(Hometown Bicycles Service Manager, Matt Fitzhorn)

THE WHY’S AND WHEREFORE’S OF WHAT WE DO SO WELL 
I’ve been promising our new, superstar Service Manager, Matt Fitzhorn, that I would devote an email to service. And with service bikes now arriving hourly – and sometimes even minute by minute! – it seems fitting to give the department we’re most famous for a little podium time. (So, this one’s for you, Matt!)

EVERYONE knows that the Hometown Tune-Up is a thing of beauty. You know it. The community knows it. The cat down the street knows it.

But do you know WHY?

(Hometown Bicycles Service Tech, Joe Shafer, and Service Lead, Andrew Jackson)

Did you know that we founded our company on service, making service our area to excel? It’s true! Hometown 2010 began as a pint-sized service shop, well before adding all the bells and bikes. We’ve held true to that core ever since, serving an increasing number of cyclists over the years – 2,854 bikes serviced in 2017 and over 17,000 since opening! – with the mission of making each bike “Work Great, Look Great & Blow Your MIND!”

(Hometown Bicycles Service Tech, David Keller)

It’s important to us that our value always exceeds our price. I’ll break this down further in “Hometown Bicycles Tune-Up: The Real McCoy” below, but suffice it to say, we respect your hard-earned dollars by working hard to make those dollars work hard for you (say THAT 10 times fast)! Plus, our turn-around time is FAST to get you back in the saddle where you belong!

Because we don’t want to have to hide when we see you coming – we live here, too! – we get our kicks by doing right by our customers. When we say you need something, it’s because we know it will give you the longest and best cycling experience possible. And when we say you DON’T need something, it’s because we don’t want to gain a dollar at the expense of your trust. You can rest easy, knowing that we’ll tell it like it is, and always treat you fairly and squarely.

And we don’t leave you hangin’! We legitimately want to know that our service did the trick, and kept you rolling. That’s why you can always expect follow up from our Crew. (At right: Hometown Bicycles Service Tech, Matt Persha)

You probably also know by now that we LIKE being a resource! Ask us your questions, build your own bike, watch our Crew in action. The way we figure it, the more passionate you are about cycling, the more you’ll advocate for the sport, and that benefits ALL of us in the long run.

(Hometown Service Guru & lead singer Dan Tribble and “I-mean-business” Service Lead Mason Verbison)

Plus, what bike shop has a rhythm & blues rockstar for a service tech? That would be us!

We also have a unique way of motivating our staff… no, not giant mallets. It’s giving our crew the green light to do good, important, life-changing work in an environment that supports them and the sport they love. We may not always be perfect but, as a Crew, we’ve got your back.

This may be a good place to interject that *ahem* we’re hiring!

And that, my friends, is our service in a nutshell, and why you feel so darn good when you bring your bikes to Hometown Bicycles. Come on down, and try us out!

HOMETOWN BICYCLES TUNE-UP: “THE REAL MCCOY”

If you’re not familiar with our tune-ups, here’s the run-down of what makes ours so special…

Remember how we talked about our 3 service goals – to make your bicycle “Work Great, Look Great & Blow Your MIND!”? Well, to achieve that we have a 3-step process:

1. Evaluate your bike to see what it needs, whether that be a tune-up or repair.
2. For a tune-up, we disassemble, clean, reassemble, run all new cables and housings, and then dial and adjust your bike. If it’s a road bike, we also include new handlebar tape… because old bar tape is disgusting. (We’re talking, Bacteria City.)
3. Charge a fair price. For most bikes, that’s $69.99. For Road bikes, it’s $89.99. And for Tri bikes, it’s $99.99. We know we offer the best service for the best value. Don’t believe us? Check around!

Bonus Hometown Bicycles Tune-Up FAQ’s:

Q: Why do you replace cables & housing?
A: Your shifters and brake levers tell the derailleurs and brakes what to do via the cables, which act as messengers. 90% of issues stem from a faulty messenger, so we replace cables/housing to guarantee that the bike will work the way you expect it to.

Q: My bike is fairly new, so do I even need new cables/housing?
A: That’s why we always start with an initial assessment of the bike’s condition. If your bike doesn’t need new cables, then you probably don’t need a tune-up. We’ll just address your bike’s specific issues, and get you back out riding – typically the same day!

Q: How often should I bring my bike in for a check-up?
A: We recommend you bring your bike in for an assessment two times a year – once at the beginning of the season to set you up for cycling and make sure all parts are in working order, and again mid-season to check on the wear of your bike’s parts.

Q: How often should I get a tune-up?
A: Always bring your bike in when your bike begins affecting your riding experience. We’ll do an assessment to help you determine the best course of action from there.

Q: How often should I ride my bike?
A: Every day, Hometownies… every day!

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TEAM NEWS: DAWN FARM, YANKEE SPRINGS TIME TRIAL

Our Team mixed it up last weekend, with a combination of need-for-speed riding and charitable cycling. Saturday morning kicked off with the trail-bound Team of Erik Frazier, Linc Wehrly, John Wyatt, Keith Cowgar and Scott Simpson at Yankee Springs Time Trial. Keith and Scott both bounded into 4th in their respective age groups.

Then Sunday dawned bright and beautiful on the farm, as Joe Ostervik, Jacob Henriksen, Joe Van Gorden, and Jim Cleer set out to support the long-term recovery of addicts and alcoholics on the Dawn Farm Recovery Ride. Nice work, Team!

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ANSWERS TO THE HOMETOWN BIRTHDAY QUIZ

A couple weekends ago, as part of Hometown Bicycle’s 8th Birthday celebration, we invited our guests to take part in a “How Well Do You Know Your Bike Shop?” birthday quiz.

