The Philly Bike Expo returns for its seventh year

Seven years ago the Philly Bike Expo started out as a small grassroots cycling event with only a short list of exhibitors at the 23rd Street Armory. The cycling event has now grown to become the largest gathering of bicycle frame builders in the north east.

The seventh annual Philly Bike Expo will take place at the Pennsylvania Convention Center on Nov. 5 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Nov. 6 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This year the Philly Bike Expo is trying to steer into the direction of an active transport symposium by adding a small bicycle infrastructure symposium that introduces “Vision Zero” Paul Skilbeck communications director for Philly Bike Expo said.

“In past years, and this year too, in our seminar program we address subjects such as urban cycling skills, the right bikes to use for family cycling outings, as well as presenting information and ideas about bicycle infrastructure,” Skilbeck said.

The two-day expo is also a rare opportunity for cyclists to meet builders face to face, like Richard Sachs who will be giving a seminar, “Arriving at the Bench”, on Sunday. There will be a variety of seminars to choose from each day like “Cycling Savy” for urban cyclists and “Family Biking Basics”, to name a few.

The expo, unlike a conference, let’s people interact with the educational demonstrations. The list of demonstrations ranges from “Bike Art” to “Kiddie Course: Pello Bikes” to “Yoga for Cyclists”.

The event has become very popular among the cyclist community, with more than 150 companies and 35 custom frame builders on the exhibitor list.

“One of the things that would account for its [the expo’s] popularity is it’s an event created by cyclists for cyclists, and it does a great job of being relevant and interesting to a large part of the cycling spectrum,” Skilbeck said. “People go to the Philly Bike Expo to have fun and learn about cycling. The range of cyclists who can do that spans from complete novice to seasoned professional.”

If you go:
PA Convention Center
1101 Arch St. Hall A
Nov. 5 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 6 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
$10 to $40, children 12 and under free