The Great Woodchuck Challenge of 2012

As you may or may not have noticed, Steve has a thing about woodchucks. In fact, sometimes he is one:

But you all knew that.

With that in mind, we are delighted to announce the Great Woodchuck Challenge of 2012-- your chance to win a FREE BILENKY BIKE, like this one! 

Well probably just the frame, but you get the idea.

And how do you win a beautiful custom bike? Well, all you have to do is find a woodchuck....

Ignore the homicidal gleam in his eyes

Who bears a more than passing resemblance to one of the presidents featured on Mt Rushmore:

Extra points for identifying them all

Your 'chuck can be baggy and pensive, 

We saw one just like this watching the TD Bank Bike Race last summer

Ascetic and prim....

Good luck with this one

Shortsighted and bristly,

They all kind of look like that anyway

Or craggy and gaunt...

We don't like the odds on this one

The woodchuck only needs to look like one president: a woodchuck with a Roosevelt 'stach AND a Lincoln beard would not qualify. Extra points for serious expression and presidential behavior. Plastic surgery and Photoshop will also lead to disqualification. In fact, to avoid cheating, we ask that you bring your woodchuck to the shop to meet us in person. 

Good luck and may the best 'chuck win! Also, happy Presidents day. 

In other news, we are delighted to welcome a new member of the team, Tom Faust:

His beard is edging towards Steve's in epicness....!

Not quite the same as a woodchuck who looks like Teddy Roosevelt, but we don't mind. 

Also, happy spring (seriously, where did winter go?)

-Isis

BCW

Winter Designs

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

Go Steve go!

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

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

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

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

Naomi deals with winter by being a yeti,

The impermeable power suit

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

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

A vinyl take on the metal headbadge.

And another one:

A vinyl take on another metal headbadge.

And my favorite one!

Just a sketch. But you get the idea.

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

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

Isis 

BCW

Well, that was awesome.

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

Here's a great video from CXHairs:


Bilenky Junkyard Cross 2011 from In The Crosshairs on Vimeo.

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

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

Untitled from Erik Silverson on Vimeo.

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

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

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

Mr Safety Firth, MCing in British

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

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

Three dedicated guys got cowbell tattoos!

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

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

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

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

Isis

BCW

Help!

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

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

We'll buy you beer....

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

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

STEEL TOED BOOTS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!!

Thanks soooooo much. 

Isis 

BCW

....And now what?

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

It's that blurry beardless picture in the back

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


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


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

Well, kittens,

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

Our awesome new addition to the team, Naomi Littell, 

That's her looking colorful on the right

And....

THE JUNKYARD CROSS!

Hopefully the see-saw will return.

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

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

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

Beeeeeeer!

So no excuses. See you there. 

Isis