The Strange Bike that CHANGED My LIFE!

Taking my Bilenky cargo bike out of deep storage.
www.bilenky.com/
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[@simonfirth3354]

Hey Russ, I made that bike for you when I worked at BCW, we called them Trash Pickers, homage to the Schwinn pickers. Developed from the viewpoint semi recumbent tandem BCW got the rights to around 1996 when I started working there, I figured we take all the recumbent parts off & it's a cargo bike. I remember you rode it down to the San Diego builder show that I was at, I was amazed at the weight of that carradice bag, you had packed it full !! Good to see it finding a new life

[@emod90]

I've been a bike person for most of my life, but have only committed more seriously to it about the last 4 years. I just recently sold my car and am almost nourished by everyone's disbelief. I love being an example of what can be done on a bike! Pushing the limits and challenging the status quo of transportation! Thank you for being part of my inspiration! I wish you all the best!

[@erikmathy4211]

Dude! YES!!! You were seriously a huge inspiration when I started getting into large format work. It's been such a cool thing to watch your progression since then.

[@VeloObscura]

Once the bike is sold, that hand-painted sign would look great in your new office in Girona!

[@jacko601]

I love your old work horse! If it were mine it would be hard to let it go. Since you're off to Spain it certainly makes sense to unburden yourselves, but what a wonderful artifact from your past. Being probably 30 years farther down the road from you I can attest that it is not the things we treasure but the memories. So, from one ex-Long Beacher to another, pedal on! Thanks for sharing.

[@chesterapricot3480]

as a long beach born and bread its fun seeing all the old footage of belmont shore

[@RichsRidesandRestorations]

I love the colour scheme and the sign! The turtle headbadge looks amazing too!

[@MrTown3r]

We need a full restoration of that thing and make it super rad!!!!

[@edwardgh57]

Awesome Russ ! If you have never ridden a tandem, long wheelbase cargo bike or recumbent , give it a try because Supple is baked into to the geometry! As a cyclist enthusiasts, I’ve been riding every kind of bike made for my 60 plus years.

[@Martin-8oll]

Congratulations on your move to Spain! Lovely country and looking forward to your videos there! All the best!

[@veloaa-montreal6924]

I'm a mobile bike mechanic on a bike in Montréal, so of course I think your bike-based photography business is the raddest idea ever! And that bike is absolutely amazing, you were way ahead of your time!!! I currently use a trailer but I'm planning on getting an Omnium and outfitting it with Milwaukee Packout toolboxes.

[@keraba1]

Love the frame lock! I have one on my grocery getter. I use it with a long, thick cable for the front wheel.

[@danielsprings1663]

Congrats on your move to spain and terrific bike. So much potential. I would even consider putting a Pelican case back on to finish the look.

[@Crispicus]

What a cool ride!! Thanks so much for sharing.

[@slantedorbit]

All your decisions then have really held up. It’s a validation machine. Bravo!

[@philipbyrne3037]

I’m still riding bikes like that. Bilenky made a tandem called the Viewpoint with a recumbent stoker with a similar design. I hope you take more of these American practical designs and components to Europe. Sour Bikes is an example in Dresden.

[@kimrice394]

Thanks for sharing.

[@bikenraider99]

digging the ride and the lock! That is always the bane of my rides when I wanna hoof it in an area; packing the lock.

[@brianmotter8150]

Russ, I just picked up my custom touring bike by Bilenky. It is great to see others once in a while!

[@mstark77]

So nice. I like the rack setup. Chose friction for my Omnium.

[@goblinpiper]

I'm running a 3x8 friction omnium!

[@mortlow6688]

Super cool bike... i like the old Handlebar it looks more comfy.

[@dcv9460]

💯Awesome Bike! 💯

[@jeffdible8171]

If I didn't need another reason to have an admiration for you, but you used a Bilinkey for a bicycle based business!!! I hope it goes to a good home.

[@migrantfamily]

How I used to drool over Bilenkys and just about anything out of Portland back in the day! Actually, who am I kidding? This is still droolworthy stuff.

[@thestreakpodcast]

Retro Schtick. Me too. The end. So good. Yes. You're an inspiration. Any adventure nipples on it?

[@solarheat9016]

Run the shifter cable along the bar all the way up to the clamp and put the bar tape over it. I found this works fine and prevents an "insect antennae" look. Kudos to whoever put those brake tabs on the front of the fork where they belong!

[@plutolarsson6001]

Please do a follow up! What a beaty! How does the gear ratio feel? Would use replace it if you where to bicycle with it to spain?

[@SEThatered]

You can convert it to a half-recumbent tandem too!!!

