Bilenky Cycle Works

Winter Designs

2012-01-17T07:05:00.000-08:00

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.

2011-12-22T06:37:00.000-08:00

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!

2011-11-30T06:26:00.000-08:00

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?

2011-11-21T07:12:00.000-08:00

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!

2011-10-11T12:52:00.000-07:00

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!

2011-09-26T07:21:00.000-07:00

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

2011-09-07T14:02:00.000-07:00

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

You Should Be In Madison Right Now

2011-08-24T14:01:00.000-07:00

Because Madison is hosting the Heartland Velo Show!

I designed this to be a postcard. Steve sent me a picture of it on a BILLBOARD. Gyahh.

It's going to be awesome-- exhibitors, seminars, and excellent company. Steve is going to give a lecture, which I am terribly sorry to miss.

We'll be displaying some fresh and new bikes that haven't even been photographed in their entirety:

Whose tail is that? Better go to Wisconsin...

There will also be an enormous maximallist touring bike I built for my charming and patient gentleman friend that has a compass painted on the back so he never gets lost. Not to mention the goldest Motobecane ever. Pictures to come.

Here's that lightning bike all built up:

SO FAST!

But then it turned out the owner wanted a white bike with blue lightning. Oh no! Fortunately for my sanity he's willing to wait till winter.

That's all for now. Go to Wisconsin!

Isis

BCW

Bike Up your Thursday Afternoon

2011-08-10T14:01:00.000-07:00

Philly just keeps getting hipper. There will be a mobile bike shop at City Hall tomorrow (4:00-???) where you can get your bike tailored and your pants tuned up, for free. Here's the website. And here's a video:

No comment!

Even if your bike fits nice and skinny and your pants are well oiled and silent, you should come by anyway. We'll be representing with some pretty bikes to show off and maybe some swag to give away. We don't venture into Center City too often!

Blair's gopher-inspired driving style doesn't work too well on crowded streets.

And I leave you with a Sachs restoration. This is so vintage it's not even red.

Quite the opposite, in fact.

Hope to see you all tomorrow!

Isis

BCW

Bugs and Lighting and Tandems

2011-08-02T14:03:00.000-07:00

In these hottest months of the year, with the thermometers exploding and the roads melting all over the place and rim strips actually liquifying (true story. An ultramarathon racer told me) I'm impressed how many people are still out riding. It's really hot. Those of us with beards have shortened or removed them, and I took EIGHT WHOLE INCHES off my hair (no one noticed). So let's concentrate on temperature-neutral things:

A few weeks ago Bina and her fiance Justin got married in a lovely ceremony up in the Poconos.

Look! We all clean up so well!

Congratulations, Bina and Justin!

In other news, we have acquired another painter:

Wait, that's the shop leafhopper. His name is Herman.

It's this dude.

His name is Blair and he likes Frank Zappa and obscure rappers who sing about being chased by possums. We think he'll be a perfect fit.

Plus, he is enthusiastic.

Remember that eyeball bike? This week I did a lightning bike:

SO MUCH FASTER!

There's also a camel bike in the works, pictures pending. I would be thrilled if someone requested a leafhopper bike.

This friday is Tandemonium at the track. We will be representin' so come say hi. No one has been able to talk me onto a track tandem yet.

Can you blame me? It looks terrifying!

And I close out with a fish. There MUST be a leafhopper bike in our future. Antennae crossed...

"My manta ray's/ ALL RIGHT!"

Isis

BCW

The Dog Days Aren't Over

2011-07-15T14:16:00.000-07:00

....Unfortunately for us, though they abated long enough for me to paint (when it's over 95 degrees in the booth the paint gets lumpy and I get cranky). Fortunately there are high powered air conditioners all over the shop and everyone but Weller stays cool.

This weekend is the Rocky vs. Godzilla alleycat! It's the biggest informal race of the summer, and a lot of fun. You do it in teams of two, relay style. It's a good race for out-of-towners, since one of the partners just sprints up and down the parkway from the Art Museum to Love Park and back.

Check out the spoke card!

And the best part? The winner gets a free paint job from us. Here's what last years' looked like:

Shamelessly ripped off Justin Swain's Facebook

Sam and I are going to be racing and representin' so waft good karma at us (or rather, at me, since he doesn't need it and I'm slooooooow.)

Speaking of Sam, here is his Recommended Part of the Day.

That there is pivotal technology seat post.

Throw out your Brooks! This is cheaper and better! Also he wants to put 48 hole radial laced front wheels on his polo bike. Since it's his birthday I am not gonna set him straight quite yet.

It seems that despite our efforts he has not gotten any more sensible or opaque. Here he is holding a retrofitted Soma:

Yeah, I don't see him either.

Finally, we seem to have acquired a full keg of Yards but no tap. Anyone want to lend us a tap? Your reward will be lots and lots of Yards.

Speaking of beer, it's Friday and I am OUT of here! Here's some hand detailing to start your weekend off right.

TGIF!

Films! Films!

2011-06-27T09:09:00.000-07:00

Steve came back all glowing from the ~~Stonehenge Solstice Ritual~~ NYC Bike Film Festival. Despite missing the Junkyard Cross movie (we all missed it, actually. Did anyone see it? Is it awesome?) he had a great time and brought back a ton of pictures.

There were epic BMXers,

Riding up things and then down things.

Little Bromptons,

The Bentley of Foldies.

Patriotic Hipster Trick Track Bikes,

Breaking collarbones for the USA.

A bike towed pole dancer,

Note the helmet. So safe!

And Steve's favorite, tiny little bike part jewelry!

Aw!

Aww!

AWWWW!

In other film news, you should come to the World Cafe Live on Wednesday to watch Bicycle Dreams, an epic film about racing across America in ten days.

I feel wussy just looking at that picture.

Here is the invite. Watch the film, feel wussy, drink cheap Sierra Nevadas, and try your luck at winning some sweet Schwalbe tires we'll be raffling off. Not everyone thinks riding 32,00 miles in ten days is a good idea, but pretty much everyone thinks nice tires are good to have. There'll be a lot of other swag, too!

See y'all there.

Isis

BCW

The Colors of Summer

2011-06-21T13:22:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is Solstice! That means that we are headed on a top secret pilgrimage to Stonehenge, where we will besmear ourselves with woad, ritually sacrifice mistletoe and wrens, and lay in a box full of water with rocks on us while composing poetry*, all to propitiate the framebuilding gods. Don't believe me?

So there!

On our return we will turn out bikes like this in under a week:

Tubing culled from the holy grove at midnight....

In the meantime, as we wait for our mystical rejuvenation, we turn out things like this:

I actually really enjoyed painting dancing eyeballs. Anyone else want a dancing eyeball or three?

Back on the home front, life goes on in its usual cheerfully untidy way, only hotter. Here's some things to look out for:

The NYC Bicycle Film Festival is featuring a film about our own junkyard cross! Look for us at the street festival this weekend.

In New York, everyone comes in easily disassembled sections, much like a tinker tandem.

We are in the experiment phase with a new and fancy type of paint that is guaranteed NOT TO SCRATCH OR CHIP OR ANYTHING. Keep an eye out, hopefully we'll soon have an option for polo bikes, travel bikes, and mountain bikes that tend to get beat up fast. Steve has offered one of his bikes as a guinea pig. He doesn't know that he is getting a graphic of rabid bike eating beavers on the headtube yet. But he will.

Run away! Run away!

Believe it or not, the Bike Expo in October is already on our minds. Check out the website here. If you want to reserve a booth, give a seminar, or volunteer, give us a call. It's never too early.

And thinking about October takes our minds off how miserably HOT it is. Brooks saddles left in direct sunlight for an hour and then sat on = BAD IDEA.

