Hometown does Chicago, bike Valentines, and Spin-Off with Shaun

Posted on January 31, 2017 by Shaun

♪♫ Chicago, Chicago,
That toddlin’ town… ♪

WE’RE HEADED TO THE LARGEST BICYCLE TRADE SHOW IN THE MIDWEST!
We may not have any blues to lose in the Windy City, but we definitely have some cruisin’ and schmoozin’ planned in our quest to find you amazing deals. Plus, we can’t wait to connect with Jamis, and check out what’s new and cool in the bike industry.

Incidentally, we’re making this a family affair – Liam and Aria (our toddlin’ tykes) will be with us, so let’s see if we can “cute” some good deals for you at the expo!

AN UNBEATABLE FAT BIKE DEAL IS IN THE MAKING…

Speaking of AMAZING DEALS…

It’s good to be a shop that’s liked in the bike biz, because we get insider info that no one else knows about. For example, we recently learned that the “big guys” are OUT of fat bikes! In the middle of fat bike season! In Michigan!

Knowing this, we are RIGHT NOW in the middle of putting our awesome reputation to work for you – ‘cuz that’s how we roll – to negotiate THE BEST FAT BIKE DEAL EVER for anyone interested in fatties. More details in our next email but, ’til then, here’s a little insider information for your very own – carbon wheels, carbon frame, and carbon fork for HALF of what you’d spend with the other guys. Yeah, you read that right!

So… you have a few days to do some research. Call around to find a fat bike – we double-dog dare you! When you’re ready to throw in the towel, swing by and talk to Shaun. We’ll show you what “the Hometown advantage” is all about!

(Vinnie Baylerian of Pro-Motion Physical Therapy packed the house at last week’s Bike Fitting clinic. Congrats to clinic-goer, Rick Sweet, who won the drawing for 50% off a bike fit, courtesy of Pro-Motion!)

THIS WEEK: Emergency On-the-Ride Repairs (Part 1)

Don’t get caught making a long trek home on foot! Shaun will teach you down-and-dirty, on-the-go, bike repairs that can get you back to civilization – and your nearest bike shop! – safely and swiftly. Hands-on learning!

EMERGENCY BIKE REPAIR PART 1 – REGISTER NOW!
Tues. 1/31 from 12:15-1pm -OR- FRIDAY 2/3 from 6-7pm
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.

EMERGENCY BIKE REPAIR PART 2 – REGISTER NOW!
Tues. 2/7 from 12:15-1pm -OR- Wed. 2/8 from 12:15-1pm -OR- FRIDAY 2/10 from 6-7pm
Part 2 of 2, this clinic covers the perennial favorite – flat tire fixes! Bring along your wheel for some hands-on practice!

WHY JAMIS? – REGISTER NOW!
Thursday, February 16 from 6-7pm
A favorite addition to our clinic series, “Why Jamis?” answers who Jamis is, what they offer YOU, and why we’ve loved ’em from Day One! Jamis rep and our “brother-from-a-different-mother”, Tom Trentanove, will guest speak and answer your individual questions.

WHERE TO RIDE IN MICHIGAN & POTLUCK PARTY! – REGISTER NOW!
Thursday, February 23 from 6-7pm
Bring your favorite dish to this munch-and-learn, wrap-up clinic party! Enjoy your fellow clinic-goers’ culinary skills, while we share some of the best parks and routes in Michigan for your cycling Adventures, plus groups you can ride with.

KIDS, CREATE “BIKE LOVE” VALENTINES AT HOMETOWN!

SATURDAY, FEB. 11, NOON-2PM IN THE HOMETOWN COMMUNITY ROOM

Your kids will create their very own, unique, bike-y Valentine in this family-friendly, holiday craft class, run by Hometown artist, Lauren Patrell of LPbyLP.

For ages 6 and up, but don’t be shy about participating if you’re an adult. We bet you know a cyclist or two who would love to get one of these from you!

Only $7 materials fee per person per ornament (why stop at one!)

REGISTER NOW FOR “BIKE LOVE” VALENTINE’S KID CRAFT CLASS

(Image at left courtesy Matt Persha)

MEET YOUR CREW: MATTHEW PERSHA

Hometown’s youngest crew member is the personable and enthusiastic Matt Persha. We expect to see great things from Matt. Here’s a brief bike bio from the man himself:

My cousin got me interested in mountain biking, and I currently bike for the Detroit Catholic Central Mountain Bike Team. Before mountain biking, I used to play travel ice hockey as a goalie.

