• Visit Our Store!

    Hometown Bicycles:
    10595 Grand River Road
    Brighton, MI 48116
    Map it!

    Store Hours:
    M, Th, F 10AM-7PM
    Sa & Su 10AM-5PM

    -----------------------------

    (810) 225-2441

  • Write a Review

    WE love what we do, and we hope that YOU love it also. If you do, TELL THE WORLD

  • Become a Fan!

  • Fun Emails!

Hometown Gets the Hollywood Treatment

Team Hometown Bicycles preps for video footage for FHL Bank

Lights, Camera… Action!! Hometown goes Hollywood 

Team Hometown helpers (above, left to right): Joe Ostervik, Suzy Graham, Keith Cowgar and Steve Wortley we’re willing extras on set. Elaine Atallah was there, too, but was being filmed when this photo was taken!

As many of you know, Hometown Bicycles has something brewing in its backroom. You may have heard the hammering and sawing in the early stages, or perhaps you have caught a glimpse of its potential recently, after months and months of slow-but-steady progress. 

What you may NOT know is that Hometown won a $25,000 Elevate (Small Business) Grant in 2018 from Federal Home Loan (FHL) Bank of Indianapolis. Elevate is a grant program that assists the growth and development of small businesses, their workforce, and the communities where they are located.

Steven Walsh of FHL Bank of Indianapolis oversees the filming of a promotional Grant video ABOUT Hometown Bicycles AT Hometown Bicycles!

Above: Steven Walsh of FHL Bank of Indianapolis oversaw production set-up in the Community Room.

Lake Trust Credit Union‘s Commercial Services team had learned about this grant opportunity last year, worked with Shaun and Dawn to apply, and were instrumental in helping Hometown be one of the chosen grant recipients. We couldn’t be more grateful to Lake Trust and FHL Bank of Indianapolis for their support. 

Which brings us to this week — on Monday 7/22, FHL Bank of Indianapolis sent a videographer to Hometown to spend the day capturing footage of the shop, customer interactions, shop activities and interviews.

Leslie Barrett interviewed by FHL Bank

Above: Leslie Barrett, Events Coordinator, is interviewed about teaching Zumba at Hometown.

Our Community Room served as interview central, Team acted as willing extras, and our evening Zumba class was excited to show that Hometown is more than your typical bike shop.

This video, once complete, will go out to hundreds, possibly thousands. What an honor to be chosen for this spotlight! 


Upcoming Events at Hometown!

We have all sorts of good things brewing at the shop and in the community — mark your calendars for one or all of the following!

Walk to End Alzheimer's Zumba/Cardio Drumming Class

Work Out to Benefit the Walk to End Alzheimer’s
Monday, August 5 from 6-7 PM

Join Cardio Drumming’s Martha Soraruf and Zumba’s Leslie Barrett for a donation-based class to raise money for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s. No set class fee; just donate what you’d like. All proceeds will go to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Vinnie Baylerian

Baylerian’s Bagels, Bikes & Brew: Sponsored by Pro-Motion Physical Therapy
Sunday, August 11 from 9 AM-1 PM

Join Team Hometown Bicycles’ Title Sponsor, Vinnie Baylerian, for a morning chock full of fun. Kick things off at Pro-Motion Physical Therapy with coffee and bagels, head out on a guided bike ride, and wind down after at Brewery Becker.

There will be two groups for the ride: An A group for faster riders and B group for everyone else! Team Hometown’s Jack Riddle will lead the A group and Vinnie Baylerian will lead the B group. CLICK HERE for more details!

Monkey Loob

Gravel Ride + Monkey Loob Mixer
Wednesday, August 14 from 6-9 PM

Join us for a 13-mile Gravel Ride around and through Island Lake and back to the shop! We will then have a Monkey Loob Mixer — demonstration, Q&A about this amazing product, and time to socialize with Lyndsay Stiles, competitive mountain biker and inventor and owner of Monkey Loob, with fellow cyclists.