Cheers! Keep cool!

Isis

*I didn't make any of this up. The druids totally did, though.

2011-05-26T13:13:00.000-07:00

This past weekend was pretty epically epic. Everyone was doing a different bikey event (except for Weller, who was sleeping.)

Bob was riding the Rapha race, avoiding goats, and being tough:

I'm going to try to make him sit still long enough to do an interview about it.

Steve and Bina were staying clean at Dirtfest:

Look! An off grid turbo-charged pizza oven!

And I was riding around Kensington in a cardboard Viking ship:

Watch out for the Biking Hordes, we will pillage you.

We're going to take Memorial Day weekend to recharge, ride places and get sunburned, and THEN...

BIKE RACE DAY!

In which everyone rides tipsily around to watch first rate teams zipping up Manayunk hills like it's nothing.

This year is particularly special, since we are proudly sponsoring the first Steel/Vintage section of the Philadelphia Amateur Time Trials. The men's and women's winners will get a custom steel fork, by us. Exciting!

If you never thought your beloved old classic would get to race, now's the time.

I considered signing up for a minute, then I considered how I'd look in a time trial helmet, and didn't.

Not gonna happen.

Though considering the retro spirit of the thing, maybe I could get away with one of these:

Hmmmm.

Anyway, we'll all be there so stop by and say hello, racing or not.

Happy Summer!

Isis

BCW

Off to the races!

2011-05-20T12:33:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is a Big Deal. Our intrepid Bilenky Tandem team is heading into the wilds of the Lehigh Valley (and, more troubling, its surrounding mountains) to ride in the grueling but polite Rapha Gentlman's Race.

Here is a video about it. No one connected with this race ever gets dirty.

Bob's spent the past few days putting together three racing machines from all the random tandems we have lying around. I went on a short spin on one yesterday. Bob is not a scary captain at all (but then, all the other guys I've ridden with have been TERRIFYING captains, so maybe Bob is just less terrifying.)

Another team member visited yesterday, the inimitable Sally Poliwoda of Sturdy Girl Cycling. She founded Sturdy Girl, which is Philadelphia's premier women's cycling club, back in 2003. She's been riding for 20 years, specializing in long distance.

Here she is, trying to convince a skeptical Bob that we are In It To Win It.

Also joining the team is Pat Engleman,

We hope he doesn't try to get this rad on a tandem.

And Michelle Lee:

We retrofitted her Serotta!

Here's a quote from her website:

.... I can beat you up a hill in my big chainring, but I've got a problem with gravity-aided motion. That means you'll probably choke on the fumes of my smouldering brakes as you pass me on the way down...

And Caroline Gaynor:

Even her kit is carbon fiber?

"She has also been competing in triathlons for over 10 years and stair climbing (Empire State Building) races since 2007. This summer, Caroline raced as a guide for a blind athlete in Ironman Lake Placid, having been given only five weeks to prepare. She and her athlete were the first blind female athlete/female guide pair to ever complete an Ironman triathlon..."

And finally Brian Gatens who is so mysterious that we don't even have a photo of him, but the internet hints at Ironman triathlons, fancy races, and possible James Bond-like urbanity. Hopefully he will become visible by the start line.

If you're staying in Philly this weekend you should come out for the Kensington Kinetic Sculpture Derby and watch me ride through a mudpit (Kensington KNOWS mud.) Look for the angry possum.

Have a great weekend, and GO TEAM BILENKY!

Isis
BCW

Events Events Event Events!

2011-05-13T11:53:00.000-07:00

May is the bikiest month indeed. Everything is happening at once, and there aren't enough of us to go around. It was great to see old friends and new faces at the parts swap, and that was only the beginning. Here's a crib sheet:

THIS WEEKEND...

Head north for the Brooklyn Bike Jumble, say hi to Steve, and PLEASE buy all those wheels that are STILL oozing towards my area in an inexorable spokey tide.

Nooooo!

If you're staying in Philly, go to the epic Neighborhood Bike Works benefit alleycat, The Works I. We are a proud sponsor, so now's the time to try for that free paint job everyone's always bugging me about. Tons of prizes, fun race, great afterparty, and the best company in the world.

Be there, bring a spare.

NEXT WEEKEND....

Some of us will be heading down to the Classic Rendezvous in Greensboro NC. We'll have some super fancy items on display, including a gold-leafed Motobecane and Steve's beard. So come and indulge your unhealthy obsession with stunning, old school steel.

Ooooooooh

Unfortunately I won't be there-- I will be at the Kensington Kinetic Sculpture Derby, piloting something awesome. Not gonna say what it is though. You'll have to come and see.

Awesome like this!

Meanwhile, Bob is off to ride in the Rapha Gentleman's race. Go Bob!

Here he is, doing some serious training

MEANWHILE, we'll also be at Dirtfest, thinking about mountain bikes and mud.

Who needs teeth, anyway?

How, you ask, are we going to be at all those places at once? I don't know! But we will. Defying minor obstacles like logic is a specialty at Bileny Cycle Works. Especially in the spring.

What are YOU doing this weekend?

2011-05-06T06:44:00.000-07:00

...Because if you are anyone who is ANYONE you'll be at the Trexlertown Swap Meet, which is actually called the Valley Preferred Cycling Center Spring Flea Market (everyone calls it the Trexlertown Swap Meet, though)

Our bleary, barely conscious, up-at-six selves will be selling REALLY AWESOME STUFF. Like, a couple of frames, our few remaining pink hats, shirts, various fancy doo-dads, and about eight hundred wheels which I really hope find buyers because they are slowly marching their inexorable way into MY AREA.

There'll also be a viewpoint on display, as well as a fancy dog themed mountain bike. Definitely worth a drive. And there's beer, too.

In other news, we actually finished those Pugsley-wheel monster dinosaur bikes in time! We had about two hours to spare, since their owners' Australian visas were running out.

Here is Steve, with the female:

Wait! Come back! It's done!

Built up, they got even bigger:

The dots on the rims are rhinestone peace signs, in case you were wondering

And here's one fully loaded:

That is a surfboard on the back, yeah.

It's thrilling that our bikes, fabricated in North Philadelphia, are heading out to ride over beaches on the other side of the world.

There are lots and lots of other events coming up this month. I'll keep you posted.

See ya'll at the swap!

Isis

BCW

The Biggest Bikes and the Pinkest Hats

2011-04-28T12:51:00.000-07:00

A pair of small Australians ordered a couple of bikes recently. This isn't too unusual, since we ship bikes all over the globe, often in groups of about two. But these bikes were special.

At first the looked like bridges:

Here, Bob is attacking one.

Then they started looking like dinosaurs.

Here, one is attacking Brian. Look out!

Now they are looking pink and green, respectively. They are made to ride on beaches and transport surfboards. The rims are four inches wide. They are, fortunately, herbivores. I will put more pictures up when they're done.

We've acquired a new intern. His name is Sam and he is translucent.

"Lights are unsafe! Helmets are unsafe! Brakes are unsafe!"

Hopefully his sojourn here will lend him some common sense, as well as opacity.

We've also acquired a bunch of sweet Bilenky hats. It's a limited edition and going fast, so call us up to order yours ASAP.

Here's one on Carl:

And looking epic, too.

Here's one on me:

Get that camera away from me!

Here's one on Kasy's front rack:

Don't ask what's all over his bars.

Bilenky hats look great on everything.

If you happen to live in NYC, you should go to the New Amsterdam Bike Show this Saturday. We'll be representin'.

I better scram. Shop's a little full right now:

We're chipping away, slowly but surely....

See you in NYC!

