Hometown Bicycles

We’re winding down for the year, Homies. Each December, we close the shop for a period of time to enjoy the holidays and to allow our crew to spend time with their families and friends. Be sure to stop in over the next few days for your last-minute service needs, to drop off your bikes for winter storage, and to get gift certificates for the cyclists in your life. 

The shop will close at 5 PM on Thursday, December 23rd, and will re-open at 10 AM on Friday, January 7th. 

Stay tuned next week for a letter from Santa, er, Shaun, with his 2021 recap and well wishes for a Merry Christmas!

THANK YOU, Cycling Community!

Look what you did to make this year’s Toys for Tots drive a success! With a bit of friendly competition among mountain bikers, road riders, and e-bikers, Hometown was able to make a collective donation of 109 toys for children in need. Thank you. We appreciate you!

Here are the rankings: 

• Mountain bikers: 69
• Road riders: 29
• E-bikers: 11

A special shout out to Hometown crew member Mike Newman and his wife Marybeth for making this toy drive an annual tradition at the shop. 

FREE Winter Storage!
Don’t forget! Through February 28, we’re offering free storage with the purchase of a tune-up. If you’re interested in winter storage without the tune-up, we offer it for $10/month.

We all know how busy the service shop gets come March. It’s no surprise. After being cooped up all winter, everyone is stir crazy and can’t WAIT to get out there and ride as soon as the spring weather allows. 

We can’t stress this enough: Bring your bike in for a tune-up over the winter!

Also, with shortages and delays, this allows time for us to receive needed parts for your repairs during months you won’t be using your bike. This will save you the trouble of coming in for service during peak season when our turnaround time is longer. Instead of being frustrated this spring, take advantage of this plan-ahead option and be the first one hitting the trails on March 1st! Get those bikes in before our holiday break!

Women’s Personal Protection Course

Join us for a female-only self-defense class (for ages 12+). We ran this class in the fall and had a great turnout, so we’re going to make it a regularly scheduled event! 

Monday, January 24
7-8:30 PM
The H.U.B. Incubator at Hometown Bicycles

Instructors from Keep and Bear LLC will cover multiple facets of protection including situational awareness, instinctual responses, and nonphysical applications. From there, physical force applications are instructed including striking, force multipliers (hand weapons), and using them to assist in strikes and escapes from common grabs and other grapples. Don and Berge are engaging and informative instructors; attendees will feel comfortable and confident with the material presented. Ladies, we hope you will join us for this important class.

Register HERE!

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We have gift certificates available in any denomination you choose, perfect for the cyclist in your life this holiday season. Gift them the cost of a tune-up or new tires, or just purchase a general amount for them to enjoy at the shop on either retail or service. 

Chili Cook-Off Recap: And the winner is… 
We feasted on some pretty amazing chili recipes at our 6th Annual Chili Cook-Off on Sunday 11/21. It was hard to vote for a favorite!

After a tight race, the winner was declared… big congratulations to John Burke for his tasty Texas Style Chili! 2nd Place went to Steve Wortley and 3rd place to Leslie Barrett. Thanks to everyone who participated!

Here’s the winning recipe: Texas Style Chili!

Ingredients: 
3 lbs of smoked brisket 
2 lbs ground beef
1 lb of spicy breakfast sausage
3 med red onion
2 cans of fire-roasted tomatoes 
2 cans of crushed tomatoes 
1 can of chipotle peppers
1 bulb of garlic 
2 cans of beer 
1 Jalapeño
Chili seasoning

Brown the 2 lbs of ground beef and 1 lb of breakfast sausage.

Sauté the onions and garlic together, then combine with beef and sausage. Add the fire-roasted and crushed tomatoes, chipotle peppers, onions, and garlic to the beef/pork mixture. Add 6 tablespoons of your chili seasoning or to taste. Add your 3 lbs of smoked brisket cubed about one inch. Add your favorite beer and a jalapeño. Put on the smoker for the next 6 hours and drink the other beer. 

About your winner: I’m John Burke, PitMaster/owner of GETTY UP BBQ LLC. We are craft barbecue that puts a creative twist on hometown favorites. You can also find us Facebook and Instagram. Check us out!

Toys for Tots: Let’s fill the bins!

We continue to collect toys for this year’s Toys for Tots drive. Drop off your donation of new, unwrapped items for children up to age 16 in our collection bins near the front counter. Let’s make this year a bit brighter for children in need in our community. Thanks for your help!

FREE Winter Storage!

Want to free up space in your garage, shed, or basement? Looking for safe and secure heated storage for your bicycle(s) during the cold months?

Through February 28, we’re offering FREE STORAGE with the purchase of a Tune-Up. If you’re interested in winter storage without the tune-up, we offer it for $10/month.

We do highly encourage the tune-up over the winter so that your bike is ready to roll as soon as the nice weather hits. With shortages and delays, it also allows time for us to receive needed parts for your repairs during months you wouldn’t be using your bike. This will save you the trouble of coming in for service during peak season when our turnaround time is longer. Instead of being frustrated this spring, take advantage of this plan-ahead option and be the first one hitting the trails on March 1st!

Women’s Personal Protection Course

Join us for a female-only self-defense class (for ages 12+). We ran this class in the fall and had a great turnout, so we’re going to make it a regularly scheduled event! 

