Bilenky Cycle Works

The Golden hour - comes a bit later now and keeps moving forward. Heading towards Spring ! #goldenhour #bilenkycycleworks

They say things are looking up for bike biz in 2021, so we hired 2 new mechanics. Campagnolo Spoken Here #caseofthemondays #shopcat

Ok, we’re in. Three with cats, only one with me. Happy New Year 2021 ! #bilenkycycleworks

#tbt Pt. 2 Not perfect, but I’ll take it for this fix #framerepair

Cycling Life 1897 (3)

Hot night at the shop - Happy New Year !

#tbt Channeling my ‘70’s neighborhood Schwinn shop experience. Fork straightening the coaster brake bikes that kept on rolling right into a large stationary object. Updating to 2020 with some extra tooling #framerepair

#tbt 124 years young - 1896 Triumph Resiliant #framerepair #framerestoration

#tbt Pt. 3 Let’s get this party started. Melons for everybody at the bar !

Bilenky for sale

Weird, Wonderful Bike Wednesday - standard ViewPoint frame being converted to Steps electric assist canine mobility machine #weirdbikewednesday #bilenkyviewpoint

Titanium Tuesday - brake bridge repositioned for 57 mm reach brakes + pump peg for Silca pump under TT #titaniumtuesday

Pretty good accomplishment for a Monday; we showed up #caseofthemondays

Someone else had to remind me, but this is the 44th anniversary of the day when I timed a race among a half dozen friends to determine the Galactic Champion of Downhill. Five days later we were back for more on "Repack," and my life has not been the same since.

Titanium Tuesday - spliced seat tube repair. Bit by a Park repair arm shark. A little more sanding and scotchbrite and it will be invisible #titaniumtuesday #titaniumframerepair

#tbt Merry Christmas from the brotherhood hairy elf framebuilders. Riffing with Erik Noren at one of the Handbuilt shows. #framebuilders

A day to stay inside and work or go out and check out the leaves ? #caseofthemondays

Weird Bike Wednesday -Bilenky Waltz. apparently this picture is showing the world record for the most people juggling 5 balls on a bike. Many of us are juggling multiple situations, challenges and emotions, so it’s difficult to know which way is forward., but doing more by bike is always a plus #bilenkywonderworks #weirdbikewednesday

Sunday cooking tip Pt. 2: it’s how you blend the ingredients that makes it tasty #framebuilding

