9 Zero 7

Had to pick up my jaw after seeing this beast built up. One of our dedicated customers brought in a 9Zero7 frame and asked us to get everything else for it. Top notch parts on here; Nuvinci hub, Phil Wood 150mm BB, White Industries Cranks, Phil Wood 135mm Disc front hub, Paul Melvin tensioner, White Brothers Snow Pack fork...there is nothing less than bling on this bike. Kind of strange not having 'gears' but if this was my bike, I wouldn't complain.

We've built a couple custom fat bikes in recent past including a Schlick Cycles North Paw for our good friend Dave. With fat bikes, you have to account for many nuances that don't apply to all other bikes like offset wheel configurations and 100mm bb shells. It's just been wonderful having to tackle a lot of these challenges and getting familiar with these builds. I like that more of these bikes are out on trails, beaches, and even on the road. If you've never ridden a fat bike in 10in of snow, you are missing out!

Surly Moonlander

I want this for Christmas. 18" and 20" Surly Moonlanders in stock!! In store sale only.

The H - via Prolly

 

via prolly

If you ever have the chance to hang out this gent, I recommend it.

Keep Live Music on WMSE

Our great pals over at WMSE need your help. Listener supported radio is cherished by all of us here at Ben's Cycle, so check out this great station and please donate!

Winter Bike Forum - Public House in Riverwest - Tonight!

Come join us at Riverwest's Public House for this year's Winter Bike Forum. Yours truly will be participating in a panel discussion of the do's and don'ts for riding in the winter. Forum goes from 6-8pm followed by a dance party! Hope to catch you there!

Rick Anderson: Chief of Police

Rick Anderson: Chief of Police from DPH on Vimeo.

Great to see some footage of our Milwaukee native!

Blue Collar Holiday Sweepstakes!

In celebration of the release of the limited edition Miller High Life & Chrome bag collection, the two brands have partnered to bring you the greatest Holiday sweepstakes ever! Enter here for a chance to win this incredible prize package for you and a guest:

 

• Round trip airfare for two to Chicago
• Accommodations for three nights
• 2 custom Miller High Life Citizen messenger bags made to order at the Chrome Chicago Shop
• Ground transportation to Milwaukee
• A VIP Tour of the Miller Brewery in Milwaukee
• Beer sampling at the Bavarian-style Miller Inn
• Two Tickets For the Annual “Holiday Lites” Festival in downtown Milwaukee's Miller Valley

 

 

The sweepstakes is open to residents of the United States only, excluding California and the District of Columbia due to state laws. See link below for entry and a full list of Rules & Regulations.

 

ENTER HERE! 

 

 Even though the contest trip is scheduled after our sock drive / release party for this colab bag; make sure you tell those Chrome folks you need to stop for a Ben's Cycle tour on your way through!

 

 

 

Ben's Cycle Sock Party

Tis the season for joy and compassion. On Dec 10th, Ben's Cycle is hosting a Sock Drive for those in need. So bring toiletries and socks to be donated for a great cause and enjoy some food and drinks in our new Rowerowa Szkola space. Chrome bags will also be there to showcase their new Limited Edition line and offer you the chance to win some prizes!

Ben's Cycle Bike Swap / Classes

Come join us at the Milwaukee Bike Swap this Sunday! I'll be there with a ton great products as well as information on Rowerowa Szkola, our Bike School. Classes are filling up so sign up for a winter session now!

Happy Thanksgiving! Online and In-Store Coupon!

We are upping the "Black Friday" sensation by extending it through the weekend. Shop online or come in our store! We have quite a few 2011 and 2010 Specialized bikes and accessories that can carry discounts up to 35%; not to mention our huge inventory of parts and accessories at 20% off!

This coupon even works today for online customers; shop today and pick your order up tomorrow from our store!

*excluding 2012 Specialized bikes and Milwaukee Bicycle Co. frames

Milwaukee Cranksgiving 2011 - Today!

