Manayunk Bike Race Murals

MURAL ILLUSTRATION DESIGN AND PAINTING

In the summer of 2019 Eleanor designed and helped paint two murals for the Mural Arts Program in Philadelphia. The site that was chosen is at the end of Main Street in Manayunk, under the regional rail trestle at Leverington Avenue. To me this is a special spot. It's a popular corridor for cyclists leaving the metro area to climb Umbria St. and ride less crowded rural roads. Conversely, it’s a welcome turn that means soft pedaling on level roads back into the city. A route I've done many times. It is also a few blocks away from "The Wall", an iconic punchy climb that was a part of the now defunct professional bike race that blessed Philadelphia every June for decades. It went by many names over the years depending on the sponsor. At one time it was even the U.S. National Championship race. Uniquely, it featured a men's and women's pro race that ran concurrently. In honor of those races (which I enjoyed on television as a child and watched in person as an adult) these murals are titled "The Liberty Classic" and "The Philadelphia International Championship". Hopefully it adds a little energy to the legs of cyclists on their rides for sport, fun, or commuting.  (by Peter Dalkner)