Women's Entrepreneurship Series

Women’s Entrepreneurship: Fitness
Thursday, August 22 from 6-8 PM

Save the date! Our Women’s Entrepreneurship Series continues, this time with a focus on FITNESS. For new business owners in the fitness industry as well as those considering this career path. Spend the evening with inspirational women who will share their journeys, followed by a Q&A session. More details to come in our next newsletter!


In Team Hometown News…

Lorelei Smith at Traverse City Trails Fest

Big congratulations to Lorelei Smith (above) who placed first in her category for the 15 mile race at the Traverse City Trails Fest on Saturday, July 20th. The biggest fundraiser of the year for the Northern Michigan Mountain Bike Association, this event supports trail maintenance and advocacy efforts.

Way to go, Lorelei!

Tom Hermann and Doug Lapp at Intro to Mountain Biking

Big thanks to Tom Hermann and Doug Lapp for volunteering their time to help mountain biking newbies at Island Lake’s Intro to Mountain Biking event on Wednesday, July 14th. In conjunction with Becca, the park’s Explorer Guide, riders learned the basics of mountain biking as a recreation activity, including safety and trail etiquette. Doug created a video to show how much fun was had — watch it HERE

Mark Cook at RAGBRAI

Team Hometown’s Mark Cook has been on quite an awesome adventure at the 2019 RAGBRAI (The Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa). Check him out here, dunking his back tire in the Missouri River (above) and posing with Uncle Sam (below)!

He’s also been enjoying John Wayne’s hometown, Christmas in July, and Beekman’s fresh ice cream, made in the field by diesel-powered churns.

Mark Cook at RAGBRAI

In 44 years, RAGBRAI has passed through 780 Iowa towns, spent the night in 125 different overnight towns, and has been in all of Iowa’s 99 counties. It is the longest, largest and oldest recreational bicycle touring event in the world!

Thanks, Mark, for sharing your journey with us!


FITNESS CLASSES AT HOMETOWN BICYCLES

Cardio Drumming | Wednesdays 6 PM and Saturdays 9:45 AM$5 drop-in / $5 equipment rental – With Martha Soraruf  |  Click to learn more

Power 30 | Wednesdays 7 PM
$5 drop in – With Martha Soraruf  |  Click to learn more

Zumba | Mondays 6 PM and Thursdays 9:30 AM
$8 drop in or “10 classes for $60” punch card – With Leslie Barrett  |  Click to learn more

Zumba GOLD | Fridays 9:30 AM and Sundays 10:30 AM
$8 drop in or “10 classes for $50” punch card – With Tresa O’Rourke  |  Click to learn more

Sati Yoga | Tuesdays 6:30 PM beginning August 13
$7 drop in – With Dawn Gaden, RYT  |  Click to learn more

The 32nd Annual Wish-A-Mile Bicycle Tour, the single-largest fundraising event for Make-A-Wish Michigan, is this weekend.

Good luck to Doc Horal, Louise Horal and family, Team Hometown, and all of the riders who are taking part in this inspiring event that makes thousands of wishes come true.

It was One Helluva Ride + Who Won the Bike from A Taste of Brighton?

A Taste of Brighton: And the Winner is…! 

Shaun Bhajan of Hometown Bicycles draws the winners name from the Taste of Brighton drawing

Big congratulations to Karen Mae for having the winning entry for our Jamis Trail X A2 bicycle at this past weekend’s fabulous festival, A Taste of Brighton! We ran a really fun Facebook contest and randomly chose a winner from the pool of brave visitors who were willing to take selfies at our booth. We’re super excited for you, Karen… enjoy your new ride!

A Taste of Brighton

Speaking of how fabulous A Taste of Brighton was this year — Main Street was packed with wall-to-wall people enjoying vendors and entertainment, awesome eats, and a really sunny weekend!

Our Hometown crew and Team Hometown Bicycles volunteers greatly enjoyed interacting with the crowd and had the opportunity to meet many new faces — what’s better than chatting up fellow bicycle enthusiasts about the sport we love?

A Taste of Brighton

Big kudos go to the Board of Directors of A Taste of Brighton, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that relies on volunteers and sponsorships.

A Taste of Brighton

Hometown Bicycles has greatly enjoyed being part of this celebration of our community over the past two years and look forward to continuing our presence there in years to come. See you in 2020!