Isis

BCW

Spring Update!

2011-03-29T07:54:00.000-07:00

Happy spring from the grimy crew at Bilenky! As the weather warms we are removing our winter clothes for the first time in months, shooing the hibernating animals out of our hair and beards, and considering carrying our fifty pound snow bikes into the basement at last. My hat has turned pink from excitement.

It was a black beret all winter

Spring brings announcements, some exciting, some bittersweet. In the latter category is Simon's departure to start his own brand, Hanford Cycles. I did a longer story about it on my Wheelgrinders blog. We all wish Simon the best of luck and miss his noisy presence (but NOT the BBC Radio 4. Not even a little.)

CXHairs came by the other day to work on a documentary on our Junkyard Cross. They're going to show it in the Bicycle Film Festival!

Here's one of last year's winners looking contemplative

Also, we have an unprecedented number of demos and display models for sale. If you want a Bilenky and don't want to wait, now's your chance.

Oh to be a few inches taller

NAHBS was a success as always. Our ridiculously fancy mixte won best lugs, and impressed everyone with its overwrought majesty.

Thanks to Urban Velo for the studio shot

Look for us at the San Diego Bike Expo next month, too.

Steve would like to add that he left two bananas in his bag and they totally mummified, without leaving any banana slime anywhere.

It's a good omen!!

So here's hoping for a good spring full of new ventures, shiny bikes, adventures, and panniers unsullied decaying organic matter.

Isis

BCW

Brooks Saddles and Woodchucks

2011-02-01T14:05:00.000-08:00

...Because now is the time to get your Brooks refurbished, since you wouldn't dream of taking it out in the rain, sleet, snow, and various other nasty substances that are coming out of the sky (right? Right?)

Anyway, Simon graciously allowed himself to be pinned down for a long-overdue interview about his Brooks experiences, which you can read in full on our Brooks page.

We are super proud to have the Only Brooks Repair Guy in the Colonies at Bilenky-- and he's back, now wielding an enormous cane which makes everyone a lot more cautious about teasing him.

For those of you who keep asking, no, Simon did not keep his toe bit. But he does keep showing people pictures which make some of us (well, me) run away screaming.

Our NAHBS bike is off to get painted, and it is AWESOME. If I were six inches shorter I would covet it tremendously. As it is, I just covet it. Here are some in-progress pictures, check back for some studio-style shots that Carl took.

Sexy seat tube lug.

Sexy head tube embellishment.

Sexy mini rack being installed.

We really went all-out on this one. I can't wait to see how it looks painted and built up.

It's probably gratuitous to mention how hard it is not to go stir-crazy in this endless winter that never seems to let up. Tune up your summer bike, drink hot toddies, and remember that the days are getting longer, if not warmer. I've been planning epic tours, looking at maps, watching cycling movies, and acquiring new bikes, which is very warming to the soul.

And tomorrow is Groundhog Day, when the Punxsutawney oracle will be dimwitted enough to get out of bed and into the elements, where he will hopefully be hardcore enough to remain.

Here he is!

Wait, no! That's a Gammaracanthuskytodermogammarusloricatobaicalensis! Everyone knows they're wusses.

This is who I mean.

Here's hoping for hardcore woodchucks.

Isis

BCW

WAL-ah-ROOOOSE yourself, Ray!

2011-01-19T12:42:00.000-08:00

Let it be hereby stated that the all-important decision of which animal gets the honor of representing the Bilenky name was made by Ray and Ray alone-- without the blessing of those of us who don't have beards and/or can't swim, and therefore feel no kinship with the mighty WAL-ah-ROOOOOSE.

Here are some other options, presented entirely without bias (not even a little bit.)

What about the humble Lake Baikal Giant Scud, better known as Gammaracanthuskytodermogammarusloricatobaicalensis? See, unlike Leopard Trek, a phonetic pronunciation guide would actually be necessary.

No? Really? Awwwwww.

Kasy suggested one of the junkyard cats, but they are way too snooty to hang out with us. Then he suggested a woodchuck.

Really says "Swift and sleek cyclist," doesn't it? Team Woodchuck Bilenky!

Bob suggested Steve.

Go Team Bilenky Bilenky! I mean, BILENKY BILENKY!

My vote goes towards the grubby and underrated possum.

Hey, they hang out around junkyards, are hairy, and hiss, just like us!

And, like us, they clean up really well...

And know how to party.

Just sayin'!

-Isis

BCW

WAL ah ROOOOSE BUY-LINK-E

2011-01-18T11:41:00.000-08:00

It’s been an exciting week for Bilenky Cycle Works as we announced our co-title sponsorship of WALRUS BILENKY. The anticipation behind this launch is understandable, considering the fire power in the roster. There will undoubtedly be a significant portion of media coverage surrounding the team as the season kicks off.

Please follow these naming standards when referring to the team in the media:

(Given last years drama, WALRUS BILENKY riders will adhere to a strict seafood diet, free of all beef products.)

The team name is WALRUS BILENKY Please do not insert the word “Team” before WALRUS BILENKY, in writing or conversation, as that is not part of the official name.
Please do not hyphenate WALRUS BILENKY.

(What would I have done? Interesting question, I'll tell you what I wouldn't have done, I wouldn't have dropped my chain.)

In written communication, WALRUS BILENKY must be set in all caps.
In spoken communication, please use the appropriate pronunciation: WAL ah ROOOOSE BUY-LINK-E
INCORRECT: The new Team WALRUS BILENKY includes…
CORRECT: The new WALRUS BILENKY team includes…
INCORRECT: Walrus-Bilenky was presented to the media…
CORRECT: WALRUS BILENKY was presented to the media…
INCORRECT: Bilenky announces sponsorship of Team WALRUS BILENKY…
CORRECT: Bilenky announces co-title sponsorship of WALRUS BILENKY…
Thanks for your help in establishing the proper team name standards. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

Mythbusters, Bilenky style

2011-01-12T07:48:00.000-08:00

As I sit in Ray's wonderfully warm office (the paint booth is too cold to paint in and Ray isn't in today) I think it is time to debunk some common myths about BCW. Random people ask me some surprising things before asking for free paint jobs, and I am going to set the record straight. (Also for the record, the only way to get a free paint job is to win an alleycat where we offer one as a prize. So polish up your racing legs.)

Anyway, some myths and misconceptions about BCW:

Everyone here has a beard.
Demonstrably untrue. Even if Simon, Bob, Kasy, Ray, Brian, Stephen and occasionally Weller try to convince you otherwise, Carl and I definitely can't grow beards.

Here is proof. We have sweet hats, though.

There are no clocks, only calendars.
We totally do have a clock. It works, too. And every computer has a clock, and sometimes they agree with each other.
There is only one calendar, and it's only slightly out of date: Jan-Feb 2006 isn't too bad!

But we probably should update our computers, since they make sense to a Brontosaurus.

Framebuilders are intense, wild eyed folks who hunch over their lugs mumbling, "Doesn't line up! Doesn't line up!"
Maybe some are, but here you are more likely to see Simon charging after Carl, brandishing a wire brush because Carl sneaked up on Simon and said 'Boo'. Or perhaps a Smiths song will come on, and we will all start singing along in various questionable pitches. Not that we don't take bicycle creation seriously, but we don't see why it shouldn't be fun.

Everyone is really hardcore and rides to work every day through rain, snow, heat, cold, illness, etc.
Bob pointed out that only he and Kasy do that. By extension, the rest of us are wusses. Ok, Bob. You enjoy the snow, I will be busily cursing the bogged down SEPTA train, BUT I will be warm and dry. Even trade? I think so.

You can have it, Kasy!

