The "Bike Race, as it's known in Philly, occurs right around Memorial Day every year. Bike Race Sunday is one of the biggest events around the Roxborough/Manayunk area. The streets are shut down, and people open their homes and fry up their barbecues for this day. The race, which draws competitors from all over the world, starts in Downtown Philadelphia. There are two races, one for the men, and one for the women. They bike Kelly Drive, through Fairmount Park, then onto the streets of Manayunk, then back down Kelly Drive to Center City, and then repeat the route a few times.
Manayunk has some killer hills, but the fiercest is the WALL. On a map, it's listed as Lyceum Avenue, but to everyone in the city it's "Da Wall". It's steep incline is usually where most cyclists meet their demise. Philly's own weather forecaster Cecily Tynan tried going up the Wall a few years ago, but had to bail out due to difficulty. I'm not knocking her either, I can barely WALK up it.
In all of the 24 years I've lived in Roxborough/Manayunk, I've never actually seen the start of a race... I'm usually asleep when they start. The news helicopters flying in the air wake me up.
Almost everyone who lives on the Wall throws a party. People are drinking, eating, cheering on the racers, laughing, and just enjoying the day. To experience true Philadelphia hospitality, you have to be in Manayunk for the Bike Race. I promise it's an experience you will never forget.