First Reviews: XTR Di2 Could Revolutionize Mountain Bike Shifting

Lennard Zinn, long-time technical reviewer for Velonews, tried the not-yet-released electronic shifting version of XTR, Shimano's flagship mountain bike part group.

He loves it. 

Photo from Velonews

Zinn said in a post reviewing his first impressions of the XTR Di2 that the XTR Di2 goes well beyond what road Di2 did in revolutionizing rider control of gearing and now of suspension as well."

While the XTR Di2 is not yet available from Shimano, when it is, we at Ben's Cycle will get it and bring them to you. 

Specialized Crafts New Aero Helmet

Several Specialized-sponsored pro teams are sporting a new model of its aero helmet, the TT4, a slimmer, shorter version of the TT3. The helmet comes out of the company's "aero is everything" research.

Image from RoadBike Review

Specialized says it saves 30-40 watts of power and weighs 340 grams. It also has new side vents for to keep your head cooler.

The biggest change is a much smaller shape than aero helmets in the past. The smaller shape helps keep air disruption lower when you turn your head for any reason. It's difficult to maintain a completely straight head position over the course of any time trial or triathlon. Any time you turn your head sideways at all while wearing a traditional tear-drop aero helmet, the helmet disrupts more air and slows you down.

The helmet has two adjustable straps inside to create a perfect fit.

The people at the Global Cycling Network previewed the helmet in this video while the members of the Omega Pharma Quick Step team used it for a recent team time trial.

Ben's Offers Shimano Wheel Demos

When Shimano introduced its 2014 product line, much of the buzz came from its re-designed wheels. Now Ben's Cycle customers can find out what the buzz is all about. 

You can come into the shop and borrow a set of Shimano wheels to try out. We have the Dura-Ace C24 and C35 wheels, along with the RS81 and Ultegra models. 

Each of these wheels have aluminum rims reinforced with a carbon laminate. The laminate, built up around the spoke holes, creates such a stiff rim that a spoke can break and the rim will stay straight, according to Shimano.

Shimano wheels are all hand built with their own spokes and rims. These are 11-speed compatible. The rims are wider than in the past at 20.8mm.

While Shimano wheels have always been noted for their durability, these rims are also light. The Dura-Ace set comes in at 1425g for the pair.

Plus the RS81 models at 1700g for the set are still reasonably light while designed for every day racing and training durability. 

There is no weight limit for riders using these whees. So Clydesdales of any size are going to love these hoops. 

All of the hubs are redesigned and all spokes have exactly the same tension, providing a stronger, more consistent ride.

All Shimano hubs have cup and cone bearings which distribute the load more evenly than cartridge bearings when cornering, providing a more consistent ride.

Customers can come into Ben's and try out the Dura Ace C24 or C35, the Ultegra, or RS 81 wheelsets. Talk with Vince or Brett.

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

Tetrick Did the Downer Double at Last Year's Women's Race

Only once in the history of the Downer Avenue bike race, one of the biggest events at the Tour of America's Dairyland, has the rider who goes for the Ben's Super Prime won the race. 

Tetrick celebrates her win at Downer with chocolate
milk. Milwaukee's Samantha Schneider took second.

Typically, the race to the last corner of the annual criterium on Milwaukee's East Side is for the prime, and it is too much for a rider's body to recover in time for the final sprint to win the race. 

But in last year's women's race, Alison Tetrick, racing for the Twenty16 Pro Cycling Team, pulled off a rare double. 

"People have to think if they want to go for the prime or go for the win," she says. "It is very close to the finish so there is some gambling involved.  For those that go for the prime, they could easily be counter attacked and someone else could win."

So Tetrick, a time trial specialist, attacked on the prime lap, won the $1,000 and kept going to win the race. 

"As a time trialist, I knew I didn't want to sprint for the prime, but was able to take a solo flyer to snag it," she says.  "Our tactic was to save our sprinter, but for me to go for a late move.  It caught some of the other teams off guard because I kept riding after the prime, and then soloed in for the win!"