We listen exclusively to obscure underground punk music/super snooty classical/blues/death metal/80's pop/etc.
Hardly. We listen to all sorts of music, as provided by one venue: BBC, 6 Music. Whose bright idea was it to put Simon nearest the music laptop....?

Stephen Bilenky brazes in his bare feet.
Wait, that's not a myth. He totally does.

In other feet news, Simon underwent surgery to remove his big toe yesterday. Everyone waft good karma at him. The shop has been way too quiet lately. We're going to have a goldsprints event for him, date TBA soon. The prize will be a golden toe (not his, though.)

Enjoy the snow and ride safe but not too slowly.

-Isis
BCW

P.S. In case you were wondering what our astrological signs and dating statuses were, the website has been updated. Because you totally were, right?

P.P.S. As soon as I posted this, the clock died. Now we have to rely on that calendar...

Good bye and Thank you.

2010-12-28T08:12:00.000-08:00

With 2010 coming to an end, we couldn't help but take a moment to think back on the past year and all that it encompassed. 2010 was a year of success, growth and hardship.

First- the success. The first Philadelphia Bike Expo was a huge success and we at the expo COULD NOT have done it without the help of our volunteers, attendees, exhibitors and the BCW staff. It was our hope to create an event that we, the city and all involved could be proud of, and we think we did that with this event. It is not lost on us who made it what it was and we can not thank you enough!

Next- the growth. The BCW Junkyard race was with out a doubt, the most successful installment of the event yet! We had NO IDEA of the turn out that we were going to recieve and we were gladly overwhelmed. With that being said, next year will feature more races, more prizes and ....MORE BEER!
We at BCW would like to thank everyone who supported, raced and attended. We had a blast, we do this for both you and us and we are so glad that it is appreciated, and that everyone has such a wonderful time.

Third- the hardships.

Some of you may or may not be aware, but a mainstay at BCW suffered from a terrible accident when preparing the course for the Junkyard race. Englishman, bike builder and resident Indian food afficianato (you do know, he lived on a beach in India and once saw the smiths, dont you?) Simon Firth dropped a GIANT beam on his foot while building the course. Subsequently, his big toe is about as useless as using anything but a BMX or downhill bike through that woods part of the junkyard race. Its so bad he may even lose it. So we would first like to wish Simon our best, second we would like for anyone who may know a guy who can get us a big toe to be in touch and third we'd like to ask you to keep checking www.bilenky.com for upcoming information on a fundraiser for Simon's bar....I mean medical bills that he will be accruing as he is due to be laid up for quite a bit.

Again, Thank you all for everything. We have MANY more exciting things in store for 2011-

A special NAHBS surprise.....

As well as the Junkyard 2011 race and The 2011 Philadelphia Bike Expo. Its set to be another exciting year and we hope to share it with all of you!

See you all on the other side! Ride Safe!

Steve Bilenky
Ray Hanstein

Good good things.

2010-12-21T10:29:00.000-08:00

We love our customers! We know that without them the happy little collection of misfits that make up Bilenky Cycle Works would not exist. So when this note of interest was passed along to me by (the lovely and talented :) ) Molly Jacobs of Bike & Build, I felt the need to share it with our readers in hopes of gaining support for the cause.

Bike & Build organizes cross-country bicycle trips which benefit affordable housing groups. Specifically, they fund projects planned and executed by young adults. Over the past 8 seasons they have donated more than $2.7MM; built for more than 80,000 hours; pedaled over 5,000,000 miles; and engaged more than 1250 young adults in spreading the word about the affordable housing crisis in America.

Over eight seasons, Bike & Build has contributed $2,780,000 to housing groups to fund projects planned and executed by young adults; this includes more than $490,000 donated from the summer of 2010. Through pre-arranged gifts, Bike & Build funds affordable housing projects executed by their participants in communities where their events begin. Through their grant program, their organization identifies and supports exciting projects involving young people all throughout the nation.

Beginning with dipping their wheels in Atlantic Ocean, the participant of Bike and Build make their way across America via bicycle stopping along the way to help affordable housing projects.

This year, one of our customers is participating in Bike & Build, pedaling 3,800 from Maine to Santa Barbara. Marshall Moore of McLean, VA had his Surly Long Haul Trucker retrofitted with us last year and will be riding it across the country in the name of affordable housing!

As part of Marshall's trip, he must fundraise a minimum of $4,000. Below is a link where you can help Marshall's hopes of creating a better future become a reality! Please donate for yourself, donate as a gift or at the very least pass this information along to someone who is able to help. Too often during the holiday season we lose sight of the notion that the holidays are about GIVING and making a better place for all of us. By donating what you can to Marshall you are helping allow someone an opportunity to better the world through way of your generosity. All donations are tax deductible. In addition, Bike & Build accepts matching employee donations and issues receipts for donations over $75.00 or upon request.

For more information on Bike & Build, please visit http://www.bikeandbuild.org. To read more about Marshall, make a donation to his campaign, or track his progress, visit his rider page at http://bikeandbuild.org/rider/4631

http://bikeandbuild.org/rider/4631

www.bikeandbuild.org

Thanks. Happy Holidays. Safe Travels.

A day at the races (with some casualties and lots of beer)

2010-12-20T09:06:00.000-08:00

Greetings from an exhausted and moderately hungover Bilenky crew.

The 5th annual junkyard cross was huge-- a hundred and twenty racers and at least as many spectators, who banged on cowbells, heckled, or, like me, bit all their nails off whilst watching their favorite people riding through our most technical course yet.

The set up didn't go nearly as smoothly as the race. While moving the framework for the (epic and slippery) over-under obstacle, a big I-beam landed on Simon's foot and broke two toes. Yikes. Despite shattered bones and tons of painkillers Mr. Safety Firth still MC'd,

And threw things at people,

Get well soon, Simon! Check back for info on a toe-related fundraiser. Goldsprints, maybe?

On top of that, our intrepid trail builder had to spend race-day in bed with food poisoning. Waft good karma at Carl, too, without whom these awesome trails wouldn't have happened.

But the race had to go on. Registration was swamped the minute it opened. (And thanks to our brave impromptu volunteers who handled it)

First stop: artisan beer tap.

Next stop: psychedelic taco truck.

Once everyone was sufficiently tanked and fed, it was time to go. CXHairs.com has a great video up already:

http://vimeo.com/18000092 (For the record, I think everyone bailed on that see-saw at least once. Or maybe that's wishful thinking, because I did).

And here is a helmet cam video!

And a few stills:

The see-saw took some nerve (thanks to Joe P for building and bringing it!)

No 'cross is complete without a bear.

Round the Sex Pit and into the snow plough!

The youngest rider tore it up.

So did these ladies.

Keep checking back for more images and films, I'll put them up as we get them.

The best vantage point was definitely off the top of the trailers in the junkyard:

How many races does one watch by climbing up a precarious ladder onto a roof with bumpers all over it? With good beer, great tacos, and the best company in the world? I watched racers zoom by below me, mostly avoiding the temptation to dump beer on them, unless they asked.

Congratulations to our winners, who carried off some sweet prizes from White Industries, Chris King, and others. Miraculously, no one got seriously hurt, though there were plenty of dings and scrapes. I watched one guy slide off the over-under, grab the railing, dangle for a moment, then haul himself back up. Someone on the ground caught his bike, too. (If anyone has any footage/pics of this, PLEASE send them to us? It was probably the most hair-raising moment of the day.) But there were no major pile ups, and no light person got catapulted off the see-saw by a heavier person, as we all secretly ~~hoped~~ feared.

