Milwaukee Bicycle Co. Mettle Now in Stock in 53cm, 56cm and 59cm!

The Mettle, Milwaukee Bicycle Company's cyclocross bike, is now in stock at Ben's Cycle!

We just took delivery of 53cm, 56cm and 59cm frames from Waterford. Our current turn-around on new frames is only about 10 days, including any custom color of your choice. Cyclocross season is right around the corner!

The disc-brake Mettle could be the best cross bike you've ever ridden, stiff, supple, smooth in the corners. 

The Mettle May Just Be the Perfect Cyclocross Race Bike

The Mettle, Milwaukee Bicycle Company's new cyclocross race bike, might just be the perfect cross bike. 

Crossers have always loved the feel of a steel bike but bemoaned the lack of stiffness or the straight head tube. And racers have often disliked the ride of aluminum and the cost of carbon. 

But the Mettle is different. The Mettle combines the ride feel of steel with the near stiffness of aluminum or carbon. And a full Ultegra-equipped Mettle will be less than $2,500. 

Here's what you need to know: 

1. The bike is made of OX Platinum steel from True Temper in Waterford, Wisconsin.This tubing is stiff, lively, and has a compliant ride. For cyclocross, ride quality matters a lot more than the lightness of carbon. This bike frame is everything you need and more in a high-quality cross race bike.

2. The frame has double-butted down, top, and seat tubes. We also widened the top and down tubes from 28.5 mm (1 1/8 inches) to 35 mm for the down tube and 31.8 for the top tube. This means added stiffness from our previous version. 

3. The chain stays are externally tapered, ovalized, and dimpled. The disc brake tab is ISO-standard. The rear brake cable is routed on top of the top tube to allow easy shouldering of the bike in run-ups.

4. Customers can choose any solid color for their frame. Adding panels will cost extra. 

5.  The frame alone weighs 4.4 pounds. Together with the Whiskey 7 fork, Cane Creek headset and seat collar, the weight comes to 5.5 pounds. 

6. While many customers purchased the older version of the cross bike, which came out in 2012, to use as a touring bike; the Mettle is still a versatile bike, it is designed for cyclocross racing. Milwaukee Bicycle Company will release its gravel bike, the Fugitive, in late summer(crossing our fingers, earlier), and that bike will be an excellent choice for touring, gravel racing, commuting, and general riding. 

7. Ben's will have frames in 53, 56, 59cm sizes by the end of June or first week of July; 50 and 62cm sizes will arrive a few weeks after. Customers can place their orders through the Ben's Cycle website. 

8. The geometry of the bikes will be the same as previous models of the cyclocross bike. The geometry was thoroughly researched and tested in race conditions to provide the perfect fit for a cyclocross racer. 

9. The new Mettle was designed and refined through racer feedback of the previous cyclocross bike. MBC tapered the head tube to allow for a tapered carbon fork and added stiffness. We also increased the diameter of the top and down tubes for additional stiffness. 

10. Check the internet. Look for semi-custom high-quality cyclocross race bikes. The Mettle has everything a discerning and fast cross racer needs : stiffness, snap, a pliable ride, custom builds.  Starting build costs for complete bikes include everything except pedals. Customers can also choose to upgrade and change build kits. 

Shimano Sora group:      $coming soon
Shimano Tiagra group:    $coming soon
Shimano 105 group:       $coming soon
Shimano Ultegra group:  $coming soon

View This: How Velocity Bicycle Rims are Made

  Velocity Rims have been a very popular choice for cyclists and for good reason, because they are the USA made.  They offer a variety of styles of rims specific to mtb, road, bmx, cyclocross, touring and even bike polo.  They're distributing warehouse is located a hob, skip and a jump over lake Michigan from us, which allows Ben's Cycle to offer super fast delivery and availability.
  Head over to our web store and take a look at our selection!  If you don't see the exact rim you're looking for, then let us know and we'll get it for you.

New Product: Philcentric Outboard Bottom Bracket

   Do you want a single speed, but don't have horizontal dropouts, an eccentric bottom bracket shell or an eccentric rear hub?  If you answered no to any of those questions, than look no further!  These eccentric outboard bottom bracket cups are just what you're looking for, and they're Made in USA just as all Phil Wood products.  Head over to our online store and see our entire Phil Wood bottom bracket selection here.

Wheelsmith Spokes Video: Made in Milwaukee WI

  A video from sicklines.com shows us how Wheelsmith spokes are made in Milwaukee WI.  Here at Ben's Cycle we build custom wheels specified by our customers daily, and 98% of the time we're using Wheelsmith spokes; unless its a proprietary wheel.  Looking to build up a new wheelset?  Head over to Benscycle.com and choose your rims, hubs, spokes and we'll build them at no charge.  Also, if you don't see the products you want for your build, than please ask us and we'll get them for you!

Re-Stock: White Industries Components

  Ben's Cycle just received a healthy amount of White Industries components for re-stock this morning.  We stock just about every product White Ind. makes!  So, if there is something you're looking for that we don't have on www.benscycle.com, then please let us know and we'll be happy to get it for you.

New Products in Stock: Shag Bags and Accessories

Shag Bag products are handmade right here brew city Milwaukee, Wi by our good friend Shaggy, who's local messenger and polo player.  Most of his products are custom made to order, but we got our hands on some already made bags and wallets.  He also makes messenger bags of various sizes and styles as well.  You can e-mail Shaggy directly for a custom color project here too.

New Products: Mission Workshop Bags - Fitzroy

We've carried Mission Workshop ever since they came out with their first bag, the Vandal in 2009, and we're happy to add the Fitzroy and other size/color combinations to our inventory.  Mission Workshop's popularity and success over the past years has grown very well and for good reason, mainly because of their innovations and originality that keeps them comfortably separated from other bag makers. 

Fitzroy

I've personally owned and operated a Vandal bag coming on 3 years now and have nothing but great things to say about it and the company itself.  They take pride in what they build and sell, and especially because they that stamp "Lifetime Warranty" and "Made in USA" on their products.

Fitzroy

New Products In Stock: Swrve Clothing

   

Swrve's new brown color cotton shorts and their grey lightweight wwr shorts just arrived!.  All of our Swrve clothing is available here and keep in mind orders over 75$ ship free!

Just so y'all know i've had a pair of Swrve's cotton shorts for years and they've held up super well through the thick and thin of Wisconsin weather.  They really do make a excellent everyday short for on or off the saddle.

Keep up the top notch work Swrve!

...and as always Swrve is Made in USA

Back In Stock: Revelate Designs Viscacha Sadle Bag

If you're looking for that do it all saddle bag that will allow you to pack for a weekend and much much more, then look no further.  Three of my favorite requirements for anything that involves using in the outdoors are;  waterproof, expandable, and made in the USA  This bag has all three of them.

Grab one here.