From One Gal to Another…
INTRODUCING WOMEN-SPECIFIC RIDES & EVENTS As a gal, which I am, in the cycling industry, which I also am, I see it all the time… women who won’t participate in group rides because they A) don’t believe they’re “skilled” enough, B) don’t want to be competitive, c) don’t want to hold anyone back, or D) don’t want to embarrass themselves in front of the fellas.It’s true – I’m telling you just as it is… and it’s a crying shame, because we women are depriving ourselves of some serious fun!
Many of our rides are designed with novice, recreational, and fitness riders in mind, but I totally get that what might be intimidating in a mixed group can sometimes be EMPOWERING with fellow females.
Hometown’s Social Media Guru, Team Hometownie, and “girl power” defined, Meghan Terbush is leading up the charge on our new and improved women-only rides and events program. Starting with a series of Tuesday evening social road rides, we’ll wrap up the summer cycling season with a Ladies Night Out event at Hometown, and then pack the winter with women-specific activities, including a women’s self defense course, spinning, fitness classes, craft classes, field trips, and other gal-geared awesomeness.
Ladies, if this sounds like your kind of fun, come ride with us at our inaugural, weekly Women’s Road Ride on Tuesday, August 8th at 6:30pm from the shop (details below in our “Shop Rides” section). We’ll wrap up this recreational ride with BYOB and a bonfire at the shop!
From one gal to another… let’s rock our gender!
SATURDAY SINGLES ROAD RIDE: AUGUST 19TH
Turns out there are a whole lotta singles in the area who like to cycle… which means our Singles Ride is a definite GO, rain or shine!
On Saturday, August 19th, we’ll meet at 4:30pm at the shop for a conversation-friendly, recreational road ride over the well-loved roads of Island Lake. (Crummy weather? No problem! We’ll switch it to movie night at the shop!) We’re manning this “no drop” ride with (single!) Team members and Hometown crew. Be sure to pack a lawn chair and beverage for a post-ride, campfire, singles mingle behind the shop!
Details can be found HERE. You must be single and 18 or older in order to participate. If you’d like to be kept in the loop about future Hometown singles rides and activities, send me an email: office@myhometownbicycles.com. And please be sure to share our Facebook event with all of your friends – the more cyclists we get, the better your odds!
FINAL DAY TO REGISTER! 21 DAYS OF ACTIVE PLAY
Fitness… family time… fun… and it’s the final day to register! Here’s the scoop:
More than $2,000 in prizes are up for grabs, and all you have to do is PLAY! Sky Zone Brighton, Hometown Bicycles, and Body Within Personal Training have teamed up to bring you the FREE 21 Days of Active Play Challenge. We are challenging Livingston County families to commit to 21 Days of Active Play this August. From going on walks together, to riding bikes, to jumping around on trampolines, families will pledge to spend a minimum of one hour per day being active.
Be sure to read up on the amazing prizes, mid-challenge incentives, and final wrap up party. Register HERE!
WISH-A-MILE CONGRATS TO DR. BILL & LOUISE HORAL
Did you know your Team Hometown dental sponsor could lay down mileage with the best of them?? We’re proud to be associated with a couple that puts their passion for cycling to work for Make-A-Wish children, year after year after year!
Congratulations, Dr. Bill & Louise Horal, on another successful Wish-A-Mile voyage!
PLEASE VOTE HOURLY THROUGH AUGUST 13TH!
Finally on the trail! (left); My prize! (top right); What I wore and what I SHOULD have worn (bottom right)
AMY’S BLOG: AUGUST 3, 2017
Here’s your latest race update from Hometown’s Amy Gluck, an IRONMAN competitor who nearly lost her life, and is now intensely and personally driven to overcome her new physical challenges, and the naysayers who say she can’t, all the way back to IRONMAN:
I followed the course along the paved path, which continued… and continued… and continued. We didn’t hit trail until 2.5 miles in. Half of the course, which I’d expected to be trails, was paved, and boy had I chosen the wrong shoes! The pavement was doing more harm to my recovering leg than my trail shoes ever helped me with my footing... READ ON
Amy’s full blogs are posted HERE on our website.
POSES, PEDALS & PINTS – FALL EDITION: IT’S A GO!!
Good news… no, FANTASTIC news!! The uber-successful yoga-bike-beer event that we supported this past Spring has been resurrected for a round 2 on Saturday, September 30th.