Debra Verbison won the accompanying Tune-Up Gift Certificate drawing (congrats again, Debra!), but there’s been so many post-event requests for the answers that I’m including them here today!

(Also, congrats went to John Kline for winning the “Guess How Many Ferrules” game with his guess of 2,650. The actual number was 2,700!) 

1)  Answer (d) – Over 17,000 2)  Answer (b) – Shaun & Dawn got married 3)  Answer (d) – All of the above 4)  Answer (c) – Trinidad & Tobago

5)  Answer (f) – All of these 6)  Answer (d) – All of these 7)  Answer (a) – Jamis 8)  Answer (c) – Roller rink

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WE’RE HIRING – STOP IN AND APPLY!
Creating the magic of Hometown is no small thing, and we don’t hire lightly, but we do offer positions that are meaningful and make a real difference in the lives of customers, our community, and the cycling industry. We currently have openings for:

Part-Time Social Media Specialist
Helps market and share the Hometown culture on social media. Must be social media savvy, highly organized, an excellent writer, and skilled in photography. Graphic design skills a plus.

Part-Time Events Coordinator
Coordinates and manages on- and off-premises shop events of all types. Must be highly organized, creative, detail-oriented, an excellent communicator, sociable, and enthusiastic.

Full- and Part-Time Service Techs
Provides reliably outstanding technical bike service. Some technical knowledge preferred. Must be self-motivated, detail-oriented, focused, and a quick learner.

Full- and Part-Time Sales Associates
Provides reliably outstanding customer service, including sales, cashiering, and shop organization and cleanliness. Must be self-motivated, detail-oriented, sociable, enthusiastic, and a quick study.

Drop by our shop, introduce yourself, and pick up an application. You’ll never know unless you try!

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THIS WEEK’S SHOP RIDES

Hartland Gravel Grinder – Intermediate/Advanced

SUNDAY, MAY 6  |  9:00AM (MEET BY 8:45AM)  |  FROM HARTLAND TWP HALL
Come enjoy beautiful, HILLY country roads and wonderful ride company. Expect several TOUGH, LONG CLIMBS, at an average 14 – 15 MPH pace for all 28.2 miles. The group may split into 2, with the front pack averaging > 15 mph. (Check out Dan’s Gravel Grinding 101 ride for a less grueling option.) Cross/Gravel, Mountain and Fat bikes are welcome. Meet in the Hartland Twp. Hall lower parking lot (turn right once in the drive) at 2655 Clark Rd. Check Facebook for ride confirmation and changes!

***Rent a Fat Bike at the shop!***

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Beginner Friendly Road Ride
MONDAY, MAY 7  |  6:00PM (MEET BY 5:45PM)  |  FROM HOMETOWN
This one’s for the beginner rider who wants to increase mileage and speed. We’ll ride the well-known “to-the-Green-Dumpster-and-back” loop (~12-15 miles), or more for those who are ready. A and B groups will average 10-15+ mph. Road bikes only! Please have some experience on your bike, along with basic shifting and braking skills for the safety of the group. Beyond that, we’ll share some tips to make the hills easier and the flats faster! Check Facebook for ride confirmation and changes!

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Ladies’ Road Ride
TUESDAY, MAY 8  |  7:00PM (MEET BY 6:45PM)  |  FROM HOMETOWN
Ladies, this one’s just for you! This weekly, road ride is for gals of all ability levels. We’ll ride the well-known “green dumpster” loop at Island Lake (~14 miles) at a conversational, 10mph pace. All bikes welcome, NO DROP RIDE. Afterward, relax, connect, and rehydrate with your new biking friends. BYOB!Check Facebook for ride confirmation and changes!

CLICK HERE for our 2018 Spring/Summer Daily Shop Rides Schedule!

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FITNESS CLASSES AT HOMETOWN BICYCLES

Many of you are familiar with the rockin’ beats and great cardio that take place weekly on our showroom floor. But for those who haven’t yet experienced fitness classes at Hometown, or simply want a high-energy pick-me-up, here are a few classes you’ll absolutely want to try!

CARDIO DRUMMING | Wednesdays at 6:00PM
$5 drop in / $5 equipment rental – With Martha Soraruf
Click to learn more

ZUMBA | Mondays at 6:00PM & Thursdays at 9:30AM
$8 drop in or “10 classes for $50” punch card – With Leslie Barrett
Click to learn more

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Reasons number 12, 13, 14, and – oh, why not! – 15 to ride your bike.

~ Every cyclist who’s ever caved in (thanks for the mm-mm-motivation, Livingston County United Way!)

Filed under: Hometown Bicycles | Tagged: andrew jackson, bicycle repair, bicycle service, bicycle shop, bicycles, bike repair, bike rides, bike service, bike shop, bikes, birthday quiz, Brighton, Cardio Drumming, cycling, cyclists, Dan Tribble, David Keller, Dawn Farm Recovery Ride, donuts, Erik Frazier, faq, fitness classes, group rides, Hometown Bicycles, Hometown Bicycles Tune-Up, Hometownies, Jacob Henriksen, Jim Cleer, joe ostervik, Joe Shafer, Joe Van Gorden, John Wyatt, Keith Cowgar, Leslie Barrett, Linc Wehrly, Martha Soraruf, Mason Verbison, Matt Fitzhorn, Matt Persha, Michigan, Scott Simpson, service department, service manager, shop rides, Team Hometown Bicycles, the real mccoy, Yankee Springs Time Trial, zumba |