THIS SUNDAY! “SPIN-OFF” WITH SHAUN AT HAMBURG FITNESS CENTER

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 10:15AM, AT HAMBURG FITNESS CENTER CYCLE STUDIO
Hometownies, represent!! Shaun’s taken up a challenge from Team Sponsor Hamburg Fitness Center & Camp to put down the tools and “ride it like ya stole it” at a very special edition of this gym’s much-loved Spin Class. Now, he’s looking for company…

Let’s pack the room with Hometownies! Whether you’re a spin god/goddess or are secretly wondering what a spin bike looks like, this class offers the flexibility to customize your challenge level. It’s a high energy, Hometown-friendly chance to pedal among friends, and YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE A MEMBER TO PARTICIPATE.

Have a Hometown jersey? Wear it with pride! And be sure to hang out afterward for Shaun’s post-spin, “ask-the-expert”, fat bike and winter cycling demo in the lobby.

SPECIAL DISCOUNTED PRICING FOR HOMETOWNIES: $5 drop in for non-members. BIKES ARE LIMITED SO BE SURE TO SIGN UP EARLY!!

LET SHAUN KNOW YOU’LL BE RIDING WITH HIM – CLICK HERE!

Also coming up…

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15 AT 5:30PM & SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26 AT 10:30AM
Keep an eye out in upcoming newsletters for even more opportunities to pick Shaun’s bike brain over at Hamburg Fitness Center & Camp!

FINAL WEEK FOR OMG! HOMETOWN KIT DISCOUNTS

Heads up, Hometownies… if you’re interested in joining our Team, and want to get in on the first kit order with it’s CRAZY discount level, your order must be submitted by this Saturday, February 4th.

Ride Coordinator Jean has already sent out “Welcome Team” emails. If you’re a Team member who didn’t receive yours, email her at ride@myhometownbicycles.com to confirm she has your correct email address.

(Photo creds CORRECTION: This stellar pic was the handiwork of Bill Hermann, not Tom. Sorry, guys!)

¡Ay CRAMBA It’s Cold Out! Fatbike / Snow Bike Festival

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4TH FROM NOON-5PM

With Superbowl running this weekend, our regularly scheduled Fat Bike Friendly Shop Ride is being postponed. But if you’re still itching to saddle up, may we suggest the ¡Ay CRAMBA It’s Cold Out! Fatbike / Snow Bike Festival for some seriously spectacular fat tire time…

Please join CRAMBA for the annual ¡Ay CRAMBA It’s Cold Out! Fatbike / Snow Bike Festival onSaturday, February 4th, 2017 from 12:00pm to 5:00pm for a celebration of winter riding at Shelby Township’s River Bends Park.

Come on out and join us for group rides, fatbike demos, hot bonfires, chili, and tasty beverages with a hundred of your fellow fatbikers. Please feel free to bring food, snacks, and/or drinks to share.

More information here: http://www.cramba.org/events/ay-cramba-its-cold-out-fat-bikesnow-bike-festival/

Need a fat bike? We rent! Call our shop: (810) 225-2441

SPRING: 49 Days & Counting

We’re just 7 short weeks away from the official arrival of Spring. Don’t panic… we can get you there in top form!

Be sure to check out our fat bikes and rentals, winter shop rides, and fitness classes to keep you in peak cycling condition. Plus, we’ll have your bike running like a dream with our famously phenomenal bicycle tune-ups and repairs!

Filed under: Hometown Bicycles | Tagged: ask the expert, Ay CRAMBA It's Cold Out, bicycle clinics, bicycle repairs, bicycle shop, bicycle tune ups, bicycles, bike clinics, bike fitting, bike industry, bike love, bike shop, bikes, CABDA, carbon fork, carbon frame, carbon wheels, challenge, Chicago, Community Room, cycling, cyclists, deals, fat bike, fat bike rentals, fatties, fitness, framed bikes, group ride, hamburg fitness center, Hometown advantage, Hometown Bicycles, Hometown kit, Jamis, kids craft class, Lauren Patrell, LPbyLP, Matt Persha, Matthew Persha, Michigan, Midwest, mountain biking, Pro-Motion Physical Therapy, Ride Coordinator, Shaun Bhajan, shop ride, spin class, spin off, spring, team jerseys, Team kit, trade show, Valentines, Vinnie Baylerian, Windy City | Leave a comment »