 
Be there and support the Hunger Task Force!

Saturday, November 14, 2009 at 6:00pm

Milwaukee Cranksgiving! Alleycat race to benefit the Hunger Task Force.

November 14th Milwaukee will be having it's second annual Cranksgiving Alleycat race. Registration is at 4pm. There will be an A class and a B class so all levels of riders are encouraged to come! There's no entry fee, but you'll need around $10-15 to cover the items you'll need to pick up at the checkpoints. 

Spacecraft Collective - New Products

If you're looking for a really great beanie to cover your melon this winter, look no further!
Spacecraft's selection of beanies is fantastic and the majority of them are handmade by a local coop of Bali artisans in their mountain homes!

ROWEROWA SZKOLA GRAND OPENING PARTY

Say HELLO to Fall!

We're helping our customers get ready for fall riding this year with a can't resist offer. Use this coupon* for fenders, racks, lights, a new helmet; or whatever your heart has been desiring!

*this coupon cannot be used with Milwaukee Bicycle Co. frames or framesets.

Momentum!

ff power hour from antonyoxxx on Vimeo.

Urban Velo - MKE Polo Guard

Urban Velo does a little write-up on our MKE Polo Guards. Thanks guys, check it out here!

New Products - MKS and NITTO

At the very top - MKS just took the O out of NOS for the 80's BM-7 BMX Pedal; now re-manufactured in black or silver cages.

In the middle - Is Silver the new black? Well, if Nitto's new M172 SSB handlebar doesn't sway some with its classic looks coupled with modern 31.8 clamp, heat treated durability and semi-ergo drop, we don't know what will. Currently available in 40 and 42cm widths.

Last but not least - MKS added one more version of their popular Promenade pedal. You can buy the traditional version with 9/16" spindle, polished body and champagne cages; the EZY version in the same colorway and now the EZY is available in all black. The EZY's are great for travelers, folders or even saving some space during storage.

These are just a few of the new products in the last couple weeks. We are constantly adding new items to our 8000+ inventory almost every day, so if you're curious about more...check it out!

twentynineinches.com - Milwaukee Bicycle Company 29″er: First Impressions

Guitar Ted just put up another installment about our new Milwaukee Bicycle Co. 29er. Be sure and check it out!

ROWEROWA SZKOLA IS HERE!

Introducing ROWEROWA SZKOLA - (Thanks to all the folks who helped us out on the correction). Means "BICYCLE SCHOOL" in Polish in honor of the neighborhood. We are a full service center to empower you with everything you need to understand and command the maintenance and operation of your bicycle(s). With the deep deep talent pool we have here, just about every question you can muster can be answered. Additionally we provide consultation to help you use bicycles in conjunction with your current transportation choices or to help you make bicycling your primary choice. Many of us here are year round commuters and we know this city well. We will also be hosting evening Q&A's with local messengers to really help you get the perfect routes and advice.

We will be having these structured classes for up to 4 people Mon. through Wed. evenings from 6 to 8 pm usually. These classes are:

Wheel Building
Two consecutive Mondays. Please sign up for these classes at least two weeks in advance so we can order the parts you need to build your first wheel or wheel set. Learn the basics to building a traditional wheel - nothing crazy (right away anyways) 10% off parts and tools!

$60, 6pm to 8pm

These classes begin -
Nov. 7th & 14th
Dec. 5th & 12th
Jan. 2nd & 9th
Jan. 16th & 23rd

Basics
Two consecutive Tuesdays. Learn flat repair, bearing adjustment, intro to truing, brake adjustment, derailleur adjustment, and safety inspection and cleaning techniques. 10% off parts and tools.

