Check back for new trip reports from Bilenky bike adventurers everywhere.
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Bilenky Cycle Works did great work building, finishing
and shipping my Viewpoint within the time frame promised.
We received the Viewpoint on a Wednesday, went on a
fifteen mile practice ride Thursday, and successfully
completed the 200 mile Seattle-to-Portland ride that
weekend.
The sizing of my custom frame was excellent: it fit my
daughter (stoker) and I well.
Next year, though, we'll put in more training time
before the actual STP ride. :-)
Yes. I'm a happy customer.
-Eric
Stephen and Bina,
I am finally back in the USA and picked up my S & S coupling retrofitted Litespeed Toccoa yesterday.
First, when I went into the bike shop, the owner whom I made the arrangement to keep the bike there went on vacation, so when I asked his partner if my bike was there, he didn't think so. I kind of panicked so I went up into the loft where they store their overstock and there it was! They were not expecting a bike to be in such a small package.
I opened the travel case...Boy Howdy! Its a real 007 bike! Awesome!
Assembly was straightforward and easy and I was impressed with the beauty of the frame.
I went for a ride yesterday on some technical trails in an open space park. This bike might knock my Merlin out of its #1 spot. The bike cleaned every switchback, hopped over every rock ledge, and just kept going when I thought it'd spin out. It is a very precise handling bike, so obviously the S & S couplings have not impaired the handing characteristics.
As one friend said this morning..."That's one hellava travel bike!"
Anyway...Thanks again!
Best regards,
Barin
Bina,
You have my okay to use my comments. I am really happy with BCW's craftmanship. Looking at the tubes, the Litespeed tubes are not round, so its a little extra work for you. I am impressed!
Thanks again!
Later,
Barin
Stephen/Bina:
Hi...as you may remember, I am an international school teacher living and working in Venezuela with my Venezuelan wife.
Well I had fun with my Litespeed in New Mexico and Arizona, while on vacation. The big test was yesterday...I flew back to Venezuela. In El Paso, I gave them the case (weight 49 lbs) and the woman at the counter never even asked what it was. No extra charge! Great!
Today on my Venezuela domestic leg from Caracas to Barcelona/Puerto la Cruz, the guy at the counter wanted to know what was in the case. I said "a bicycle" (in Spanish). He looked at me funny and asked me again what was in the case. I said, "a bicycle" now using the my hands and arms to help me explain. He still didn't get it. Finally he said, "open it". I cracked it open so he could see the wheels, etc. He said, "Oh...a bicycle". He kind of shrugged his shoulders and filled out a separate form for insurance on the bike. No charge.
The bike is sitting in my small apartment still in the case. My wife still doesn't know what is inside.
Anyway, the S & S coupling are a great invention for sure!
Later,
Barin
S & S coupled Litespeed Toccoa on the summit of Gomez Peak north of Silver City, NM. I like this bike! It handles like a dream.
Barin
Bina and Stephen,
I took my Bilenky/Litespeed on its first real trip. I went to the Andes mountains in western Venezuela.
I was able to load the bike on the bus with no hassles. My wife and I rode 18+ hours on the bus, got a cab, found a hotel, assembled the bike and rode.
Ride #1 was a 50 miler with about 1000 feet of climbing out and back. It was mostly paved road riding, but still very nice. (I didn't have my camera with me)
Ride #2 was 15 miles with about 3000 feet of climbing up a jeep road. My wife rode in a Toyota Land Cruiser taxi while I rode my bike. It was so steep that I had to carry my bike sometimes. On the downhill sections (as the road followed the contours of the canyon) I was able to go much faster than the Land Cruiser.
After the ride, I sent it back to Merida in the Land Cruiser while my wife and I continued our trek on horseback.
Back in Merida, I packed it up, and reversed our route from hotel, to taxi, to bus terminal. The bike is back home with its first true travel adventure under its couplings.
Thanks again,
Barin
Stephen/Bina,
Just wanted to let you know I'll be riding my Bilenky/Litespeed in Scotland this August. I'm sure the Scottish weather will be perfect for my Bilenky wool jersey. I'll keep you posted on the adventure.
Best regards,
Barin
Your work was really masterful -- the titanium couplers on the titanium frame look like they have always been part of the bike. The workmanship is simply elegant, flawless and functional. It has to be seen to be believed, so I will send photos to you eventually, though they would never do justice to the perfect level of operation and performance. The firm, tight feel of the locking fit is reassuring as the bike goes back to its normal configuration. On the road I dont have to think about the couplers at all.
