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Thanks to everyone for a wonderful 2007 Century day.
The Bicycle Club of Philadelphia is proud to announce its 11th Annual Scenic Schuylkill Century. Back in 1997 the League of American Bicyclists honored the SSC with its Century Challenge Award and we have been improving upon this grand event ever since. Saturday morning, September 8th (NOT Sunday), come join nearly 1,000 fellow cyclists for a magnificent tour through the beautiful and quiet roads of Montgomery and Chester Counties. Cyclists can choose one of four rewarding routes, all of which begin and end at Lloyd Hall on Kelly Drive just behind the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
THE FOOD:
Fuel your engine with breakfast served at the start including bagels, bananas, Philly soft pretzels, yogurt, juice and coffee. Each route offers bountiful rest stops including home baked goodies, sandwiches, cold drinks and other energy boosting snacks. Your reward for a great day's effort in the saddle is our traditional pizza bash at the finish.
THE SUPPORT:
All routes are clearly marked with road markings and signs. For last minute tweaking and on the road adjustments, the start location and most rest stops will offer expert mechanical support provided by volunteers from local bike shops. Each route will be supported by SAG patrols ready to provide assistance or a ride.
THE ROUTES:
The 25 mile route winds its way through lush park scenery along the banks of the Schuylkill River and includes one rest stop at Cedar Grove Park. This is a perfect course for riders of all abilities.
The 38 mile route is an extension of the 25-mile route that travels through scenic Fort Washington Park. There are a few hills that will challenge and reward the recreational weekend cyclist.
The 65 mile route continues from Cedar Grove Park to offer a scenic view of center city Philadelphia from the top of Potshop Road before following the ridge line past the last farms of Montgomery County out to our Evansburg State Park rest stop. From there you will follow the Perkiomen Creek into the park and a final rest stop at the Betzwood picnic area.
The 100 mile route offers a true challenge featuring over 1,300 feet of climbing! Continuing from the Evansburg State Park rest stop, this route quietly winds though the colonial villages of Arcola and Spring City, passes the last Studebaker dealer in the world, over Sheeders Mill Covered Bridge and through the villages of Birchrunville and Yellow Springs. There are four rest stops on this route ready to re-energize and re-motivate.
For the 65 and 100 mile routes, once refueled at the final Betzwood rest stop, riders can choose to return to Philadelphia on the flat Schuylkill River Trail or venture out on a picturesque return route over the Betzwood Bridge, past the encampments in Valley Forge Park and the National Memorial Arch. Then through Upper Merion and West Conshohocken to Spring Mill Park and the Schuylkill River Trail back to Lloyd Hall.
THE GIFT:
| Those who register prior to the event will receive a gift from BCP.
Past gifts have
included cycling socks, beanie caps, bandanas and arm warmers. To add to
the cycling kit, this year's gift is a pair of cycling shoe covers. They
are of a stretch spandex fabric and feature reinforced heel cups and a
zipper closure in the back. The shoe covers are a perfect complement to the
arm warmers of last year. Please note that each rider must pre-register and
be at the event to receive the gift; they will not be
mailed. In addition a limited supply of the "world famous tie-dye Century tees" will be available for sale for $10 (sizes are small to XXlarge) before the ride (during registration) and after the ride at our "world famous" Pizza Bash. |
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Not a club member? You're welcome to join BCP now. Membership dues are $15 per year if the monthly newsletter, the Quick Release, is received by e-mail and $20/year if it's received by paper mail. BCP's membership year is April through March; however, as a special Scenic Schuylkill Century offer, if you join now, your first membership period will extend through March 31, 2009!
Other benefits of becoming a club member include discounts at local area bike shops, invitations to special organized club events, access to a wealth of cycling information in the members-only area of the Club's web site and most important many, many club rides for riders of all abilities, week in and week out all year long!
NEW FOR 2007: Bicycling Weekend
If the Scenic Schuylkill Century on Saturday is not enough cycling for
you, make it a cycling weekend by also participating in the Bicycle
Coalition's Bike Philly on
Sunday, September 9th.
Bike Philly is a car-free bicycling ride and festival for everyone,
benefiting bicycling advocacy and education. Routes range from a flat 8
mile ride or one-hill 20 miles on car free Phila streets, to hillier
shared road extensions for 35/50 miles.
DIRECTIONS AND PARKING:
Directions to the start:
Parking
Parking is available on all the local streets surrounding the Art Museum
Area.
See also some tips
Accommodations
Accommodation recommendations are available from the Philadelphia Convention
and Visitors Bureau, (215) 636-3300, www.pcvb.org.
OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
There are some
simple rules of riding that riders are expected to follow.
Also:
For questions and further information:
Please contact us at
century@phillybikeclub.org
Want to help out? This event runs on "people power" and it requires the effort of many folks to make it a success. Want to ride and volunteer? There are many tasks that occur early in the day that leave plenty of time to go on the ride. Please contact us at century@phillybikeclub.org