Since dropping early hints about this summer celebration in past newsletters, the Hometown Bicycles 1st Annual July Jubilee & Sale on Saturday, July 1st has taken on a life of its own. It’s an event that’s become legendary in scope. Forget “pencilling it in”… just COME. You won’t want to miss one single, glorious moment of July Jubilee fun!!EVENT DAY ACTIVITIES (ALL FREE!) INCLUDE:

MMM-M-M BARBECUE & SWEET TREATS SUPPLIED BY (for purchase):

YOU’LL ALSO HAVE A CHANCE TO MEET (and, in many cases, play games and win prizes with) THESE AWESOME LOCAL BUSINESSES & ORGANIZATIONS:

OH, AND DID I MENTION THE GIVEAWAYS, GREAT DEALS, NEW INDOOR PLAYSCAPE FOR KIDS, AND NEWLY EXPANDED BICYCLE GIFTS & NOVELTIES DEPARTMENT??
PRINT THE EVENT FLIER… share it with your friends and family! Let them know you have an adventure planned for them at Hometown Bicycles on July 1st! We can’t wait to celebrate with you!

THIS SUNDAY: TOUR DE LIVINGSTON KICK-OFF RIDE

Add it to your calendar, Hometownies! It’s an annual tradition for Hometown to lead off this pre-Tour teaser of one of our favorite events ever – the Tour de Livingston. Hometown Bicycles is offering ride support, SAG support, and bike valet. Ride with us!!

So that all of our Hometown crew can enjoy this event…
WE WILL OPEN LATE THIS SUNDAY, JUNE 25TH
12pm – 5pm (6/25)

(From left: Joe Van Gordon’s looking pretty in pink, alongside John Clark, Deb Godmer and Rex Blair. Photo pirated from Deb’s Facebook – I knew you wouldn’t mind, Deb!!)

HILL CRUSHERS! TEAM HOMETOWN CLIMBS MOUNTAINS 

Or, at least, that’s what it feels like in Michigan’s grueling, short-course-steep-climb Mountain Mayhem race series. According to the event website, this series “will test your mental sanity”, but you’d never know it by the laid back grins on our Team’s faces!

Kudos to Joe Van Gordon, Deb Godmer, Rex Blair, and Caddy Johnson for conquering this spirit-breaker of an event!

(Left to right: Pre-race, bringin’ it home, and hangin’ with the kiddies after. Photos courtesy Scott Simpson)

100 MOUNTAIN BIKE MILES WITH TEAM HOMETOWN

Eight and a quarter hours. That is the length of time Scott Simpson rode last Saturday in the epic Lumberjack 100. Think about that… that’s a FULL 9-TO-5 WORK DAY, riding a saddle instead of a desk chair. WOW. Congrats, Scott, on a mighty mountain biking accomplishment!

TODAY: HOW TO BURN MORE FAT + GUEST SPEAKER

Tapping on her Degree in Nutrition and Bob Seebohar’s revolutionary Metabolic Efficiency research, Hometown’s Amy Gluck talks about how to train your body to burn fat for fuel, instead of using quick-access carbs. She’s joined this week by Brian Grzyb of Lifetime Fitness in Commerce, who is a resident expert on Metabolic Efficiency Testing!

In her talk about Metabolic Efficiency Training, you’ll learn what it is, how to do it, and the enormous benefits to be gained… like no more GI distress at competitions, never hitting “the wall” again, and turning yourself into a lean and efficient, fat-burning machine! NO CHARGE!

REGISTER NOW FOR “TEACHING YOUR BODY TO BURN MORE FAT”

Thursday, June 22 from 6-7pm in the Community Room

AMY’S BLOG: June 23, 2017

The inspiration continues… ! 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 6/23/17 installment:

“This year, the T-Rex Series are my “A” races (basically, the peak races for my tri season).  I’ve never had a Sprint Tri as my “A” race, since I started Ironman racing.  In my mind, Sprints are too hard because they demand 100% speed all of the time, even through transition.  Ironman made me too lazy to put 100% speed on all of the time.  Ironman is more about proper pacing and avoiding 100% effort to save yourself for the end of the race…”  READ ON

Amy’s full blogs are posted HERE on our website.

