Bilenky Goes to Harrisburg

Hey Everyone,

I am happy to announce that I will be heading out to Harrisburg for this years PA Walks and Bikes Summit on May 4th.

The summit will act as a meeting place for those wanting to interact with local and regional government representatives to engage in discussions about expanding cycling, walking and alternative transportation in Pennsylvania.

This is the events second year, and my first time in Harrisburg.

We are hoping that other local shops will follow suit and join us in a day of advocacy! Train tickets from 30th street station are affordable and the outing is little more than a day trip!

If anyone would like more information regarding the event please check out - http://www.pawalksandbikes.org/ or email me at BilenkyMedia@gmail.com

Ray

Gentlemen Amongst Gentlemen

We at Bilenky Cycle Works are happy to announce that this year we will be sending 6 riders to compete in the Rapha Gentlemen’s Race. This event is likened to an alley-cat and a team time trial, with a little Cannonball Run thrown in for good measure.

To say that we at Bilenky Cycle Works are fans of Rapha and their fine line of products is a tremendous understatement. Since the launch of their first collection in 2004, Rapha has risen to the top of the apparel and accessory world. As their official website puts it, “road riding is tough enough without having to compromise on quality. The Rapha range uses only the finest materials, components and detailing to create exceptional apparel and accessories.” We at Bilenky Cycle Works could not agree more. We are proud to take part in one of the region's premier events being presented by a company that shares our vision and dedication to quality and workmanship.
 

The 120 mile race will be held on May 22^nd in Northwestern Connecticut. Please check back for more information concerning the race, as we will be updating details here regularly.

Ray

A Philadelphia Bike Exhabition Preview

Yesterday marked my first visit to The 23rd St. Armory, the home of the 2010 Philadelphia Bike Exposition, that we at Bilenky Cycle Works in conjunction with The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia are presenting the 30th and 31st of October.



The Exposition will feature cycling and apparel companies, both large and small, as well as seminars, workshops, demos, a swap meet, a fashion show, food, drinks, a Halloween party and more.

The site is perfect for the event and will facilitate everything that we are looking to do. We would like to thank Bill from the armory for his continued support!

There are still sponsorship and exhibition space available. For more information regarding The Philadelphia Bike Exposition please contact us at BilenkyMedia@gmail.com

Hey Everyone! We are proud to announce that we are an official sponsor of the May Day Alley Cat! The race will support The Wooden Show, a local bookstore that has long brought the city a plethora of great independent books, art and literature.

You can find all of the info for the event on the above flyer!

Ray

Philadelphia or Bust on a Bilenky!

Janika Eckert is a road warrior. After seeing an article in Bicycling Magazine on 5 custom frame builders, in which each builder made a particular kind of bike for 5 different staff writers, she decided she needed a Bilenky. In the article Joe Kita selected us to make him a loaded touring bike. The article and the bike resonated so much so with Janika that she contacted us and work began on Janika’s bike.

Janika lives in Maine with her husband Rob Johnston where they run a company called Johnny’s Selected Seeds.

On Monday Janika and Rob graced us with their company at the shop for a second time. (once before in 2002). The pair rode over 500 miles from Maine to Philadelphia to visit friends and to visit us at the shop!

We had a chance to sit and chat for a while during lunch, and to say that the couple is a pleasure is a great understatement. We at Bilenky Cycle Works would like to thank Janika and Rob for their continued support over the years and we wish them happy travels throughout their stay in the area and on their return trip home to Maine.

Ray

Across the sea and around the city.

We at Bilenky Cycle Works know that there is a world of good product being produced everyday, so it never falls short on us when what we do at BCW has the spotlight put on it. We'd like to thank Loop magazine, fixed gear girl Taiwan and prolly is not probably for their recent write ups regarding the San Diego show last week. You can check out their sites at the links posted below.

Yesterday was the "Rally in the Vally" presented by the PMBA. Over two hundred people came out to show their support for the PMBA. It is the the associations biggest fundraiser all year and we were glad that it went so incredibly well. The PMBA is a wonderful non-profit organization that focuses on trail restoration and creation in Philadelphia. 98 cents on the dollar of all money made goes directly to the trails! We look forward to working with them on the upcoming Philadelphia Bike Expo.

Speaking of The Philadelphia Bike Expo, a proper announcement regarding the event along side the launch of the official website is currently in the works. The event is going to play host to a number of events, panels, companies, rides and parties. It is our hope to create the premier event for cycling in our region.

If you are interested in more detailed information you can reach us with any questions @ bilenkymedia@gmail.com or artistry@bilenky.com

Thanks as always!

Ray.

http://prollyisnotprobably.com
http://fixedgeargirltaiwan.blogspot.com
http://www.loopmagazine.jp/

San Diego In Photos

Hey Everyone!

Upon Stephen's return from The San Diego Custom Bicycle Show 2010 the feedback keeps pouring in! Our friends at Velocult.com put together a beautiful collection of work from the show.

Enjoy!

Ray.

http://www.velocult.com/index.php/blog/post/an_diego_custom_bicycle_show_2010_bike_photos

Cancellara Wins!

