Belated thanks for not dying! And pre-spring cleaning.

Happy 2013, everyone! And thanks again for killing it (but not yourselves) at the Junkyard race. I still don't quite know how we had 152 racers, 1,100 beers, one EMT (thanks Anthony!) and no disasters. Here's a great recap from RideTheJawn . Seemed like everyone had a go-pro this year which is great because I got to experience the scary parts without riding them.

Also, where did those blow-up dolls come from? Anyone?

Next year we're gonna connect this event with the Single Speed Cyclocross World Championships which are COMING TO PHILLY so make sure you're around next December because it will be amazing.

Now that the last ton of sand has been shoveled into a pile (does anyone want two and a half tons of sand?) we're back to production under the eyes of our laser cat master:

He only LOOKS like he sleeps 20 hours a day

We're making wiggly bikes,

 

Squirmy bugger kept getting away

Tiny bikes, 

 

Too small for Steve!

And really excessively big tandems: 

 

 700c, Baby.

In order to make room for heightened production and because the cat boss wants unobstructed sight lines for his laser beams, we're trying to get rid of some of the stuff that Steve we've been accumulating for years. Some is brand new; some is vintage. All is cool. The first round is up on Ebay now, keep checking back.

There will also be a calendar and a new Brazin' Woodchuck t-shirt in the near future. We be busy!

And because people keep asking us what we think of the Lance Armstrong debacle, here's our statement:

We knew it all along ferchrissakes. Now just get his smug mug off the news and the internet because the only fitting punishment is to ignore him forever. Also, Bradley Wiggins is awesome.*

                                                                ---The BCW Celebrity Doping Control Board

Case closed. 

Keep warm, ride safe, and may 2013 have so many bikes in it that you need to buy another shed. 

Isis

BCW

*If our man Wiggins turns out to be doping we are all going to buy hummers and Steve will shave his beard.

 

Fall News

We at BCW wish everyone a happy belated Thanksgiving and thank our devoted and patient friends and customers, for keeping us going. We're grateful to be a part of Philly bike community, which is the best in the world.

Except the woodchuck. The woodchuck ain't thankful for nothin'. 

As many of you know by now, the Junkyard 'Cross is a GO!

I don't want to hear about the cars, ok? You all have filthy minds. 

As I said before, and as I will continue to say until everyone is sick to death of hearing it, YOU HAVE TO BE GOOD. As in, no wanton destruction, no climbing things not designated for climbing, no being rude to long suffering junkyard guys who want you to stop wrecking their inventory. There will be things to wreck, though, we promise. 

Also, please pre-register! It is cheaper for you and you get free beer tickets and it makes our lives SO MUCH EASIER. Here is the link: pre-reg, suckaaaas!

And as always, we need VOLUNTEERS. It will be fun! You can move cars around and pre-ride the course and drink too much and snicker evilly at how hard the course will be for your friends. Steve wants a Specialty Belgian Trap that we can't tell you about yet. Email Isis at isis.shiffer@gmail.com 

Speaking of Steve, we did get hold of a couple glamor shots from the fashion show. The photographer has yet to come claim Ferdinand's promised drooly kisses, and honestly we can't blame him/her. But here are the pictures.......!

Ooo la la!

Sassy!

We think Steve missed his true vocation. 

And now, from the shameless self-promotion department, I have an art show coming up: 

It's bike folks! In a bike co-op!

In any case, there are bikes to build and coffee to acquire, so off I go. 

What do you need to remember?

1) Pre-register! Here is the link again! 

2) Volunteer! Here is my email again! isis.shiffer@gmail.com

Got it? Sure you do!

-Isis

BCW

Woodchucks, Nerds, and Viking Hats

Well, the enduring image of the 2012 Philly Bike Expo appears to be this:

Where my expo at, suckaaaaa?

Seriously, that drunken 'chuck got more attention than all the bikes combined. Which is is a shame because the bikes were, as always, extraordinary. I'll put up pictures as they trickle in, of course I forgot to take any. A lot of natty people with giant cameras cornered us at intervals for interviews. While I believe my co-workers comported themselves with grace and charm, I find a camera, or worse a tape recorder, makes my brain go blank and my voice go 'Bluuuuurgh!' So it will be interesting to see the results...

Here is Jan Heine and a J P Weigle bike, looking cool as a couple of cucumbers

The Vikingcat went off without a hitch, and NO ONE DROWNED-- though a couple of insane brave lads did swim across the Schuylkill. This is disgusting, and not endorsed by the Expo, or Bilenky or ANYTHING... but they did both place, so congrats, kids. I was happy to see that the first and second place winners earned their bike and wheelset respectively by being methodical and nerdy, rather than reckless and terrifying. Philly Bike Expo-- rewarding nerdy cyclists since 2012! 

The fixed smile comes from agonizing high heeled shoes.

Steve and I both modeled in the fashion show (thanks, Philadelphia University Fashion Department! You were so very patient with us!) Unfortunately, I can't seem to find a photo of Steve struttin' his stuff. Ferdinand has promised a big, drooly cat kiss to anyone who sends us one, so get on that. 

Then of course there was a hurricane, so we all scampered home to batten our hatches and sleep for fifteen hours. We can't thank everyone enough for coming out and making the third annual Expo so wonderful. You, our clients, fellow industry folks, and just general bike lovers have made this city an amazing place for cyclists and the Expo is our way of saying thank you. There's a post-Expo retrofit sale if you happen to need your bike chopped, It's on our homepage. 