Monday, January 22
7-8:30 PM
The H.U.B. at Hometown Bicycles

Instructors from Keep and Bear LLC will cover multiple facets of protection including situational awareness, instinctual responses, and nonphysical applications. From there, physical force applications are instructed including striking, force multipliers (hand weapons), and using them to assist in strikes and escapes from common grabs and other grapples.

These applications are intended to result in escape from a controlling engagement so the defender can reassess the situation and act to prevent harm (usually by escaping, neutralizing with physical force, or creating the time and distance necessary to bring lethal force options to bear).

Register HERE

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We’re excited to chow down with you at our 6th Annual Chili Cook-Off this weekend! Join us on Sunday 11/21 from 5-7 PM for food, fun, and good company.

To enter your culinary talents, register HERE. No need to sign up if you’re just coming to eat! Chili will be ready by 5 PM, with voting until 6:30 PM. Come choose your favorite! 

There is no cost to attend our event, but please consider bringing a donation for our Toys for Tots drive! 

Toys for Tots: Get Into the Giving Spirit

Each year, Hometown Bicycles is a Toys for Tots drop-off site, and we try our best to gather as many toys as possible!

Toys must be new and unwrapped. Recipients include children up to age 16. Help make this year extra special for children in need in our community. We’ll be collecting gifts all month and into December! 

Thanksgiving Week Store Hours

Monday 11/22: 10-7
* Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays *
* Closed Thanksgiving Day *
* Closed Black Friday *
Saturday 11/27: 10-5
Sunday 11/28: 10-5

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Hometown Chili Cook-Off! 
We hope your recipes are prepped, shopping lists are made, and slow cookers are ready for use because our 6th Annual Chili Cook-Off is near…

Join us on Sunday 11/21 from 5-7 PM for a yummy good time.

For those wanting to enter their culinary deliciousness, HERE is the link to register. For those wanting to stop by to sample the goods, no need to sign up. Chili will be ready by 5 PM, with voting until 6:30 PM. There will be one overall winner, plus 2nd and 3rd place. This year’s event will be held indoors. We look forward to seeing you!

There is no cost to attend our event, but please consider bringing a donation for our Toys for Tots drive! 

Toys for Tots: Get Into the Giving Spirit

Each year, Hometown Bicycles is a Toys for Tots drop-off site, and we try our best to gather as many toys as possible!

Toys must be new and unwrapped. Recipients include children up to age 16, so keep those older kids in mind as you shop (i.e. a teenager may appreciate a hairdryer, books, sporting goods/equipment, or headphones). 

Help make this year extra special for children in need in our community. We’ll be collecting gifts all month and into December! 

Meet Jason: Your Hometown Service Manager

What are you most excited about related to your position at the shop? Do you have any specific goals?
I am excited to work in a trade that is interesting to me. I enjoy solving problems for the customers and I’m excited to learn to be more efficient at the trade so I can do that adequately. My goal for 2021 and beyond is to become more comfortable and knowledgeable about servicing bicycles.

Tell us a bit about your background.
I grew up in Whitmore Lake, Michigan. I graduated with an Associates degree in Liberal Arts from Washtenaw Community College. I also graduated from Grand Valley State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Advertising and Public Relations.

What kind of cycling do you enjoy? Do you have a favorite trail in the area?
I am a casual road biker. I enjoy riding on the Lakeland Trail. To me, riding is a stress reliever. I enjoy riding most in summer and early fall.

What are some of your other interests/hobbies?
I think the thing I am most passionate about is music. I have been a musician for most of my life and used to do it semi-professionally. I have written and recorded several albums. With my band “the lowercase” I recorded the album “mountains” and I have several solo albums under the name “the lesser” all of which can be found on the various streaming services. 🙂

Coffee or Tea? Or something else entirely?
Coffee.

Favorite movie?
Ghostbusters.

FREE Winter Storage!
Want to free up space in your garage, shed, or basement? Looking for safe and secure heated storage for your bicycle(s) during the cold months?

Through February 28, we’re offering FREE STORAGE with the purchase of a Tune-Up. No tune-up? No problem. We still offer winter storage at $10/month.

We do highly encourage the tune-up over the winter so that your bike is ready to roll as soon as the nice weather hits. With shortages and delays, it also allows time for us to receive needed parts for your repairs during months you wouldn’t be using your bike. This will save you the trouble of coming in for service during peak season when our turnaround time is longer. Instead of being frustrated this spring, take advantage of this plan-ahead option and be the first one hitting the trails on March 1st!

Livingston County Transportation Coalition

The Livingston County Transportation Coalition‘s Quarterly Newsletter is HERE. Get updated on all the wonderful local advocacy efforts, including both motorized and non-motorized transportation.

The Coalition is open to anyone! If you have concerns about or want to help improve transportation and active mobility in our county, join a meeting and share your views. Meetings are on the 4th Tuesday of every month at 3 PM via Zoom, with the next meeting on November 23rd.  

Women’s Entrepreneurship Series: Fitness Industry Forum
Ladies, this one is for you! The next Women’s Entrepreneurship program is Thursday, November 18 from 6-8 PM in The Hub at Hometown Bicycles (3rd entrance).

Dawn Bhajan and Leslie Barrett plan and host this monthly learning series for women in business. There is always so much to learn and great opportunities for networking!

Sign up HERE!

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