What a ‘Best Event Ever!’ Looks Like + Cycling in the Dark

Posted on November 15, 2016 by Shaun

HOMETOWN’S FALL EXTRAVAGANZA REALLY TOOK THE CAKE…

One of our party-goers called last Saturday’s shindig “Hometown’s best event yet!”, and in terms of fun-for-the-whole-family, this-is-what-Hometown-Bicycles-is-all-about entertainment, we’d have to agree! Here’s a scrapbook-style look back at an event that has more than earned its place as an annual shop tradition…

ABOVE: Fitness classes brought insane levels of energy to the shop floor! Top left – party peeps eased into the festivities via dynamic yoga with Ashley Knuth of Tocca Massage & Yoga. Next up, our floor was ROCKIN’ to a Hometown favorite – Cardio Drumming with Martha Soraruf. Artist Peggy Kerwan (middle) and sponsor Sandy of Beauchamp Water Treatment & Supply (right) jumped in on the action, like the total rockstars that they are. Zumba had everyone swinging to lively Latin rhythms, courtesy of Rael’e Buddenborg of Hamburg Fitness Center (bottom left).

ABOVE: Our art fair may have been mini, but it was truly MIGHTY, thanks to the INCREDIBLE artistic talent of Hometown artists (left to right) Peggy Kerwan, Lauren Patrell of LPbyLP, Mickie of Nana’s Knits, and Sarah Burke. We love you, art peeps!

Sarah, we would like to add, braved the chilly winds to work her spray paint magic (bottom right) outside during our event. She’s an enterprising, artistic, high school student whose work we will soon be carrying at the shop. This gal is going far!

ABOVE: Kids had a blast crafting their own Christmas ornaments out of painted bicycle gears in our first-ever kids’ craft class. Expect to see a lot more of these classes here at Hometown!

ABOVE: A few of our sponsors also got in on the action! Jenny Schild of Body Within Personal Training (top left) and Vinnie Baylerian of Pro-Motion Physical Therapy (top right) ran a no-charge, “Ask the Expert” session in our entryway, while Sandy of Beauchamp Water Treatment & Supply kept everyone hydrated and in good humor with her vivacious personality. Thank you, super sponsors!

ABOVE: We could hardly get the bikes prepped fast enough for our wildly popular fat bike demo. Demo-ers pounded through the newly named Liam’s Loop trail behind our shop (top), and then again in Island Lake.

ABOVE: And speaking of riding Island Lake, our event also drew an enormous crowd for the Fat Bike Friendly Mountain Bike Ride with Shaun.

ABOVE: The cherry on top for the riders and their families was coming back to a 15-entry Chili Cook-Off event of delicious proportions. Congrats to Terry and her Surprise Chili for the People’s Choice win! We had no idea so many of our Hometownies could rock the crock(pot)!!

THANK YOU!! We can’t wait until next year’s Fall Extravaganza!

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HOMETOWN SHOP RIDES

Happily, cold weather and early nights do NOT signal the end of cycling season! Here are a couple shop rides you won’t want to miss this week:

Friday Night Lights – November 18th, 7:00 p.m.
Meet at the shop by 6:45 for an intermediately-paced night jaunt through Island Lake. Be sure your lights are charged, and bring a back-up, if you have one!

Fatbike Friendly Ride – Saturday, November 12th, 10:00 a.m.
Join the Hometown crew as they explore the Milford area mountain bike trails on fat and mountain bikes. NO DROP RIDE. ~ 12-14 miles. Please dress for the weather. Meet at Milford trailhead, located on Peters Rd. between GM/Commerce Rd., on the West side. Park in the lot closest to Peters Rd. (if you see baseball fields to your left, you’re there)

IMPORTANT NOTE: Rifle Season runs November 15-30. Please consider exploring non-hunting parks during the day and those with hunting after dark. It’s only two weeks – let’s stay safe!

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2017 SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

See the amazing companies below? They’re our 2015/16 sponsors, and some of the coolest people and businesses we know. As 2017 approaches, we’ll be opening up additional opportunities to take on a Team Sponsor role. Stay tuned for details in an upcoming email!