Then we drank more beer and threw a cracked GT at a traffic cone:

Then we rode home in the lovely afternoon. Thanks to everyone who came out, helped with set up and tear down, provided beer (that's you, Dog Fish Head!) and food and appallingly spicy seitan that nearly killed Kasy, but didn't. And of course, thanks to the the racers who braved probably toxic mud, definitely toxic puddles, janky obstacles, rusty metal and freezing cold to make a great race day.

Cheers, and here's hoping for a quick return of Simon and Carl!

Isis

BCW

EDIT: Yay! Here's the video I was looking for. Awesome. Thanks, Wade Boggs!

Nothing says holidays like pneumatic clamps and see-saws...

2010-12-14T09:05:00.000-08:00

Happy Winter from Bilenky!
It's definitely cold. Simon has grown a beard, Bob's water bottle froze on the way to work, Kasy has finally switched from shorts to long pants, and my beret collection has reached epic proportions (Carl's Christmas socks, however, have disintegrated).

So much has happened since we posted last-- the Expo was a huge success, drawing crowds of bike enthusiasts who staggered through the Armory on aesthetic overload. Can you blame them? Here's just a few of the amazing things on display:

Gorgeous Bohemian Track Bike

Custom Engin stem

Really good free coffee+Citroen van+JP Weigle restored Motobecane= PERFECTION

Freestyle Demos

Sweet accessories from Fabric Horse

Neighborhood Bike Works kept visiting bikes out of trouble

It was a great experience for everyone, and we're already selling booths for next year. Thanks to our sponsors, exhibitors, volunteers and attendees for putting together something amazing.

Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction honored us with a show in their gallery. Here are some videos, with our camera-shyness artfully edited out.

This morning Simon turned up with a pile of pneumatic clamps from the closing Cannondale factory in Bedford PA.

Run away! Run away!

One of them immediately took a bite out of Ray's finger, so I'm skeptical.

It's 'Cross season, and THAT means Carl has been out mucking around in the freezing mud to construct our Junkyard Cross course.

"I've always wanted to build trails..."

So far we have two dirt singletracks, a death-defying slide down a gas tank, and a see-saw. And lots of beer and a bonfire for those of us who ~~are wusses~~ don't want to get our pretty bikes all muddy.

In the music world, Stephen's latest album is out to a great review, and was chosen as one of the top ten local albums of the year. Go Notekillers!

Thanks to everyone for your support, keep warm, and hope to see you at the 'cross!

Isis
BCW

Bilenky Cycle Works - Alive and Well

2010-09-13T12:05:00.000-07:00

Long time no post, huh blogworld? Well, that’s because we at Bilenky Cycle Works have been EXTREEMLY BUSY, which as anyone will tell you in this economy is a great problem to have!

With September now in full swing, I for one, am happy to welcome in the fall! Cross season, long pants, jackets, pumpkin beers and of course, The Philadelphia Bike Expo! The expo has grown exponentially since it went from idea to full blown event. The expo itself is full with exhibitors (with a few remaining spaces available) the fashion show is promising to be a highlight of the weekend and more and more momentum in the media is beginning to build up!

Our early registration for attendees is currently open with the first 100 people receiving a hand numbered and signed special edition retro show poster! These are going fast, be sure to sign up early!

This summer was full of excitement and growth for us here at BCW! From our demo’s and promotional events at the Velodrome, the Univest Grand Prix, our window installment at Moore College, our check point at this year’s Maypril Fools Race and Bike Philly... to our feature at the Rapha NYC pop-store, our participation in the Gentlemen’s races - both on the east coast, as well as the west coast, and The NBW Ride of Dreams – we have been hard at work spreading the word about our award winning machines, but the work is far from over as the cold weather slowly makes it’s way into Philadelphia.

Of course, there is The Philadelphia Bike Expo on October 30^th and 31^st, but along side of that there is the Junkyard Cross Race in December which we believe will be our biggest yet, the launching of The Bilenky Cycle Works Women’s Cross Team, and our trip to Interbike this year (Be sure to say hello to myself, Simon, Molly and Vickie!) As well as whatever we end up throwing together at the very last moment each and every weekend :)

We’d like to thank everyone who has helped us out along this road to growth and want to remind everyone who has helped us, who we’ve worked with and who is always there to lend us a hand that we could not do this with out you!

Thanks as always and bring on the cold!

Ray

BCW

Something is missing...

2010-07-20T09:17:00.000-07:00

The Bilenky Cycle Works Shop in North Philadelphia has been without a few of its normal trappings this week. Missing is the smell of Vietnamese spring rolls, Mounds wrappers and saddest if all...the sarcastic remarks are at an all time low. Why is this you ask? Well, it is because Simon Firth is out saving the world, one mile at a time!

Simon is taking part in this years Neighborhood Bike Works 'Ride of Dreams' - a 4 day, 240 mile ride raising awareness and money for the Neighborhood Bike Works Youth Racing Team.

The ride began on July 17th, leaving from UPENN and heading through PA. until reaching Harrisburg and then again returning to Philadelphia, today.

Congrats to all those who took part! And congrats to Simon for making it in one piece...there may or may not be a Mounds bar waiting for you on your station.

+ =

Old News Is Still Good News!

2010-07-20T08:44:00.000-07:00

So, shame on me for missing this, but our friend Roland from RE-LOAD BAGS is featured on the front page of the Kryptonite Website on his green Bilenky track bike!

Check it out HERE

And Thanks for the kind words as always Roland!

A Night At The Races

2010-07-19T11:11:00.000-07:00

On Friday, we at B ilenky Cycle Works. headed out to The Valley Preferred Cycling Center Velodrome to watch the Friday night races and promote The Philadelphia Bike Expo (October 30th and 31st!)

The Valley Preferred Cycling Center is the most celebrated velodrome in modern American cycling history – and has inspired dreams of countless champions who began their trek to glory on its 333-meter track. It is truly wonderful to have something so engrained in the history of track racing so close to us. It was my first time at the Valley Preferred Velodrome (or any velodrome for that matter) and I've quickly fallen in love. (as well as entertaining the idea that I'm actually amazing at track racing, but I just dont know it, cause I haven't tried it.)

We had a great time and got to meet some very nice people and caught some exciting races from national and international riders alike!!

Please be on the look out for us and be sure to stop by and say hello at future races at the velodrome.

Rapha Footage

2010-07-02T11:49:00.000-07:00

If you haven't had the pleasure of watching the short film (it's that beautiful!) about this years Rapha Gentleman's Race, do yourself a huge favor and sit back, relax and enjoy. The video, soundtrack and footage are nothing short of stunning.

Also, keep an eye out for team Bilenky's Maria and Jed about halfway through, fixing a flat on their tandem!

Watch the video HERE!

RE-LOAD Product review

2010-06-07T11:03:00.000-07:00

While stopping by the new RE-Load studio last week to meet with Carie from Fabric Horse, I picked up a pair of RE-Load's venture into the world of foot straps. I replaced the pedals on my commuter, a globe roll 2 retrofitted (at Bilenky of course!) with Odyssey platforms, put on my new straps and the streets of Philadelphia for the TD bike race this past Sunday.

The RE-Load Lockdown Foot Straps feature 2" wide heavyweight nylon webbing uppers, covered with 1000D cordura and finished with edge trim. 1" nylon lower straps. Completely adjustable via multiple layers of sandwiched UltraMate™ velcro and a nickel-plated D-Ring connector.

To say that the change was one of the best additions I've made to my bike since getting it, is an understatement.

The comfort of the straps, the ease in which you can get into them (seemingly in any type of footwear) and their stylish design make it well worth the $47 dollar price tag. (Which is below the industry price point for similar products)

I headed to Lemon Hill for cheap beer and to watch the race, there I found Roland and made sure to tell him how happy I was with the edition to my bike! He said he was glad to hear it, and than handed me a cold beer...Great guy...Great Product.

