Bilenky Cycle Works!

Upon first glance it may not look like much but you know what they say:
Don't judge a book by it's cover...
or in this case:
Don't judge a fucking kick ass bike builder by the outside of his workshop and the crunk ass hood that surrounds it...
The first time I visited Bilenky Cycle works was about 3 years ago. It was in the middle of January with a little snow on the ground and numerous bike trails leading to the front door. If only my shriveled nads knew what was in store for me once I walked through the door that day...

Awesome sculpture...

Another sculpture...


Yet another nice touch...


My Mercian Vincitore Track frame I'm having repainted. It's going to stay red but those FUCKing Lavender panels are killing me. That and the red is a bit tired looking. I'm having it redone the same way with a slight snappier red and better matching custard white panels...


Fucking awesome ANVIL frame jig. I'd kill for one of these. That and the skilled expertise it requires to put it to good use...


mmmm, lathe...


HEY, These are the forks off my gooch! My Yamaguchi frame had a little crack in the seatpost due to the awesome looking, yet shitily supported Corima Blade seatpost I originally had mounted in it. I had them completely replace the seatpost tube with some stronger steel and now I'm just waiting on a few replacement decals for repaint...


Awesome wooden toolbox...


Bilenky's Carl Marin working on some frameage...


The official Bilenky Cargo bike they use for hitting the post office etc...


An awesome vintage gold anodized ALAN frame Steve owns...


Another shot of the ALAN...


Some Viewpoint frames...


Some pieces of prebuilt Viewpoint frames (I think?)...


Viewpoint frame currently being built...


mmmm, tubing...


mmmm, notcher...


Okay, so the story behind this SWEET Hetchins frame is SO FUCKED UP it's going to make you weep. That or point and laugh (fuckers). Anyways, from what Steve tells me, the owner of this frame took the bike on a trip and had it mounted roof rack style. Everything was fine and dandy until he got home and accidentally went to park his car in the garage with the bike still mounted on the roof rack.............. If it had been me I would most likely have shit myself once I heard the thud against the wall while parking. What a fucking BUMMER man! Apparently it's so beyond fucked that repairing it may not be worth the trouble. Bilenky's own Simon Firth pictured here frustrated look and all...


Tasty new Bilenky S+S coupled frame...


Headtube...


Close up of S+S coupler...


Close up of Surly dropout...


Steve pulled out some cool vintage parts for me to scope out...


How RAD are these old Gipiemme pedals???


Another view...


This Bilenky 753 Reynolds road frame was fucking SICK! I wanted to take it down but everyone seemed busy at the time...


RRRRRAD custom built quill stem...


Bilenky's Bob Kamzelski took his bike down for me to show off some milling skills on his own personal Bilenky...


Another tasty custom stem...

Steve in the nerve center...


mmmm, files...


A gaggle of custom forks...


Bilenky's John Weller chopping a recumbent frame to be outfitted with S+S coupler...


Close up of the smallest couplers S+S makes...


Some of the fellas scoping out one of my latest acquisitions. A set of 1960's Hetchins lugs, full rear triangle and fork...


Close up of lugs...


The whole package. As you can see I'm faced with a mighty conundrum.. what should it be? Road or Track?...

If you've never heard of Bilenky Cycle Works definitely check out their site and if you live anywhere near Philly, make it a point to stop by. You won't regret it...



p.s. - bring pastries!

Bilenky Cycle Works!