It's almost Bike Race Weekend, aka the Yunker National Holiday!
I've been in contact with the non-organizers of the annual Manayunk Midnight Downhill, which as you know takes place the night before the race on Sunday. St. Anthony Productions tells me by email:
as far as i know plans are the same. 12 midnight the downhill starts. not
the suicide run. im sure the police are ready this time so be careful, and
have fun. doin it for the neighborhood 11yrs! stanthony productions.
I'm a bit concerned -- this thing went off without a hitch for years before the police tried to block the race route last year. In the end, of course, the po-po did look the other day while a few hardy souls flung themselves down the hill and everybody stayed fairly calm. But things can go downhill, as it were, really quickly.
St. Ant' seems to be of the same mind:
its always been the downhill we hate the term suicide run. thats preston and
steve stuff. peace we love the police, they are just doing their job, and we
mean no harm. are we really breaking the law? if your not drunk is it a
crime to ride a bike down the street? 11yrs no major issues
Let's hope this Manayunk tradition stays on the cool tip, and make sure you've got your "vehicles" together -- no couches this year. You know who you are.
Related: How The Yunkers Roll
YouTube Video of the 2006 Manayunk Midnight Downhill