Class and grace. Only these two words can describe the fashion in which Spartacus (Fabian Cancellara) effortlessly became only the tenth rider to win both the Tour of Flanders and the Paris-Roubaix back to back on Sunday.

With nearly 50km to go and Boonen letting the other riders of the chase group take a pull, Cancellara made his break and was untouchable from there on out. The race he left behind became one for second position as the Swiss national champion put what seemed like a lifetime between him and the rest of the pack.

I hope everyone got a chance to catch either the simulcast or the replay on Versus later that night.

Later this week we’ll have more news on the upcoming Philadelphia Bike Expo, some product reviews and of course all things Bilenky Cycle Works.

Stay Tuned!

Ray

Crash and Burn 2010

“This wasn't a race. It was a pilgrimage.”

-Henri Pélissier, speaking of his 1919 victory


L'enfer du Nord. The Paris – Roubaix, first run in 1896, celebrates its 108th edition this Sunday.

Saxo Bank powerhouse Fabian Cancellara’s win at the Tour of Flanders last week has many naming him as the overwhelming favorite. Although Cancellara won the Roubaix in 2006 and Flanders a week ago, it is Quick Step’s Tom Boonen who currently holds the bragging rights to the ''Queen of the Classics''.

Boonen is looking to match the record set by fellow Belgian great Roger De Vlaeminck, who holds the most wins (with four) at the grueling Hell of the North. De Vlaeminck won the race in 1972, 1974, 1975 and 1977, Boonen in 2005, 2008 and in 2009. For Cancellara, a win would make him only the ninth rider to accomplish the prestigious Flanders-Roubaix double.

Despite a crash midweek during the Scheldeprijs in preparation for the weekend, Boonen dusted himself off and remarked "That was perfect preparation for Roubaix"

The Belgian native Boonen is under pressure to deliver the country's first win of the season, starting with this cobbled classic. With 53 wins in 107 editions, history puts the odds in his favor.

200 riders will embark on the 259 km race, which includes 27 cobble stoned sections. The weather for Sunday’s race is expected to be good, but even that doesn’t make it any less unpredictable, which is truly the allure of the race.

My plans for tomorrow… First it’s mimosas, over-easy eggs, and live streaming the Roubaix in bed via http://www.steephill.tv live stream and the Velo News live chat updates. And then, back to sleep only to re-watch the mayhem on vs. later that night. The perfect Sunday indeed.

Ray

San Diego or Bust - Day 1

Day one… was LONG. It started with direct deposit from the out loading of the Notekillers gig at the M-room, directly to the deserted Philadelphia International Airport at 2:00 am, where I waited for my 6 o’clock flight. There was no time or transportation back and forth, thus no reason to even dream of anything close to a bed.

I landed in Dallas, and then left instantly for San Diego. I arrived around noon Pacific Time with 1 hour of sleep in a chair at airline check-in and 2 hours from the first leg of the flight. It was doing little to keep me running. Yet, I'm finally getting to see the California that I had envisioned when I was a kid watching TV game shows. Ocean town, sun, palm trees, clean streets. The mathematical expression would be - San Diego is to Pittsburgh as Los Angeles is to Philadelphia.

I headed to the show by cab, tethered to the shop by my cell phone and wireless internet connection. My office ravel was with me in my Ortlieb roller and my Swiss backpack was slung over my shoulders. With me I have a Litespeed retrofit with bike stands in the roller suitcase and a Travel Midlands in my S & S hard case. The show is being held at the Town and Country Resort, so my last leg to the Expo hall was by electric tram, since being weighed down by gear makes moving on foot a bit too slow. (120 + lbs of luggage, a 140 lb man not only that, but the extending handle on my roller suitcase got stuck after I got dropped off)

I started my set up at about 1:00pm with some new found adrenalin. I got our green sprint track bike out of the box along with some shirts and postcards and laid them out on the table. From that moment on I had a steady stream of customers until nearly 4 o’clock.

Bike television came by for a video interview and wanted the scoop on BCW since last year. Mr. and Mrs. McCabe came by to say hello. They have a Sterling Tandem I built for them back in 1992. The editor and photographer from Loop magazine (A Japanese fanzine) hovered over our curved seat tube track bike, for what seemed like the entire show.

A couple looking for tandems, who had been referred to our us by other exhibitors, came by to touch base about what BCW could do for them in the ways of tandems. Next year we plan on bringing our tandems to the show.

Jeff Roe came by to say hello to Simon, and a customer waiting for an extremely custom 3 speed frame with fancy lugs came by in hopes of seeing his new baby.

The booth was also visited by Keith Anderson, Joe Bell, Bruce Gordon, Mark DaNucci, and Brian Baylis. With their visits, the evening party plans began to take shape. The crowd faded fast at around 4:00 pm. Luckily Friday is considered the "casual" day of the event, and it didn't matter that I had been setting up as people were coming by - because the real show…that starts on Saturday.

- Stephen (Sent from SD)

WELCOME!

Welcome to the home of The Official Bilenky Cycle Works Blog. Be sure to check back often for all things Bilenky Cycle Works as well as updates on all things cycling and the culture that surrounds it!

Ray