there are TWO races, there's also the Liberty Classic. In 2008 the women passed the men on one lap. Let's give full recognition with any honors.
Also, the race could incorporate more of the city. For example, the last lap could go past Independence Hall, Reading Terminal, City Hall, Love Park, etc., and then up to the Art Museum. This would help make it more telegenic.
How about another amateur race in Fairmount Park on the Saturday of that weekend? I'm thinking about the west side of the Park so it would be less disruptive to traffic patterns. This way the event would be spread throughout the city even more and retailers in that area could benefit as well.
Oh, yeah,... and more cowbell.
__________________ Goodnight Rossana Arquette whereever you are.
Last edited by Colin P. Varga; 03-09-2010 at 01:50 PM.
Funny but this is the first time I have heard the Pro bike race being referred to as "The Manayunk Bike Race" and I have been attending since it started way back when. What a shame it would be for the city to lose this most prestigious bike race.
Great idea as ar as holding an amateur race on the Saturday of the weekend.
Losing the race would a big mistake. I love it and have friends flying in all the way from Florida for it.
It's a great time and give cycling exposure to people who dont necessarily follow it. Not that Manayunk isn't already a hotbed for cycling.
It's a shame that our public officials have drained away our tax dollars on god knows what and we have trouble hosting events like this that bring a huge economic boost to this neighborhood.
Fantastic feedback Colin! I'll pass your comments on to the Race organizers. I know the answer to the amateur wall climb. The price the City now charges for police makes it cost-prohibitive.
I think the term "Manayunk Bike Race" is used mostly by folks who attend the event for the party only and don't really know the correct name of the event and likely don't care. I used it to start the thread because I posted it on the Manayunk/Roxborough blog. I don't think it matters too much what we all call the Race as long as it continues. The organizers don't seem to mind the nickname either. They just want it to continue as well.
find a way for the endoresements to pay for the stantion and guard rail placements (the city puts them out-streets dept) to place banners for licensed advertisements on the stantions and turns....seems like a lot of potential ad revenue is lost by not allowing for this type of cooperation....also vendor stations at the top of the wall for the spectators seem to be lacking? Can "Pods" of refreshments be set up by vendors which would buy ad space?
I know the city has issues with advertisements on private homes, so if the organizers found a way to advertise up the wall (red bull paints the entire street as an ad up Lyceum ?? seen from tv coverage multiple times?? - it could be all done in sidewalk chalk as a contest??)....
Get national companies to hand out samples of products (cliff bar, etc)....maybe this happens on main st, but we dont see it up the hill...
Fantastic feedback Colin! I'll pass your comments on to the Race organizers. I know the answer to the amateur wall climb. The price the City now charges for police makes it cost-prohibitive.
Regarding the Wall Climb, just as well since it wasn't very well attended. However, they could do it the morning of the race and instead racing the clock it could just be group start at 8:30am and the course is cleared before the Pros get to MYK regardless of anyone still trying to climb The Wall. The police are there already and everything is in place. Maybe it should be a semi-amateur event and so that only the serious and cyclists who are in-shape would enter. An entrance fee of $100 and the money could help support the big race.
The Manayunk Bike Race/Pro Cycling Tour is one of the most popular annual events in Philadelphia; let alone in Myk/Rox. Not only does it bring national publicity to our city, and especially to our neighborhood, but it helps promote cycling in Philadelphia; which by the way seems to double in size/popularity every few years now. I believe Philadelphia was named the #1 US city for commuting to work by bicycle in 2009.
I agree with the other posters in that there should be more of an effort on promotional sponsorship. Free samples, creative advertising placement, and a focus on international/European brands. This is what really gets the event noticed, when not just to the US, but to the world.
There should definitely be a week long celebration leading up to it. More amateur events, city bike tours (i.e. Bike Philly in Center City), bicycle workshops, etc. Think "Philly Beer Week," but for cycling. Philly Beer Week was a huge success in its first year of operation; all it took was planning, cooperation, and sponsorship. Now it's the largest beer fest in the US and it has only been around for 2-3 years.
Of course, a lot of the NIMBYs look at this event as just another social drinking celebration for college kids and young professionals, but that could not be any farther from the truth. Cycling is one of the most universal sports in the world. Philadelphia is a perfect city for cycling. I think more could be done with this event to make it bigger, better, and more well known.
Hi. I actually live by the wall in Rox/Man. My home and its surroundings are not ad-space. My main thoroughfare, Levering/Lyceum is not a billboard, my fence and steps are not bleachers, my bushes not a toilet. It is enough that I have to endure this disruption and its aftermath every year to promote businesses in another zipcode, but I think it would be a terrible idea to start handing out free samples (=cans, solo cups, etc.), fliers and so on, unless you can commit to cleaning up--REALLY cleaning up once the race is over.
There's usually a "oh, lighten up, it's a party!" response to this kind of posting, and I hear you. This is a big event for lots of people, and I enjoy the spectacle too. But some of us live here year round and have lives to lead and properties we are working hard to maintain. And, as noted, the "Manayunk Bike Race" is really just one--one SMALL--leg of the Philadelphia International Bike Race. So, frankly, I'd prefer you downsized the thing rather than made it a bigger deal than it already is. The hub of the race is down on the Parkway--put your pods and banners there.
Look, read my post carefully. I don't have a problem with the race as long as you can keep it clean and classy. As the organizers prepare their budget, please keep these concerns (which are not mine alone) in mind as you decide how much to allot for clean up and crowd-control and how much for marketing and advertising. Everybody wins.
I really enjoy my smashed flower pots and beer bottles on the sidewalk. I suppose I care more now since I am now raising a family here and if I didn't have kids I would be getting piss drunk as well, but man keep it clean.
Manayunk Bike Race
