bicycle care | Hometown Bicycles

Winter Cycling Clinics continue and Fitness Classes are BACK!

Posted on February 10, 2021 by Shaun

We have two clinics coming up before the end of the month and you’re invited!

These are socially-distanced gatherings in our Community Room where each person in attendance has his/her own table. Masks are required. We’re keeping it safe while enjoying an hour or two out of the house on Saturday evenings after shop hours. Attendance is limited to SEVEN people, so grab your spots early!

Saturday 2/20 from 5-6 PM
“TRY” Clinic
The theme is TRY! For those new to the idea of completing a triathlon. Not for the well-versed competitors, but for the beginner who’s maybe still sitting on their couch, wanting to work toward this bucket list goal.

To sign up for this FREE event, click HERE.

Saturday 2/27 from 5-6 PM
Tech Talk: Q&A with our Master Mechanics
This is YOUR opportunity to bring questions to our master mechanics, Tyler and Mason. For one hour, they will share their knowledge and provide answers to your most pressing mechanical questions. Target audience: Intermediate riders who have a decent working knowledge of their bike(s), and bicycle parts and components.

To register for this event, click HERE.
Cost: $12

Support Local! And get a Hometown perk!

We hope our local restaurants are doing well since re-opening earlier this month. Help us help them.

For the month of February, we’ll be running the following promotion:

Go to a local family-owned restaurant. We’re talking about those places with owners that live in and support our local community!
Bring your restaurant receipt to the shop and pose for a photo.
Receive a $5 credit to your Hometown account.

It’s that simple!

**Limit of 4 credits for the month of February, one per week. Together we CAN make a difference.

Save the Date!

3rd Annual Do It For Dan Ride
Island Lake Recreation Area
Sunday, May 2, 2021 at 3 PM

For updates and to support the Daniel J. Horal Family Foundation, click HERE.

Fitness Classes are BACK!

Zumba with Leslie Barrett
Mondays at 6 PM

$8 drop-in; 10-class punch cards are available.
Pre-registration is required. Contact michiganzumbagirl@outlook.com for more info or visit her Facebook page.

Cardio Drumming with Martha Soraruf
Wednesdays at 6 PM

$5 drop-in
Bring your own equipment; there is no equipment rental at this time.
Pre-registration is required. Visit PURE Fitness and Nutrition for more info.

Coming next week: Girl Scout Cookies!

Stay tuned for our special Girl Scout cookies deal for you, our Hometownies! Details in next week’s e-newsletter.

Filed under: Hometown Bicycles | Tagged: best bicycle repair, best bicycle service, Best Bicycle Shop, bicycle, bicycle care, bicycle clinics, bicycle mechanic, bicycle repair, bicycle service, bicycle shop, bicycles, bike care, Cardio Drumming, Dan Horal, Do It for Dan Memorial Ride, Girl Scout cookies, Girl Scouts, Leslie Barrett, Martha Soraruf, PURE Fitness and Nutrition, triathlon, winter cycling, winter cycling gear clinic, zumba, Zumba with Leslie Barrett | Leave a comment »

You’re Invited to Hometown’s 8th Birthday Party!

Posted on April 5, 2018 by Shaun

YOU’RE INVITED TO HOMETOWN’S 8TH-YEAR CELEBRATION!
Shaun and I have always called Hometown our “first child.” We’ve raised it from infancy, helped it toddle into childhood, and watched it continue to blossom and mature over the past 8 years with YOUR love and support. A shop like Hometown is more than just a business. It’s family, and family deserves a birthday party!

As a part of our Hometown family, we’d love for you to join us on April 15th between noon and 6pm for a day of family-friendly birthday games and prizes, presents (for you!), and a 3pm birthday bike ride with food and cake to follow!

Click the invitation above for party details and updates on our Facebook page!

WELCOME TO OUR 2-MINUTE TIP VIDEO SERIES

For those of you who know – or have gotten to know – our new Service Manager, it won’t come as any sort of a surprise that Matt’s the “bees knees” when it comes to cyclist education and bike tech-ery. Beginning next week, you’ll enjoy the benefits of his expertise in a weekly bike care and maintenance video series, titled “2-Minute Tips,” that will help keep your bike ride-ready!

Click here or the image above to watch the introductory video!

WIN A GRANT FOR IMPROVING MI CYCLING

Put your creative caps on, Hometownies! League of Michigan Bicyclists is now accepting proposals for a cyclist-, State-, and industry-benefiting Micro-Grant Program through May 4th!