Check out www.reloadbags.com for more information regarding the straps, as well as information regarding all of their other products handmade here in Philadelphia.

Raymond Hanstein

Cirque Du Cyclisme

2010-06-07T09:52:00.000-07:00

This weekends Cirque Du Cyclisme was (as usual) a great experience for us here at Bilenky Cycle Works.

We would first like to send a warm 'Thank You' to event organizers M.J. and Wayne Bingham from Mel Pinto Imports/Velo Classics, who again did a wonderful job bringing some of the industries most recognized frame builders together for the Cirque, celebrating its 13th year in 2010!

Bilenky Cycle Works walked away with 'Best City Bike' and 'Best Paint Job' on our ice blue Porteur with rack built by Bob, and pin striping done by Simon.

We also picked up best restoration for our Maroon Falcon restoration and second place for best track bike.

Prollyisnotprobably.com

2010-05-28T12:03:00.000-07:00

As if his interesting and hilarious blog posts were not enough of a reason to give him a mention on our blog, John from Prolly Is Not Probably has been posting a bunch of articles on two of my favorite people and using the photography of another.

Be sure to check out his write ups on the beast known as Tony Fast, Photos from Buttons, a great dude and recent Orlando transplant and his recent mention of my brother Dom, the most underrated human being God ever made the mistake of creating and his black metal merckx shirt.

Read. Subscribe. Support.

Ray

Moore Window Installation - A Crash Course In Art

2010-05-28T08:25:00.000-07:00

Although The Philadelphia Bike Exposition feels as though it is a lifetime away, the truth of the matter is, that it is not. With crunch time quickly approaching for promotions and press, as well as The Philadelphia Bike Race June 6^th, our friends at The Moore School of Art and Design were kind enough to offer us their gallery to promote our quickly approaching event.

The gallery will feature a collection of bikes, apparel and art from some of Philadelphia’s standouts in the cycling community including Bilenky Cycle Works, Chris Wright Cycles, Engin, Reload, Fabric Horse, Fuji, and more! The gallery is free and open to the public.

Both exposition space and sponsorship opportunities are still available. For more information on both please email us at Bilenkymedia@gmail.com.

Also, for more photos of the vinyl decal designed by myself and Brian, please check out www.lafilleatomique.com. La Fille Atomique is a Philadelphia based fashion and lifestyle blog, run by the lovely Molly Jacobs, who has just taken the reins in organizing the fashion show for the Philadelphia Bike Expo.

The DOG days of Summer (get it?! get it?!)

2010-05-28T07:48:00.000-07:00

The Dog Days of Summer are quickly on their way and what a better day to post our pictures from The RE-Load Maypril Fools Ride! If you took part in the ride and happened upon the Bilenky Cycle Works check point in South Philadelphia, chances are you happened upon not only a drunken British guy named Simon, a three year old bartender named Wade and a jar of peanuts, but chances are you also found your way into our hot dog costume!

We’ve posted the pictures on our flickr for all to enjoy!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26208450@N02/?saved=1

Rapha G-Race Report

2010-05-26T04:45:00.000-07:00

Slow and steady... it's going to plateau soon. A first person account by Jed Kornbluh

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26208450@N02/4629635700/

Slow and steady... it's going to plateau soon. Slow and steady.

I heard this refrain from my riding partner, over and over and over as we slogged up the endless steep grade of gravel and soft sand. She wouldn't stop, just pressing on and on pushing me harder to continue up the climb without stopping to rest my legs, slow my raging heart beat, or pass out in the ditch to be picked over by the circling buzzards. She couldn't stop. We were on a tandem and she was the only mental motivation keeping me from dumping our bike into the woods and giving up for the day. If not for Maria, I would have likely quit at the base of this beastly climb and hailed the broomwagon to tow my shamed, sweaty carcass back to Mohawk Mountain to dwell in my self-doubting misery.

The idea seemed like a good one: Stephen Bilenky, of the bicycle brand that bears his name, contacted me at the last minute to see if I was interested in joining his crew of three tandem teams to compete in the upcoming Rapha Gentleman's Race, a 120-mile unsanctioned, unmarshaled race with nearly 11,000ft of climbing near Litchfield, CT. Though I had no idea where the race course would travel, what tandem I would be riding, or who my partner (known as a stoker) would be, I agreed almost immediately and made plans to head up to Connecticut the following weekend. We arranged to rally at his North Philadelphia shop the day before the race to meet my partner and dial in the tandem with a few test rides. When I arrived at the shop, the rest of "Team Bilenky" was there getting situated on their tandems, but my stoker, Maria Dziembowska, had failed to arrive. I spent some time swapping stems, installing pedals, and adjusting my position while I got to know my team mates Bob, Sarai, Carl, and Lauren, all of whom were busy dialing in their own long-bikes for the event. Unfortunately for me, Maria was tied up working a National Bike to Work Day event so I settled for a quick fit and test ride with Stephen (we rode a few blocks to the bank and back... seemed ok to me) and then headed home to pack up my family and head north.

The Race

As usual, I was the first guy in the parking lot. Piers North, a member of the Rapha Continental team and my old Rapha Racing NYC team mate, pulled in a few minutes later and we caught up while wondering where the rest of the teams were. The race was starting in less than 45 minutes and it seemed like we were in the wrong place and, perhaps, the wrong day. Thankfully, within a few minutes riders started to trickle in, first the Independant Fabrications team, then Geekhouse, followed by BH/Garneau, Seven, and within thirty minutes everyone had arrived.
Everyone, that is, except for Team Bilenky.
I waited patiently, walking from car to car finding friends from Philadelphia, NYC, and beyond, all of whom were gathering supplies, pumping tires, embrocating, and nervously waiting for their start time to arrive. Team Bilenky was supposed to roll out of the parking lot at 9:30 with the IF team with others to follow in 10-minute increments, but as the clock ticked on to 9:15 I started getting very nervous and considered spending the day with Rapha's Derrick Lewis in one of the support vehicles. Just when I started to accept my fate the Team Bilenky vans appeared. Stephen popped out of the cargo van and started to unload our bikes while I got acquainted with Maria. We took a quick roll around the parking lot and headed out the driveway about 2 minutes late, which meant we would have to start hard and fast to keep the IF team in sight.

Bob and Sarai headed out in front of us, with Carl and Lauren bringing up the rear. As we approached the first climb (only minutes from the start), Bob and Sarai started to increase the pace wherein Maria and I instinctively got out of the saddle and started pumping up the ascent. For those who have never ridden a tandem, this is not something that comes naturally to most tandem teams. In fact, my parents, who have been riding tandems together since 1973 and have traveled to several continents to ride some of the most beastly climbs known to cyclists, have never mastered this skill. We not only nailed it but discovered our preferences for cadence climbing and pedaling style were nearly identical. Having just met 10 minutes earlier, it was obvious that we clicked on the bike and would have a great day of riding as long as we remained focused and determined to battle the elevation and gravel roads with vigor.

