MBC Racing Team Places Well in Ore to Shore

The Ore to Shore mountain bike race in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan is one of the most popular point-to-point races in the country. The Hard Rock version is 48 miles of challenging fire roads, single track, and steep sandy descents. 

For those of you who are curious, here's a helmet cam video of the Soft Rock distance.

Several Milwaukee Bicycle Company Race Team members made the trip up north and had great results. We're even on the front page of the Ore website! 

Rick and Vicki from MBC Racing

Ian Haupt, 18, who races for ISCorp on the road and MBC Racing for cyclocross, placed 25th overall and second in his age group.

Ron Knutkowski finished 54th overall and eighth of 76 in the 35-39 age group. Chad Tucker finished 99th and was 16th in the same age group.

Rick Walls, pictured above, finished 144th and was 29th of 118 in his 40-44 age group, while Vicki Pink, finished 502nd, good for 4th in her age group.

Dan used his MBC Grit mountain bike

CX Tape: Belgian Tape for Cross Tubulars

The only time our Milwaukee Bicycle Company racer Paul has ever had a broken bone in a cyclocross race (collar bone) was because of a rolled tubular tire.

boyauxbandit.blogspot.com

boyauxbandit.blogspot.com

While tubulars are by far your best option for racing cross, gluing the tires can be a challenge to get just right so that the tire doesn't roll off the rim at the wrong moment.


Ben's is running a special on tubular gluing right now to help you get ready for the cross season. Gluing tubulars is messy and best left to professionals to make sure the tire stays on the rim.

The key product in the gluing process is CX Tape, a double-sided tape that is wrapped around the rim to ensure the tire never rolls off. 

We have a love/hate relationship with CX Tape: if we ever need to change tires, the tape is a beast to remove. But that's the exact reason it works so well. In two years of racing wheels glued with CX Tape, we've never rolled a tire. The stuff works. 

Ben's stocks CX Tape in two-tire rolls for $7.99, available in the store or online.  

crossbikereview

It's the closest thing to a guarantee that your tubulars will never roll off the rim when you're flying around a corner. 

Mark Your Calendars! Cross-Shooshko Cyclocross Race on Oct. 4

On October 4, the Milwaukee Bicycle Company Race Team and Milwaukee Bicycle Company will host Cross-Shooshko, a cyclocross race at the historical Kosciusko Park in Milwaukee.

Here is the basic course map for the race. It is roughly 1.8 miles. The pit will be in the main field and have access from both sides. We'll use the hill in several devious and fun ways! 

We are planning a community festival with music, food trucks, even a rummage sale of bike parts! And there may be Permissable Beverages Ready for hand-ups, give-aways. 

More information with specifics to come soon! 

Milwaukee Bicycle Company Launches Facebook Page

The Milwaukee Bicycle Company has launched a new Facebook page!

On it, you'll find news, information, and special offers for the famous Milwaukee Bicycle Company bicycles and brand merchandise. 

Fugitive

Milwaukee Road

The Milwaukee Bicycle Company recently released the Mettle, its race-ready cyclocross bike. The Fugitive, the MBC gravel/touring bike, is schedule to arrive in early September. 

The Mettle

MBC supports the Milwaukee Bicycle Company Racing Team, a group of riders racing cross, mountain, and road bikes. 

Grit

MBC also has a number of events planned: 

• cyclocross clinics on August 11, 18, and 25 at Kosciuszko Park. 

• Cross-Shooshko Cyclocross Race Oct. 4, 2014 at Kosciuszko Park.

 

• a fat tire bike race this winter. 

Ben's and Milwaukee Bicycle Company Offer Cross Clinics

Cyclocross is the fastest growing type of racing in the U.S.

And it's the most fun you can have on two wheels. 

Cross racing is typically held in parks, where cyclists ride over grass, through sand, around obstacles, pick up the bike and run up hills and over barriers. It's generally an obstacle course on bikes. 

Curious? 

The Milwaukee Bicycle Company Racing Team, supported by Ben's Cycle and Milwaukee Bicycle Company, is hosting a series of cyclocross clinics in August to teach beginners the basics of cross.

These clinics, held on three consecutive Mondays, focus on the skills you'll need to try out cross for the first time.

Races last 30 minutes for beginners so while the ride is a challenge, it doesn't require huge training or a huge commitment of time. 

At the very least, learning to race cyclocross helps you develop cornering and riding skills, while also learning how to handle your bike on different surfaces.

