“Porsche makes bicycles?”

I wrote the following story after the epic 2021 six day, 360-mile C&O/GAP all-Porsche Bike ride. Not sure it will ever get published, so here it is in its entirety.

“Porsche makes bicycles?”

We heard this question frequently on the six-day, 360-mile cycling adventure from Washington, D.C. to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Many Porschephiles are not aware that the Porsche name is on over a dozen bicycle models from the mid-1990s up to the current year. Porsche bicycles might be the best-kept secret within Porsche circles. Some of those familiar consider these bikes as over-priced toys and not quality bicycles.

To prove these automotive-company-produced bikes are worthy of the Porsche name, 10 Porsche enthusiasts committed to an extremely challenging off-road cycling tour on just about every Porsche bike produced, from the first-generation bikes up to the brand-new electric bicycles.

The team members came from all over the United States and spent the summer months prior to the ride training and preparing their Porsche bikes.

“Prepping for the ride was half the fun!” PCA National Past President Caren Cooper said about her summer efforts.

The tour included two major East Coast biking trails: The 184.5-mile Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Canal Towpath and the 150-mile Great Allegheny Passage (GAP). Both have historical significance to the region and are well-documented in the cycling world. The C&O Canal was active well over a hundred years ago to move coal and supplies from Cumberland, Maryland to Washington, D.C. Once the railroad was introduced, the C&O Canal was shut down, later becoming a biking opportunity for thousands of cyclists each year. Similarly, the GAP was used by trains to move coal and supplies, replacing canals but ultimately also becoming a popular and rideable trail.

Both the C&O and GAP are dirt trails with a mix of hard-packed dirt, rocks, exposed roots and mud. With the trail conditions and long mileage, our Porsche bike team found the perfect place to test the performance, reliability, and build-quality of these Porsche bicycles.

The 10 Porsche enthusiasts, all on a variety of Porsche bike models, departed the C&O from Mile 0 in Washington, D.C. on a cool and sunny September Sunday morning. The bikes ridden included two of the Bike S, two of the Bike FS, a Bike R, a Bike X, a Bike RS, a Bike RX, an eBike Cross, and an eBike Sport (see complete Porsche bike list sidebar). This range covered the Porsche bike line from front- and full-suspension mountain bikes, road racing bikes, and touring bikes to the latest pedal-assist electric bikes. To the surprise of many Porsche fans, Porsche has produced bicycles every year since 1996.

This entire line of Porsche Bikes started with a single prototype bicycle that was featured in a 1990 article in Porsche’s Christophorus magazine.

The article was written by Jürgen Pippig and explained in the second paragraph, “Since Weissach engineers and technicians are often enthusiastic hobby sports fans, it was really only a question of time until the strong two-wheel lobby within the technology smithy created a mountain bike which is the 911 RS of mountain bikes.”

The story went on to explain the goal of the Porsche engineers was to produce a prototype bike of consequent lightweight construction, uncompromising function and aesthetic proportions and shape. The result was a quality-built mountain bike for the time. And at a mere 9.85 kilograms (21.7 pounds), it was incredibly lightweight. This bike was designed and built before the days of front shock absorbers, let alone a full-suspension mountain bike.

The story ends with a hint of the possibility of an exclusive run of 300 such bikes. But an exhaustive internet search could find no such record of this bike, not the prototype published in Christophorus magazine, nor the possible 300 produced for lucky Porsche enthusiasts.

This bike, called the Porsche Bike Spyder 9.85, is likely a one-off, the original prototype and missing link between Porsche automobiles and Porsche bicycles.

It led to all the Porsche Bikes on the epic C&O/GAP ride. The Porsche mountain bikes, specifically the Bike S, Bike FS and Bike RX models, performed well over the rough, uneven, rocky, and muddy first half of the ride on the C&O Canal Towpath. The oldest of the bikes celebrated the 25-year milestone this year.

“As the only participant on a borrowed bicycle, I didn’t know what to expect from a 25-year-old vintage model. Having never ridden one before, I was quite anxious. But the Bike S proved to be up to the task. It was comfortable, versatile, and quick. Not unlike a vintage Porsche car!” said Ilko Nechev, PCA Advertising Director, about riding a Guards Red Bike S mountain bike.

Porsche started in 1996 with this Bike S that featured an aluminum frame, front shocks, and hydraulic rim brakes. In 1997 and 1998, Porsche followed with the full suspension Bike FS mountain bike and the road racing Bike R. The Bike R was also aluminum and built extremely lightweight for fast road riding.

"Porsche is known for its endurance capabilities. Their bikes are no exception,” said Vu Nguyen, PCA Executive Director, after riding a 2000 Bike FS during the long ride. “My 21-year-old Bike FS performed flawlessly over the 360 miles. Not a single mechanical issue." 

Cycling on the C&O Canal Towpath is like riding on a dirt path alongside the Jungle Cruise at Disneyland. Since the towpath is all dirt, you don't feel like you are in a city. And the locks, of which there are 74, and the lock houses, are historic and look old. You feel like you are in another place and time, not riding in 2021. Off the towpath, everything is green, with the Potomac River on one side and the C&O Canal on the other. The canal is overgrown with trees, plants, and flowers and with deer, birds, snakes, and turtles everywhere. The canal doesn't look man-made anymore.

