Happy New Year | Hometown Bicycles

A Heartfelt Goodbye + Team Night Memories

Posted on December 18, 2019 by Shaun

A Heartfelt Note from Your Hometown CEO:

Dear Hometownies,

Ten incredible years of sharing memories and adventures with you makes my personal message to you today bittersweet…

As of January 1st, I will be moving on from my CEO position here at Hometown.

Many of you already know Shaun’s and my history. When Shaun first asked for my help with Hometown over 10 years ago, it was at the level of brainstorming, building, and marketing our new venture. As the shop grew and expanded, so did my role. Our kids were born, and became part of the evolution and revolution that was and is our shop. And then, two years ago, I accepted my most challenging company position to date – as Hometown’s CEO.

With your help, we’ve earned Livingston Daily’s 2019 People’s Choice for Best Bike Shop, Vote 4 the Best’s 2019 Best Bike Shop, and League of Michigan Bicyclists 2019 Bike Shop of the Year. All of this tells me that we are on the right track, and we are going places.

Am I proud? YES!!!

I never anticipated being here this long, or in this capacity, but WOW, what a ride. Best 10 years of my life, bar none.

Through my experiences here, I’ve developed opportunities for myself; it’s time for me to take advantage of those opportunities. I’m ready and eager for the next adventure…

In the meantime, I leave Hometown in the very best of hands – Shaun’s, our Crew’s, and yours. The foundation is laid. You all know what Hometown IS; I’d like to ask for your help now in making it what it can BECOME. Limitless potential, my friends… limitless.

I am still Hometown through-and-through, so you’ll still see me here often. Hometown will always be my second home, and I adore my fellow Hometownies. Plus, I happen to love the owner 🙂

Thanks so much for being a part of my story, for being integral to my family’s life, and for the privilege of being your Hometown CEO.

With love and gratitude,

Dawn Bhajan

Merry Christmas, Hometownies!

Your Hometown family wishes you and yours a truly magical Christmas and a New Year filled with hope, joy, laughter… and lots of cycling. Thank you for the most fantastic 2019. Cheers to another year of adventure ahead!

We close at 3 PM on Christmas Eve and reopen at 10 AM on Friday, January 3, 2020. We hope you enjoy this time with the people who mean the most to you.

With love and warmest wishes… Your Hometown Crew

Team Night 2019… and what a night it was!

On Sunday, December 15th, current and prospective Team Hometown Bicycles members gathered at the shop for a fun, informative evening celebrating all things cycling.

Shaun and Dawn shared this year’s success stories and thanked our Team Sponsors — we are so appreciative of their support! Team Awards were shared with our cycling ambassadors who went above and beyond to give to the cycling community. And we are geeked to announce that all of our Team Sponsors and our Team Captains, Joe Ostervikand Mike Dyer, will be continuing into 2020. YAY!

Team Night was a great display of community and camaraderie, support and gratitude, and love for the incredible sport of cycling. Over 30 riders signed on to be part of 2020 Team Hometown Bicycles at the event alone!! What about you? Will you join our friendly group of non-competitive and competitive riders?

Stop by the shop to learn more about our mission, team expectations, and team benefits… and to pick up a membership application. You may also download an application HERE.

For information on online ordering of the Team Kit, click HERE.

Coming Soon: Winter Clinic Series

Beginning January 11, 2020, we will kick off our highly informative and, many times, hands-on Winter Clinic Series!

All clinics will be held on Saturdays at 11:30 AM at Hometown Bicycles. Stay tuned for more details and sign-up information.

Here are the topics for 2020:

Fat Tire Fix
Emergency Repair
Bike Maintenance – Before the Ride
Bike Maintenance – After the Ride
Bike Fitting Basics with Vinnie Baylerian, PT, DPT, Certified Level 2 Clinical BikeFit Pro
Nutrition: Get Healthy, Get Fit
Where to Ride in Michigan

Filed under: Hometown Bicycles | Tagged: 2020 Team Hometown Bicycles, best bicycle repair, best bicycle service, best bike repair, best bike service, bicycle clinics, bicycle repair, bicycle service, bicycle shop, bicycles, bike clinics, bike repair, bike rides, bike service, bike shop, bikes, Brighton, CEO, cycling, cyclists, Dawn Bhajan, DJ Joe Ostervik, fitness classes, group rides, Happy New Year, holiday hours, Hometown Bicycles, Hometown Bikes, Hometownies, livingston county, Merry Christmas, Michigan, mike dyer, shop rides, Team Captains, Team Hometown Bicycles, Team Night, Winter Bike Clinic Series | Leave a comment »

Merry Christmas from your Hometown Crew

Posted on December 21, 2018 by Shaun

Merry Christmas, Hometownies!