Litespeed’s Lightest ! Ghisallo #titaniumtuesday

Don’t think I’m getting into the holiday spirit this year #caseofthemondays

Sunday stew: disc tab added to Jericho MTB #framemods

Stars of Flanders The Tour of Flanders, considered a form of religious experience to the Flemish-speaking northern Belgians, their high mass of cycling, is so ...important to the Deceuninck-Quickstep team that they hold a televised media event to announce their rider selection. The team’s World Champion, Julian Alaphilippe, has been asking to ride the race ever since they plucked him away from the French Army team, the one that gave him an out from his humble beginnings, choosing him above all for his cyclocross experience, but for the past six years he’s received a firm no from team boss Patrick Levevere; they had Belgians aplenty for the race and the Frenchman was needed for the hilly races, the ones more suited to his build and background. What a difference the Rainbow Jersey makes for a career. Alaphilippe’s sparkling outing at the Fléche Brabançonne, where he went head to head with Mathieu van der Poel on the steep and cobbled Flander’s type bergs (climbs) beating him for the win, was a confidence builder for both Alaphilippe and his team, and has put him into the status of an outsider for victory at today’s Ronde (van Vlaanderen or Flanders). We’ll all have to see what tactics they adopt, they’re all monsters of the pave on that team, but count on Dries Devenyns to be at the Frenchman’s side the entire day with Kaper Asgreen who was second at the Ronde two years ago and Zdenk Štybar, the Czech cross-man, providing tactical counterpoints for the home team. Alaphilippe has won the Strade Bianche, the Flèche Wallonne, Milano-Sanremo and the World Championships, just to mention his major one-day successes. The power-based Ronde could prove to be beyond what his light build can produce, but watching his attempt will make this race that much more enjoyable for us all. There aren’t many more flowers we can toss Wout van Aert’s way, the Belgian’s astounding performances these past two years have us all reaching for superlatives and he is accordingly the heavy favorite for today’s race. I do wonder about his ability to handle this stardom, however, and worry that he’s developing that dreaded malady, the one the Belgians term: dik nek (spelling perhaps off) or thick neck, what we call a swelled head. There was a moment in a post-Tour race where van Aert’s team was massing at the front and Aussie Michael Matthews, a Tour de France Green Jersey winner it needs to be pointed out, began to move into the line. Van Aert grabbed him by the jersey and threw him off to the side. He wouldn’t have done that to Alaphilippe, I can assure you, the Frenchman would have started a war on the spot and with big Tim Declercq in the house, it would have been over quickly. Van Aert’s petulant complaints about Mathieu van der Poel after the Dutchman’s marking of him at Gent-Wevelgem were unflattering to the Belgian, a situation that van der Poel handled with aplomb. Cycling is the most unfair sport in the world. The stronger you become, the more difficult it is to win as the peloton gathers, like jackals around a lion, combing forces to bring down a stronger prey. We saw this at the Tour when Alaphilippe couldn’t get anyone to work with him in the breakways: they didn’t because he was sure to beat them in the end, so better to neutralize him and let the race unfold in a more advantageous manner. Van Aert needs to realize that he’s the Godzilla of the peloton now, that no one wants to go head-to-head with him. He needs to race accordingly, complaining will get him nowhere. Wout van Aert has 38 career days of Grand Tour racing in his legs, Julian Alaphilippe over 100 and Mathieu van der Poel a grand total of zero. The Ronde van Vlaanderen is normally run in April, six months after the Vuelta and eight months after the Tour de France, putting everyone on a fairly equal basis. This special year, with the Tour only a bit more than a month behind us, the Tour riders still have that form in their legs, a form that we’ll really see once the Ronde begins to go over 200 kilometers which is when everything changes in a Classic. Van der Poel looked a bit light against Alaphilippe in the Fléche Brabançonne, a race of 200-kilometers and not 243 like today’s where the level of competition is much, much higher to boot. We’ll get a good idea of whether van der Poel’s choice of staying with his small Alpecin-Fenix team is the right one, a team that garners no invitations whatsoever to the Grand Tours nor to their build-up events such as the Dauphiné whether the accumulation of deep racing days by his competition will begin to leave him behind. Cycling fans watch the Giro, the Vuelta and Flanders: the world watches the Tour de France. 25-year of Mathieu van der Poel should be in it the Tour and he won’t be next year either which cheats both himself and cycling. The excitement of a three-week matchup between him and arch-rival van Aert would be riveting plus it would turn him into an even more powerful and versatile racer. Perhaps van der Poel likes life as it is, racing cross, mountain bikes and road races as he wishes. It certainly is an interesting and modern approach to the sport, the sort of versatility we should be developing here in the States. But he should consider the millions that Ineos is certainly putting on the table, consider becoming their Classic’s man, consider what racer he could become with a few Grand Tours in the legs. I believe he owes it to this sport that has given him and his family so much, and to his fans, a base that would expand exponentially with a start in the Tour.