Speaking about his ride on a new eBike Cross, Chicago Region President Bob Rath said, “It was an epic and scenic journey that challenged us and brought us closer together — so much so that we are planning for the next air-cooled bike ride.”

The Porsche bike team took three days to complete the 184.5-mile C&O Canal Towpath, staying in hotels each night in the charming towns along the trail. Celebrating completion of the C&O in Cumberland, the team geared up to begin the 150-mile GAP ride the next day.

The GAP’s crushed limestone path is packed down and smoother than the C&O trail and favored the Porsche road bikes with larger diameter rims. The Bike R, Bike X and Bike RS rode smoothly over the GAP trail. 

“Spending a week riding through the countryside with great friends on air-cooled Porsches was an adventure I’ll never forget,” Cindy Jacisin, PCA National Executive Vice President, said about her experiences riding a 1998 Bike R.

I rode a 2004 Bike X I purchased from a Porsche bike dealer in Germany. I found this bike while researching Porsche bikes and discovered a few models were only sold in Europe. This included the Bike X, with only 250 produced. The Bike X is a hybrid — basically half road bike and half mountain bike, a combination I felt matched the mixed terrain in the C&O and GAP trails.

The first-generation Porsche bicycles were mostly aluminum, except for the carbon fiber framed Bike FS Evolution. This bright yellow FS Evolution was the forebear of the modern Porsche bikes today. The current line of Porsche bikes, the all-purpose Bike S, performance road-riding Bike RS, and the mountain-conquering Bike RX, are currently sold at Porsche dealerships. The Bike RS and Bike RX feature full carbon fiber frames, disc brakes and a unique frame shape that looks like the profile of a Porsche 911.

To complete the group of Porsche bikes, both of the new Porsche eBikes were also along for the ride. The mixed terrain eBike Cross, and the fully-optioned road riding eBike Sport, were clearly the fastest and most technologically advanced bikes on the trail during our entire trip. These electric bikes served a valuable function, able to race ahead to help a cyclist in need or carrying extra water, food, and supplies, which served the team well on the GAP ride. 

The Great Allegheny Passage is a combination of several defunct railroad corridors consolidated into one 150-mile continuous rail trail in 2013. The GAP is known for its scenic beauty, river views, railroad tunnels and long bridges. The Porsche bike team spent three days completing the GAP ride, also staying in historic towns along the way, and finishing in downtown Pittsburgh Friday afternoon. Both the C&O and GAP have mile markers identifying the beginning and end, as well as each mile along the route.

During the ride, the weather and elevation played its part to challenge the riders. The ride started with temperatures near 90, followed by a steep uphill day in heavy rain. A cold day in the wind preceded a near-perfect sunny last day. Several trail closures caused detours and delays, adding more miles to the trip. Some riders had spills and the rough terrain caused aches, pains, and six flat tires.

“One of my favorite thoughts was how proud I was of everyone through the adversity, and how positive we remained every day. A true team effort,” said Todd Benz, PCA National Secretary, who rode a new eBike Sport. 

The 10 Porsche enthusiasts, all on Porsche bicycles, started the ride with apprehension and excitement and finished with smiles and satisfaction. All the Porsche bikes finished the journey without a mechanical issue or breakdown, proving these bikes are built to last and engineered to ride on some of the most difficult terrain and in the most challenging conditions.

"I'm really good at breaking things, but my bike had zero issues of any kind," said PCA Club Racing Chair West Dillard after riding his Bike RX.

Completing the ride appears to be a first of its kind on Porsche bicycles. To our knowledge, this was the largest collection of Porsche bikes on a long-distance bike tour anywhere in the world.

“It's not easy turning an insane idea into an exciting and unforgettable adventure,” said Gregory Brown, Potomac Region member and 1997 Bike FS owner. “At the end, it was bittersweet. The adventure was over, yet I knew we accomplished something never done before on Porsche bicycles.” 

On this cycling adventure, many other riders attempting the C&O and GAP were curious about these Porsche bicycles. Our group became Porsche bike ambassadors, telling the Porsche bike story to curious on-lookers at each town or popular rest stop.

Yet, the ride turned into much more than educating cyclists and proving the worth of Porsche bicycles. The entire team celebrated a sense of pride from completing the long-distance bike ride on their first attempt and will have fond memories of the adventure.

“The distance was a challenge. The trail was beautiful and on Porsche bikes was unique, but the friends made it special. My favorite moment was the feeling of accomplishment as we rolled onto the Pittsburgh Three Rivers Fountain platform in the bright sunshine,” PCA National President Tom Gorsuch said after riding a Porsche Bike RS 360 miles.

If you enjoy cycling, whether it’s a serious hobby or a casual pastime, consider purchasing one of the many Porsche bikes. You will enjoy the Porsche styling and high-quality engineering. Most important, getting out and riding is good for the body and your spirits. And if you want a real challenge, consider riding either the C&O or GAP trails…or both!