artwork | Hometown Bicycles

The Young & The Priceless

Posted on July 12, 2016 by Shaun

(Photo courtesy of and used with permission of Brighton Safety Town)

HOMETOWN HELPS SAFETY TOWN TEACH TINY TOTS TO RIDE SMART

One of our absolute favorite summertime activities is working with Brighton Safety Town to teach kindergarten-age kiddies how to enjoy safe fun on two (or three) wheels.

Between tricycle checks, helmet fits, and pedal-powered parking lot practice, we’re helping the next generation grown into smart cyclists! In fact, if you’re reading this email Tuesday morning, than Shaun is at Hilton Road Elementary School, “schooling” the next batch of pint-sized cyclist-to-be’s. We’re telling you… it’s priceless!

Check out Brighton Safety Town’s Facebook page and website to see all of the cool things they do!

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4TH OF JULY PARADE FUN… WITH BICYCLES!

Every year, Hometown has the pleasure of teaming up with Brighton Optimist Club on 4th of July parade prep for bicycle-bound youth. This year was a blast – check out Bradley’s sweet rig (at left) that he decorated for the event!

Next year promises to be especially fun with bike decorating at the shop, convenient bicycle/tricycle transport provided by your Hometown crew, awards, adventures, and all the other seasonal coolness that goes along with this awesome Brighton Optimist Club program. Stay tuned next year for details!

Thanks for letting us be a part of it!

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$10 BICYCLE ART BY PINCKNEY STUDENTS

Hometown recently had a blast hosting an art reception open house for the creative kids of Pinckney schools.

Art teacher Hallie Levine made the clever decision to create prints of her students’ pieces before their original artwork headed home with them for the summer. What does that mean for you?

It means fabulously imaginative bicycle art available for purchase at Hometown… for just $10! And remember, on any student art purchase, 100% of the sale goes directly to the student! Come support these creative kids!

Capital-“K” Kudos goes to Brianne Campbell whose whimsical balloon bike art (above left) was the first piece of Pinckney student art to sell at Hometown Bicycles. Congrats, Brianne!

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BONUS BIKE BITS

HOMETOWN COMMUNITY ROOM RENTAL

A word from our Events Coordinator, Jennifer McCauley:
Are you or anybody you know looking for a location to teach an exercise class? Instruct artists? Inspire crafting? Lead a seminar? Hometown’s Community Room is being used for everything from Yoga to Cardio Drumming, and personal trainer clinics to painting parties… and we’re looking for more activities!

Our room rental is the best you can find. I know because I checked around! Please contact me atevents@myhometownbicycles.com with your rental questions.

FREE WEEKLY TRI WORKOUT WITH TEAM HOMETOWNIE JOHN VAN ALSBURG
Our Team is so cool! Team Hometownie John is an experienced tri-guy with a wealth of knowledge to share and a passion for the sport. He’s providing FREE brick workouts every Tuesday evening at 5pm (swim at 5, usually riding by 6:15… or ride only, if the water is too cold). Everyone is welcome.

John’s tri workout meets weekly at Island Lake’s big Kent Lake parking lot.

CONGRATS TO HOMETOWNIE RICK SMITH ON HIS CROSSFIT LAUNCH
We’re constantly inspired by our customers’ drive… like Rick Smith – long-long-long-time Hometownie – who deserves a shout-out for his upcoming Earned Not Given CrossFit grand opening on Saturday, July 30th from 10-2.

For location, coaches,schedules,and details, visitwww.earnednotgivencrossfit.com

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LOVE US? PLEASE TELL THE COMMUNITY!

CLICK TO VOTE HOMETOWN BICYCLES “BEST BIKE SHOP 2016”

Filed under: Hometown Bicycles | Tagged: 4th of July, art reception, artwork, bicycle art, bicycle decorating, bicycle shop, bicycles, bike decorating, bike shop, bikes, brick, Brighton, Brighton Optimist Club, Community Room, Crossfit, cyclists, Earned Not Given CrossFit, Hilton Road Elementary School, Hometown Bicycles, John Van Alsburg, kids, open house, parade, Rick Smith, Safety Town, school, student artwork, students, triathlon, tricycle, workout | Leave a comment »

Wall o’ Bicycle Art, Master Cycling Clinic, and Scouts on Bikes

Posted on May 10, 2016 by Shaun

THE COLORFUL CREATIVITY OF SOUTH LYON’S BARTLETT ELEMENTARY

Hometown Bicycles’ Student Art Program is now proud host to the remarkable talent of South Lyon art teacher Zach Hoggard’s 5th Grade class.

Zach took up the mission of inspiring students to generate bicycle art with a challenging lesson in negative space. Bicycles aren’t easy to draw for ANYONE (seriously… try it!), so the creative results of his project are all the more impressive.

Bartlett Elementary’s bicycle art will be on display in the Community Room for the month of May. (Sorry, Hometownies, these gems are NOT for sale.) Stay tuned for an upcoming Artists’ Reception at Hometown to honor these young creators!

SPEAKING OF STUDENT INGENUITY…
Here’s a shout out to another young bicycle artist whose work is on display at the shop. George R. is just 13 years old, but his clay piece, “Inner Joy” (photo at right), could pass for the efforts of a professional three times his age.

