2025 Philly Bike Expo, via Amtrak

The Brommie Ride, allowing other folder brands in 2025 - one of the
Philly Bike Expo's organized bike rides.

Why do I attend the Philly Bike Expo? It's the experience: organized bike rides, after-party, seminars, and vendor booths. It's also an excuse to connect with friends from around the country.

One of the Brommie Ride stops. A race on grass. I ogled the pristine Raleigh Twenty.

Memento Cycles is so creative! Check out the racks and "internal" cable routing.

The exhibitors range from frame makers, accessories, jewelry, bag makers, recumbents/adaptive cycles, bike clothing, and art, to advocacy. There's something for everyone! The two-day event is small enough to see in 3 hours, leaving room to attend morning and evening rides, and seminars, or get outside for fresh air and sightseeing.

A Bilenky - same colorway as my Hard Rock - and a colorful Velocity Wheel. Pink and Purple bicycles are popular.

Seminars attended: The Impossible Routes Q&A by Jeremiah Bishop, and How to Make Your Life into One Big Bike Adventure – a workshop by Pamela Murray.

I like checking out options at the Schwalbe booth. I noted an all-road tire that might provide more traction on Rachel.

Testing the Tern Spartan rack with front panniers.

What I did right

• I'm rocking two front panniers instead of the former large bag on the handlepost. It's more stable handling all-around, and the Dahon folds nearly as small as before.
• One bikable footwear option was perfect with slipper socks for AirBnB wear.
• I was so happy to stay at the same place as last year. My accommodation came with a full kitchen which meant comfortable evenings and breakfasts before setting off for daily activities.
• A foldable tote bag that also doubles as a backpack, adapts to grocery shopping, picking up souvenirs, or as extra storage on the train. Arriving at 8 pm Friday evening, I'd made a grocery list, then hightailed it to a store soon after check-in. I'm efficient - I bought enough for 3 days, and nights of breakfasts and dinners, while leftovers provided two meals for the return trip. 

View outside from the Expo windows, and the same view at street level.

Sunday afternoon exploring with lunch/dessert at the Italian Market.

Sunday morning gravel ride meetup. I opted for the shorter distance, navigating a stretch of single track on 20" wheels, though I knew most of the route was paved. A local guy named Patrick personally escorted me back to the Expo, avoiding a chunky section of the path. He turned out to be a history buff, explaining places en route. Thank you, Patrick!

AirBnB entryway and a homecooked meal.

What I learned

• Normally I fold and store the Dahon in a tote bag. This works well for one train journey, keeping me and the bike clean. But, it was an arduous transfer between Penn Station and Moynihan Train Hall in NYC - I'd forgotten how arm-busting the distance had been the previous year, reminded again this time around!  There had to be a better way. At the Expo, anyone entering with a folding bike was required to fold it to save on bike parking space. By accident, I discovered that once folded, I could gently roll the Dahon by grabbing the seat, slightly extended, initially to move away from a crowded line and unfold it to get my stuff situated to ride. However, I practiced rolling it on the polished floor, because, I figured it could ease my return train connection. I found that as long as the fold is a bit loose, otherwise, the brake lever rubs on the spokes - not a pretty sound - but I was fairly sure that I could make the arrangement work. And I did! As it turns out, I keep the bike fairly clean anyway, and wearing black pants helps. The fold needs to be a bit loose, otherwise, the brake lever rubs on the spokes. There might be a way to improve the fit of the fold so that it doesn’t rub. In the future, I’ll figure out something to attach to the bars—perhaps a small block of foam—that will prop the bar in the perfect position. I'm always learning!
• Once in Philadelphia, especially after dark, it's not intuitive access from the station to the Schuylkill River Trail. But in daylight, it made more sense (as the photo below shows). Two years in a row I had difficulty getting to the AirBnB. Next year I'll get it right.
• Pack less next year. Two pairs of tights are fine, not three. And no need for two jackets. One is adequate. 3 lightweight top layers. It helps to wash items after the first day so they're dry and usable for the latter portion of the trip.

A visual reminder of directions so that next year I can do it correctly in the dark. Crossing Market Street Bridge (arches) I need to exit onto the ramp in the opposite direction to double back, traveling underneath the bridge to find the AirBnB. The Amtrak Station is the historical, square building on the left.

Late afternoon ride along the Schuylkill River.

Slowly heading to the train station on Monday morning, soaking up more sunshine. We were lucky again to have perfect weekend weather.

Left: Dahon folded in the Philly Amtrak Station, ensuring the seatpost is lowered enough to protect the crank. Middle: on board the train. Right: unfolded in the Moynihan Train Hall because as a solitary traveler, I needed to wheel the bike and my stuff around, including visiting the bathroom!