“The Micro-Grant Program will provide financial assistance to individuals and organizations who implement creative projects that promote bicycling and the safety of bicyclists on Michigan roadways.”

Grants range from $200 – $2,000 with a quick and simple application and reporting process. We love what this program means for our sport, and we’d love to hear that YOU won a grant! CLICK HERE for details.

WE’RE HIRING – STOP IN AND APPLY!
Creating the magic of Hometown is no small thing, and we don’t hire lightly, but we do offer positions that are meaningful and make a real difference in the lives of customers, our community, and the cycling industry. We currently have openings for:

Part-Time Social Media Specialist
Helps market and share the Hometown culture on social media. Must be social media savvy, highly organized, an excellent writer, and skilled in photography. Graphic design skills a plus.

Part-Time Events Coordinator
Coordinates and manages on- and off-premises shop events of all types. Must be highly organized, creative, detail-oriented, an excellent communicator, sociable, and enthusiastic.

Full- and Part-Time Service Techs
Provides reliably outstanding technical bike service. Some technical knowledge preferred. Must be self-motivated, detail-oriented, focused, and a quick learner.

Full- and Part-Time Sales Associates
Provides reliably outstanding customer service, including sales, cashiering, and shop organization and cleanliness. Must be self-motivated, detail-oriented, sociable, enthusiastic, and a quick study.

Drop by our shop, introduce yourself, and pick up an application. You’ll never know unless you try!

THIS WEEK’S SHOP RIDES

Fat Bike Friendly Ride – Intermediate/Advanced
SATURDAY, APR 7 | 10:00AM (MEET BY 9:45AM) | FROM BRIGHTON REC
This week, we’ll meet at Brighton Rec trailhead. Anticipate 10-16 miles of adventuring. Group A advanced riders will ride fast and pack in the miles. Group B intermediate riders will ride as skills determine. Come dressed for the weather. Check Facebook for Ride confirmation and changes!

***Rent a Fat Bike at the shop!***

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Hartland Gravel Grinder – Intermediate/Advanced
SUNDAY, APR 8 | 9:00AM (MEET BY 8:45AM) | FROM HARTLAND TWP HALL
Come enjoy beautiful, HILLY country roads and wonderful ride company. Expect several TOUGH, LONG CLIMBS, at an average 14 – 15 MPH pace for all 28.2 miles. The group may split into 2, with the front pack averaging > 15 mph. (Check out Dan’s Gravel Grinding 101 ride for a less grueling option.) Cross/Gravel, Mountain and Fat bikes are welcome. Meet in the Hartland Twp. Hall lower parking lot (turn right once in the drive) at 2655 Clark Rd. Check Facebook for ride confirmation and changes!

***Rent a Fat Bike at the shop!***

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Beginner Road Ride
MONDAY, APR 9 | 6:00PM (MEET BY 5:45PM) | FROM HOMETOWN BICYCLES
This one’s for the beginner rider who wants to increase mileage and speed. We’ll ride the well-known “to-the-Green-Dumpster-and-back” loop (~12-15 miles), or more for those who are ready. A and B groups will average 10-15+ mph. Road bikes only! Please have some experience on your bike, along with basic shifting and braking skills for the safety of the group. Beyond that, we’ll share some tips to make the hills easier and the flats faster! Check Facebook for ride confirmation and changes!

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Ladies’ Road Ride
TUESDAY, APR 10 | 7:00PM (MEET BY 6:45PM) | FROM HOMETOWN BICYCLES
Ladies, this one’s just for you! This weekly, road ride is for gals of all ability levels. We’ll ride the well-known “green dumpster” loop at Island Lake (~14 miles) at a conversational, 10mph pace. All bikes welcome, NO DROP RIDE. Afterward, relax, connect, and rehydrate with your new biking friends. BYOB!Check Facebook for ride confirmation and changes!

CLICK HERE for our daily 2018 Spring/Summer Shop Rides Schedule!

FITNESS CLASSES AT HOMETOWN BICYCLES

Many of you are familiar with the rockin’ beats and great cardio that take place weekly on our showroom floor. But for those who haven’t yet experienced fitness classes at Hometown, or simply want to get a high-energy start to their New Year’s resolutions, here are a few classes you’ll absolutely want to try!

CARDIO DRUMMING | Wednesdays at 6:00PM
$5 drop in / $5 equipment rental – With Martha Soraruf
Click to learn more

ZUMBA | Mondays at 6:00PM & Thursdays at 9:30AM
$8 drop in or “10 classes for $50” punch card – With Leslie Barrett
Click to learn more

We cannot become who we want to be by remaining who we are.