$60, 6pm to 8pm

These classes begin -
Nov. 8th & 15th
Nov. 22nd & 29th
Dec. 6th & 13th
Jan. 3rd & 10th
Jan. 17th & 24th

Comprehensive
Four consecutive Wednesdays. Learn everything in the Basics class taken one (or alot of) steps further in that parts will be removed from the bikes for overhauling with instruction for proper tool use. This is the class for cleaning bearings, identifying wear and part replacement, and changing cables, etc. Keep your white linen jumpsuit at home. 10% off parts and tools.

$100, 6pm to 8pm

These classes begin -
Nov. 30th, Dec. 7th, 14th, and 21st
Jan. 4th, 11th, 18th, and 25th
Feb. 1st, 8th, 15th, and 22nd

In addition to these scheduled and structured classes, we also offer the opportunity for one-on-one or small group classes during our open hours from 10 to 5 Mon. through Thurs. and 10 to 3 on Saturdays. Say you just want to learn derailleurs or want help with getting started commuting - just ask - we will be available to custom tailor instruction for you and or yours. These available hours will begin on Monday, Nov. 7th.

We LOVE doing this, and are excited to help you get as excited about cycling as we are. (Within limitation - some of us are truly nuts for bikes. But we can take you to crazy town if you like.)

The other reason we created this space is to provide a place for the cycling community to get together for events. Bike movies, club meetings, ride stops and starts and in-betweens, art events - you name it. Even local breweries have found our new space to be an excuse to enjoy their offerings and camaraderie (like we need an excuse) with special tastings, etc. If you have an event you would like to schedule, get in touch and we can help make it happen.

We are excited to announce that our first event/ Grand Opening will be the evening of FRIDAY NOVEMBER 18TH , 8pm with the launch of the newest issue of COG MAGAZINE. On display will be artwork from the creators of COG, delicious beer from STONEFLY BREWERY , and GOLDSPRINT ROLLER RACING for all comers to turn themselves inside out on. Time to let the trash talk fuel your legs to victory or mush against your favorite opponents and as of yet undiscovered new friends - sprints are truly a spectacle!

The best way to get ahold of us for scheduling classes and events is 414 384 2236, ext 1007. Or email me, at bikeschool@benscycle.com. Either way I can confirm your requests in a timely manner.

Hope to see you soon!

Freeload Racks – Your Platform for Adventure

Freeload is a company from New Zealand that has designed one of the most adaptable racks I have put my hands on. It uses a strong cam system to latch on to either the seat stay or fork (even suspension forks!). It's ingenious triangular adjustable system allows you to install the rack with ease as well as angle it how ever you please. There are essentially two models: one that works with panniers and one that doesn't. Check them out here.

This is one of those items that can help solve problems for any mechanic. On top of being light and seemingly strong, this rack was designed mainly for dual suspension bikes but can also work on road bikes that do not have rack mounts. I wouldn't install this on a carbon bike, but as always, consult your mechanic if this is a suitable option for your bike. It is also very easy to take on and off. As we see more cyclists dabble in adventure biking and dirt brevets, I think we will see more great products like this soon.

Milwaukee Bicycle Co. Reflective Patch - NEW!

HERE!

29 Inches .com : Out of the box

We sent over our new 29er to Guitar Ted @ twentynineinches.com for review and he's just put up a new post about the details...Check it out!

Midwest Open 2

The great Bike Polo Midwest Open descends on Milwaukee this weekend, info here!

John's Milwaukee Road/Cross

Nice build John! And yes, this build does have the option for cantilever studs. I have also seen bikes built up with Paul Racer M brakes without cantilever studs for more clearance. Regardless, this bike will ride great in the dirt!

3 Polo Shafts Reviewed

Take a look at this in-depth review from Gotta Be Gritty

Besides just wanting to say thanks for the great review; we'd just like to clarify a couple things you've mentioned about ordering from our site.
a)We've been working with the USPO to get a cheaper rate on longer/oddly shaped packages and we're finally getting somewhere. You'll see a decrease on shipping costs for polo shafts shortly.
b)Our free shipping starts at $75 dollars (lower 48); so if you can get some people together for an order, it only takes 2 sets of the 3 piece kits to get free shipping.
Thanks again and keep on swinging!

