Ray's Mountain Bike Park - Milwaukee

Work on those skills at Ray's this New Years weekend!

Earl

Milwaukee Road - Now Available!!!

Our shipment JUST in from Waterford!

Happy Holiday

We've been busy these last couple of days keeping those studded tires in stock and getting ready the Spring (which seems so far away!). Anyways, from all of us here at Ben's, we wish you all a great holiday and as always, happy riding!

Earl

More Great Products

Oh yes they are here and they are sweet!
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Finally a single-speed conversion kit for those Campy Hubs!

Earl

Light & Motion - Available Now!

I couldn't be happier with my Stella 200. It's lightweight, powerful, great battery life, and it's waterproof! Great for those rainy rides. We have the whole line here! Check out these reviews by Bike Rumor on the very bright VIS 180 and Seca 1400 lights that we carry. Pick one up and you won't regret it!

Earl

MBC Bruiser - Winter Commuter

Winter in our part of the country can get quite debilitating. It's been hoovering around zero degrees here in Milwaukee and last night was a particularly brutal ride home. Still, I don't second guess riding into work. I guess since I've been doing it everyday for the last 6 years, it will always be a natural and enjoyable part of my day. Well, here at Ben's, we encourage you to also enjoy riding through these winter days. So we introduce to you the Bruiser Winter Commuter Build!

Built with the intention of blasting through snow and ice while keeping you comfortable and in control. Armed with Nokian Hakkapeliita 700x35c tires and strong Alex G6000/Formula wheelsets, you'll slice through all conditions with ease and less fear of slipping. Our Bruiser can take the abuse from jumps and staircases; it can also take on winter storms!

Here's Steve's personal bike!

***Fellow Ben's employee Mike was doored yesterday on his way to work. He's pretty banged up (broken rib etc) but fortunately he had his helmet on and is able to walk around. Just a reminder whether you drive or ride...be careful out there. We all wish you a speedy recovery Mike!***

Earl

Thank You

Classy shop equals classy signage

...to all those that dropped by and/or picked up a thing or two at our booth. If you missed it because of the weather you may see us at the Madison bike swap (not official, but we're working on it). We had a blast and quite pleased at how much we sold! I also want to give a thanks to Jake, the bike fed, UW cycling crew, and volunteers. It went flawlessly with all your hard work.

Earl

UW Milwaukee Bike Swap!!!

Just a small taste

Oh geez, we're bringing a bunch of stuff to the UW Bike Swap and all of it is going to have such low prices!!! Felt like I was selling Suburus for a second. Anyways, we're loading up the big truck with some sweet product and will even have coupons for up to 30% off on in-store purchases! I'm pretty excited just to hang out with like-minded folk. Cycling is getting big here in Milwaukee and pretty sure this will be a big turnout. So drop by and check out our booth!!

Earl

Get Em - Sun MTX33 700c

Via John

BACK IN STOCK!!!!!!

Earl

Race Worthy Studded Tures

What?! Sub 700 gram tires with 300 studs and it's UST tubeless?! I love my Nokian 294 Extremes but maybe next year I'll try these Nokian Gazza 300 UST! Sorry 29er kids, only in 26x2.2 for now. Speaking of racing...

Thanks Dan!
(If the embed doesn't work, go here)

Reminds me of the Bond bike...but with the Mission Impossible tune. 1-3" of snow today, I'm excited, I can understand if you're not!

Earl

YESS Bottom Bracket Tensioner

I found the YESS ETR/B tensioner through a fellow mechanic and thought it was a pretty cool idea for a tensioner. I know this has been applied to downhill bikes for years, but this one in particular works as a single speed tensioner. Here, Sean, a MKE bike polo slayer, uses it as a dual gear system; one for polo and the other for commuting. More info here.

I can go into the logistics of this set up but just by looking at it, but you get the point. The tension on the spring is pretty strong and you wouldn't have to use any tools to change the gear. He says it works fantastic! Again, like all bike products, this may not work with certain set ups. However, with the right ratios, parts, and adjustments, this could work flawless. Thanks Sean!

Earl

Winter Riding

Ok, so winter can be a bummer at times (cold, slush, gloomy days, etc). It's easy to complain about it but if you've lived in the Midwest your whole life like me, you just have to make the best out of it. Plus, you get to appreciate the spring and summer a whole heck of a lot more when half the year is freezing. I cope by riding a lot.

I don't know what it is, maybe its the tranquility. Maybe it's the beauty in the snow covered terrain. Maybe it's just to challenge the elements. Whatever it is, I love riding in the winter. I get pretty excited when there's fresh snow on the ground. Just bundle up, get some studded tires, and be careful!

I took a spin around the River Trails by North Ave. They finally lifted the the construction fence close to Port Washington Ave so the trails are now uninterrupted! It was quite the pleasant ride.

For the die hard, our buddy Gary is putting on a Mountain Bike Snow Race. Oh it will be a great time. Bikes, beers, and belt buckles!!! Hope to see you all out on the road/trails!

Earl

Rick Anderson

Rick Anderson // Fix[ed] from Kinema Group on Vimeo.

wow. Rick has some great lines in here. giddy up.

