Bilenky Cycle Works Inc.

Dec 2024

For more than a decade here in Philadelphia, TROPHY BIKES has sold and serviced the world's best folder bikes: BROMPTONS. We ran into an unusual issue with a Brompton Superlight fork, damaged by overtightening, and a "cone expander" stem design which Brompton has since changed into a more conventional/reliable wedge style. YES, we had a replacement fork in stock at Trophy - but the stem was also slightly damaged and a new one would have to come from England. Would it be possible to get it repaired locally, at one of the best frame builders in the U.S.? Like everyone else, we'd read the wordy (and kind of whiny!) slams against Bilenky Cycle Works - long waits, disorganization, and other hallmarks of the "artiste" small shop. We did note that all these Yelp complaints were over a decade old, yet still highlighted up top because, frankly, YELP sucks and wants small bizes to pay them to launder their reps. We're in the bike world, too, and have endured our fair share of mega-entitled folks, eager to use web-reviews to carry out vendettas. SO ... we showed the damaged stem to Steve Bilenky. He estimated 6 weeks (which seemed all-too-optimistic when I saw the bikes in progress at his, er, full frame shop.) We said OK, because his labor quote was less costly than a new stem, AND it would keep the matching (British Racing Green) color (Brompton frame replacement parts are only in Black, generally), AND Brompton UK could not guarantee when stems would be restocked. 1) Bilenky Cycle Works completed the repair in two weeks. 2) Steve ignored our (non-expert) advice to just restore the stem, and instead upgraded it to the wedge design as currently used by Brompton. This eliminated the possibility of future damage to the new fork steerer tube. 3) When we examined the repaired stem, we could not detect the slightest trace of the original cracks. It was as new. 4) The stem / fork fit together perfectly and a decade-old Brompton Superlight is back on the road again for its delighted owner. Philadelphia has long been known as the WORKSHOP OF THE WORLD, and there are still some extraordinary artisans carrying on that handwork tradition. (Philly Typewriter, Liberty Bellows, Michie Violins, etc.) Bilenky is firmly within that tradition, and they are a tremendous asset to the cycling community. - mcget

Jun 2022

Tricky to reach on the phone but after calling every other store in town they were the only ones who had the tools needed to work on my bike. And unlike other stores they weren’t fazed by old parts with obsolete standards. Haven’t encountered a better shop anywhere.

Oct 2020

Magic! The only place where they WOULD take this job and COULD done properly. The dent on my bike's frame disappeared, the color matching is stunning. The dent was never there.