Our team soldiered up the first few climbs with great enthusiasm, though our mates Carl and Lauren weren't on our wheel as we'd hoped but we continued on, soft-pedaling while they caught us on the next descent. Thankfully, I had remembered to bring my Garmin Edge 705 with the course programmed, with the intention of taking the descents as fast as possible and allowing the GPS to alert me of our next moves. We were rolling along the zippy slope at around 50 mph, carefully pushing the underpowered cantilever brakes to their limit as the road flattened out and our next turn appeared. The push was too hard - we successfully blew out our rear tire, thankfully at around 30 mph and not while carving a corner. If this had happened on the descent I would be dictating this story from inside of a body cast and Maria might still be stuck in a tree along the road. We pulled over, half-way up the next climb, to quickly repair the tube while watching the other teams blow past our position. First Geekhouse, then HUP United. As I made the tube swap the Rapha video crew pulled over to interview us, asking how we flatted. I muttered something about the rims heating up and blowing the tube, which was about as straight-forward an answer as I could come up with while under pressure.
Tube fixed quickly and professionally. Back on the bike.
We slogged up the climb while being filmed by the crew, cracking jokes with them all the way to the top through our soft panting. Carl and Lauren had reconnected and we were a whole team once again. We continued on to the next few hills, passing more and more riders as we swiftly descended and moved back into second position. Maria and I got to know each other a little better, conversing freely when we weren't panting up the climbs or carefully negotiating gravel and soft sand on the pre-Colonial roads of NW Connecticut. We continued to attack the climbs with renewed intensity and accepted that, though teams would likely pass us on the incline, we would make up ground bombing down hills with our brakes screaming like tweens at a Justin Bieber show.
And so we did, for many more miles, until we arrived at the first checkpoint. We rolled in with Bob and Sarai, with Carl and Lauren just a few minutes behind us. Once there, higher seeded teams started pouring in. First BH/Garneau, then Bicycle Therapy, 5th Street Cross, Adler, and Rapha Continental. We refreshed our bottles and joked around with other riders, all the while taking notice of who was starting to crack. Matt Richards, of BH/Garneau, looked like death warmed over. He admitted to having no legs and I had doubt that he would survive the day. Though I consider Matt a friend, I relished in the idea that BH/Garneau had a chink in their captain's armor. Most of the teams rolled out together and regrouped on the next set of climbs.

We were sufficiently passed by most on the next steep climb, including the freshly-scented Embrocation Cycling Journal squad and tightly organized Bicycle Therapy, while we reserved our energy for the fabled twisting gravel climb just before the next checkpoint. According to the race notes, the next checkpoint would be just after the gravel climb at around mile 55-60. We pushed the pace on the next flat section and reconnected with the IF crew, trading rumors and speculation about the severity of this so-called deadly climb. Assuming the stair-step ascent we had just completed was this mysterious stretch we sat up and scoffed the organizers for their folly. Surely, that was not a serious climb.

Then we saw it. The road banked into a gravel incline that made the hair on the back of my neck stand at attention. I shifted into our 39x32 and agreed with Maria to put our heads down and just work it out. This climb was not a gradual incline nor a steady, steep grade. No, it was far worse. The road would climb, then plateau into a false flat over and over again without any chance for recovery. We lost track of mileage and time and continued to focus on the next rise on the horizon, though we estimated the total ascent was around 4.5 miles. Just when we thought we had reached the tree line the road would twist off into another direction, taking us higher and higher along the grade. We pushed. Panted. Sweated. Suffered. The entire way up the climb Maria seemed to know when I needed more encouragement.

"Only one more rise."

"Slow and steady."
"Keep up the intensity!"
She would occasionally apply a strong burst of pedal strokes, propelling us faster for a moment and supplying a much-needed change in rhythm. We worked together seamlessly, like a seasoned team sharing one set of legs. The confluence of our energy and tempo was incredible and we both mindlessly pushed up the ascent as if being slowly motor-paced by a dump truck.

We made it.
The next chunk of time was a blur of refueling, hydrating, and quietly congratulating each other as we anxiously pushed on to the next checkpoint, which didn't arrive until somewhere around mile 70. After attempting to repair a nearly-trashed chain and derailleur (saved by Bob!), we pulled in to find the bulk of the teams resting and impatiently waiting for sandwiches from the tiny general store nestled in Taconic State Park (yes, we were now in New York) that served as our second checkpoint. As our team was incomplete without Carl and Lauren, we decided to hang out and eat some lunch while we waited. Somewhere along the way we had picked up Tony Slokar, of Jonathan Adler Racing, who was suffering from severe leg cramping and had dispatched his team long ago to continue the battle without him. Tony and I ordered sandwiches while considering buying a few Bud tall boys and calling it a day. We stepped outside to find Maria cracking open an aforementioned Bud and splitting sips with Sarai. I watched in awe, and a bit of worry, as we still had 60 miles to finish, including a few steep climbs. We grabbed seats on the rocking chairs in front of the store and relaxed while we waited for our sandwiches, sucking down cold bottles of Coke, and patiently wondered what had become of Carl and Lauren whom we had dropped on that nasty dirt climb.

Time passed. No sandwiches. Beth Strickland and the rest of her 5th St Cross posse has arrived long before we did and had quickly run out of patience for the little old lady slowly making more sandwiches in one hour than she had admitted to making all month. We eventually got ours just as Carl and Lauren rolled in 45 minutes after we had arrived. Rumors of their two-hour time gap had been greatly exaggerated and we celebrated their arrival, rushing to get them fed so that we could continue on. With my gut full of Coke and half-digested Clif Shot Bloks, I was barely able to finish half of my sandwich, wrapping up the rest in case we got lost and had to forage for food for the next few days. Once sufficiently refueled we soldiered on to the next section.
Rolling along we discussed the course profile at length. Where would the next climb be? Are these directions accurate? Will our brakes hold out? We had no idea that the next nasty climb would arrive so soon after gorging on turkey sandwiches. With most of our blood volume at work in our digestive tracks, we were totally unprepared for the next climb, a soft, sloppy, gravelly ascent with no room for error. Unfortunately, my arms stopped receiving the proper impulses from my brain and steered us directly into the ditch, so we hoofed it all the way up this climb until we were able to remount. Thankfully, filmmaker Brian Vernor was there to capture the episode on camera. We continued on, making the best of the ride, and with 90% of the climbing behind us we were able to enjoy the scenery and focus on steady intensity.
Maria and I were starting to feel the effects of long hours in the saddle, though our spirits remained high. Soreness, exhaustion, etc. had set in. We flatted once again, but this time along a lovely bucolic country road flanked by a soft moss bed. I changed the flat while Bob, Sarai, Maria, and Tony stretched out in the grass for a moment. A few mechanical issues later (make that 4 flats total and a nearly destroyed rear derailleur thanks to some shoddy shifting by yours truly) we were in the home stretch, only 15 miles from the finish and traveling at high speed along the hard pack of River Road. Stopping only to nurse a slow leak in our rear tire every few miles we pressed on, bombing along Housatonic River Road until we were within an arms length of the final climb, Everest Hill Road. Knowing that we were only about a mile from our finish and with the sun beginning to set in the western sky, Maria and I launched out of the saddle in our 39x34, giving this climb everything we had. We dropped Tony. We passed Bob and Sarai. Maria was pushing so hard I could feel the point of her helmet in my back, which pushed me even more. We reached the top and rejoiced.

With a mile to go along Great Hollow Road, we could feel that rear tire bottoming out with every square pedal stroke. Pushing to toward the entrance of the park, we heard the remaining RGR riders cheer us on as we came into view, carefully negotiating that final turn into the parking lot and down to the start area, all the while hoping to not dump the tandem with our rear flat tire only inches from the finish. We were greeted with more cheering and, of course, some cold beer. Carl and Lauren arrived a bit later, guided in by the headlights of our support vehicle with Stephen in the passenger seat. As they pulled in fireworks exploded down the road. Yes, really. We hung around for a while, swapping stories about the worst of the ride and all agreeing that we would do it again, but not for a while. Team Bilenky parted ways and made plans to continue entering impossible events like this. Why not, we survived this one.