Milwaukee Bike Swap

Bigger Image Here

So we have a booth at the Bike Fed's UW-Milwaukee Bike Swap. Oh we have lots of items at really great prices! Stop by and shop around or come to talk shop.

Earl

MKE Flickr

If you haven't noticed our Flickr Photostream on the right hand column, check it out ---->.

Well, after being in business for 80 years, a shop can collect a lot of sweet gems. On our Flickr page, we've started to post Vince's (owner) personal collection. Unfortunately, they are not for sale but if you roll through the shop, you can see bits of cycling history hanging in our theater/warehouse as well as in our pro shop. We'll be posting more in the future. There are definitely some steeds that I wouldn't mind having in my collection!

Earl

Travel Channel - NYC Bike Messengers

Nice Milwaukee hoodie Doug!
Via John

I definitely gave messengers a lot of respect when I first watched Pedal 5 years ago. I did my stint as a messenger for two years and it paled in comparison to what couriers in NYC, SF, London, and other major cities have to deal with.

So needless to say, I'm pretty excited about Travel Channel's new series on NYC bike messengers. I can't wait to see what a high(er) budget film will produce. Thanks John!

Earl

Nokian Studded Tires In Stock!!!

Swoop them up while you can!

Earl

MKE Bike Polo - Lexington, KY

Photo by Kevin Walsh

A little bit late on this but still good reason to post it. Ben's boys Kremin and Matt slaying it in Lexington! Brian, Jake, Guthrie, and Zach making us proud as well! Keep on keepin' on.

Lexington, KY - 1st Midwest Open Bike Polo Tournament

1st place: IDK (Kremin-Milwaukee, Lefty Joe – Chicago, Jonny Hunter – Madison)

2nd place: Hunter’s Heros (Brian Dillman -Milwaukee, Ben Hunter – Madison, Ben Schultz – Chicago)

3rd place: Wardens (Zack Rueter-Milwaukee, Capt. Jake Newborn -Milwaukee, Matt Hewitt – Milwaukee)

4th place: Dans Ta Gueule, Puceau (Guthrie -Milwaukee, Kev – TO, Ngaihon – TO)

More at MKEBKE.

Earl

If You're Going to Celebrate Christmas...

Via NGNV

...please celebrate it with Slayer.

Earl

Cold Snap

Well there you have it, winter has finally struck Milwaukee. Regardless if you are like me and likes the snow/cold or are weary of the low temps, it's time to bundle up. Here are some jackets that I think will help battle winter's grip...

Pretty excited about a new line of clothing that we just picked up; Endura has been at the clothing game for a couple of years now. I've owned a couple of their pieces and have to say they are some of my favorites. I can tell that through the years they have only improved on their line. Each jacket has unique details that are not found in others.

Endura Convert II

This is a great waterproof jacket with 360 deg of reflective stripes. The sleeves can be unzipped but not all the way so you don't lose them. Their is a convenient pocket in the back to slip them in.

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Endura Luminite Jacket

This jacket is made to take on a lot of wind and water. There's also a small rear light on the back!

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We have a pretty good selection of hoodies/jackets and jackets/vests from Gore, Craft, Endura, Swrve, Showers Pass, and Chrome, but what do you wear under? My suggestion is wool. Wool breathes very well and keeps the warmth in. Since it breathes so well, it drys a lot quicker and prevents odor better than cotton or synthetic. I've really liked the Endura BaaBaa baselayer for all riding conditions. It's great under your jersey as well as your commuter clothes.

Here's a thicker zip-up from Swrve. It's great under a windproof jacket but works and looks great as an outer layer! It also has two pockets in the back like a cycling jersey.

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Swrve Milwaukee ES

With Kevin Sparrow, one of the many hardworking couriers in Milwaukee, giving inspiration to this jacket, you know the Milwaukee ES was made with year-round riders in mind. This newly redesigned jacket is light, keeps you toasty, and has all the bells in whistles to keep you comfortable as you bomb the streets.

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Showers Pass Hybrid Jacket

Here's another great company with great products, Showers Pass not only makes clothes functional, they make them with style. Originating from the very rainy Portland, this company knows a thing or two about keeping you dry and looking good.

Now that's a lot to choose from. If you're local and in the market for some new threads, roll on down and try some on. If you don't in these neck of the woods, give us a call, we'll be happy to answer your questions!

Earl

Fun with Bruisers

Via Prolly

Leave it to CMWD to take it to the next level. Boom, Bruiser Tall Bike! More from John.

Skidding

More skidding, not a Bruiser but always a classic!

Earl

Tiny Wheels for a Giant

I used to follow the NBA religiously when I was a kid and even though I never did see Bill Walton play, he was a frequent commentator next to Bob Costas. I recently read an article in Bicycling about Bill Walton and how he's been a dedicated rider for years. Pretty cool to see an NBA great on a track bike. Them 700c wheels look like toys!

Via MassanSF

Earl

New Milwaukee Road Bike!

We have had more and more requests for our Milwaukee Orange One with geared drop outs that it was time to follow through for our customers.

