About BCW

Our History...

Stephen Bilenky has been in the bike industry for 44 years. He learned framebuilding skills from Vo-Tech school and from Jim Gittins of England. Since 1983 his shop has grown to eight staff members, hailing from England, Washington State, New York, and all over Pennsylvania. We have won numerous awards and acclaims, including rave reviews in Bicycling Magazine, Bicycle Guide, Tandem Magazine, and Bicycle Quarterly. Our touring tandem won Best Road Bike at the North American Handbuilt Bicycle Show last year. In October of 2010, we organized the first ever Philly Bike Expo, bringing together bicycle makers and enthusiasts from around the country. We also host the world’s only Junkyard Cyclocross, where riders brave a course through our neighboring junkyard, over cars, through toxic puddles and over broken glass. It’s actually really popular!

Bilenky Cycle Works is more than just a shop. It’s an enduring institution that is committed to enhancing the world of cycling, one steel frame at a time.

Favorite thing about framebuilding: Brazing

Hobbies: BBQing, horticulture, computer graphics, & anthropology

Ideal Bike: Metro 5

Favorite bike ride: Portland to San Francisco

Favorite tool: Victor J-28 brazing torch

Perfect bike color: Mint green

Framebuilding skills: 40 years custom bike-building experience; designing, machining, painting, brazing, supervising and assembling thousands of bikes

Sign: Sagitarius.

Dating Status: Hmm, it’s a case by case basis.

John Weller

Favorite thing about framebuilding: Installing couplers

Hobbies: Designing and building skate bikes

Ideal Bike: Cargo bike

Favorite bike ride: To the store to get lunch

Favorite tool: Makita angle grinder

Perfect bike color: Black primer, yellow, and purple

Framebuilding skills: Thousands of braze-ons and hundreds of couplers installed!

Sign: Acquarius

Dating Status: Single and lovin’ it.

Bina Bilenky

Kasy Zook

Favorite thing about framebuilding: The challenge of creation in an imperfect world.

Hobbies: trash reformation, making something out of nothing, sculpture, riding, sky watching, nature appreciation.

Ideal bike: Mega utility cargo commuter.

Favorite bike ride: Those moments you feel like you’re flying, Big Sur.

Favorite tool: My hands.

Perfect bike color: Reflecty orange!

Framebuilding skills: Patience, attention to detail, and I like a challenge!

Sign: Scorpio.

Dating Status: NO BULLSHIT.

If you search for the ultimate in cycling, welcome to the world of Bilenky Cycle Works.....

When you walk in the door of our North Philly shop you enter a maze of bikes in various stages of completion. There are show-ready tandems hanging on the ceiling and half built singles reposing in jigs. The sound of angle grinders and BBC 6 Music fill the air. The Crew, mostly bearded and all opinionated, are busily engaged in every step of bicycle fabrication- from mitering tubes to polishing the final coat of paint.

Bikes are more than just a job for us. We understand our customers’ desire for a perfect bike because we share it. We want you to have a bike that fits your body and riding style, whether you are running errands on a stately townie, transporting kids and groceries in an enormous cargo bike, racing through the mud on a ‘cross bike, or anything else you can think of.

We also do repairs, retrofits and restorations. Is your beloved vintage bike ready for a facelift? Do you want to get your touring tandem into a flight-legal case? Have you ridden into a tree and bent your mountain bike? Bilenky Cycle Works knows what to do.

Favorite thing about framebuilding: Designing paint schemes

Hobbies: Backpacking, reading, going to the beach

Ideal bike: 26” wheel Tourlite

Favorite bike ride: Glenside and beyond

Favorite tool: MacBook computer

Perfect bike color: Pink

Framebuilding skills: Keeping the frame building organized.

Sign: Cancer.

Dating Status: Married