Just as satisfying arre your professional service, communication and handling of all the details of this custom work. I am so glad that you explained your experience on the Web, and extremely glad that you did everything just as promised, but ended up actually exceeding my expectations.
Gratefully,
Sam
Bina,
Sorry the couplings don't show in the photos. Everyone was impressed with the bike and how it fit in a box. The couplings made it very easy to transport everywhere. I was even able to bring back two bottles of single malt scotch in the bicycle case without it being over weight.
Best regards,
Barin
A happy customer
Bilenky --
Thank you for sending the teflon bearing grease!
But thank you especially for doing such a fine job of retro-fitting the S and S couplers to my bike. Your packing and assembly of the bike enabled me to take it out of the box, put it together and go riding with a minimum of effort -- in fact, it was easy!
Steve:
What a great bike!!!
Put it back together yesterday, (I'm practicing for the trip to Mexico next week), and took the bike out on a long ride on the straights and up and down some hills….What a bike!!!
You did a magnificent job on the frame..,..it is aesthetically beautiful, welds, paint and design…(I think I did a good job adding the groupo and building the wheels…first time doing such)…bike fits me like a glove….it handles really well, is responsive and really stable when I get up out of the saddle and on the pedals to climb and cornering on the down hills. Did I say I LOVE THE BIKE!!!!
I am really hoping the Tandem performs as well and if it does…YAHOOO!!!!
Did I say I LOVE THE BIKE!~!!
Thanks, Steve
Pete
Hi Guys,
I have attached a few photos of my wife Linda and her twin sister Karen on their new Bilenkys. They love the bikes. They look great; the powdercoat turned out nice. The workmanship and details are excellent
-Fernando
I love the bicycle so much - it is my most valued bicycle in our pretty large collection!
My twin sister and I have had such awesome experiences riding our Bilenky bicycles together. Fernando sent you some pictures - feel free to post any on your website.
Thanks so much.
Linda
Assembled the yellow bike in about 40 minutes this AM - no problems at all. Then Karen & I went for a 35 mile ride on the Sk. River trail. made a couple of very minor adjustments. The bikes are really something.
Mine is a huge improvement over the Casati. Very comfortable. I don't think it needs much else. I'll get back again after a few hunderd miles. I can't believe that there is no deraliuer rub when standing. And, no rubbing in any of the nine cogs - it is just perfect! My Casati rubbed in every gear standing and I had to trim to get through all the cogs in the middle chainring - no so with the Bilenky! I guess the longer stays help, but ...
Thanks again for all your attention to detail.
Ed
Stephen,
We did an out-and-back on Skyline Drive Sunday (see attached). The views, weather, climbing & descending were spectacular. The bikes continue to be the greatest!
We took your advice and added photos & instructions to the inside of the S&S cases.
Ed
Hi Stephen,
Yes, the stem length seems perfect. The ride yesterday was very flat with
few opportunities to get out of the saddle. My hands never got numb and my
neck and back never hurt - which has always been a problem with every bike
I've ever had. That alone tells me that the bike fits like a glove.
Thanks again for doing such a superb job with the bike - comfortable, light
as a feather, and beautiful! What more could I ask for?
Hope you get to enjoy this beautiful day, maybe get some riding in!
I love riding my Bilenky much more than I ever expected! I have loved to ride since I was a girl, but riding a bike that really fits me takes the experience to a whole different level of enjoyment! Thanks again so much!
Regards,
Karen
Italy trip w/coupled Bilenkys
The bikes were second to none! We never had a bike issue - not even a flat in 1000 kilometers. You're bikes helped made our trip one of the highlights of our lives. The tour guide even asked how we managed to keep our bikes looking so nice & clean ;-)
No photos yet, but plan to have some up sometime next week.
Ed
Hi Steven. I've now got 3000+ miles on the yellow Bilenky. All is still working beautifully!
Ed
Wanted to let you know me and my bike had a great trip through Europe.
We started in Pass Germany, through Austria, into Slovakia and through Hungary to Budapest (500miles). The bike went together no problem, the hardest thing was getting it through heightened airport security.
See attach picture, this is in the Watch region of Austria (wine country). A great day of riding and wine tasting I remember it fondly :)
Thanks again,
Stephanie