 

The experienced riders of Milwaukee Bicycle Company Racing Team, which races cross, mountain bike, and road events throughout the Midwest, is hosting the clinics. The team, which promotes the Milwaukee Bicycle Company bikes including the Mettle, the cyclocross race bike, is also promoting the Cross-Shooshko Cyclocross Race Oct. 4.

Here is the Wisconsin Cycling Association schedule of races. Here is the Chicago Cross Cup schedule.

Milwaukee Bicycle Company Race Team on Podium at Subaru Cup

Milwaukee Bicycle Company Angie Therriault racer finished second in her age group and eighth overall in the Sport division of the WORS Cup on Sunday. 

Angie Theriault

The race, held at Cascade Mountain in Portage, Wisconsin, also featured some of the country's top pro mountain bikers in the pro race. 

Chad Tucker finished fourth in his age group in the Comp division while Ron Knutowski finished fifth, 17th overall. 

Angie on podium!

On Friday, Knutowski raced the short track, a kind of short lap dirt race. He placed third in 35 to 44 age group and seventh overall in Comp Cat. 2 division. 

"I rode myself into the ground to pass two guys in my age group on the last lap," he said. "It was a crazy hard 18-minute race." 

Chris St. Clair finished sixth in his age group in the Sport Cat. 2 division. 

Chris, who forgot his team kit, races on MBC Grit steel mountain bike.

Ben's/MBC: Your Source For Cyclocross

The cyclocross season starts in just over two months, and Ben's/ Milwaukee Bicycle Company is your source for everything you need!

For those of you who don't know about cross, racers get to ride usually in parks, over grass, sand, pavement, and mud. They are forced to get off their bikes and run over barriers and up hills. It's a bit of NASCAR, steeplechase, and a bike obstacle course all mixed up in a crazy blend of fun on bikes. 

The cross season typically starts in September and runs until the national championships in the U.S. in January. So that means cross weather can be beautiful, warm, and sunny or it can be cold, icy, and snowy, or somewhere in the middle. 

It's an awesome sport, one for everyone to try at least once. 

Here's are ten great reasons to rely on Ben's and Milwaukee Bicycle Company to support you during the whole cross season.
1. Our Mettle, the Milwaukee Bicycle Company cyclocross bike, is one of the best cross bikes available. 
2. We stock Specialized Crux bikes in both aluminum and carbon. We also stock the Focus Mares cross bikes, and we can order a variety of other bikes for you. 
3. We run a series of cyclocross clinics that start in August. Details coming soon!
4. The Milwaukee Bicycle Company sponsors Cross-Shooshko, a cyclocross race Oct. 4 at Kosciusko Park. Details coming soon.
5. We build disc and non-disc wheels with your choice of hubs (Chris King, White, Shimano, DT Swiss), spokes, and rims for clincher, clincher tubeless, and tubular.
6. We glue tubular cross tires.
7. We stock a huge variety of tubular and clincher tires, wheels, shoes, cleats, and other bike parts for the cross season.
8. We offer specials during the season on bike cleaning where you bring your bike in on Monday, we clean the mud and grime off, re-lube the chain and cables, adjust the brakes, and get the bike back to you Tuesday or Wednesday. 
9. Our highly-trained mechanics are able to fix any problem you bring us, including mechanical and hydraulic disc brake issues. 
10. Our shop-sponsored team, the Milwaukee Bicycle Company Race Team, has some of the best cross racers in the region and will race throughout the Midwest. 

MBC Race Team Riders Rock Chequamegon 100

Four Milwaukee Bicycle Company Race Team riders made the trip up north Saturday for the Chequamegon 100 mountain bike race. 

Rick Walls glides through sweet single track

Yes, that's right. Either 100 kilometers or 100 miles of hilly, twisty single track and fire roads. 

Ron Knutkowski finished ninth overall in the 100k in 5:39 (more than five hours!) 

Victoria Pink knocked two hours off her time last year in finishing in 8:30.

Joe Stephens finished the 100-mile event in 9:30, and Rick Walls finished in 9:46,  two hours faster than last year as well. 


Here is Rick's Strava file! That's brutal.

Milwaukee Bicycle Company Race Team Podiums at WORS #4

MBC Race Team rider Ron Knutkowski continued his strong season with a third place in the Comp division 35-39 age group. 

MBC Race Team rider Ron Knutkowski

Knutkowski, who has been on the podium for every WORS race he's entered this year, was only a minute back from the win. He was ninth overall in the Comp division, one of the fastest of the WORS categories.

The Red Eye Rendezvous in Wausau, Wisconsin, is the fourth of the WORS series races. 