[@hirprimate941]

Such a cool bike. I love the idea of utility biking, I tried biking to work for a year or so but after the second time a car almost hit me I decided it just isn’t safe. I wish there was dedicated bike lanes everywhere.

[@ThalassTKynn]

I love cafe locks like that. This whole bike is great!

[@GLedesma]

Russ and I are about the same build... and N+1 is always a factor.

[@nickrojitas]

I still use my durace bar end shifters for up to 10s since 2008 on my kona dew from 2006 i only keep the frame, steam and fork original front the Bike

[@fg3901]

Did you pull that out of the family garage on your "Goodbye Tour"?

[@velodjk2975]

5:10 Looks like it could be a different handlebar setup in the retro video.

[@ThomasMcFarland]

so dope! So awesome!

[@kimberleemodel7182]

Wow! What a gorgeous machine. I wish i had a non n+1 reason to get a cargo bike.

[@nerigarcia7116]

I see bar end friction shifters never changed. I live in Long Beach and I think when my wife and I were looking for photographers we came across you ages ago.

[@user-in7og9fz6d]

Great bike! Nine years ago, I decided to run my photography business from my bike, with a custom trailer. Clients now talk about environmental issues as much as discussing photography.

[@user-jm3wr1ty2j]

Lovely!

[@mmmbass6068]

Keep it!

[@lesand5484]

Given that's your original cargo bike, now that you are in Europe, I'd love to hear your opinion on Omnium Cargo Bikes, which look super similar to your original set-up!

[@firiel2366]

I'm new to the biking world (like, REALLY new) but a bike is my main mode of transport now. I've been interested the traditional bakfeits, but I have limited storage options and with the built-in cargo bin I've been worried it wouldn't be practical for a lot of my daily travels. This is super intriguing though--I imagine it's not a crazy ton heavier than a regular bike, and wouldn't have some of the locking-up issues of a regular cargo bike?

[@SubjectNerdAgreement]

There's a new-ish cargo bike with a detachable platform designed specifically with small spaces in mind. Look up ten07 cycles

[@anton40786]

These fixed locks are very common in Europe. I saw in Denmark and the Netherland bikes only locked like this, probably only at safer spots. Our Nihola (Danish cargo bike) has it as well, and some old German bikes I had as a teenager too. I wouldn't trust this as an only lock, but I saw some European brands make these now in more soldid versions then in the old days, when they were a thin aluminum thing...

[@rasmusvedel]

It’s basically the minimum requirement for insurance coverage in Denmark. It’s also among the cheaper options so it’s often the one people opt for. Can’t imagine how many hundreds I’ve sold in my years at a bike shop.

[@BrentZahradnik]

What a great retrospective. Maybe wide range doubles didn’t even exist then in the same way they do now.

[@jasonbrune2865]

That sign would make a great patch

[@johnbaca8692]

That looks like a lot of fun and function in one package! That sign will look good hanging on your wall. We are about the same size, and I'm in So. Cal. Let me know how much you want for the bike if you sell it. PS. I don't have an Instagram or Facebook account.

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Asking $2k or reasonable offers.

[@Angiebanagie]

So this bike is in Long Beach???? What size is the frame? Thanks for sharing this video

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

@@Angiebanagie 52/54 ish

[@thakoharris]

Wait! You’re moving to SPAIN!!!??? 🇪🇸 We just did this in July! We live in Alicante. Where are you moving to?

[@joesiu849]

Where there's a wheel there's a way

[@benelias770]

If you had to do it all over again and run your photography business by bike in 2023, which bike would you use? Would you use a dedicated cargo rig? Stock offering or custom builder?

[@1111757]

The steering linkage... how does it work? I see nigher a rod nor cable pulleys. Are there internally routed cable pulleys? No way...? What am I not seeing?

[@1111757]

Ups, now at 4:08 I see it, was just not visible in the shots before

[@pierreviard1362]

How old were you back then?

[@tattoostrailsandtails906]

So is the front fork backwards?

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

No. Thats how he built them back then.

[@treszenrv9401]

@@PathLessPedaledTV Disk brake isn't in the right direction . Pretty sure it will void garantie.

[@darrengarvie8832]

Nothing like looking back at your old gear. Hope it goes to another person that can create a business out of it.

[@andrewamundsen1229]

Thanks for sharing this. I think you may regret selling it, how about a cycling museum donation?! Yes, that may feel egotistical but hey, someone else has suggested it. Do I hear a second on that proposal? Best of luck on your next chapter of life Russ and Laura!

[@JimConnelley]

Very similar to an Omnium.

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Omnium is similar to this :) This predates it by 18 years.

[@Kyleridesbikess]

I fix $60 dollar bikes to 6k, ill stick to friction