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Tweed Ride 2012: The Picnic

The Philadelphia Tweed Ride 2012 started at the Water Works, and wended its way  to Penn Treaty Park under the bluest and most temperate skies imaginable.  November 17?  The best of autumn, as it turned out.

The park is mostly field, with plenty of room to gather and frolic.

Small groups gathered as people meandered about:

Vintage games were played, including baseball, by lads in these excellent uniforms:

That’s a button-on yoke in front.  Here’s the back:

Note the cap. Modern sports uniforms just don’t cut it.

 

The landscape was littered with cycles.  And wool.  The crowd was easy-going, relaxed, and cordial.

Lots of bikes to oogle, of course, and plenty of great-looking garb, too.

There were a few pair of actual knickers about  (no snickering, you UK people — I’m talking plus fours, here, not what’s under your trews), but many of the lads tucked their trousers into socks, creating instant knickers.  Add argyle socks, and . . . well, the effect is just about perfect.

I loved this lass’s outfit — she’s ready for adventure, and would have been as well-dressed in the 1930s or 40s, as she was today.

These dapper lads were part of the organizing crew:

I think I’ve seen this spiffy-dressed lad in the New Yorker, haven’t you?

But honestly, for dapper, can you beat this fellow?  Note that he has pipe in hand, luggage in tow, and a Philadelphia map within reach:

He’s the navigator on this bicycle:

Which is as well (and cleverly) equipped as a cycle can get. Note the radio, which was playing music from an era when tweed ruled.

The card handed about by the pilot of this magnificent craft explains each component; it was brilliant of him to have printed up the cards. As a result, I can tell you that this is a TREK Lime, automatic 3-speed with custom wood fenders.  The radio is a 1950s Tom Thumb with an amplifier and a mini-disk player; the panniers are converted 1960s Swiss ammo carriers.  Quite a neat accumulation of wonderful things, no?

The navigator was not the only one of his species to ride along.  Meet Ringo:

Ringo co-pilots this marvelous cargo bike:

This gent carried all the necessaries on his person:  a flask and pipe.  He’s obviously a resourceful fellow; he even made his own vest!

I like his idea of a rear pannier, too.

The Bicycle Chef’s  traditional picnic basket was decked with autumn leaves, along with the handlebars on her nifty Schwinn.

She had brought a picnic-for-two, intending to share — a terrific idea!

A lovely picnic it was, too.

I’d brought my favorite egg salad sandwich (extra onions on request!) from the  Old Nelson Food Company at the top of the SEPTA ramp at 30th street station, but I was happy to be introduced to something I didn’t know existed: Shipyard Smashed Pumpkin Ale.  I’d have never tired it, and that would have been sad . . . thanks, Bicycle Chef, for sharing, and inspiring me to picnic properly next year!

Eventually, it was time to go.  These intrepid cyclists got in some all-terrain riding, as everyone headed off to Rembrandt’s for further imbibing and refection.

Thanks, Tweed volunteers for pulling it all together — what a great excuse to come to Philadelphia and cycle!