Winter Designs

Steve loves winter. He seems crestfallen when his beard HASN'T turned into a beardsicle on his ride in.

Go Steve go!

He likes grey skies, early evenings, and the AMAZING light that sometimes graces the junkyard:

Trees gilded with the blood of cross racers past...

Then he inexplicably goes upstate where it's even colder and eats baked potatoes. 

Bikes, farm shows, it's all good...

Naomi deals with winter by being a yeti,

The impermeable power suit

The rest of us just grow beards and gripe. Bina wrote a great article for Embrocation about every cyclist's favorite season. Here it is. 

Besides the usual bike building, we're working on a new look for our 2012 bikes. We will have a new line of stock colors (although your beloved 'Dirty Possum' and 'Lizard Sex Green' will still be available). I came up with some new headbadge concepts. Here's one:

A vinyl take on the metal headbadge.

And another one:

A vinyl take on another metal headbadge.

And my favorite one!

Just a sketch. But you get the idea.

Steve doesn't like the idea of putting his face on his bikes. So I'm punting it to you, dear readers. Would YOU ride a bike emblazoned with the Head of the Steve? Let us know in the poll at the upper right. Vote well, vote often! 

Keep warm, ride safe, and happy belated New Year. 

Isis 

BCW

Well, that was awesome.

Wow, that was a terrific junkyard cross. SO MANY PEOPLE came out! We can't thank you all enough-- the racers, hecklers, drinkers, and volunteers-- you all are just amazing.

Here's a great video from CXHairs:


Bilenky Junkyard Cross 2011 from In The Crosshairs on Vimeo.

Did I meet the CXHairs photographer? I don't know which one it was. CXHairs photographer, YOU ARE AWESOME.

And here's another great video, of the A class guys getting all Dukes of Hazard on my carefully arranged slalom:

Untitled from Erik Silverson on Vimeo.

I love the guy saying 'Hold this...' and handing off his bike.

Now look here, kids, the junkyard guys were up in arms about the damage we did to their cars. Apparently someone was going at hoods with a saw? Also, we definitely told you not to climb on the trailers and you all did. So please behave a bit better next year, it took quite a few cases to placate them and we're only able to do this because they're awesome and move the cars around for us. All clear?

There are amazing photos all over the internet, but here are a few I like a lot:

Mr Safety Firth, MCing in British

The men's A winners-- all completely nuts if you ask me!

The Alt-est of the Alt bikes. Photo by Stevie Sax.

Three dedicated guys got cowbell tattoos!

We're already planning for next year. New obstacle ideas include a fire trap and a bear. 

In completely different news, cross country rider, BMXer and selfless volunteer Lowell Smoger is reviving Philadelphia Critical Mass.  This is a great idea and a good cause and you should all go. Here's the facebook invite.  Be there! I can't go! Be there for me!

Thanks again, guys. You make our cycling community the best in the whole world. 

And wait till you see our NAHBS bike....

Isis

BCW

Help!

We need a few sturdy, hardy volunteers....

To help set up the junkyard cross..... 

We'll buy you beer....

And let you test ride the course and stand on cars...

This should be a lot of fun, and we can't do it alone. The majority of the set- up should take place on Saturday the 17th. Phone or emails us (artistry@bilenky.com 215 329 4744) to let us know when you're free.

STEEL TOED BOOTS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!!

Thanks soooooo much. 

Isis 

BCW

....And now what?

First of all, a HUGE THANKS to everyone who made the Bike Expo so amazing. Vendors, sponsors, visitors, seminar givers, racers, hardy folk who braved the snow, you are all FANTASTIC and we couldn't have done this without you. And thanks to Steve who let me display his Bar Mitzvah photo in our booth. No clear photographic evidence of it remains, however. Coincidence? I THINK NOT.

It's that blurry beardless picture in the back

Here's a great video by Road Holland about the whole thing.


Highlights from the 2011 Philly Bike Expo from Road Holland on Vimeo.


Now that the booth is dismantled and the hangovers are a distant memory, what's on our minds?

Well, kittens,

I hope their new adoptive parents kept their names: Spartacus, Cadel Evans and Victoria Pendleton

Our awesome new addition to the team, Naomi Littell, 

That's her looking colorful on the right

And....

THE JUNKYARD CROSS!

Hopefully the see-saw will return.

This year we'll be concentrating on a little more safety (our goal is to have as many toes and fingers leave at the end of the day as arrived- no more, no less) and a LOT more speed. That means smaller heats and better organization. There will be an online registration option up soon, which will make things cheaper and smoother so please use that. 