Team Hometown Embarks on One Helluva Ride!

One Helluva Ride, organized by the Ann Arbor Bicycle Touring Society (AABTS), took place on Saturday, July 13th.

This ride offers a day of scenic bicycle touring over tree-lined roads in Washtenaw, Ingham, Jackson and Livingston counties. The routes wind through rural and recreation areas on beautiful rolling terrain and vary enough to appeal to a broad range of bicyclists. Riders could choose from several paved and dirt road routes, with all rides starting and ending at the Chelsea Fairgrounds. The 100-mile ride famously passes through Hell (Michigan, that is)!  

One Helluva Ride

Team Hometown was represented by Jacob Henriksen, Erik Frazier, Brad Allen, Matt Burke, Shannon McKay, Lorelei Smith, Chris Harrison and Neal Glazebrook.  

Lookin’ good, Team!

Team Hometown’s Neal Glazebrook Conquers Colorado!

Neal Glazebrook

“Just after the 4th of July, I had a trip to Fort Collins, Colorado to meet and present to the project and sales teams at OtterBox, one of my recent partnerships. I had joked several times about wanting to ride when I was there, but my schedule had little time, if any, to ride due to all of the meetings and events we had scheduled for my short visit. 

Neal Glazebrook

My partnership contact, Greg Caster, alongside a handful of his team at OtterBox, arranged for me to have a bike and a group ready at 5 AM to ride one of the iconic climbs in Fort Collins. It is in the Horsetooth Reservoir area and is known as the “Towers Trail” — as you are climbing 7000 feet to the cell phone towers at the top! The descent was SICK!!

The stone-lined switch backs and steep drops were not something I am used to here in MI. It was a once-in-a- lifetime experience and could not be duplicated. I could not be more grateful for this experience. There are many pictures of the climb but none of the descent, as you are ripping down the hill with little room for stopping or error. I made sure to sport the Hometown colors!” 


Upcoming Events at Hometown!

We have all sorts of good things brewing at the shop and in the community — mark your calendars for one or all of the following!

Walk to End Alzheimer's Zumba/Cardio Drumming Class

Work Out to Benefit the Walk to End Alzheimer’s
Monday, August 5 from 6-7 PM

Join Cardio Drumming’s Martha Soraruf and Zumba’s Leslie Barrett for a donation-based class to raise money for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s. No set class fee; just donate what you’d like. All proceeds will go to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Vinnie Baylerian

Baylerian’s Bagels, Bikes & Brew: Sponsored by Pro-Motion Physical Therapy
Sunday, August 11 from 9 AM-1 PM

Join Team Hometown Bicycles’ Title Sponsor, Vinnie Baylerian, for a morning chock full of fun. Kick things off at Pro-Motion Physical Therapy with coffee and bagels, head out on a guided bike ride, and wind down after at Brewery Becker.

More details to come!

Monkey Loob

Gravel Ride + Monkey Loob Mixer
Wednesday, August 14 from 6-9 PM

Join us for a 13-mile Gravel Ride around and through Island Lake and back to the shop! We will then have a Monkey LoobMixer — demonstration, Q&A about this amazing product, and time to socialize with Lyndsay Stiles, competitive mountain biker and inventor and owner of Monkey Loob, with fellow cyclists.


FITNESS CLASSES AT HOMETOWN BICYCLES


Cardio Drumming | Wednesdays 6 PM and Saturdays 9:45 AM$5 drop-in / $5 equipment rental – With Martha Soraruf |Click to learn more
Power 30 | Wednesdays 7 PM
$5 drop in – With Martha Soraruf  |  Click to learn more

Zumba | Mondays 6 PM and Thursdays 9:30 AM
$8 drop in or “10 classes for $60” punch card – With Leslie Barrett  |  Click to learn more

Zumba GOLD | Fridays 9:30 AM and Sundays 10:30 AM
$8 drop in or “10 classes for $50” punch card – With Tresa O’Rourke  |  Click to learn more


Thank you for your votes! Winners will be announced the week of July 22nd… stay tuned… we can’t wait to find out the results!

