5 years ago TODAY, Daniel J. Horal’s life changed forever, and now his legacy is changing yours…
When Dan set out for his bike ride on Wednesday April 24th, 2019, he was struck and killed by a distracted driver in Island Lake State Park.
Dan’s tragic accident was and still is devastating to his family. However, they didn’t let this tragedy become just a memory – it became a STORM OF CHANGE. His loss rallied the Horal family to say “ No More”. They created the Horal Family Foundation, with Dan’s wife, Jane, at the forefront of massive safety improvements here in Livingston County, the State of Michigan, and even on a national level, speaking directly to the Secretary of Transportation, Pete Buttigieg.
2023 marks the 5th anniversary of Dan’s passing and, in that time, the GO LIV CO / HORAL FAMILY FOUNDATION has raised and donated thousands of dollars to safety improvements at Island Lake State Park. The group has been working with the Transportation Coalition in Livingston County for creating sensible changes for safe mobility for all. They have worked closely with the Kiefer Foundation and Hands Free Michigan to help end distracted driving.
Want to help support the Mission? Click the button and logo below:
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.
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.
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.
“May is National Bike Month, promoted by the League of American Bicyclists and celebrated in communities from coast to coast. Established in 1956, National Bike Month is a chance to showcase the many benefits of bicycling — and encourage more folks to giving biking a try.” ~ The League of American Bicyclists
With the Michigan stay-at-home order changing to allow bicycle service, we’re happy that we can be there for you. Somehow, this National Bike Month feels a little more special, doesn’t it?
Do It for Dan
April 25, 2020 was the anniversary of the tragic cycling accident that took Dan Horal’s life. His memory lives on for all of us at Hometown, his family, and friends, and a tight-knit cycling community that thinks of him often. The Do It For Dan Memorial Ride that would have been scheduled for May 3, 2020 has been moved to September 27, 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Please like the Do It For Dan Facebook page to stay up-to-date on all of the happenings, to help us celebrate Dan, and to help honor his memory.
One Hoppin’ Service Shop
We’ve officially been open 2 days for service operations, and what a whirlwind! We’ve brought in over 200 bicycles, 130 of which are tune-ups. Every day, we’re making subtle changes to our procedures to be more efficient. Thanks for hanging with us while we figure this out.
To speed up the process, we do have a few requests:
1) FOLLOW THE SIGNS: When you come to the shop, you will see signs in the parking lot directing you where to go, depending on whether you’re here for service or retail.
2) SERVICE CUSTOMERS: Please fill out, then print THIS SERVICE REQUEST FORM prior to coming out to the shop, and bring it with you to drop-off.
3) RETAIL CUSTOMERS: Please park against the concrete wall – one of our sales crew will come out and greet you.
4) NEW BIKE CUSTOMERS: If you are interested in purchasing a bicycle, in addition to Step 3 (above), please call ahead and schedule an appointment with Andy: (810) 225-2441, Dial 1.
GoFundMe: We Still Need YOU
We’re not in the clear yet! Although the April 24th Executive Order update gives us an opportunity to generate income going forward, resources continue to be limited.
With this change, we are thankful to be able to lower our ask. But because of the ongoing uncertainty, we are still looking for your support:
We are SO excited to announce that, in partnership with awesome super-vendor QBP, you can now order bicycle parts and accessories from Hometown that will get shipped to your house in as quick as 2 days.
It’s really simple:
STEP 1: Call the shop between 10am-5pm on Monday, or Thursday through Sunday – (810) 225-2441.
STEP 2: Dial 1 to connect with Andy, our sales lead. He’ll be able to answer questions and take your order.
STEP 3: Let him know what you want, and it will be shipped directly to you.
(Above: Shaun and Dawn Bhajan, pictured with an incredible group of fellow LMB Awards Shop of the Year Finalists, at the Detroit Velodrome. That’s a lot of awesome in one place!)
We all know Hometown is more than just a shop. In fact, sometimes you know that even better than we do, and we are eternally grateful that you never let us forget it! Hometown is a community, a philosophy, and a movement. Our Crew, our Team and, most definitely, our customers are both the core of, and the messengers for, that culture.
