Events: Late Fall Events
(2022) The road cycling scene still features events for the hardy rider. With two complete date changes, it’s probably unlikely our readership will be able to make the Pittsburgh Dirty Dozen. And though the Sly Fox Cyclocross race has nothing to do with road riding, it’s a great event to spectate.
39th Annual Dirty Dozen - October 22
Presented by Danny Chew, the 39th Annual Dirty Dozen is the original collection of a dozen gnarly hills. This year the infamous Logan Street is removed and replaced due to closures. Using a pioneering strategy of neutral fields between climbs, the competition picks up when the gradient does. Points are awarded for the top ten finishers. No climbing is allowed to start until the official blows the whistle. The event is no picnic. Only those who finish - and finish within twenty minutes of the winner of the last climb - are eligible for a finishing spot. The neutral field is how they lure you in. The grit flies on the hills. It sounds manageable at sixty miles in length, but then again, those hills.
12th Annual Cadence Dirty Dozen - October 22
Like the Danny Chew event, the Cadence Cycling Centers’ Philadelphia Dirty Dozen used to be in November. This year Cadence revisits the Mothers Ride route, an old training route for fast riders. At forty-six miles in length, the route makes its way up and down the shores of the Schuylkill River after departing from Cadence Cycling Centers in Manyunk. The route also manages to find over 5,000 feet of climbing in those miles. Making use of the Schuylkill River Trail (SRT), Cadence offers an alternate finale for those selecting gravel or ‘cross bikes. Cadence will utilize the same approach as the Danny Chew event - neutral riding with hill climb competition. The baker’s dozen climb, the Manyunk Wall, is the last hammer fest. Doors open at 7:30am, ride departs at 8:00am. This is a free event.
Doylestown Bike Works Cranksgiving - November 6
Doylestown Bike Works has put on a quintessential central Bucks County route for Cranksgiving to raise food donations for Bucks County Housing Group. Since 2012, DBW has donated over 100,000 pounds of food from participants. The ride is free, but participants put their money toward the three grocery store stops on the route. The route is a manageable 28-mile affair that departs from Central Bucks West high school at 10:00am. The route winds its way north, almost to the creakybottombracket.com office before turning south back into the heart of Doylestown. Backyard Beans Coffee Company will be present to warm the riders after a mid-day outing of giving. Expect to see familiar faces and old time riding friends taking part in this laid-back affair.
Sly Fox Cyclocross #SFCX - November 13
Sly Fox Cyclocross is for the off-season roadie. Don the pit boots and head to Sly Fox Brewing Company in Pottstown, PA. With free admission, spectators can pay-as-they-go while standing atop some of the wooded climbs reminiscent of Superprestige. This event is typically cold, gray, muddy, and infinitely enjoyable. Heckle all you want, the ‘cross racers are out there lapping all of us who are putting a pin on the 2022 season. Or grab a buddy’s ‘cross bike and find out just how awful ‘cross can be. Sly Fox will have coveted brews and even more coveted SFCX swag for sale at the race. They even promise not to turn away pet iguanas! With a chance for the kids to race, this is an all-day event for the whole family.