Rick Anderson's Bruiser 26

photo credit - Rick Anderson

As with the development of the original Bruiser; we wanted the riders to tell us what they needed, not the other way around. It's so important to get as much input as possible; but not just input, good input. As luck would have it, we had an opportunity to have another local rider with a lot of talent test out the new frame.
I've know Rick as long as I've known Antonyo and needless to say it wasn't too hard of a decision; always considering them the fixed duo of Milwaukee. With the pair of them on board with this project, you know this bike is going to be nothing short of incredible.

See the rest of his ride - here

Antonyo - Long Beach

horchata is good from antonyoxxx on Vimeo.

Mash BOLT

Double MASH posts! You probably have seen this at Interbike or just browsing through the web, but we have them in stock! 53 and 55cm available here!

Cinelli Mash

Histograms in stock!!

Milwaukee Bruiser Polo Specific Frameset - NEW!!!

Here it is! Waterford manufactured Polo Specific Bruiser Frame! Frame is full True Temper OX Platinum and around 2 lbs. lighter than our Taiwan model.
Same great Bruiser geometry; with only a slight change suggested by the Milwaukee Bike Polo guys. A steeper seat angle / shorter top tube brings you closer to your bars and eases around the bar ball control. Want to see more specifics? Check em out on our site!

Milwaukee Bicycle Co. V-Brake Bruiser Polo Fork - NEW!!!

So new we only have a few of these in stock! Here are some details...

• Bruiser Polo Fork - 100mm Spaced for Standard Front Hub
  
• 4130 Heat Treated Chromoly
  
• Weight - 1260g w/300mm Steerer
• 1-1/8" One-Piece Fully CNC'd Steerer
• Linear V-Brake Mounts with Removable Studs
• 400mm Axle to Crown
• 32mm Rake
• 6mm Dropouts
• Stealth Stainless MKE Badge (yes, the paint can be cleaned off if you choose; just let us know in the order comments)
  
• Black ED Coated Inside and Out for Full Rust Proofing
  
• Your Choice of Solid Color (excluding pearl coats or metalflake)
  
• Lifetime Warranty
• If you want to buy a Bruiser frameset or Bruiser ECO build with the V Polo Fork, drop a note in the checkout and we'll substitute the V Polo Fork for no additional charge. 

Matte black forks ship right away. If you want any other color it will take about a week to turn around before shipping.

If you haven't guessed already (or seen on the court what our MBC sponsored Beaver Boys are riding); we are introducing a new Waterford built Bruiser Polo specific frame! Full True Temper OX Platinum Frame and about 2 lbs. lighter than the Taiwan version. Same great Bruiser geometry and 700c of course! Keep an eye out right here for more info; they're going to be available VERY SOON.

Antonyo - Off to California

WRAHW Antonyo Wothe Summer 2011 from WRAHW on Vimeo.

We're going to miss you dropping by the shop. Until next time, have a blast out in Long Beach!

New Bars - Yowelli

We just got some new Yowelli bars in, check them out here! More info at Yowelli.

Over the Bars in Milwaukee/MKE 29er

Check out Dave's review on our MKE 29er. I'm glad you had a blast on it! If you don't know who Dave is, check him out here. He is a great source of all things bike related in Milwaukee as well as around Wisconsin.

Also check out his post on Wisconsin trails and infrastructure. Politics aside, Wisconsin is a great place for cycling. From having the largest mountain bike series in the country to great trails and paths; we have it pretty good here! I've seen a ton of improvements to our paths and feel a lot more comfortable riding around town. I hope to see more changes, but for now, if you live here, I hope you're enjoying all that Wisconsin has to offer!

TRP RRL Levers

TRP RRL-SR - Drilled

For all you single speeders out there...a bit of the new and bit of the old. Carbon version coming back in stock soon!