The Rapha support team did a phenomenal job. This ride was well executed and meticulously organized, though I expected nothing less from such a firm. The course was nasty, even unrideable by most conventional standards, but we not only finished we finished on a tandem that we had never ridden and with partners who had never met. Maria and I agreed to do this again and likely will, hopefully out west in next edition of the RGR in August.

Jed Kornbluh

Hello Summer - The 9th Annual Maypril Fools Ride

2010-05-14T08:19:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is the ninth annual R.E. Load Maypril Fools Fun Ride!

The ride is akin to a scavenger hunt, riders will be given a list of stops at the start of the race with different point values assigned to them. Riders choose their own path through the ride and complete an array of strange tasks in search of prizes!

Speaking of prizes! We at Bilenky Cycle Works will be giving away a white leather Brooks saddle to celebrate our teaming with the famed company as their North American Repair Shop! Our check point is located at 1424 Carlisle (between Reed and Dickinson, right off of 15th) Come by, get points, guess the number of peanuts in a jar, have your picture taken with a hot-dog, watch us drink beers and try your hand at winning the Brooks saddle! Be sure to bring us gifts such as more beer and traditional British cuisine as we are easily influenced by bribes!

The ride is for the entire cycling community and is completely accessible for bikes and riders of all types so we hope to have a huge turnout! Come out early and show your support for Philadelphia's booming bike scene.

The Ninth Annual R.E.Load Maypril Fools Fun Ride
Saturday, May 15th
*Registration/package pickup for pre-registered riders: 12pm
Race starts: 2pm
Entry Fee: $10 **
Maypril Fools Pre-registration

Bilenky Cycle Works Announced as the Official Brooks North American Repair Shop

2010-05-07T12:02:00.000-07:00

We at Bilenky Cycle Works are proud to announce that we have been named by Brooks Saddles as their Official Brooks North American Repair Shop.

On a recent trip to the UK, Simon had the chance to work closely with the Brooks team in preparation for the official announcement of this union. In his time spent there, Simon studied the finer points of riveting and leather work and upon his return to the states we are making this the official announcement.

Brooks, of course, has been making their world famous saddles and bags since they filed their first saddle patent in 1882. Since 1882 Brooks has continued to create fine products far above and beyond the industry standard. To say that we are thrilled at this joint venture is a great understatement.

If you have any questions regarding the services that we will be providing as the Official Brooks North American Repair Shop you can email us at Bilenkymedia@gmail.com or artistry@bilenky.com

Ray

Let's Go Giro

2010-05-07T09:34:00.000-07:00

The 2010 Giro d'Italia , the three-week Grand Tour around Italy begins tomorrow!

You can catch all the action on the Universal Sports network, they are providing the live broadcast of the race this year. Coverage begins at 10 a.m. (ET) every race day, and then at 8 p.m. (ET) there is a rebroadcast. On the two rest days, Universal will offer a review of the week's action. Also, both CyclingNews and VeloNews will offer live coverage. La Gazzetta dello Sport also is offering coverage in English.

The race features three days in the Netherlands that lead into six mountain stages that include the Gavia, Mortirolo, Terminillo, Zoncolan, Plan de Corones and Pejo Terme, Seven sprinters' stages and four time trials (one to open and one to close, one in the mountains and one team event) While plenty of action is promised early in the bike race, the final eight stages will set the tone with four mountain stages and two time trials.

The scheduling of two major events in May means that cycling teams and racers have to choose between two events – The Giro and The Amgen Tour of California, scheduled for May 16 – 23. For example, Lance Armstrong, who competed at the Giro for the first time ever last year, and sprinter Mark Cavendish have opted to race in California. Talk of the Giro beginning in Washington, DC in 2012 continues to swirl in hopes of garnering more interest for the race in the states.

The next three weeks of my life? - mimosas, coffee and simulcasts of the Giro and the Tour of California! I suggest you do the same!

Be sure to check back often for updates on the race

Giro d'Italia stages

Stage 1 - Saturday, May 8, Amsterdam TT
Stage 2 - Sunday, May 9, Amsterdam - Utrecht
Stage 3 - Monday, May 10, Amsterdam - Middelburg
Rest day, Tuesday, May 11, Savigliano
Stage 4 - Wednesday, May 12, Savigliano - Cuneo TTT
Stage 5 - Thursday, May 13, Novara - Novi Ligure
Stage 6 - Friday, May 14, Fidenza - Marina di Carrara
Stage 7 - Saturday, May 15, Carrara - Montalcino
Stage 8 - Sunday, May 16, Chianciano - Monte Terminill
Stage 9 - Monday, May 17, Frosinone - Cava de' Tirreni
Stage 10 - Tuesday, May 18, Avellino - Bitonto
Stage 11 - Wednesday, May 19, Lucera - L’Aquila
Stage 12 - Thursday, May 20, Città Sant'Angelo - Porto Recanati
Stage 13 - Friday, May 21, Porto Recanati - Cesenatico
Stage 14 - Saturday, May 22, Ferrara - Asolo (Monte Grappa)
Stage 15 - Sunday, May 23, Mestre - Zoncolan
Rest day, Monday, May 24, Friuli
Stage 16 - Tuesday, May 25, San Vigilio di Marebbe - Plan de Corones TT
Stage 17 - Wednesday, May 26, Brunico - Pejo Terme
Stage 18 - Thursday, May 27, Levico Terme - Brescia
Stage 19 - Friday, May 28, Brescia - Aprica
Stage 20 - Saturday, May 29, Bormio - Passo del Tonale
Stage 21 - Sunday, May 30, Verona - Verona TT

FEEDBACK!

2010-05-05T12:59:00.000-07:00

Feedback! We love it! We received this today!

Stephen,

I enjoyed riding the bike you built for me from Santa Barbara to San Diego a few weeks ago. It traveled well on the airplane and rode great!

Thanks.

Kelley

Ray

The PA Bike Summit

2010-05-05T11:53:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I had the pleasure of attending the 2010 PA Walks and Bikes Summit in Harrisburg, PA. The summit was a meeting place for alternative transportation activists to assemble and take part in face-to-face talks with local and state representatives as well as promote awareness of two proposed bills.

House Bill 1110 is being introduced by Rep. Ron Miller and currently has 37 co-sponsors. Senate Bill 776 is being introduced by Sen. Folmer and currently has 14 co-sponsors. Both bills would protect cyclists in two important ways- they would require vehicles to pass cyclists with a minimum of 4 feet between them as well as protect cyclists from a “right hook” where a motorist overtakes a cyclist and then cuts them off by making an improper right turn into the cyclists direction of travel.

A motorist misjudging the space required to pass a cyclists, as well as a motorist turning into the path of an approaching cyclist accounts for nearly 12% of all cycle crashes. The lack of laws protecting riders from such occurrences is sited as one of the primary reasons Pennsylvania was ranked as the 13^th worst state for bicycle friendliness in 2008.

The bill is supported by nearly every cycling entity within the state and will soon find itself on the floor for a vote. Please contact both Rep. Miller and Sen. Folmer to show your support!

Ray

Bilenky Goes to Harrisburg

2010-04-26T10:37:00.000-07:00

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

2010-04-24T13:54:00.001-07:00

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

2010-04-23T09:46:00.000-07:00

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

2010-04-21T13:42:00.000-07:00

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!

2010-04-21T07:56:00.000-07:00

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.

2010-04-18T05:44:00.000-07:00

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

2010-04-16T09:12:00.000-07:00

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!

2010-04-12T14:25:00.000-07:00

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

2010-04-10T19:58:00.000-07:00

“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

2010-04-10T14:01:00.000-07:00

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!

2010-04-09T12:13:00.000-07:00

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