MBC riders are gearing up for the fifth race of the WORS series in Eau Claire and then the Subaru Cup at Cascade Mountain. 

Knutkowski on the podium. Again!

MBC Racers Score Podiums in Camrock WORS race

MBC Race Team rider Chip Way wins his
Citizen age group at Camrock WORS

Milwaukee Bicycle Company Racing Team rider Chip Way continued his impressive start to the WORS season. 

Way has now won the last two Citizen 45-54 age groups, at Crystal Lake and Camrock. At Camrock, he finished 13th of 199 starters in the Citizen class. 

"This is my first year so I wanted to get as much experience early on as I could," Way said.

Way plans to upgrade and start riding in the Sport class in his next race.

Comp rider Ron Knutkowski is now two for two in WORS podiums. 

On a tough, technical course at Camrock with a lot of climbing, Knutkowski was second in the 35-39 Comp age group and 10th overall of 67.

He previously finished fifth at the WORS opener in Iola. 

"I hope I can continue that trend," he said.  "(I'm) starting to feel fast again."

Comp riders Chad Tucker finished fifth in his age group (35-39) and Rick Walls finished ninth in his age group (40-44).

Walls also finished eighth in Comp age group at Crystal Lake. 

Victoria Pink, racing in the Sport class, won her age group at Crystal Lake as well. 

At Camrock, Citizen racers Sam Adams finished 14th and William Bayley finished 17th in their 35-39 age group. 

Milwaukee Bicycle Company Racing Team is based out of Ben's Cycles in Milwaukee. We ride mostly mountain bike and cyclocross and race on Milwaukee Bicycle Company bikes. 

The Rock Bike Park Hosts Rad Events!

The Rock, located in Franklin at the intersections of 76th Street, Hwy. 36, and Rawson, is hosting some awesome events, which we at Ben's/Milwaukee Bicycle Company happily and proudly support.

Bikefest
   On May 31, kids and bikers of all ages can learn about safe biking and spend some time learning to ride on the skills course. 
   This is a free bike safety event sponsored by Wheaton Franciscan and the Midwest Orthopedic Specialty Hospital in Franklin. 
    Riders will get a free bike fit and safety check, provided by Ben's Cycle. In addition, they will learn rules of safe riding, ride on a skills course, get free injury assessments from a certified trainer from MOSH, and learn about bike fitness and health from Wheaton Franciscan. 
    Learn more and register at http://www.rockcomplex.com/event/bikefest/ 

Wednesday Night Mountain Bike Races
    Once again, The Rock is hosting the Wednesday night race series. Ben's Cycle/Milwaukee Bicycle Company will provide weekly prizes!
    The first race is June 4. 

Dirt Farm
    New to cycling and need some bike skills? Dirt Farm is a five-week program that focuses on teaching first-timers and beginners the skills they need to safely ride. 
    You'll learn fundamentals, bike handling skills, and riding techniques. 
    Plus there are programs for the gravity park and BMX racing! 
    Learn more at http://www.rockcomplex.com/bike-parks/dirt-farm/

Milwaukee Bicycle Company Racing Team Continues Success

Two Milwaukee Bicycle Company racers earned age group medals in Rhinelander, the second stop of WORS.

Citizen racer Chip Way, pictured below, won his age group and placed 10th overall!

Victoria Pink also won her age group in the Sport division and placed 8th overall for the women!

Rick Walls, racing in the tough Comp division, finished 8th in his age group and 27th overall.

WORS is the largest mountain bike series in the U.S. The third stop in the series is the Battle of Camrock at the Camrock 3 County Park in Rockdale, WI.

WORS has several divisions so that everyone can race. Beginning racers start in Citizen, move up to Sport for more challenging and longer events. The next step is Comp, meant for regional-level riders. The top riders race Elite and Pro events.

Several MBC racers will be heading to the Wisconsin Endurance Mountain Bike Series (WEMS) event next weekend at the Southern Kettle Moraine Emma Carlin state park.

MBC Race Team Scores Results In WORS #1

The Milwaukee Bicycle Company races scored their first results this weekend in the WORS race at Iola.

Chad Tucker was 3rd and Ron Knutowski 4th in the 35-39 Comp division. Both finished in the top 30 overall in Comp, which is just one step below Elite!

It was the first event for the newly-formed MBC Race Team. We will be at future WORS events, some Wisconsin Endurance Mountain Bike events (WEMS), and some Wisconsin Cycling Association road events.

Look for us at the races! Check out the team and come join the fun!