HERE’S ONE HOMETOWNIE’S CYCLING STORY… WHAT’S YOURS?  
Our customer’s come to us with the most incredible stories – everything from conquering unbeatably bad odds to remarkable self growth and fullfillment. The common thread to each story is a bicycle!

So we’ve tasked our photographically-gifted Social Media Guru, Meghan Terbush, with an intriguing challenge – to capture the essence of cycling’s importance in Hometownies’ lives in a way that tells their stories. Here’s the first of many to come. Meet Sarah Dudley-Short, and read Meghan’s interview with her below:

On a brisk Saturday morning, with the sun shining through the clouds, I pulled up through winding trees that tunneled the road. I spotted Sarah and her husband, Jeff (of over 30 years!), taking their Jamis Renegade Elites off their bike rack. They greeted me with warm smiles and friendly hugs. Here is what Sarah shared with me:

Q: What got you into biking?

A: I started riding last year to compete in my first Triathlon. Being a member of Hamburg Fitness Center in Brighton, MI has been an amazing experience and has allowed me to connect with many talented and experienced triathletes. I met an amazing trainer as well, Ryan Rau, who constantly encourages me to do my best. My husband Jeff even started biking with me to encourage me to keep going and keep reaching for my goals. One thing that I want to continue to do is to beat my last time and keep on with living a healthier lifestyle. I have continued to work out, eat well, lose weight and gain experiences at Hamburg Fitness Center that no other club can offer. It’s been a thrill to rediscover my love of cycling with my husband!

Q: How did you become “Hometownies”?

A: Hometown Bicycles, LLC is our “happy place”; recommended to us by many patrons at the Hamburg Fitness Center. We really enjoy the group rides, small and large. We cannot thank Shaun and Dawn enough for their patience, help, exemplary customer service, and feeling like part of their extended family. Shaun went above and beyond to ensure that after purchasing one of our first bikes, he fully supported our desire to move our cycling to the next level. Their goal is to promote the love of riding bicycles and to ensure that the buyer buys the right bike for them. He and his staff provide expert advice and service whenever it is needed. This is why we are “Hometownies”, and we recommend them every chance we get!

Q: How has Jamis Bikes changed your life?

A: The Jamis Renegade is an amazing bicycle – versatile and ready for adventure! It’s allowed us to create a fun lifestyle out of biking. We look forward to bike packing in the near future, not only as an amazing way to get in shape, but also as a great lifestyle to live and be part of. We are currently looking into some 200-mile rides throughout Michigan! Jamis ROCKS! Customers for life!!

Sarah will be competing in more triathlons after recovering from knee issues. In the meantime, she plans to participate in an Aquabike race in July. We wish her and Jeff many grand cycling adventures!

A REMARKABLE STORY & A TRUE ATHLETE

If you’re looking for inspiration, you’ve found it! Hometown’s tri clinician, Amy Gluck, is tapping on her years of top-level IRONMAN training and competition, and the life-altering accident that put her passion to the test, to share something soul-stirring in the form of blogging about her recovery, her training triumphs and challenges, and her personal mission to get back to IRONMAN. From her first installment:

“When I got in my accident, I had had the best pre-season training I could have possibly hoped for.  I went with a coach to France and trained in the Pyrenees mountains for a week.  The week after that, I had gone down to Atlanta to train with my coach, Laura Sophiea.  Following that trip, I knew I was in much better shape than I had ever been in my life for Kona.  Thinking back to this time, I am realizing that I never needed to ride on the day I was in the accident.  Not only that, but I really didn’t feel like it that day either.  I was dragging about getting started on my workout that day.  I had decided that it was not acceptable to ride 100 miles at my usual – Island Lake State park.  The thought of repeating laps out there was unbearable after having the advantage of training in the mountains for weeks that summer…”  READ ON

Amy’s full blogs will be posted HERE on our website.

(“Ride Like a Girl!” – Image courtesy Brighton Cycling)

GIRLS TRY IT – GIRLS CRUSH IT – GIRLS RULE!

Me? Biased? What??

