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

Shark Week Special!

You thought the humble woodchuck was our favorite animal, didn't you? Well, you'd mostly be right, especially considering who our boss is:

I will never get tired of this picture.

However, this is the time of year to honor our toothy underwater friends, along with our furry underground ones: SHARK WEEK!

CHOMP!

Here's how it works: 

*You call up with your deposit ASAP (we're only taking ten bikes- first come first served).

*You get us your frame by August 9th (all titanium frames are welcome).

*We cut, fit and weld in your couplers.

*Your bike will be on its way back to you by August 18th.

*You get $100 off! 

What's not to like? We guarantee that no more than two frames will come back with a shark in the tubing-- that's pretty good odds, right there.  

For those of you afraid of sharks, we will get back to our regularly scheduled woodchuck-related specials shortly. 

Meanwhile, we're already kicking into serious gear for the expo. Races must be planned, food trucks must be booked, eccentric framebuilders must be coaxed out of their hermitages. And we need volunteers! Ferdinand says so. 

Yo. Do I look like I can do everything myself? Huh?

If you want to avoid the wrath of the cat and help us out, email Bina: Bina@bilenky.com . 

AND, here's a sneak look at what is going to be THE coolest alleycat in the history of alleycats:

Vikings always ride trikes, didn't you know that?

There might even be sharks. 

Cheers, 

Isis

BCW

We need your help!

So! We are applying for Mission: Small Business which is a $250, 000 grant for eligible small businesses. In order to qualify we need to rack up 250 votes by Friday. We know you won't let us down! Here's the link.  Follow it, scroll down sign in via Facebook, and cast your vote. Also, please share with everyone you can think of.

If we get the grant I want to put in a green roof with a goat on it.

I thought I made this up! 

Our SERIOUS goals will be posted on the Mission: Small Business website in the next few days. These include switching to more sustainable energy sources (wind, solar) increasing our staff, increasing our space, getting more involved in the community, and a woodchuck sanctuary. 

What else are we doing in these long Summer days?

Getting our beauty rest, that's what!

We're making two nearly identical viewpoints for a French film production. It appears to be about a little boy with cerebral palsy who competes in the French Ironman with his papa. Beyond that, the language barrier has shrouded further description. Also, who knew the French Ironman was a thing? We'll keep you posted!

Here is our loudest bike to date: 

Its effect is positively blinding.

Both the owner and Naomi are totally gone on Wonder Woman, so this is a culmination of decades of devotion. Also, it is reflective. 

I must cut this post short, since bikes must be finished so tours can be toured. And cast that vote!  Ferdinand says so:

Cast your vote so I eat goat.

Thanks so much!

Isis

BCW

New Crew Member! Also, Events.

The BCW crew is honored to have a new member. His name is Ferdinand and he is enormous:

"What?"

Upon his arrival all the local vermin packed their bags and moved to the auto place next door. The tardy ones got eaten. He likes to sit outside and stare down the junkyard cats, who quail and scram. With the local wildlife duly intimidated, Ferdinand moved on to customer service:

"No, we won't fix your Huffy. Next!"

Once he has all the customers under control he plans to start welding. We need to get him a smaller hat, though.

"You calling my head small? MY head?"

When we're not chumming with the cat, we're planning a couple of events in the near future:

1) BIKE RACE DAY! This is when all the cyclists in Philadelphia get up first thing in the morning and watch attractive Europeans labor up the Wall in Manayunk. This year there's going to be an amateur race before the pros come roaring out, where roadies can pay a lot of money and ride in a tight peloton. We're getting up extra early to see what happens:

In all seriousness, good luck, local roadies!!

Meanwhile we'll be showing some bikes in the Manayunk Roxborough Art Center, so stop by. 

2) The NEXT weekend is the Cirque Du Cyclisme! We are rolling down to Leesberg Virginia with a truck full of bikes for a weekend of nerding out, hanging out, and riding around (Leesburg is pretty and hilly, if I recall). We hope to see all our retro-dork friends and customers there!

There will be wool.

Also, pick up one of our new T-shirts:

We like lugs.

Ferdinand won't be coming. He has a shop to run, after all. 

Isis

BCW

Details!

Well the Works race was pretty magnificent-- lots of money raised for Neighborhood Bike Works, lots of happy racers, and the paint job was won by a surprised messenger looking dude. AND, Naomi and I both placed in the top ten (she beat me). Which I DON'T mind (much) because I just couldn't bring myself to eat mayonnaise by the spoonful for extra points (she could).

Ewwwww! Thanks in advance for not minding me ripping off your photo, Jesse.

We also danced like hoagies-- though not this well:

Photo credit GirlBikeDog

Not to mention riding into bollards on kids bikes, drawing hoagie bikes, counting doorways, and throwing bike parts at things. For the kids!

Now we're recovered, here are some things we've been up to in the shop:

Sexy headtube lugs

Sexy seatstay caps

Sexy custom fork/rack rising from the tank like a mermaid

Sexy custom bottom bracket shell in progress

Super sexy snout!

And finally, a bike so bright and sparkly you can see it with your eyes shut:

Day glo makes you faster.

That's all I got!

Isis

BCW

IMPORTANT EDIT! Naomi would like everyone to know that she ate Veganaise by the spoonful instead of regular mayonnaise. I personally think that's even grosser, but who am I to judge...