....SO NOW WHAT?

Well, there are bikes to catch up on, a shop to clean, a pile of retrofits, a bunch of neglected paperwork...

WHO CARES? WHAT ABOUT THE JUNKYARD CROSS?? You ask. 

Well, it will probably happen and if it does it will be on the 16th of December. The junkyard guys are still kind of ticked off that you freakin' hooligans overenthusiastic 'cross fans bashed up a bunch of their cars and inventory. This year you're going to have to promise to behave and pay a little more-- they want to have a couple of guys onsite preventing damage. We want this to keep going and we know you do too, and the ill-advised nature of the course will remain unchanged. We just need the spectators to not destroy things. This shouldn't be a problem, right? RIGHT?

Anyway, we'll keep you posted. 

No promises of sheep, though! 

Unless you bring a sheep. And it has to behave itself too!

Happy real fall! The best cycling weather. Keep dry, ride safe, and PLEASE no more swimming across the Schuylkill. Yuck.

Isis

BCW

Expo Countdown!

It's almost that time! The armory is rented, the booths are just about sold out, and the seminar schedule is beginning to get finalized. Everyone is stoked of course, but event planning is SO much harder than framebuilding. We're all very grateful to Bina for doing most of it.

Hmm, Ferdinand just gave me a dirty look and jumped off my lap. We're all very grateful to Bina AND Ferdinand for doing most of it. Ok, fine. ALL of it. Geez, cat.

Lumbering off to scare pigeons to death

If you need yet another reason to get excited, this will be your first opportunity to see Steve struttin' down the catwalk in the expo fashion show. I TOLD you he was getting into modeling! 

Soon to be on the cover of Belarussian Vogue

Tom said he'd only model if he could wear a tutu, but when I suggested it to the lovely and hardworking fashion students organizing the event, they were not amused. For the record, this will be your first, last, and only chance to see me in a miniskirt and a Bandbox helmet. Plan accordingly. 

So me!

The alleycat, which is still confidentially awesome, is all planned out too. The rout is fairly direct, so intrepid out of towners won't be unduly handicapped. On that note, I NEED VOLUNTEERS! Your job will be to hang out at checkpoints and watch racers do goofy/epic things. There will be beer. And free entry to the expo. Email me at toduellist@yahoo.com . Thanks! I know you all won't let me down. 

Spokecard epicness!

Even with all the planning and bike wrangling, we did manage to get out to Connecticut where the inestimable J. P. Weigle hosts his yearly French Fender Day.

French Fenders for DAYS!

We looked at thoroughly overwrought vintage bikes and chatted with their incredibly well informed owners. I realized that ninety percent of the conversation would make exactly no sense to a non-bike nerd. It was nice.  

Oo la la

Thanks to the gallant Mr Weigle for having everyone over. His shop (and bikes) are AMAZING. 

See any dirt? Me neither. 

Which reminds me, all this expo planning means that no one has swept in ages. I think it might be time...

See you all on the 27th!

Isis

BCW

Fall Minutia

It may still be 90 degrees out but we at BCW smell fall! With expo and 'cross season on the horizon we bravely face the daily torrential downpours. The only one who objects is Ferdinand, since the first thing a soggy cyclist wants to do on arrival at the shop is grab something big, dry, fluffy and warm which is usually him. This interferes with his framebuilding,

Budge up, Tom, I got this. 

And his secretarial work: 

Keep your hair on. You can have these papers after my nap, capishe? 

We wish Ferdinand would help with Expo planning, but when we ask he gets very busy washing and pretends we're not there. I guess he realizes how much work it is. But it's worth it! Here's just a few of the things we're looking forward to:

SEMINARS: 

*The Ideal Fit - Steven LeBoyer, Serotta Fit Lab Director

*(topic to be determined) - Jan Heine, Bicycle Quarterly

*Yoga for Cyclists - Ruchama Bilenky, Certified yoga therapist and instructor

*Internal Gear Hub Panel: Exploring your Inner Gear - Rob Sherlock, NuVinci; Thomas Faust, Bilenky Cycle Works; Christopher Denoma, Shimano

*(topic to be determined) - Bike Snob NYC

*A Collector’s Perspective on Bicycle Evolution - Sam Fitzsimmons

Lots more here!

There are also dozens of exhibitors signed up with more joining every day, a gravel ride with Fuzzy from Bike Revolutions, and the TOTALLY AMAZING VIKINGCAT that I can't share the details of yet. Also, the fashion show. Should I convince Ferdinand to model? Anyone got a cat kit? Size XXXL. 

No matter what, you should register now. Especially since the first fifty registrants get a free poster signed by yours truly which looks like this: 

They don't have helmets because it's 1950. So hush.

Life in the shop continues to be cheerfully chaotic. Tom's working on an incredibly blinged-out all stainless bike, that looks like this: 

High polish BB shell, brushed tubing. BLING!

After hours of polishing, Tom looks like this:

Hey, those threads add beard density and volume. Cool!

Seriously, wait till you see this one. In other news, we finally got stainless forkblades from Reynolds! Only eight months after they were promised (ahem). I'm especially stoked since I get to finish my stainless ultralight (finally). And those of you waiting for stainless forks can now get solid deadlines. Stainless forks all round!

FINAL NOTE! We still need Expo volunteers. Please get in contact with Bina ( bina@bilenky.com ). We can't do this without you!

Happy riding and don't use cats for towels (unless you ask nicely first).

Isis

BCW