Visit us downtown this Friday & Saturday at Taste of Brighton

Vote 4 the BEST!
Through Sunday at 11 PM

Click on Detroit Vote 4 the Best

Hometown Bicycles is on the list! AND CURRENTLY IN FIRST PLACE thanks to you!

Continue to show Southeast Michigan that we are the BEST BIKE SHOP by voting in the Click on Detroit Vote 4 the Best Contest

Voting runs through Sunday, July 14 at 11 PM. You can vote often and much… every hour, in fact… we know that’s a heck-of-a-lot of voting, but anything you can do to help is so appreciated!

To vote:

  1. Visit the Click on Detroit website HERE
  2. Choose the Sports & Recreation category
  3. Select Hometown Bicycles

It’s that simple! Add it to your bookmarks to make it even easier.

(PSSST!!! Dawn here, sneaking in a quick message! DID YOU KNOW that your Hometown Events Coordinator AND newsletter correspondent is also the best Zumba instructor in SE Michigan, and teaches right here at Hometown!? Please VOTE FOR ‘ZUMBA WITH LESLIE BARRETT’, too!!! (She’s in the Fitness category, under Zumba!)
Let’s rock this, Hometownies!


Visit Hometown at A Taste of Brighton
TOMORROW & SATURDAY!

July 12-13, 10 AM-10 PM

Taste of Brighton

Hometown’s headed downtown for the annual A Taste of Brighton summer festival and we want to see you there! On Friday and Saturday, we’ll give festival-goers a flavor of what makes our shop and our sport so darn special. Our tent will be crankin’ with our Service Crew demo-ing what we’re famous for – the best bike repair in Southeast Michigan!

A Taste of Brighton is one of Michigan’s top-rated festivals. Highlighting the best of what Brighton has to offer, stop by for outdoor shopping, dining, entertainment and more along Brighton’s Main Street! 

Be sure to stop by our booth for a chance to win THIS Jamis Trail X A2 bicycle!!!

Jamis Trail X A2 mountain bike

Tour de Livingston Kick Off Ride was an absolute BLAST!

Tour de Livingston

Bright and early on Sunday, June 30th, the front lawn of the historic Howell Courthouse was overtaken with cycling enthusiasts. It was a beautiful day for the Tour de Livingston Kick Off Ride! In conjunction with the Michigan Challenge Balloonfest, riders enjoyed watching the balloons fly in as they completed 5, 10 or 25-mile loops. 

Tour de Livingston

Hometown is stoked to be the Bike Shop Sponsor for Tour de Livingston, to take place on Sunday, October 6, 2019. Rides of all ages and abilities can enjoy the gorgeous fall colors on this fully supported ride.

Tour de Livingston

Proceeds from the event go to the Livingston County United Way to help our county’s most vulnerable with basic needs. Now in its 12th year, the Tour de Livingston, run by the Howell Rotary Club, has raised over $400,000 — amazing! We are so proud to be part of it!
THANK YOU, HOWELL ROTARY CLUB for all you do!

To register for Tour de Livington, click HERE.


Bicycles, Bicycles & more Bicycles PARADED down Main Street! 

Brighton Optimist Club 4th of July Parade

The Brighton Optimist Club and Hometown Bicycles made a red, white, blue and ORANGE splash at the 4th of July parade! It was a happy sight to see so many children and their parents decked out with their awesomely decorated bicycles riding down Main Street accompanied by Team Hometown members in their bright orange kits! 

Brighton Optimist Club 4th of July Parade

The mission of the Brighton Optimist Club is “Bringing out the best in children, our members, and the community” — and they did just that and more at this year’s parade. We had a fantastic turnout and great fun! Thank you to everyone who participated in the bike decorating contest and to those who rode, walked and rolled with us. See you next year!

Brighton Optimist Club 4th of July Parade

Intro to Mountain Biking: Wednesday, July 17th from 6-8 PM

Island Lake Rec Area, Spring Mill Pond

Island Lake Rec Area

Calling all beginners! Looking for a new biking experience that goes beyond paved paths? Maybe you are new to Mountain Biking and want to fine-tune your skills?

