For thirty years, Stephen Bilenky has been combining art, craftsmanship and business as a fabricator of custom handmade bicycles. Bilenky doesn’t romanticize building artisanal bicycles; to him, it’s just about using elbow grease to make something of quality, just like in the old days of his gritty, working-class neighborhood in Philly.
Filmmaker Andrew David Watson attended college in Philadelphia and loves to tell stories from the city. Check out his Etsy video about Liberty Cycles.
1 Featured Comment
Karen Brown from blainedesign said 7 years ago Featured
"This is just life. Making things takes work and concentration and you just have to get up and do it." Will you marry me? This video is an example of the kind of story that just never makes it into mainstream conversation and to me it is the heart and soul of everyday life, most especially the life of a maker and fabricator. It stands as evidence of my most deep-seated hunch –– that there are unique and gifted craftspeople everywhere remaking the world for the better. DId I mention I liked the video?
88 comments
Richard Lithgow from RichardLithgow said 7 years ago
That was a really nice video.
chloe292 said 7 years ago
Fascinating! There is a niche out there for everyone with a passion =)
Patrick from EdelweissPost said 7 years ago
This makes me happy to live in one of, if not the best biking cities in the country. Biking is one of my passions, and the Minneapolis bike trail/lane system is so elaborate, large and well-maintained, I couldn't imagine living anywhere else. Ok, except maybe Portland ; )
Tatiana Mozerova from TatianasTienda said 7 years ago
Such a great story and wonderful video!!!
Megan from MegansMenagerie said 7 years ago
Just amazing :)
Fanie Grégoire from Fanie said 7 years ago
I am really amazed by this kind of craftmanship. This is the kind of work I would love to do, I'm amazed by it! And how great that he's been doing this for so many years. Over 30 years, phew! I've been recently rediscovering the joys of biking in my city and there really is a new movement right now, in Montreal. Which makes me very happy, biking is a wonderful hobby! :-) The images of this video are also very beautiful and I love the editing, great job!
Amy Gunderson from amysfunkyfibers said 7 years ago
So cool to see handmade at work. I can tell that the artist is content and happy- great article!
Jess Greenleaf from GREENLEAFblueberry said 7 years ago
I'm glad there are individuals out there building custom bikes. I bought mine from a retired firefighter who hand builds bicycles as a hobby. He got the color of his firetruck matched, so my bike is a true fire engine red! Yay for bikemakers.
Jane E Roberti from janeeroberti said 7 years ago
I live in a big biking town - Fort Collins, CO - and am a cyclists and metalsmith. So I love everything about Bilenky Cycles. Thanks!
Amber from BambuEarth said 7 years ago
raw. honest. pure. thanks for sharing your craft. ♥
tasticlife from tasticlife said 7 years ago
So cool. I want one!
Merle Kasonen from Mekadorn said 7 years ago
Thumbs up! More bikes and people like this skillful master in the world!
Stacey McCaffrey from vintagejane said 7 years ago
Amazing craft and creativity! Thanks for sharing!
Stacey McCaffrey from vintagejane said 7 years ago
Amazing craft......thanks for sharing!!!
David and Celeste from SheppardHillDesigns said 7 years ago
Great video ~ love the resurrection of the old bikes.
Matilde Cánepa González from matildecanepaArtnow said 7 years ago
wonderful video!. Nice work with bicycles. congratulations
Amanda Gynther from CafePrimrose said 7 years ago
Wow! So cool!
Freja Moon from LikeFreja said 7 years ago
cool!
Jon Ashley from JashleyCreations said 7 years ago
Great video! I bought a Fisher Mt Tam out of high school- hand made and fillet brazed. Now they're all made overseas, and now the magic is somewhat lost as robots churn out the new designs. I'm so glad to see that Stephen and his crew are keeping that handmade craftsmanship alive. It's more important than ever these days. Keep up the good work, Bilenky!
Chris from brokenasphalt said 7 years ago
Absolute Passion.
Sonja Bikić from DeepSilence said 7 years ago
Interesting video.
Karen Brown from blainedesign said 7 years ago Featured
"This is just life. Making things takes work and concentration and you just have to get up and do it." Will you marry me? This video is an example of the kind of story that just never makes it into mainstream conversation and to me it is the heart and soul of everyday life, most especially the life of a maker and fabricator. It stands as evidence of my most deep-seated hunch –– that there are unique and gifted craftspeople everywhere remaking the world for the better. DId I mention I liked the video?
Terry from Parachute425 said 7 years ago
True craft. I love seeing people with a passion for what they do. Thanks for sharing. Will pass it on to my biking friends.
