06/11/2021
Did you see the bike that President Biden gifted to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson?
We had the honor of capturing content for Bilenky Cycle Works as they crafted the All-American Bicycle in their manufacturing workshop in North Philadelphia. The challenge? To build a custom, handmade bicycle in just 10 days.
We watched (and sometimes participated) as the team built the bike from start to finish working from before sunrise to well beyond midnight. The bike was handmade and painted by Steve Bilenky, designs and decals by Nico Stettler, fabricated by Casey Sussman (Mars Cycles), and finished by Bryan van Arsdale (Bicycle Revolutions).
We also want to say thank you to Paul Daniels (Paper Trail Bike Cafe) for introducing us to Steve Bilenky and without whom we never would have had this incredible opportunity.
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From Philly Bike Expo :
"The bike was a modern take on the Sterling Metro 5, which started Bilenky on his custom bike making career. The Metro 5 itself was a remake of the classic English 3 speed in a lightweight form. This lightweight roadster with AXS shifting was fillet brazed, hand-finished, and constructed with a mix of Columbus and Dedaccaiai tubing.
The 'Boris Bike' comes full circle back to its British Roots as Stephen Bilenky started his frame-building skills with an English builder from Birmingham - Jim Gittins.
The bike was built up with materials and components from many of the Philly Bike Expos exhibitors including: Velocity USA Spurcycle Ron Kingcage White Industries SRAM Thomson Bike Products Jen Green Head Badges Selle Anatomica Ahearnecycles Official_columbus Bern Helmets Schwalbe tires
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Parts contributors from outside the Philly region included Vans White Industries
And of course an extra special shout out to all the beautiful "junkyard cats" looked after at Bilenky Cycle Works including Maxine, Y.C., and the rest of the furry crew. As always, please adopt and remember to spay and neuter your pets!
Message us for additional images or if we missed someone. Photographer 📷 Daniel Kilkelly