Join Island Lake Explorer Guide, Becca, and Hometown Bicycles to gain the basics of this exciting sport/recreation activity! This FREE event will focus on mountain biking parts, safety, and lingo and a guided ride. Please come prepared with helmet, closed-toed shoes and your own bike (nothing fancy, but knobby tires will be necessary). Ages 12 and up. All children under 18 must have an adult present.

Don’t have a bike? Inquire about Hometown’s Bike Rental program! We have a variety of bikes and sizes to meet your cycling needs.


FITNESS CLASSES AT HOMETOWN BICYCLES




Cardio Drumming | Wednesdays 6 PM and Saturdays 9:45 AM$5 drop-in / $5 equipment rental – With Martha Soraruf |Click to learn more
Power 30 | Wednesdays 7 PM
$5 drop in – With Martha Soraruf  |  Click to learn more

Zumba | Mondays 6 PM and Thursdays 9:30 AM
$8 drop in or “10 classes for $60” punch card – With Leslie Barrett  |  Click to learn more

Zumba GOLD | Fridays 9:30 AM and Sundays 10:30 AM
$8 drop in or “10 classes for $50” punch card – With Tresa O’Rourke  |  Click to learn more

Tour Kick-Off THIS WEEKEND + Ride in the Parade NEXT WEEK

**THIS SUNDAY!! 6:45 AM!**
Tour de Livingston Kick Off Ride
Join Hometown Bicycles and the Rotary Club of Howell bright and early at this Sunday’s annual Tour de Livingston Kick Off Ride

Tour de Livingston Kickoff Ride

Cyclists will meet at the Livingston County Courthouse in downtown Howell, with the ride starting at 6:45 AM. There will be 5, 10 and 25 mile loops available. All riders will have the opportunity to watch the balloons fly in to the Michigan Challenge Balloonfest and will also receive a commemorative water bottle. Helmets required, please. FREE event!

Mark your calendars for the Tour de Livingston on Sunday, October 6th! Since its inception in 2008, this event offers riders enjoyment of outstanding fall colors during the peak color season in southeast Michigan. This fully supported ride includes hospitality tents, a full breakfast, snacks along the route, and a hearty meal prepared by the chef at Mt. Brighton. All proceeds from this event help to: bridge the gap for local hardworking families struggling to meet their most basic needs; prepare every child to be ready for success; and build a healthy community for all residents via the Livingston County United Way Basic Needs Programs
Team Hometown will be there, loud and proud! 


Ride with Hometown in the 4th of July Parade!
Downtown Brighton, NEXT Thursday at 8 AM

Brighton Optimist Club 4th of July Parade

Each summer, we really look forward to the Brighton 4th of July Parade — in a collaboration with Brighton Optimist Club, Hometown Bicycles leads a family-friendly ride down Main Street for all ages! It’s a fantastic red, white and blue display of awesomeness to see so many people on bikes, enjoying this tradition with their children and grandchildren.

You have two great options for participating:

  1. Decorate your bike at home and meet us at the contest site at 8 AM. Judging of decorated bicycles will take place at Lynch & Sons, located at 600 E. Main Street in downtown Brighton. Then join our procession in the parade at 10 AM!
  2. Bring your bike and decorations to Hometown Bicycles between Saturday 6/29 and Wednesday 7/3. Decorate your bike at the shop and leave it with us — we will deliver it to the contest site on the 4th! This is a super convenient option so that you can park and easily make your way over to Lynch & Sons without needing to lug your bikes with you. We will also transport your bikes back to Hometown, allowing you to stay downtown and enjoy the festivities.

Click HERE for all details and to sign up!
You’ll be riding in the Parade with Hometown’s own Shaun, Dawn and kids!  Bring YOUR kids, grandkids, nieces and nephews, and join them for a ride down Main Street!

Brighton Optimist Club 4th of July Parade

Hometown Bicycles is nominated: Vote 4 the BEST! 

Click on Detroit Vote 4 the Best

Hometown Bicycles has been nominated for the BEST bike shop in the Click on Detroit Vote 4 the Best Contest

Please show us your Hometown LOVE by voting for us!