NEXT WEEK: SUMMER EMERGENCY REPAIR CLINICS

Our “Emergency Bike Repair” Clinic and “Flat Tire Fix” Clinic are primed for your immediate benefit, addressing quick, on-the-go fixes and how to handle the dreaded flat:
•  Tuesday 6/27 (Flat Tire Fix)
•  Thursday 6/29 (Emergency Repair).

NO CHARGE for these HANDS-ON CLINICS.

PARKED BESIDE PUPPIES AT SKY ZONE’S SUMMER BASH

Last Saturday found us “ooo”-ing over the Livingston County Humane Society‘s furry recipients of the Sky Zone Summer Bash fundraiser.  There may also have been some jumping involved… and said jumper just may have had a fantastic nap as a result!

Overall, our helmets are off to Sky Zone for a truly terrific event. We appreciate you making us a part of it! Look for Sky Zone at our 1st Annual July Jubilee!!

TOMORROW (6/23):

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 started 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.

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 folks with an event that combines kids, bicycles, patriotism, and a community parade! Check out the flier at left and click HERE for further details.

HOMETOWN BICYCLES UPCOMING SHOP RIDES

THURSDAY SOCIAL A.M. ROAD RIDE  (6/22)
10:00AM (meet at 9:45) from Hometown Bicycles
This friendly road ride takes the back entrance to Island Lake and explores park roads. The plan this week is to ride 1-1.5 hours at a 10 mph average pace. Ride whatever bike will work for the pace and your desired exercise level. This is a NO DROP ride (a support rider will be the last person back). Check back for ride confirmation/changes due to weather.

SUNDAY GRAVEL GRINDER RESUMES JULY 9TH 
Please join us in Howell this Sunday, June 25th for the Tour de Livingston Kick Off. 
Watch the balloons lift off, then continue on along your Kick-Off route.  Enjoy the Farmer’s Market after you ride!

SUNDAY EXPLORING TRAILS MOUNTAIN BIKE RIDE (6/25)
4:30PM (meet at 4:15) from Hometown Bicycles
As a tribute to Father’s Day, the Beginner Friendly Mountain Bike Ride leaders would like to encourage riders to bring their dad out for a 1.5 hr trail ride on Sunday. We’ll ride from Hometown Bicycles to the back of Island Lake and explore 9 – 15 miles of the Island Lake Mountain Bike trails, splitting into a couple of groups. All levels of riders are welcome at this 1.5 hr pace. This is a NO DROP RIDE – which means we will have a ride support person at the end of the last group. Mountain and Fat Bikes are encouraged.

MONDAY BEGINNER FRIENDLY ROAD RIDE (6/26)
Sponsored by Pro-Motion Physical Therapy
6:30PM (meet at 6:15) from Hometown Bicycles
Come join the Hometown Bicycles crew for this NO DROP ride. Road bikes only please. We’ll travel towards the back of Island Lake, then head through the park roads to the well-known “Green Dumpster” and back – approx 12 – 15 miles. Those ready for more will group up to do more mileage to satisfy their cycling need!  Expect a 12 – 17+ mph pace to accommodate riders’ skill levels.  All level riders are welcome – we’ll split into groups according to experience and speed, with a sweep to bring up the rear.

Please make sure you have some experience riding the bike you bring to this ride and are comfortable with the way it handles, including basic shifting and braking, for the safety of all. Beyond that, our friendly ride support are delighted to share tips on how to make the hills easier and the flats faster – just ask!

TUESDAY GRAVEL GRINDING 101 WITH ‘CYCLODAN’ TRIBBLE  (6/27)
6:30PM (meet at 6:15) from Hometown Bicycles
This ride from Hometown Bicycles covers 13+ miles of pavement, dirt trails and gravel roads between 12 – 13 mpg average. We’ll ride the back of Island Lake, enjoy some gravel (a few hills just for fun!), pop onto some paved roads, and grab a dirt trail back into ILRA. Expect a few “puddles” of sand. Nothing our gravel, adventure/mountain/fat bikes can’t easily handle! Standard road bikes (skinny tires) are not appropriate for this ride. All levels welcome – NO DROP RIDE (a support person will be the last rider).

WEDNESDAY HAMMERFEST / SON OF HAMMERFEST (6/28)
This is a DROP RIDE!
6:30PM (meet at 6:15) from Hometown Bicycles
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!

SON OF HAMMERFEST (for those that would like to build up to the original Hammerfest):
Also 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.

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

I don’t know where I’m going from here, but I promise it won’t be boring.

– David Bowie