TRP RRL-C - Carbon

Ben's Cycle/MKE Kits

If you all didn't know already, we have full kits for men and women. Get them here!

Upcoming Fall

Been pretty busy around here and I have a ton of stuff to post, but for now, let's talk about cyclocross! We have a great deal on Ultegra/Alex R450 wheels, perfect as a training set. I'm sure you'll find a use for a $200 wheelset!We also have some select new cross tires that should suit you on race day. Michelin Mud 2 and Clement Crusade PDX are in stock!Maybe this year I'll got off the mountain bike and actually do a cross race. I have a friend that is pretty adamant about lending his single speed Vanilla Speedvagen to race on. I don't know, it's quite a bit of bling for a rookie. But I guess why not! Regardless whether I race or not, I'll be at races heckling the heck out of my friends. Still really enjoying these summer days but am pretty excited for the fall season!

Heartland Velo - Madison, WI

Madison will be hosting a bicycle show that will have everything from hand built frames to components to apparel. Even our buddies at All City will be there! I'm excited to see the works of Banjo, Bilenky, Co-Motion, and other great framebuilders. So come celebrate and geek out all things bicycles! Not to mention cruising around Madison is quite the experience.

Btw, for those going, you must make a stop at the Union Terrace. The weather is perfect for a beer by the lakefront.

Photo Via Bilenky

Exciting News Here At Ben's

We’re happy to announce that Ben’s will now offer bicycle mechanics instruction, usage consultation, and commuter planning year round. Done in a private or group setting, and all inclusive and non competitive. For our special introductory rate, we’ll charge $40 dollars an hour for individuals and a $30 per individual per hour group rate for up to 6 people, so contact us now to schedule appointments. I personally have taught over 600 people in the last 8 years in both MPLS and MKE, and I have been a mechanic and member of the bicycle industry for 16 years, but the talent pool at Ben’s runs deep, and we’ll capitalize on our staff’s skills and areas of expertise whenever possible. We can also come to your business or home for education presentations that can help get your employees or family using bicycles for transportation and recreation. We’re really excited about this and hope you will be too. It’s just more stuff you get to do with your bike!
Give us a call at 414.384.2236, and ask for Mark Sirek to schedule your first visit.

DVS Cinelli

Images via DVS Cycling

IN STOCK!!!!

Vincero Design Water Bottle System

~click on image to see more~

Vincero has been working on making it easier for cyclists to mate their water bottles to their bikes since 2008. By using rare earth magnets and a no drip squeeze valve, this minimal design keeps weight down and hydration up; it is also the system used by the 2011 Kenda Pro Team. Oh and they're 100% made in the USA.

Check out some reviews -
Grams Light Bikes
Liberty Sports Magazine
Bike Diva

They are available today > HERE

Ben's at Sounds of Summer

Image from Flickr

Come join Ben's at Arlington Heights Park right off of the Hank Aaron trail tomorrow from 630 to 830pm for some free music, free BBQ, and some summer hangouts at Silver City Main Street's Sounds of Summer! The event is to showcase some of Milwaukee's fine musical talents as well as promote outdoor family and bike friendly events.

We'll have some MBC items for you to browse through as well as give you an opportunity to try some of our new bike models. Drop by and say hello!

Sadio Handlebars and Sprockets - IN STOCK!

Just as of late, Antonyo's rockin the 420 bars pictured above and these sprockets in grey look super fresh. If your in the mood for some new - Get them HERE!

AJ Austin

AJ at it again!

Franklin Hot Weather

Back in stock!

Urban Velo UHMW Polo Head Review

I'm glad you guys are enjoying our UHMW Polo Heads! Check out the review here.

Velocause Raffle

Central Cafe and Ben's Cycle is sponsoring some great prizes for Team Velocause's Raffle that will benefit Penfield and The Children's Tumor Foundation. Drawing ends this Saturday at Midnight and you don't even have to be there to win! Check out the big prizes as well as the great foundations you can contribute to.