Well, okay, I may have been a little extra proud to see so many fellow females at the clinic Hometown hosted last week for Brighton Bulldog’s Cycling Club. The same rings true for Hometown Ride Coordinator, Jean, who volunteered her expertise at the “Girls Try It!” Brighton Cycling training event this past Tuesday. Jean writes:

“Positive and supportive women coaches ran the girls through a flagged route – focusing on shifting and other critical trail skill. Next, they tackled the Appleton trail loop at Brighton Rec… everyone seemed to come out of the trail with a huge smile, lessons learned, a new story, and a high level of accomplishment.”

The Bulldogs are looking to grow their girl power. Any interested Brighton High School gals can contact Coach TJ Tyrell at (734) 347-1177 or tjtyrrell@charter.net.

TEAM HOMETOWN AT MS150 & ILRA TRIATHLON

We want to give a shout out to a few of our Team peeps for keeping the cycling juices flowing over the past week:

Jean and Steve Steinberg, thanks for packing Hometown along for 150 fabulous miles at the Great Lakes West Michigan Breakaway MS150. And John Wyatt, Hometown was thrilled to be along for your triple-challenge adventure at last weekend’s Island Lake Triathlon. It’s the joy of cycling in two uniquely awesome events!

(Photos courtesy Catherine Rose of MCMBA)

MILFORD’S TRAILS AND THE PEOPLE WHO LOVE ‘EM

Over 200 cyclists took a break from the glorious chaos that is graduation party season to ride at last weekend’s MCMBA Milford Bike Festival & Trail Challenge. One of our own – Tom Hermann, Team Hometown member and champion of trail preservation and expansion – led 40-some riders through Milford’s beautiful network of trails. All event proceeds went to MCMBA for continued promotion and stewardship of our community’s cycling paths and trails.

We were proud to sponsor such a serious show of bike love. Thanks, MCMBA, for the opporunity, and hope to see YOU there next year!

THIS SUNDAY: SECURING THE FUTURE OF CYCLING

It may seem like a rather bold statement – “securing the future of cycling” – but that’s exactly what you will be doing when you participate in this year’s Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day event on Sunday, June 11th!

Run by the Poto Chapter of the Michigan Mountain Biking Association, this local fun day partners adults with kids for a day of singletrack skill building and learning to love cycling! Hometown will be there with an on-site mechanic and cool swag, and will offer helmet checks and SAG support for all participants.

Do something healthy with your kids! Have an adventure! Share your love of the sport! This is the kind of event that builds memories and a legacy. Click HERE for more details.

(Image courtesy Tocca Massage & Yoga. Shout-out to loyal Hometownies Fred & Kelly [middle and right]!)

NEXT FRIDAY (6/16): YOGA FOR EVERY BODY

Good news for your overworked, under-appreciated cycling muscles – Ashley of Tocca Massage & Yoga is bringing her insanely popular Vinyasa Yoga class back to Hometown!

Held in our Community Room, this 3-week, Friday morning fun class starts June 16th at 9am. It’s all about dynamic movement and stretching, not perfection and freaky, double-jointed pretzeling. Whether it’s your first or 500th class, you’ll gain immeasurable benefit from this ancient art made user-friendly. $10 per class. Email ashley@toccamassage.com with questions.

NEXT FRIDAY: TRAMPOLINES & PUPPIES

This is how to literally put a spring in your step! Hometown Bicycles is partnering with Sky Zone Trampoline Park of Brighton at their annual Summer Bash on Friday, June 16 from 12pm-5pm, offering games, prizes, and more!

And the puppies? This event is a fundraiser for the Livingston County Humane Society, with a portion of all “jump” proceeds going directly to LCHS. This, of course, means there will be adorable animals on hand for loving and adopting!

Sky Zone will also have a fire truck and police car for kids to explore, along with face painting, balloons, and food trucks! Coupons and swag from local businesses, raffles, and giveaways will round out the day. Think about the fun you’ll have with your kiddies!! Click here to learn more.

SAVE THE DATE: 7/1/17! HOMETOWN’S JULY JUBILEE

Speaking of summer celebrations, stay tuned for Hometown Bicycles 1st Annual July Jubilee, coming this July 1st. Think American, think family, think “biggest ever”, think “gotta put this one on my calendar!” (All the exciting details will follow in future emails… stay tuned!)