We worked with Waterford Precision Cycles to create a frame that would ride as well as our original Orange One. When we starting talking about it, I came to the conclusion that there was only one right answer...don't change a thing! Same True Temper Verus tubing, frame geometry and sizing; but with the cable stops, Tom Ritchey dropouts and 130mm rear spacing, all for around $600. As with all of our frame purchases; you'll receive 20% off all build parts to get it rolling

There's plenty of room for 28c tires and you'll still have space left over (pic) for 35mm fenders. If you went with the optional cantilever bosses for cycloX, a big 32c nobby will fit just fine (even a narrow 35c).

Keep and eye out right here for more info coming soon!

I Like It

I will always view the bicycle as a utilitarian tool and when a product only facilitates that idea, it gives me reason to like it. So I introduce to you the Chrome Boris Backpack (available in Navy/White too).

Simple, clean lines.

Expandable.

My favorite part; opens up like a suitcase! Oh I know everyone has had to swim in their messenger bag or backpack to find that last beer or cell phone or what have yous.

Nothing fancy. No crazy bells and whistles. Just a functional and easy to use bag. Done.

Earl

TREATED - Antonyo Wothe

TREATED from Sam Erickson on Vimeo.

Love watching Antonyo ride.

John says it all in 5 words... "Bike control, creativity and pegless."

Well done.

Be sure 'n tell 'em, LARGE MARGE sent ya!

Everyone knows that riding in the snow can be one of the most enjoyable activities. All bundled up, the crisp air searing your lungs; not to mention the blissful sound of the crunching powder beneath your tires.
If you are one of those snow goers, we have a few items that may be of interest. Surly's Pugley is sure to get you through the white fluff and we carry all the necessary goods to get one running for you; including the mothership herself...don't forget the beef.
We also have a good range of studded tires for your daily ride; but they are moving pretty fast. So if the ones you are looking for are out of stock, fear not, we'll have them back in stock shortly. You can always hit the "In-Stock Notification" button at the bottom of every product page and we'll shoot you an email when we get them back in.
D

Phil Wood Custom Pt.2

Phil Wood comes through once again. Track spacing, over-sized flanges, ISO single sided fixed and extra machining in the flanges. T.R. is really going to go crazy when he gets his eyes/hands on these hubs!
D

Do Yourself a Favor....

...and get these socks. I'm not one to demand a sale, but seriously, buy these.

I've been using the Swiftwick Four Merino Crew Socks everyday during these fall/early winter weeks and I feel naked without them. They are perfect for mountain biking and commuting at above 35 deg dry conditions without any shoe covers or boots. Since the sock is thicker and is made with a mix of merino wool, they have been the best wicking and insulating socks that I've owned. Everyone that has tried them says the same thing!

More items here and here. Swiftwick sells great products and they're made in the USA!

Earl

Nitto Lugged Stems and Seatpost

Oooohhhh sweet sweet beautiful lugged bits from Nitto. Quill Stem, Threadless Stem, and Seatpost...get into it.

Earl

Cinelli MASH

We just replenished our stock of both green and grey Cinelli Mash frames. My Cinelli rep says that the grey version will not be available for 2011 so get them while you can! They will continue with the green as well as release the new 'histogram' frame (pictured below) around March. The new version will have a slightly more aggressive geometry and is priced at $1000 while the green will be unchanged and offered at $850.

Via MASH
Definitely on my birthday wish list.

Earl

Get Pumped...

MACRAMENTO from MACAVISION on Vimeo.

Race Across The Sky 2010 from Citizen Pictures on Vimeo.

...to ride.

Earl

Milwaukee Is Steppin It Up

After a bit of morning single-track out on the Tosa Trails, I decided to bop on down through the Hank Aaron Trail to check if the new bridge was up and running. Lo and behold, it was complete. The Valley Passage is now open!

This leads west and continues past 84th st.

Freshly painted.

This maybe the cleanest piece of Milwaukee Bike path that I've seen.

I don't know about you but this make me really really excited. This is a great alternative for commuters and recreational riders.

From Hoyt Park in Wauwatosa, the Hank Aaron trail bypasses me from 43rd to 6th st. without crossing a single stoplight. Apparently, there is also a new trail that goes west of this Valley Passage and takes you beyond 84th St. Their is also talk of construction to push the path further west to 124th st where it will intersect with the Oak Leaf Trail, but I'm not completely sure on that. Imagine 120 blocks without riding next to a car!

Another thing that Milwaukee can pride themselves on (other than all the great beer we have) are all the wonderful parks that are available. I hope with the shift in our political climate that preserving these parks and trails will continue to be a priority. If you use the Greenway River Trail on the East side of Milwaukee, take this survey. I know a lot of people ride their bikes, fish, and walk their dogs down there. It's a really beautiful part of our city and any effort to preserve, clean it, and make it safe for the users would have my vote.

There's nothing like exploring or commuting by bike. Hopefully all these improvements in our cycling infrastructure can benefit the people, businesses, and local bike shops of this great city.

These are exciting times to be a bike rider in Milwaukee. Now go out and ride!

Earl