Phila International Cycling Championship

Excited that a cycling event passes through our neighborhood, we prepared to stay in this weekend to avoid problems parking upon return, and, to actually spend some time watching the event.

I strolled down to Main Street after nine this morning and had just sat down with coffee indoors facing Main Street when several police vehicles rushed through, followed by motorcycles and then a mass of cyclists. In a moment, they'd passed. I finished eating something and then took a stroll down Main and headed for Lyceum. At the turn at Levering, the women's racers ripped around the corner. I continued up Levering until the intersection with Lyceum and then continued a bit and found a place to stand, all while sweating profusely. Shortly afterwards, the mass of male cyclists passed through, albeit a bit more slowly on the hill, or, as it's called, the Wall. Most looked strong, although a few looked more like I would--showing signs of a struggle. I hung around for the women to pass by again and then strolled the five blocks or so to home to cool off a bit.

I gathered up the camera and left again. I made my way toward Main Street and, being a bit early for the next lap, found a seat on a doorstep in the shade. Struck up a conversation with someone who'd seen my water bottle with a Decatur (GA) bike shop logo and chatted about how each of us had purchased from there. Before I knew it, another lap flew by and I was only able to get a few pictures. Checking my watch, I waited for fifteen minutes, and then found a position at the turn from Main Street to Levering and parked there until the next lap. This time the pictures were much better (above). It was time to go home and cool down again.

After watching television coverage, we decided to walk down Silverwood to Levering and catch the tenth and final lap around. Revelers were all over in the street on Silverwood drinking, eating, grilling and playing mostly loud music--most of which I'd never heard before. In short order, the cyclists came up the hill, with a small group and then, about forty seconds later, the big mass of cyclists, most still looking strong going up the hill, even with over 90 degree temperatures.