Your involvement, your patronage, your loyalty, and your referrals have expanded the scope and reach of EVERYTHING Hometown has ever created, including the impact we so enjoy making in both our local community and the cycling community at large.
Most recently, that impact included one of our proudest achievements – the creation of the annual Do It for Dan Memorial Ride, honoring a beloved, local rider who was struck and killed by a motorist while cycling at Island Lake. Over 550 of you turned that Ride into a powerful message to motorists and cyclists everywhere to always stay alert and to share the road safely.
It’s also worth mentioning that this award says “SHOP of the Year,” not “BIKE SHOP OWNERS of the Year” or “SHOP INDIVIDUAL of the Year”. And, of course, what is a “shop”? It’s the amplified total of all the individuals who support it.
Shop of the Year, Hometownies. What a win for us all!
With love and appreciation,
Shaun & Dawn
4th Annual Chili Cook-Off: Great Bowls of Fire!
Saturday, November 9th from 4-7 PM
It’s almost time for Iceman… do you know what that means?
It’s time to get your recipes simmering for our 4th Annual Chili Cook-Off! Our annual tradition is always the weekend following Iceman, and we are stoked to consume copious amounts of chili!
Enter your mild, medium or spicy deliciousness to win awards and perhaps even take home the very special –and kinda gaudy, but that’s what makes it fabulous — traveling trophy. And you get a whole year to share the bragging rights of being the 2019 Hometown Bicycles “Great Bowls of Fire” Chili Cook-Off WINNER!
Stir up your favorite recipe and drop it off at the shop by 4 PM. People’s Choice judging will begin at 5 PM, and the winner will be announced by 7 PM. Be sure to bring your garnishes and serving utensils, and your recipe ingredients written on an index card for allergy-conscious diners.
When you sign up, don’t let us know what kind of chili you’re bringing. It needs to be a surprise! We are all about unbiased voting, folks!
FAT BIKE PRE-RIDE! Prior to the chili eatin’, Team Hometown Co-Captain Mike Dyer will be leading a Fat Bike Ride, so stay tuned for details. That way, you can burn off a ton of calories before you add them all back!
Our Team Totally Rocks… How Cool is THIS?
On Sunday, October 20th, several Team Hometown members kicked off the Detroit Free Press Marathon as lead cyclists!
Known lovingly as the “Freep”, this epic event has been going strong since 1978. Runners from all over the world have traveled to Detroit to take part — and it has become an event that encompasses people from all walks of life, not just elite runners.
We couldn’t be more proud of these guys for representing Hometown in this amazing way.
Pictured above (left to right): John Wyatt, Ron Szumski, Tom Hermann, Dennis Doherty, Doug Lapp, and Team Hometown Co-Captain and Mobile Rhythm Entertainment Sponsor Joe Ostervik.
Kudos to John Harrington for his first place podium at Custer’s Last Stand on Saturday, October 5th in Augusta, MI.
This all-volunteer benefit event is sponsored by the Join the Fight of Battle Creek, in collaboration with the YWCA of Kalamazoo, to raise awareness of human trafficking and other types of domestic violence. Way to go, John!
Entrepreneurship Event: MARKETING!
Who: Anyone interested in learning about Marketing! Business owners, entrepreneurs, start-up endeavors,
students… come one, come all… men and women, all ages!
What: Informative and FUN evening on a hot topic!
Tues, December 10 from 6-8:30 PM
Where: Hometown Bicycles! We will be closing the shop early to focus on this event!
Why: Because your Hometown ladies, Dawn and Leslie, really love supporting entrepreneurs!
Coming in a future email: Our fantastic lineup of speakers and the link to sign up! Keep your eyes peeled!
Goodbye, Summer Shop Rides… See you next year! Our weekly shop rides will be saying goodbye at the end of October. Stay tuned for pop-up rides and fat tire rides as weather permits. The best way to stay informed is via our Facebook page. Make sure to like and follow to get all the latest updates.
Thanks for a wonderful spring/summer season riding with us!