Jean from Meanjeanarts said 7 years ago
Fantastic video! Love his down-to-earth attitude and his passion for salvaging and re-purposing instead of just discarding. It seems we've lived so long hearing "It's cheaper to buy a new one", which doesn't take into account the cost (financial, environmental and esthetic) of discarding the old one. These bicycles are unique and colorful works of art. Live long and prosper.
Janette from AmericanDollClothes said 7 years ago
A wonderful video and I love your passion for what you do! Thanks so much for sharing it with us.
LivingVintage from LivingVintage said 7 years ago
Cool! Go Phillly.
Monica from ThreeBarDGifts said 7 years ago
What a great story and video! So good to see a real craftsman keeping an artform alive. Nice looking bikes too!
natureguild from natureguild said 7 years ago
For a girl that owns 4 bikes, this kinda guy rocks. His words "this is just life and you have to just get up and do it" really speak to me. Thanks for sharing this story with us all
natureguild from natureguild said 7 years ago
an honest craft giving great results
Alison Herr Scates and Chuck Scates from ACESFINDSVINTAGE said 7 years ago
Wow, what a wonderful story. It is so nice to see someone at peace with their work and life. I also really enjoyed the video. I felt like I was able to peer into the shop and look around the way I would want to as if I were there.
aressa from OriginalBridalHanger said 7 years ago
Congrat!
Stef and Mark from HomeStudio said 7 years ago
Awesome! Thanks for sharing.
UnderMilkWood from UnderMilkWood said 7 years ago
really enjoyed looking into this art-form, thank you!
Kate from DrawertoDrawer said 7 years ago
Beautiful and practical- the best of both worlds!
Marina from anhaicabagworks said 7 years ago
Bilenky makes such beautiful bikes and the love they have for the craft is so obvious in all they do. My SO is a bicycle frame builder and his workshop is under our house, getting to creep in and watch him work is my biggest inspiration for my craft and reminds me of what dedication and love can build.
PaperAltar from PaperAltar said 7 years ago
Inspirational - congratulations Stephen, to a life well lived ! We have our own local inspirational crew 'The Troy Bike Rescue'. Cheers !!
Jonas Zibler from FoxieKitchen said 7 years ago
Really cool story. I love bikes all the way!
Marni from rebourne said 7 years ago
So proud of Philly's own bike builders. It's so cool to have a fabricator that has employed friends of mine, right here in our city. Also not to be overlooked are Haley Trikes, also built here in Philly by a guy named Stephen. My cargo/family trike was built by his hands 3 miles from my house!
Patti Trostle from PattiTrostle said 7 years ago
Really nice! Enjoyed the video!
Rebecca and Daniel from HabitNation said 7 years ago
This is what America is about. I love hearing about people like you, Stephen. You are making things happen, it's a movement.
TinsAndThings from TinsAndThings said 7 years ago
Loved the brightly coloured bikes in the video! I was lucky enough to inherit my mom's '73 Raleigh a few years ago when she retired from biking at age 80 (she's Dutch -- so biking is in her blood), and I just adore the old 3 speed. Have a small pic of it on my About page, but maybe I should upload a full-sized one! :)
Ana Perez from iPunto said 7 years ago
Loved this video.
jenn from noodleandlouvintage said 7 years ago
so SUPER! love every single bit of this.
Julie Meyer from JulieMeyer said 7 years ago
Nice filming and editing. The bikes are fantastic too. Now if winter could just lose it's grip here in Mpls, I could comfortably get my bike back out!
jody scott said 7 years ago
Very cool !
IKA PARIS from ikabags said 7 years ago
Formidable ! Love !
Lee Hazlett from ThePaigemaestro said 7 years ago
biking is not a hobby... it is a lifestyle.
Asta from CozyCappuccino said 7 years ago
I like bicycles. and admire people who are making them with their own hands.
Elizabeth from LeadOnDogs said 7 years ago
Stephen, you fit the motto of Bicycle Victoria so well. "More people cycling more often". With your bikes it would be a joy!
Virpi Irene Bendandi from ABenakCreation said 7 years ago
Wonderful! Lost art -- I truly appreciate those who keep these skills going and passing them on. Bicycles made with love and pride. Cool!
JOHN KING from JOHNTHEBLACKSMITHuk said 7 years ago
Great Work keep it up and hand the skills on to the next Generation....
dawn from jotjoy said 7 years ago
what an incredible homage to his art and craft.
Liesl Carlson from lcarlsonjewelry said 7 years ago
Thanks for sharing!!!
mazedasastoat from mazedasastoat said 7 years ago
"I love work, I could sit & watch it all day!" LOL
glenda puhek from glendalee said 7 years ago
Yup…that's the stuff.