~ Max DePree

Filed under: Hometown Bicycles | Tagged: 2-minute tip video, anniversary, beginner road ride, bicycle care, bicycle maintenance, bicycle repair, bicycle service, bicycle shop, bicycles, bike repair, bike ride, bike rides, bike service, bike shop, bikes, birthday bash, birthday party, birthday presents, Brighton, Cardio Drumming, cycling, cyclists, Events Coordinator, fat bike friendly ride, fitness classes, games and prizes, gravel grinder, group rides, help wanted, Hometown Bicycles, Hometownies, ladies rides, League of Michigan Bicyclists, Leslie Barrett, LMB, Martha Soraruf, Matt Fitzhorn, Michigan, micro-grant, sales associates, service techs, shop rides, social media specialist, Team Hometown Bicycles, womens rides, zumba | Leave a comment »

Happy New Year, Bike Clinics & Student Art

Posted on January 1, 2016 by Shaun

AND WHAT A YEAR THIS WILL BE…

2016 marks the first full year of memory-making, adventure-generating, and blow-your-socks-off-bicycle-servicing in your new Hometown Bicycles Adventure Center. And while we always learn from looking back, this year our focus is on bringing you the ultimate bicycle experience going forward.

In other words, expect great things…

Very Happy New Year wishes to you and your family from your Hometown Crew. Can’t wait to see you Saturday, January 2nd at 9am!

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STUDENT BICYCLE ART THAT SOLD!!!

SOLD! Heather is the proud new owner of Ellen Bartush’s bicycle with flowers drawing (left). McKenna Baumker’s cool bicycle map collage was purchased as a surprise Christmas gift (right).

Before Christmas, two of our incredible customers bought two of the uber-talented, Brighton High School students’ bicycle art pieces. SO. AWESOME.

So, congratulations Ellen Bartush and McKenna Baumker on your first art sale at Hometown Bicycles! (Remember, students keep 100% of the proceeds.)

Kudos to BHS art teacher, Maureen Ray, for successfully challenging her students to create!

And THANK YOU to the amazing people who chose to support these students’ artistic endeavors. Who knows what you may have inspired!

Not familiar with our Hometown Bicycles Student Art Program? Learn more about it in our last newsletter!

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READY – SET – REGISTER! OUR FREE CLINIC SERIES IS BACK

Winter blues? Forget about it! You’ll be too busy learning cool bike stuff!

Our yearly, FREE, winter clinic series starts January 5th, and this year, we’ve got a whole new Community Room in our whole new Bicycle Adventure Center to take the educational experience to a whole new level.

Early registration is appreciated, so that we can plan ahead on how to make it awesome for everyone. (Click each registration link for the clinics you’d like to attend.)

BIKE SAFETY & EQUIPMENT – REGISTER NOW!
Tuesday, January 5 from 12:15-1pm -OR- Wednesday, January 6 from 6-7pm
Keep you and your bike in one piece! Learn everything from road safety and theft prevention to critical cycling gear.

BIKE CARE & MAINTENANCE PART 1 – REGISTER NOW!
Tuesday, January 12 from 12:15-1pm -OR- Wednesday, January 13 from 6-7pm
In this first of a 2-part clinic, we’ll cover tips and tricks to prep your bike BEFORE you hit the roads and trails.

BIKE CARE & MAINTENANCE PART 2 – REGISTER NOW!
Tuesday, January 19 from 12:15-1pm -OR- Wednesday, January 20 from 6-7pm
In this second of a 2-part clinic, we’ll talk about how to care for your bicycle AFTER you come back from your ride.

BIKE FITTING BASICS – REGISTER NOW!
Tuesday, January 26 from 12:15-1pm -OR- Wednesday, January 27 from 6-7pm
Guest speaker, Pro-Motion Physical Therapy, will cover bike fit that maximizes efficiency and minimizes discomfort.

EMERGENCY BIKE REPAIR PART 1 – REGISTER NOW!
Tuesday, February 2 from 12:15-1pm -OR- Wednesday, February 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!
Tuesday, February 9 from 12:15-1pm -OR- Wednesday, February 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!
Tuesday, February 16 from 12:15-1pm -OR- Wednesday, February 17 from 6-7pm
A new 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 & WITH WHOM – REGISTER NOW!
Tuesday, February 23 from 12:15-1pm -OR- Wednesday, February 24 from 6-7pm
You bought a bike…now what? We’ll share the best parks and routes in Michigan for your cycling Adventures, plus groups you can ride with!