Voting begins on Tuesday, June 18th at 11 AM and runs through Sunday, July 14 at 11 PM. You can vote often and much… every hour, in fact… we know that’s a heck-of-a-lot of voting, but anything you can do to help is so appreciated!

To vote:

  1. Visit the Click on Detroit website HERE
  2. Choose the Sports & Recreation category
  3. Select Hometown Bicycles

It’s that simple! Add it to your bookmarks to make it even easier.
Let’s rock this, Hometownies!


Helping our future generations be safe at Safety Town!

Brighton Safety Town

Hometown loves Safety Town!

Each summer, we spend several hours with 4-5 year old children at Hilton Elementary School in Brighton. We cannot say enough about this wonderful program!

Above: Shaun preps the tires for a participant

Safety Town is an early childhood safety education program designed to introduce all types of safety conditions to children preparing to enter Kindergarten. Kids role play in simulated and actual life situations under the guidance of the Safety Town staff, volunteers, and daily presenters from within the community. 

Brighton Safety Town

Our Hometown crew teaches bicycle safety. The children use big wheel bikes and other bicycles to practice driving through the streets of a mock town; they also learn how to use crosswalks. It’s super fun for the kids AND for us! 

Above: Les helping the kids out on the course

Thank you Safety Town for inviting us to again be part of your amazing community program!


Coast 2 Coast: The challenge with THE MOST!

Coast 2 Coast Gravel Grinder

Imagine yourself crossing the mighty Mitten on your bike, from coast to coast, and you may have a glimpse into what it was like to do the Coast 2 Coast Gravel Grinder on Saturday, June 22nd. We’re talking rugged adventure and heart-pumping challenges in the form of 100 or 210 miles!  

Coast 2 Coast Gravel Grinder

Team Hometown members Erik Frazier, Brad Allen, Tom Hermann, Jay Mingis, Andy Showerman and Jacob Henriksen, as well as Brad Allen’s brother-in-law Tony Vega, took it on and SMASHED it!

From Team Co-Captain Mike Dyer:“To all you Homies who finished the Coast 2 Coast race (or even attempted it, for that matter), my hat goes off to you. That is a hell of an accomplishment. I personally can’t imagine being in the saddle for that long. You all make this captain very proud to call you teammates.”


YAY, NEIGHBORS!!
To thank you for shopping locally:


Hometown Bicycles


Intro to Mountain Biking: Wednesday, July 17th from 6-8 PM

Island Lake Rec Area, Spring Mill Pond

Island Lake Rec Area

Calling all beginners! Looking for a new biking experience that goes beyond paved paths? Maybe you are new to Mountain Biking and want to fine-tune your skills?

Join Island Lake Explorer Guide, Becca, and Hometown Bicycles to gain the basics of this exciting sport/recreation activity! This FREE event will focus on mountain biking parts, safety, and lingo and a guided ride. Please come prepared with helmet, closed-toed shoes and your own bike (nothing fancy, but knobby tires will be necessary). Ages 12 and up. All children under 18 must have an adult present.

Don’t have a bike? Inquire about Hometown’s Bike Rental program! We have a variety of bikes and sizes to meet your cycling needs.


FITNESS CLASSES AT HOMETOWN BICYCLES



Cardio Drumming | Wednesdays 6 PM and Saturdays 9:45 AM
$5 drop-in / $5 equipment rental – With Martha Soraruf |Click to learn more

Power 30 | Wednesdays 7 PM
$5 drop in – With Martha Soraruf  |  Click to learn more

Zumba | Mondays 6 PM and Thursdays 9:30 AM
$8 drop in or “10 classes for $60” punch card – With Leslie Barrett  |  Click to learn more

Zumba GOLD | Fridays 9:30 AM and Sundays 10:30 AM
$8 drop in or “10 classes for $50” punch card – With Tresa O’Rourke  |  Click to learn more

Sati Yoga/intenSati Combo | Sundays 9 AM – July 21
$10 drop in – With Dawn Gaden  |  Click to learn more