Based out of Downtown Brighton’s beautiful Brewery Becker, this event opens with beginner-friendly yoga, courtesy of event coordinator Tocca Massage & Yoga, follows up with a scenic and recreational bike ride with Hometown Bicycles (new route!), and ends with a long, cool pull from the taps of Brewery Becker.
Registration is limited to 50, so if you missed out last time, be sure to hit the link below, like, IMMEDIATELY!
REGISTER NOW FOR POSES, PEDALS & PINTS – FALL EDITION
REGISTER NOW FOR DOC MAY MELON RIDE ON 8/19
Hometown’s been proud to be the ongoing sponsor of this charming and delicious, Doc May Memorial Melon Ride on Saturday, August 19th at 9am.
Our Team and Crew marks off the route, leads off and mans the ride, provides on-site SAG support, and also offers bike valet service until 2pm, so you can enjoy the Festival without worrying about your two-wheeled babies!
Now’s the time to lock in your registration – which gives you a chance to win the sweet Jamis cruiser bike that we’ve donated to the cause! REGISTER NOW!
HOMETOWN BICYCLES UPCOMING SHOP RIDES
THURSDAY BAKERY SOCIAL MORNING ROAD RIDE (8/3)
10:00AM (meet at 9:45) from Wal-Mart in New Hudson – **Special Start Location**
It was so fun, we’re doing it again! Bring your wallet for a tasty treat or coffee as we pedal from New Hudson to a Bakery via the rails-to-trails system. It will be a mostly flat, 5 mile ride at a 10 mph average pace! This route does include crossing a busy road with a crosswalk (no light). Ride whatever bike will work for the pace and your desired exercise level. This is a NO DROP ride. Check back for ride confirmation/changes due to weather. ****NOTE: Next week we switch to a 9:00 a.m. start for the rest of these hot summer social rides!****
SATURDAY TOUR DE LIVINGSTON PREP RIDE (8/5)
9:00AM (meet at 8:45) from Hometown Bicycles
Come grow with this weekly ride as we start with 10 – 15 miles and stretch the distance week by week. Route will be on the park roads. Road bikes are preferred for this ride. All level riders are welcome. 12 – 15 mph pace, 1.5 hours. Follow this Facebook event for updates.
SUNDAY HARTLAND GRAVEL GRINDER (8/6)
9:00AM (meet at 8:45) from Hartland Township Hall
We’re up to nearly 36 miles with approx. 2,000′ of climb on beautiful and EXTREMELY hilly country roads (and limited pavement) – all with wonderful ride companions! This is an intermediate/advanced ride (check out Tuesday’s Gravel Grinding 101 for a less grueling option.) Expect a 13-15 MPH “NO DROP” pace. Cross/Gravel, Mountain, and Fat bikes are welcome. Meet in the lower parking lot (turn right once in the drive) 2655 Clark Rd, Hartland, MI 48353. Click here for this Facebook event.
SUNDAY EXPLORING TRAILS MOUNTAIN BIKE RIDE (8/6)
4:30PM (meet at 4:15) from Hometown Bicycles
This is a Beginner Friendly mountain bike trail ride which encourages riders to visit new trails as their skill level increases! This week, we’ll explore 9 – 15 miles of the Island Lake Mountain Bike trails. All levels of riders are welcome – NO DROP RIDE. We do ask that riders under 15 remain with their guardian throughout the ride. Be mindful that the trail has several hills and some minimum level of fitness will be helpful to make for a positive experience for this planned 1.5 hour ride. Mountain and Fat Bikes are encouraged to join this ride. You can find this Facebook event here.
MONDAY BEGINNER FRIENDLY ROAD RIDE (8/7)
Sponsored by Pro-Motion Physical Therapy
6:30PM (meet at 6:15) from Hometown Bicycles
Come join the Hometown Bicycles crew for this NO DROP ride. Road bikes only please. We’ll ride Island Lake roads to the well-known “Green Dumpster” and back – approx 12 – 15 miles. Those ready for more will group up to take on more mileage! Expect a 12 – 17+ mph pace to accommodate riders’ skill levels. All levels are welcome – we’ll split into groups according to experience and speed, with a sweep to bring up the rear. Click to check out the Facebook event page!
