In May, Signature Cycles were privileged to be invited to a three-day BMC experience in Switzerland, joined by a select group of BMC dealers and distributors from the Americas. As a Swiss native, I always relish my visits back to my home country, but this trip was truly special. It provided a unique opportunity to delve into the heart of BMC’s brand DNA at their headquarters in Grenchen. BMC is synonymous with racing, innovation, precision, and performance, no matter the type of bike.
SIGNATURE CYCLES IN SWITZERLAND WITH BMC
From the moment we arrived, BMC's sleek office building and the velodrome across the street set a tone of excellence. Entering the facility, we were greeted by a stunning display celebrating epic cycling moments on BMC bikes, including Greg Van Avermaet’s Olympic Gold Medal win in 2016 and Cadel Evans’ Tour de France victory in 2011.
The first two days were a perfect blend of informative product workshops and afternoon rides. These sessions were designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the various bike builds, followed by the chance to explore the scenic countryside around Grenchen on these very bikes. Learning about the specific purposes of each frame and part was fascinating – from the Tuned Compliance of the road frames with their D-shaped seat posts to the Micro Travel Technology integrated into the seat stays of the gravel frames.
For my first ride, I chose the MTB Four Stroke AMP LT, an e-MTB equipped with a TQ HPR-50 drive motor unit. I was pleasantly surprised by how light and agile this bike felt. We ventured into the Jura hills, tackling a mix of fast gravel forest roads and steep, tricky single tracks. Despite not considering myself an experienced MTB rider, I thoroughly enjoyed the outing and would highly recommend this bike for those who love versatile mountain biking.
The second day included a visit to BMC’s testing and innovation lab, where much of the brand's magic happens. The two labs work synergistically, with innovations and developments emerging from the testing lab’s work on BMC bike frames and competitor products, always with BMC’s race DNA in mind.
That afternoon, I test-rode the Roadmachine 01 ONE. Having ridden custom frames for years due to my unique reach, I was surprised by how comfortable I felt on this frame without any specific setup alterations. The bike, designed with endurance geometry, looks like a race frame but rides like a fast and responsive race bike—truly impressive! As we returned, we were greeted by Australian legend Cadel Evans, who joined us for dinner that evening.
On the final day, BMC had planned a fantastic route through the Swiss countryside from Grenchen to Baden, near Zurich, led by none other than Cadel Evans. It was an unforgettable experience. The highlight was a luncheon at the Tudor Race Team Service Course in Sursee. This stop offered an immersive dive into the racing world, featuring a massive bike garage, a meticulous service area, and memorabilia of my cycling idol and team owner, Fabian Cancellara. Managing all aspects of the pro team, along with a junior development team, requires over 100 staff members.
For the ride, I chose the Roadmachine 01 AMP. Returning to the road after several months of recovery from a knee injury, I appreciated how smoothly the motor engaged and how light the bike felt. Its geometry closely mirrors the typical Roadmachine, and the ride maintains BMC’s agile road bike DNA. It was the perfect bike for the day, allowing me to keep pace on climbs and roll with the group on flatter sections with the motor disengaged.
This three-day experience was a fantastic immersion into BMC's world of racing and Swiss engineering, complemented by wonderful hospitality throughout the trip. We enjoyed fantastic dinners in historic settings, lively after-dinner stops, and ample time to connect with BMC colleagues from across the US.
Thank you, BMC, for this incredible experience, allowing us to see behind the scenes of what makes you a world-leading bike manufacturer and to experience your brand DNA firsthand!