Joe Tee from MisterJoeSprinkle said 7 years ago
Great feature! Seems like we have more and more cyclists here in New Orleans. Awesome story!
Jayne Norvelle from jnorvelle said 7 years ago
Very cool!
glenda puhek from glendalee said 7 years ago
Yup.…that's the stuff.
Jason and Andie from andiespecialtysweets said 7 years ago
Great story! Very inspiring.
Michael Rego from REGOllc said 7 years ago
Just Beautiful!
Jugosa Poliakov from Jugosa said 7 years ago
Great story
Polkadot Magpie from ThePolkadotMagpie said 7 years ago
Love this feature. Keep making!
Sam from SamieSam said 7 years ago
Watching you work is so much fun! Bravo.
Cat Horn from CatMHorn said 7 years ago
what an amazing video! And beautiful bicycles. I couldn't agree more that "making things takes work and concentration and you just have to get up and do it." His work philosophy is truly wonderful and it shows in the creations that come from his shop. And Cheers to Philly bike culture, I would love to have one of his bikes for myself. Thanks for sharing!
jewelinesales from jewelinesales said 7 years ago
Love this workshop and all that it does! Love what your doing is what really matters in the end.
Sandro Stumpo from GalleryDiModa said 7 years ago
It is nice to see handmade goods still being made. I am Ecuadorian and Italian. When you visit these places, quality, handmade crafts are the norm.
GroovyPirate from GroovyPirate said 7 years ago
absolutely amazing..
naive magic from puremagik said 7 years ago
This is so beautiful. The fact that he has been doing this for 30 years now, and just keeps on going, by just doing what he loves most. Lucky guy
Emily Rodia from VIVIPARA said 7 years ago
Beautiful Beautiful Beautiful - -
Kim Myers said 7 years ago
Thank you! Recycling, rebuilding, renewing, recreating. What an inspiration and what love this video expresses. Go Philly indeed! THANK YOU!
Julie Schnebelen from OurFrontYard said 7 years ago
Absolutely Beautiful Work!!! Wonderful Dedication!! True Artists!!
Melissa Buford from Melissajai said 7 years ago
Touching...an amazing story...He deserves the best just for being that kind of person/thinker.
Melissa Buford from Melissajai said 7 years ago
oh, sorry-I want to mention the video work by Andrew David Watson was very good ...that's what made it touching, I think. Love.
Joy said 7 years ago
Awesome. My brother worked for Bilenky for years building bikes many years ago! Great to see this on Etsy,
Terri Croswhite from customcrochetbyterri said 7 years ago
~ Love this, forwarding it to my son who also works for a shop that builds custom bikes in San Luis Obispo, CA. Thanks for the video ~
Terri Croswhite from customcrochetbyterri said 7 years ago
~ Love this, thank you so much for the terrific video, and I am forwarding it to my son who also works for a shop that builds custom bikes in San Luis Obispo, CA.~
Terri Croswhite from customcrochetbyterri said 7 years ago
Love this, thank you for this terrific video that I am sharing with my son who also works for a custom bike building shop in San Luis Obispo, CA
oldandboard from OldandBoard said 7 years ago
Great video. Love the worthy souls line.
Kimby from KimbysKrafts said 7 years ago
Excellent video! My husband is going to love it, he also takes old bikes he finds at the town dump and refurbishes them and makes them like new, and gives them to people that need them. Its great to know that there are others out there than can see the potential in things that others don't and create the art that you are creating now. Great job and happy 30th!!!!
Jessica Grundy from solocosmo said 7 years ago
Awesome video! :)
Johnnie Olivan from rejuicedbikespdx said 7 years ago
Loving Bike News, Great Story!.
Ryan Wyrick from rareattitude said 7 years ago
this video is beautiful. i have so much appreciation for stephen!
Thom Aten from Circa810 said 7 years ago
Wonderful video, beautiful bikes and a great concept!
Laetitia from Kerguelen said 7 years ago
Very inspiring video and story, thank you so much ! :)
greatfindstudio from GreatFindsStudio said 7 years ago
This is a wonderful story and collaboration, Thanks Stephen, Andrew, Tara, Etsy and all the people involved for bringing us artists and viewpoints we otherwise would not get to see. Very Inspiring and especially elegant bikes. I want one!
Meghan P from BustinCaps said 7 years ago
Awesome video and even better work! Congrats. Cheers!
Andrew from DrewsNiceART said 7 years ago
Now take that bike and pedal along the River Thames! See an Etsy artist cycling the famous stretch of beautiful river. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMfeDG2X1Jk www.andrewherridge.co.uk
Mojca and Marko Dolinar from DURIDO said 7 years ago
I love bicycles and this video is a great inspiration.tanx.