KIDS 4TH OF JULY BIKE DECORATING CONTEST

More than just an upbeat group of community-minded people, the Brighton Optimist Club is 100% about “bringing out the best in children.”

We are absolutely geeked to be partnering with these big-hearted people with an event that combines kids, bicycles, patriotism, and a community parade! Check out the flier at left and click HERE for further details.

EMERGENCY REPAIR & FLAT TIRE FIX SUMMER CLINICS

For all of you cyclists who want to know WHAT TO DO when something goes haywire on your ride – your chain drops, your shifters stop working, your wheel “tacos”, your tire blows… – Hometown is throwing you a lifeline for avoiding that long walk home.

We’re breathing new life into some beloved classics – our “Emergency Bike Repair” Clinic and “Flat Tire Fix” Clinic. Primed for your immediate benefit, the first addresses quick, on-the-go fixes that can get you safely back home, and the second touches on one of the most common issues cyclists face – the dreaded flat.

These clinics will run Tuesday 6/13 (Emergency Repair) and Thursday 6/15 (Flat Tire Fix), then swap days on Tuesday 6/27 (Flat Tire Fix) and Thursday 6/29 (Emergency Repair). As always, there is NO CHARGE for these HANDS-ON CLINICS.
Register for EMERGENCY BIKE REPAIR and/or FLAT TIRE FIX.

HOMETOWN BICYCLES UPCOMING SHOP RIDES

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS (6/9)
9:00PM (meet at 8:45) from Hometown Bicycles
Join us at Hometown Bicycles as we roll at 9 p.m. to ride the Island Lake Blue/Yellow loops at an INTERMEDIATE pace from Hometown Bicycles.  Make sure your lights are charged, as darkness may catch up to us on our 1.5 hr ride.  We will re-group throughout the trail.  Mountain and Fat Bikes are encouraged to join this ride.

NO EXPLORING TRAILS OR HARTLAND GRAVEL RIDE THIS WEEKEND 
Instead, please join us at the Island Lake Challenge CPS Race or the Poto Take a Kid Mountain Biking event at Brighton Rec!

MONDAY BEGINNER ROAD RIDE (6/12)
Sponsored by Pro-Motion Physical Therapy
6:30PM (meet at 6:15) from Hometown Bicycles
Come grow with the weekly ride as we start with 10 – 15 miles and end the season conquering 30 miles! 1 – 1.5 hours to start. Route will take us onto the park roads. Road bikes recommended. All level riders are welcome – NO DROP RIDE.

TUESDAY GRAVEL GRINDING 101 WITH ‘CYCLODAN’ TRIBBLE  (6/13)
6:30PM (meet at 6:15) from Hometown Bicycles
Join Hometown service guru, Dan ‘CycloDan’ Tribble, for this unique, gravel grinding adventure ride.  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 initially for just over an hour, covering 13+ miles at a 12 – 13 mph average pace, with the intention to lengthen the distance as sunset grows later. Gravel, adventure, or mountain/fat bikes required (not appropriate for skinny tires). All levels of riders are welcome – NO DROP RIDE.

WEDNESDAY HAMMERFEST / SON OF HAMMERFEST (6/14)
This is a DROP RIDE!
6:30PM (meet at 6:15) from Hometown Bicycles
**New Addition! Meet “Son of Hammerfest” for those that would like to build up to the original Hammerfest.**
SON OF HAMMERFEST:
Rolling at 6:30 from Hometown Bicycles. This will include 25 miles (1 lap of ILRA & the Kensington Loop). Average pace targeted at 17 – 18 mph, with flats of 20+ mph.
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 the roads of Island Lake. Expect the flats pace to range 24 – 28 mph!

THURSDAY MORNING SOCIAL RIDE  (6/15)
10:00AM (meet at 9:45) from Hometown Bicycles
Join us as we explore our local park roads, paved paths and sometimes – a bakery! All bikes welcome.  Expect to average 10 mph for 1.5+ hours as we cover 13 – 18 miles. NO DROP RIDE.

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 at 9:00AM (starting June 16)
$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

Let’s wander where the wifi is weak.

– Anonymous