Bilenky Cycle Works is no stranger to tandem bikes. We saw quite a few hanging around their shop when we toured their place, and the NAHBS entry this year was simply amazing.
Above is another fine example, showing off the lug work, attention to detail and creativity that puts Bilenky in their own league. They’re able to consistently put out eye catching bikes that build in a lot of character without ever pushing it past classy and into the realm of gaudy. Pedal on to see the details of this travel tandem and several others ready for any ride…
Shift levers at the stem and elegant wire loops that feed the wire directly into the fork’s crown and down to the dynamo hub almost overshadow the killer wrap-around lug design at the head tube.
The use of multiple S&S couplers of various sizes allow the frame to break in half. Not sure you’ll ever fit it in a proper bike case, but the boot of a car could be possible. Note the pass-through brake cables and custom initials on each seat tube.
This was the silver rocket of a coupled tandem that was at NAHBS earlier in 2014.
This tandem is part recumbent and part upright bike and borrows a lot from their cargo bike design.
The telescoping pole lets it pack down smaller and adjust the reach to the pedals. The roller over the fork brings the chain up and over to clear it…and keeps that very, very long chain from flopping about. An interim cassette cluster lets the front rider adjust their own cadence and effort individually from the rear.
Bilenky’s take on an aero road bike hides the cables and rear brake in a clever fashion.
Note the brake cable entering the top of the top tube and running into the frame through a separate smaller tube, which holds the guides for the shift cables. Small aero touches like a shaped seatstay bridge and fairings behind the fork crown polish the concept.
The rear brake hides under the chainstays and has it’s own return spring to help push it back open.
Just more pretty lugs.
And another pretty bike, also with S&S couples.
Integrated frame pump lip on the headtube and painted recesses on the seat collar show off their fondness for putting a special touch on every bike.