If the above makes it sound like we're getting stodgy and boring in our old age, no worries. There will be plenty of mud, unpleasant obstacles, bonfires of questionable safety, good music and great company. SPEAKING OF MUSIC, if any band wants to provide live musical encouragement, get back to us. 

And if you're not into racing there's always....

Beeeeeeer!

So no excuses. See you there. 

Isis

Epic Expo Events Eeeeeee!

Three weeks till the Expo! We're all so excited, and you should be too. Here's the website, in case you've been living under a rock and don't know about it.

There are so many events I can't even think about it (especially since I haven't finished organizing a couple) Here's a preview:

THE FASHION SHOW

This is the Interbike one. Ours will be better.

Check out the latest in hipster essentials and congratulate the fastest urban riders because the fashion show is also the finish line for...

THE ALLEYCAT

Ride faster than this guy!

It's an all-levels race, so you can go for speed or try to get top points in all the zombie-themed checkpoint activities. Fake blood and a passion for brains encouraged. Sweet prizes guaranteed. Then head over the river for

THE COSTUME PARTY at Keswick Cycles new West Philly location! Extra points for going as Steve  Bilenky: 

That's not him.

AND, here's just a few of the daytime events:

Bike Snob NYC is giving a talk about dirt, 

Ruchama Bilenky is teaching a cycling specific yoga class,

Drew Guldalian will be discussing mountain bike design,

And speaking of mountain bikes....

Our special guest is the elusive Gary Fisher himself!

This is how it's done...

AND, before I forget, there will also be over eighty exhibitors, a swap meet, plenty of rides, great food, fancy beer, and the best company in the world. 

Ya'll better come. 

Isis

P.S. Good to see so many people at the swap... and my bench remains miraculously free of Vintage Steve Junk. It did get a new addition though:

Oh Steve, really?

The 2006 winner was Fabian Cancellara, AKA Spartacus. The Spartacus Stone makes an excellent pedestal for my coffee mug. 

Wow Interbike!

I'm back from the sunny West Coast where everyone walks slowly and smiles a lot (it's kinda creepy, actually).  Interbike is HUGE. I walked diligently around for three days and didn't even see everything.

There was an awesome mini velodrome,

These guys have nerve. I kept falling off.

Really stunning carbon fiber work,

Photos don't do it justice. This thing glowed.

Steampunk downhill bikes,

It's all about attitude, says Steve. Check out that banana seat!

Gigantic Surlys (if they get much chunkier they'll be cars)

Handles like a truck, but I bet it would be awesome in snow or sand.

I went to the world's biggest cyclocross,

Ding ding ding rattle rattle ding!

And an awesome social ride (the locals gawked. I guess dozens of cyclists blocking the roads off and blasting bad music is an unusual sight in Nevada) 

Thanks for the video link, Trina!

Then I rode around the extremely bike-unfriendly strip with fine upstanding members of the polo community like this one: 

This one is from Eureka California and has a daughter named Cadence.

There was a beautifully overproduced fashion show:

Gave me way too many ideas for the expo...

And some pretty embarrassing training equipment:

I didn't try it.

And then I went to San Francisco and got bitten by a pelican: 

Get this bike away from me!

But that's another story.

Hella awesome!

-Isis

BCW

OH P.S. Come to Trexlertown this Saturday to buy mad stuff and say hi and take a look at Steve's Pile Of Epic Vintage Bike Parts (and buy them please so they don't wind up on my bench). Deal? Deal! See you there. 

End of Summer

The track season is over and the 'cross season hasn't started yet and we are kicking into high gear. So far the deranged weather has left us unscathed, but Steve is prepared anyway:

I told him he looks like a flying pasha. Perhaps that'll be our next type of bike.

AND.....

Less than two months to the Expo! This year is going to be bigger, better and more varied, with some extremely exciting guests and a mountain bike theme. Steve won't let me put a singletrack in the armory though, even though it would be super rad.

Check out the website, and keep checking back for new events and exhibiters. We're filling up fast, so if you want a space get in touch now. Now's also a good time to volunteer - flyers won't distribute themselves (and if they did I'd be nervous).

Meanwhile, Steve just got back from the Heartland Velo Show, where he somehow got stranded on a lot of unexpected trains in the midwest with several times his volume in bikes:

Very precious cargo.

The show looks like it was amazing. I'll put up pictures when I get 'em.

Next week I'm heading toff to Interbike!  I'll be more diligent about taking pictures than Steve is (Ahem).

I leave you with a  disembodied viewpoint:

Isis

BCW