Tetrick, who said she will miss this year's event, won two stages of last year's ToAD: Downer and the Road America road race. This year she also won the prestigious Sea Otter Classic road race in April.

Growing women's racing is an important part of Tetrick's mission as a cyclist. The cycling community needs to add "sustainability and opportunity to the women's sport by providing equal prize money and media coverage."

This year on June 28 the best racers in the U.S. will again come to Wisconsin for ToAD. Will any of them be able to pull off the Downer Double? Or will Tetrick's feat stand forever? 

The Ben's Prime Party starts around noon at the corner of Park and Hackett. Come join us!

Introducing the Mettle Cyclocross Bike... Start Drooling

We introduce to you the Mettle. 

The 2014 Milwaukee Bicycle Company Mettle. A true cyclocross race bike.

The USA made Mettle frame features a full OX Platinum tubeset as our original cross frame; but has a larger diameter top and down tubes for increased stiffness. Add a new tapered head tube for the stiffest, strongest carbon forks, and you have a bike that rides like steel with near stiffness of aluminum. 

We re-designed the Mettle to have a tapered head tube.

The Mettle features a thin stainless

 steel plate to protect the frame from the rotor during wheel changes. 

Disc-brake tab drop-out

Information updates HERE
 
Be Different. Ride a Milwaukee. 

Ben's Super Prime at Downer Changes Race, Says Past Winner

When you come to the party put on by Ben's Cycles at the Downer Avenue bike race in June, it's easy to forget there is actual criterium race going on with some of the best cyclists in the world competing not only for the Prime, but for the race win.

The Ben's Super Prime is typically over $5,000, and money like that for traveling bike racers is a big deal.

Typically, in a criterium, teams send off riders in breakaways in an attempt to win the race in a small group. But often the race comes down to a field sprint with teams lining up in rows to protect their sprinter from the wind until the sprinter jumps out and sprints for the finish line.

But with the minimum $5,000 payday, one of the largest in the country, the usual race tactics change since the prime cannot be won in a breakaway.

Isaac Howe

Isaac Howe, who has won the prime in both 2011 and 2012, said the Ben's Super Prime entirely changes the tactics of the Downer Avenue race.

"No one knows exactly when the prime will be announced, so teams end up staying organized for a lead out for nearly the entire race," he said. "Once the bell is rung, you only have three minutes to get your sprinter into the winning position, and with the payout being so high, the peleton's stress levels are very high."

Howe, who now races for Champion Systems Stan's Notubes Pro Cycling Team, said winning the prime has been one of the highlights of his career.

"I'd have to say that the best part of winning the super prime twice was having the huge crowd cheering me on both times I got it," he said. "There's no way to describe how inspiring it is to have complete strangers rooting for me as I was going after it...There are few experiences I've ever had as a professional cyclist that compare to the energy and excitement of Downer."


The biggest technical challenge of the prime is that the racers have a long straightaway past the start/finish, then take a sharp right turn and then sprint 70-some yards to the Prime line. So the race is to the corner, and riders hit 40 mph coming out of the corner. 

Vince from Ben's giving Isaac Howe his prime check.

"All the fear and apprehension came before committing to the turn," he said. "Once I was there, I was just holding on for dear life. It takes a little bit of crazy and a lot of confidence to sprint at 40 mph into a blind turn, but it was well worth the risk both times."

Howe and the other racers say they love the energy and noise that comes from the people around the course who make the event into a neighborhood party. And the biggest party is at the corner of Hackett and Park Place, at the Ben's Super Prime party.

"Both times I won the prime I was in complete shock at the number of people who were partying away just past turn one," Howe said.

While you might imagine pro racers spend winnings like that on a car or new bike, the sprinter splits the winnings with his or her team. The money, Howe said, usually goes to pay bills.

"The bump that win gave to our confidence, and the feeling I got by pulling through for my teammates is something that they and I will never forget," he said.