Simple Sunday Travel Bike #bilenkytravelbikes #bilenkytourlite #travelbike

Sad news . Posted @withregram @chaterlea We were upset this week to hear the sad news about Bob Jackson Cycles. As a bespoke builder for 85 years this is a tragic loss to the community. . Shown a true classic JRJ bike by Bob Jackson from 1952. This path / road frame utilized top end tubing and Nervex lugs. Here with a 52T front ring, classic round C-L cranks and sprint pedals. ... . Courtesy: Classic Lightweights . . . . . #chaterlea #steelisreal #britishsteel #britishlightweigrhts #britishmade #velo #vintage #bicycle #cyclist #cycling #cyclingstyle #cyclinglife #fixedgear #fixie #531 #trackbike #brooksengland #vintagebike #roadbike #handmade #bicyclelife #velo #randonneur #bicycletouring #gravelbike #bikepacking #pathracer #bicycling #crankset #eroica #bobjackson See more

Fillet Brazed Friday

We were upset this week to hear the sad news about Bob Jackson Cycles. As a bespoke builder for 85 years this is a tragic loss to the community. Shown a true c...lassic JRJ bike by Bob Jackson from 1952. This path / road frame utilized top end tubing and Nervex lugs. Here with a 52T front ring, classic round C-L cranks and sprint pedals. Courtesy: Classic Lightweights

Fillet brazed Friday - Disc brake tandem fork with SL dynamo dropouts #filletbrazedfriday #bilenkytandem

Titanium Tuesday - Raleigh Tomac, canti bosses and cable hanger removed / original coarse blasted finish transformed to brushed polish (thank you Jess Fox ) #titaniumtuesday

https://triblive.com//first-critical-segment-of-9-11-nati/

Wait - you’re really telling me it’s time to get to work ?! #caseofthemondays

Saturday eve shapes #shoplife

#tbt Part 2 - Bilenky Junkyard Cross #junkyardcross #bilenkyjunkyardcross

#tbt Last century Schwinn makeover: 2020 Commuter from a late production lugged, World Sport . #tbt

Weird Bike Wednesday - super secret personal mobility project ( Design by Weller. Photo by A. Rodzinski) #weirdbikewednesday

Titanium Tuesday - Added ports for WE power cords to hop over BB. Dog and owner were so pleased that they could now use the FSA 30 mm BB spindle and crank #titaniumtuesday

It’s technically still Monday, so we still feel its effect. Don’t hide from it, stand up to it with your best Monday face. If it worked you over, then scroll over to our furry fidget feline and practice alternative breathing relaxation technique. Focus on the ear, then the nose while you breathe in and out and feel yourself float #caseofthemondays

Sunday Evening Drama - Oilless Air Supplied Respirator Compressor needed repair. Paint session nixed; graphite centrifugal vanes stiction needed remedy #farmshoprepair #framebuilderlife

Farm Bike Friday !

#tbt Pt. 2 Raleigh Team 753 and Calvert road #Raleigh #vintagesteelbikes

#tbt and Tandem Thursday

I guess you just have to run em' slack .... The Wheel and cycling trade review v. 25-v. 26: no. 4 Feb. 15-Sept. 6 1900

Weird Bike Accessory Wednesday - meet Mucky Nutz the bike seat shark #weirdbikewednesday

Titanium Tuesday - Raleigh Tomac Design Series Ti MTB disc tab added #titaniumtuesday #tomac

Evening reminder - Cyber Monday Gift Certificate discount ends at midnight ! Time to save big and support hand made and sustainably repaired https://www.bilenky.com/product-page/bilenky-gift-card

Cyber Monday ?! - sounds scary ! I’m staying put But not so scary, since you can look to the future and get a cool discount on BCW gift certificates ( can use for gift or for yourself ! ) https://www.bilenky.com/product-page/bilenky-gift-card

Black Friday Weekend Special: BCW Gift Certificates at 10% discount ! https://www.bilenky.com/product-page/bilenky-gift-card Good till Cyber Monday 11:59 pm

Fillet Brazed Friday - fillets play well in the dirt #filletbrazedfriday

#tbt I got a memo from the BCW historic society that Nov. 25th is the anniversary of Simon Firth’s first day working at Bilenky. He’s moved on but he’s left his mark on everything we do. 2020 is the 24 th anniversary of that significant date. Next year we’ll raise the roof for the 25 th. #simonhanford1 #bilenkycycleworks

