Are you looking for a unique way to explore Philadelphia and its stunning fall foliage? Join the Wit You community for a non-competitive, car-free bike ride to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, September 3.Cyclists will have the opportunity to take in views of Independence Hall, Penn's Landing, and Kelly Drive while touring neighborhoods like Center City and Manayunk. Roads will be closed to all vehicles during the trip. Participants can choose between a 6- or 20-mile course, which has start and finish lines near the Philadelphia Museum of Art. After the ride, cyclists can celebrate at a free festival that includes live music, entertainment, food trucks, and activities for the whole family. Thanks to a partnership with American Bike Ride, an organization that organizes races across the country, a portion of the profits from the event will go to the Bicycle Coalition's youth cycling program.
This initiative works with young people aged 12 to 18 to help them develop leadership skills and healthy habits through cycling. Major cycling races are also somewhat unique in the sports world because they don't take place on a specific field, stadium, or track. This new cycling event joins others in the city, such as the eye-catching naked bike ride in Philadelphia, which promotes body positivity and which took place in August. Both events will begin and end at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, with a festival taking place on the museum's iconic steps to cap off the event. The event is also being celebrated on the organization's 50th anniversary, and part of the proceeds will go to the coalition's youth cycling program. Organizing a bike race in any big city comes with its own set of challenges.
According to Morton, many companies potentially interested in this sport have a “wait and see what happens” attitude. After being acquired by the First Union bank, which was eventually renamed Wachovia, the Philadelphia International Cycling Championships went through an unusually long streak with only one sponsor before moving to TD Bank. Morton hopes that the rehabilitation of this sport will also include a more important role for women in cycling, as part of the goal of the Keystone Open, which proposed a race dedicated exclusively to women with prizes equal to those of the men's race. So when is the best time of year to participate in a cycling event in Philadelphia? While it's hard for local fans to lose the 28-year-old race (if only for a year), Morton says that September is an ideal time for cyclists who don't like riding when it's hot. This is because cyclists can enjoy Philadelphia's picturesque fall foliage and historic sites during this time.
So if you're looking for an exciting way to explore Philadelphia while helping out a great cause, then make sure you join us on Saturday, September 3!.