A Cyclocross Bike Gets Customized

Addie, a Ben's customer, came in to Ben's looking for a bike to do long rides with her husband.  She wanted to get on the Glacial-Drumlin trail, do the Door County Century, and do long, leisurely rides.

"My husband bought me a hybrid five years ago," she said. "But it was too heavy and that grandma seat just wasn't comfortable."


We suggested she try out the Milwaukee Bicycle Company cyclocross bike. A lot of our customers have been customizing the bike and using it for touring.


"It reminds me of the comfort of riding a bike as a kid," she said while getting an initial fit from professional fit guru Brett Meinke.


Addie said she appreciated being able to customize the bike as well as getting a fit from Brett. She said she was glad as well to buy a product made in Wisconsin.


Even though she already has a carbon-fiber road bike, she said the weight difference was minimal.



Addie is scheduled to return for a final fit with Brett where he will trim the steer tube, adjust the saddle position, and change out the stem.

Addie's Milwaukee Bicycle Company cyclocross bike. Steel beauty. 

Mr. Zielinski Rides to City Hall

For the first time, Tony Zielinski, Milwaukee alderman for the Bay View neighborhood, rode to City Hall today on his bike.

It was chilly and rainy, and those who rode with him wore rain jackets, long shorts, and gloves.

But Zielinski showed up ready for the commute with shorts, a cut-off t-shirt, and a string bag on his back. He also wore a reflective vest and helmet for safety.

Ben's Cycle helped Zielinski choose a bike, helmet, and vest. The shop is running an in-store special this week of 20 percent off all helmets and lights.

Zielinski sponsored and won approval for a bill  in City Council this spring creating the Milwaukee Bike Safety Awareness Week.

Jeff Polenske, City Engineer for Milwaukee, and Jake Newborn of the Wisconsin Bike Federation joined Zielinski on the ride along with several Bay View residents.

Active Pursuit blogger Tom Held also joined the ride and wrote up his experience.

WISN Television ran a story with Polenske about bike safety and classes offered for city residents.

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. 

Teresa Craze is Tackling the Pewaukee Triathlon With the Help of Ben's Cycles

Teresa Craze, 25, is determined to complete her first triathlon in July. 

Teresa hasn't been riding much in the last 10 years, although she's been doing spin classes once a week. So Ben's helped her find a Specialized Dolce for the triathlon. 

"The crew at Ben's Cycle really hooked me up," she said. "Paul and Mike gave me a great cycling 101 course when I went in to pick up the Specialized Dolce I'm renting. I can't stress enough how much of a beginner I am. They had to teach me very basics, such as how to shift up and down, and how to remove and re-attach the wheel to get the bike to fit in my car."

She describes herself as "super non-athlete" and has never really done much in the way of sports. But when her company PKWARE offered to pay for a triathlon and created a work group to train, she decided to make it her personal challenge. 

She will compete in the Pewaukee Tri, a sprint distance event, on July 13. She'll swim a quarter mile, ride 17 miles, and finish with a 5k run. 

For Teresa, the goal is all about getting active, enjoying Milwaukee's trails, learning to ride a road bike, and participating in a really cool athletic event.

"I think it will be a good way to find my sport,: she said. "I always thought cycling looked like something I could get into. Training for a triathlon on a really nice road bike would give me the discipline to figure out if it is a sport I want to invest in."

She moved to Milwaukee nearly two years ago and noticed the trails and parks along Milwaukee's lakefront. 

"I felt it was such a waste for me not to go out and be active on them. I ran a couple 5ks last summer for the first time ever, which was kind of a big deal for me." 

She now participates in summer kickball and volleyball rec leagues in Milwaukee just to have fun.

Teresa is following a sprint triathlon training plan, but she's realistic about her results.

"This race is with myself," she said. "I'm going to do the best I can on the day of the triathlon. I don't quite know what that is yet. I'll be happy with myself for finishing."

Teresa will be updating us on a regular basis on her training progress. We'll also try to get photos of her at the triathlon and report on her success! 

We're excited to be a part of Teresa's efforts and determination to make cycling and fitness a part of her life.