When you stop by to see this, be sure to check out the tire treads, the chain detail, the carefully aligned spokes, and even the textured grass. All we have to say is, “WHOA!”

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MASTER CYCLING CLINIC WITH RYAN RAU

Next Tuesday (5/17) from 6:30-8pm, Pro Triathlete Ryan Rau of Real Results Personal Training is coming to Hometown to offer expert instruction in the art of becoming a better cyclist. This clinic will cover ways to improve your fitness, build speed and stamina, and slim and tone via targeted workouts for real results. He’ll also share insider insights on tools and products you can use to accurately track and assess your progress.
(Photo © Real Results Personal Training)

Weekend warrior or racer-in-training, this clinic will add valuable arsenal to your cycling skill set. NO CHARGE!

REGISTER FOR MASTER CYCLING – HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR RIDE
Tuesday, May 17th • 6:30-8:00pm • Hometown Bicycles’ Community Room

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DEMO DAY WAS “TEAM HOMETOWNED”

Last weekend’s Island Lake Spring Bike Demo Day dawned brisk and beautiful. Team Hometown Bicycles was kept hopping with crowds of eager cyclists collecting demo rides and information. Major thanks to the Hometownies who represented Hometown at this well-attended event. You are fantastic ambassadors to the shop and the sport!

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BOY SCOUT TROOP 347 PREPS FOR MACKINAC

Image shown with the permission of Scout Troop 347. Glad to have you here!

If Boy Scouts should “Always be Prepared,” then Troop 347 rocks the motto! In preparation for a group expedition to Mackinac Island, these diligent Scouts picked Shaun’s brain on the finer points of bike care, safety, and skills. We just wish we could go, too… ride on, Troop 347!

We love getting kids geeked about cycling! Want us to host a clinic for your Troop or group? Email Jennifer at events@myhometownbicycles.com

Filed under: Hometown Bicycles | Tagged: artwork, Bartlett Elementary School, bicycle art, bicycle clinic, bicycle shop, bicycles, bike art, bike clinic, bike shop, bikes, Boy Scouts, cycling, Hometown Bicycles, Hometown Bicycles Student Art Program, Hometownies, Island Lake Spring Bike Demo Day, Master Cycling Clinic, Michigan, Real Results Personal Training, Ryan Rau, South Lyon, student art, Troop 347 | Leave a comment »

Hometown Jersey Special & Call for Student Bike Art

Posted on January 28, 2016 by Shaun

… AND GET A DISCOUNT WHEN YOU ORDER BY FEBRUARY 4TH!

Don’t get us wrong… we LOVE hanging out with you at our shop. But here’s one instance where you can shop Hometown in your bathrobe and bunny slippers! You can now order your Hometown jerseys and kits directly from Jakroo on our online Team Store:

CLICK HERE TO BROWSE HOMETOWN’S ONLINE TEAM STORE

PLUS, any orders placed by February 4th for February 25th delivery will receivespecial discount pricing (which is what’s currently posted in our Team Store.)

If Hometown is YOUR bike shop, here’s your chance to brag about it!

If RACING for Hometown is YOUR dream, be sure to check out next week’s email!

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IMMEDIATE CALL FOR STUDENT BICYCLE ARTWORK

If you’re harboring one or more artistically talented kindergarteners through 12th-graders in your home, here’s a chance to showcase their talent at Hometown!

Our Brighton High School student art display has enlivened the shop and inspired our customers for over a month now, but it’s time to return the artwork to their creators (except for the ones that sold, of course!)

There’s been an amazing response to our Student Art Program from our community’s schools, and you’ll be seeing a whole lot more student creativity in the coming months. But while those students are hard at work, creating their masterpieces for display, our walls will be sitting vacant…

… UNLESS …

Unless your budding artist would like to showcase their bicycle art at our shop NOW!

Artwork can be any medium, but must be ABOUT bicycles or MADE OF bicycle parts. Your student may put it up for sale if they want to – they’d keep 100% of the proceeds!

If interested, email a picture of the artwork for approval (we’re a family-friendly shop, so it’s got to be positive, clean, and angst-free), along with your student’s name and grade level, to office@myhometownbicycles.com.

SUBMISSIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4TH. Please drop off approved artwork by Friday, February 5th, so that we can make its display spectacular!

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ON DECK: EMERGENCY BIKE REPAIR CLINIC

There’s still one more chance to catch some bike fit action at our Saturday Bike Fitting Basics clinic. Then, following hot on its heels, is a must-see clinic for ANYONE who wants to avoid the long walk of sheepish unpreparedness!

BIKE FITTING BASICS – REGISTER NOW!
SAT 1/30 from 10-11am
This popular clinic will cover bike fit that maximizes efficiency and minimizes discomfort.

EMERGENCY BIKE REPAIR PART 1 – REGISTER NOW!
TUE, 2/2 from 12:15-1pm -OR- WED, 2/3 from 6-7pm -OR- SAT, 2/6 from 10-11am
Part 1 of 2, this clinic is hands-on! We’ll cover quick, on-the-go bike fixes to help you avoid a long walk home.