#TBT Checking in with 10 years ago when we just needed to survive the aftermath of the largest economic collapse since the Great Depression

Have a great holiday in tandem with your close circle significant others #bilenkycycleworks

New Gravel Prototype fork crown exceeding all performance expectations

Need cantis AND disc mounts - who you gonna call ? #bilenkycycleworks

Fillet Brazed Friday Pt. 2 + Friday Finale. 650b roadster Hummingbird Experimental Jones bar install #bilenkycycleworks #bilenkysignature

24 hours in the life of a fillet braze joint - 50N silver fillet on stainless shell and tube #filletbrazedfriday #cutbrazeandpaint

New day, new position - I’m killin’ it this week #catsofbilenky

#tbt Last of the Bill Boston tandems being remodeled for a expedition to Alaska #tandem #billboston

Titanium Tuesday - full round 1 chainstays with custom indents for 32 mm tires #titaniumtuesday #fatchainstaytuesday

Test ride Tuesday: Travel Trollhloff - Rohloff / Hope / Paul / S and S build #travelbikes #surlytroll

Can I get a hell yeah, it’s Monday #caseofthemondays

Sunday smoothing and blending new with old, stainless with niobium, silver with brass. #framemodification

Long post alert This weekend would have been the 2020 Philly Bike Expo. It feels strange to not be running around like a chicken without a head like I normall...y would on set up day. Instead I’m making bread, watching IG takeovers by our exhibitors and thinking a lot about the last 11 years. From our humble beginnings at the 23rd St Armory with about 50 exhibitors to the PA Convention Center and over 200 exhibitors, there have been lots of memories. Where to begin?! The crazy snowstorm in 2011 to the hurricane in 2012, my dad strutting the runway at the fashion show and tiny bike races with drum lines. Framebuilder prizes, inclusivity scholarships and 10 year anniversary parties. Reminiscing about the last decade makes me think about what I will miss this year. I will miss seeing those big doors open and watching eager cycling enthusiasts flood through the door. I’ll miss walking the aisles and checking on exhibitors. I’ll miss seeing the joyful little kiddo faces as they fly around the test track. I’ll miss seeing Brad kneeling down with his camera taking killer pics of the framebuilders. And speaking of framebuilders, I will miss their dedication to the event, gorgeous creations and trying to find them for awards and photos. I will miss running into exhibitors and sponsors after hours and getting to catch up and thank them for their hard work and support. I will miss seeing attendees leave with smiles on their faces, bags full of goodies and words of thanks. I could go on but then I’d probably ugly cry and you get the picture! I’m so grateful for all the people that make the wheels turn for this event and community. Volunteers, sponsors, exhibitors, seminar presenters, attendees, PBE Squad & Women’s Elite team, photographers, media, party hosts, ride leaders and social media gurus. Thousands of incredible people make the Philly Bike Expo come together so you will have to forgive me for not naming names. I will make an exception to thank my dad, Stephen Bilenky for creating the event and trusting me at the helm, to carry it through the last decade. I’m thankful for the opportunity to have grown this into an international event and to serve the cycling community in such a fun way. I’d love to hear your favorite memories from the Expo and what you are looking forward to in 2021. Post photos too! Stay safe, be kind and much love from the whole PBE fam.

Time to get into your weekend contentment face #tgif #catsofbilenky #catsofinstagram

#tbt 1958 Raleigh Sports - unique Deep Cobalt blue. The All Steel Bicycle Easy on the eyes and the pocket

Weird Bike Wednesdays - ViewPoint eHarmony #weirdbikewednesday

Good day to remember who’s shoes we are trying to fill #thegreatestgeneration

Titanium Tuesday Pt. 2 - Ti Fat Street Rod, Di2 Alfine, Gates drive , Lefty fork , you want fries wid that ? #titaniumtuesday