Please make sure you have some experience riding the bike you bring to this ride and are comfortable with the way it handles, including basic shifting and braking, for the safety of all. Beyond that, our friendly ride support are delighted to share tips on how to make the hills easier and the flats faster – just ask!
TUESDAY GRAVEL GRINDING 101 WITH ‘CYCLODAN’ TRIBBLE (8/8)
6:30PM (meet at 6:15) from Hometown Bicycles
Join Hometown service guru, Dan ‘CycloDan’ Tribble, for this unique, gravel grinding adventure ride. **It’s time to start bringing lights!!** We’ll tackle road, singletrack, and gravel, including portions of Island Lake, hopping a guardrail, sand “puddles”, and a few hills just for fun! Plan for just over an hour, covering 13+ miles at a 12 – 13 mph average pace. Gravel, adventure, or mountain/fat bikes required (not appropriate for skinny tires). All levels of riders are welcome – NO DROP RIDE. Check here for ride updates.
**NEW RIDE!** TUESDAY WOMEN’S ROAD RIDE (8/8)
6:30PM (meet at 6:15) from Hometown Bicycles
Ladies, this one’s just for you! This weekly, women-only road ride is for gals of all ability levels. We’ll ride the well-known “green dumpster” loop at Island Lake – about 14 miles of road – at a conversational, 10mph pace. All bikes welcome, NO DROP RIDE. Afterward, relax, connect, and rehydrate at a behind-the-shop, BYOB bonfire with your new cycling buddies! Stay tuned to our Facebook events page for ride/weather updates.
WEDNESDAY HAMMERFEST & SON OF HAMMERFEST (8/9)
This is a DROP RIDE!
6:30PM (meet at 6:15) from Hometown Bicycles
HAMMERFEST:
Bring your “A” game, and see if you can stay on this crazy train of talented individuals as they push each other to find new limits. You’ll want the fastest road bike you own, as the pace averages 20 mph through 2 laps (40 miles) of Island Lake roads. Expect the flats pace to range 24 – 28 mph! Check Facebook for ride updates.
SON OF HAMMERFEST:
For anyone who would like to build up to the original Hammerfest, this ride also rolls at 6:30 from Hometown. It’s 25 miles (1 lap of ILRA & the Kensington Loop) at a target pace of 17 – 18 mph, with flats exceeding 20 mph. Ride updates can be found here.
WEDNESDAY SLOW ROLL (8/9)
6:30PM (meet at 6:15) from Hometown Bicycles
6:30PM (meet at 6:15) from Hometown Bicycles
Dial it back on this social, slow paced road ride (~ 8-10 mph). If you have a need-for-speed, this is NOT the ride for you! Bring your cruiser or whatever you like as we Slow Roll down sidewalks and streets. Expect to cross Grand River, possibly a couple climbs/descents, and beautiful park landscape. May not be suitable for young, unseasoned kids. Parents, please decide what is safe for your family, as there are no lights or designated crosswalks for Grand River or Academy. This is a NO DROP ride. Check HERE for ride details.
THURSDAY SOCIAL MORNING ROAD RIDE (8/10)
9:00AM (meet at 8:45) from Hometown Bicycles – **NEW START TIME**
This conversational morning ride will find us exploring Island Lake’s beautiful park roads. The plan this week is to ride 1-1.5 hours at a 10 mph average pace. Ride whatever bike will work for the pace and your desired exercise level. This is a NO DROP ride. Check back for ride confirmation/changes due to weather.
For ALL SHOP RIDES, be sure to FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK for ride confirmations and updates!
(Photo cred: Yoga pic at left courtesy Ashley Knuth of Tocca Massage & Yoga)
FITNESS CLASSES AT HOMETOWN
Hey, Hometownies! Mark your calendars for these fantastic fitness programs running right here at your favorite bike shop:
CARDIO DRUMMING | Wednesdays at 6:45PM
$5 class fee / $5 equipment rental – With Martha Soraruf
Click to learn more
DYNAMIC YOGA | Fridays – August 4, 11 & 18
$10 drop in – With Ashley Knuth of Tocca Massage & Yoga
Click to learn more
ZUMBA | Mondays at 6PM & Thursdays at 9:30AM
$8 drop in or “10 classes for $50” punch card – With Leslie Barrett
Click to learn more
It takes a long time to grow an old friend.
– John Leonard