Your Hometown family wishes you and yours a truly magical, riding-without-hands-kinda-exhilarating Christmas, and a New Year full of hope, love, and the people who mean the most to you. Thank you for an adventure-ful 2018, and cheers to another year of excitement in the making!

We close at 3 PM on Christmas Eve and reopen at 9 AM on Thursday, January 3, 2019 (corrected from our last newsletter). That means THERE’S STILL TIME FOR SKIDDING-INTO-THE-FINISH-LINE SHOPPING!
With love and warmest wishes… Your Hometown Crew

Welcome Aboard, Team Hometown Peeps!

WOWZA!! Team Hometown is already 56 members strong and counting for the 2019 season. Welcome to all new and returning members!

We will be taking applications into the New Year, so have no fear if you haven’t already completed yours! Stop by the shop any time to fill one out.

While Team Kit ordering is officially closed for December, it will reopen in late winter. Stay tuned for more information on when and how to order your kit.

FOR THE LAST-MINUTE SHOPPER: Online Gift Cards!

Just a reminder that you can now give some Hometown e-love to your friends and family from the convenience of ANYWHERE via your phone, computer, tablet, or any other electronic, internet-accessing gizmo. (Psst! You can buy it Christmas Day and it will STILL be on time!)

ORDER YOUR HOMETOWN e-GIFT CARD HERE!

Winter Clinic Series

Just because it’s cold and snowy doesn’t mean we can’t gather together for some awesome cycling clinics!

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

Our annual FREE winter clinic series starts January 10th and runs through February 16th. Sign up for one, sign up for all… we promise to keep things fresh and fun!

So that we can plan ahead to make things awesome for everyone, early registration is appreciated. Click each registration link for the clinic(s) you’d like to attend.

Flat Tire Fix Hands-On Clinic
Thursday 1/10 from 7-8 PM or Saturday 1/12 from 10-11 AM

Emergency Bicycle Repair Hands-On Clinic
Thursday 1/17 from 7-8 PM or Saturday 1/19 from 10-11 AM

Bike Maintenance – Before the Ride Care
Thursday 1/24 from 7-8 PM or Saturday 1/26 from 10-11 AM

Bike Maintenance – After the Ride Care
Thursday 1/31 from 7-8 PM or Saturday 2/2 from 10-11 AM

JUST ADDED!
Bike Fitting Basics with Vinnie Baylerian
Saturday 2/9 from 12-1:30 PM

Cycling Nutrition
Thursday 2/14 from 7-8 PM or Saturday 2/16 from 10-11 AM

Save the Date! Tuesday (2/19/19) 6-8pm

~ Young Women Entrepreneurship Forum ~We are excited. How excited are we? So. Incredibly. Excited.
That’s right, Dawn and Leslie, your Hometown gals, are super stoked to bring you another fantastic women’s entrepreneurship event, this time for our younger generation! Are you (or do you know) young ladies in middle school or high school who have set their sights on being a business owner? Who have an entrepreneurial spirit? Or who may be interested in learning more about the possibility?

This night will be for those young women between 7th and 12th grade. Moms are welcome, too!

Join us for guest speakers from various fields, hands-on activities, refreshments, open Q&A time, and most importantly, inspiration and connection with like-minded women. We will be bringing you more details SOON, but hope you will mark your calendars NOW for this fun-filled evening.

If you have an entrepreneurial area of particular interest, please email Dawn atoffice@myhometownbicycles.com or Leslie at events@myhometownbicycles.com.
We would love to hear from you!

Filed under: Hometown Bicycles | Tagged: best bicycle repair, best bicycle service, best bike repair, best bike service, bicycle repair, bicycle service, bicycle shop, bicycles, bike repair, bike rides, bike service, bike shop, bikes, Brighton, cycling, cyclists, group rides, Happy New Year, Hometown Bicycles, Hometownies, livingston county, Merry Christmas, Michigan, Online gift cards, shop rides, Team Hometown Bicycles, winter bike clinics, women entrepreneurship, young women entrepreneurs | Leave a comment »

Happy New Year from Your Hometown Crew!

Posted on January 3, 2018 by Shaun

FROM YOUR HOMETOWN CREW:
We’re so glad to be on this side of 2018 with you – where the possibilities and adventures are laid out ahead in a trail of glory…

We wish you a year of pedal-powered accomplishments, growth, and happiness!

…………………………………..

Resolutions aside, you’ve probably noticed that your bike shop is growing up. Hometown has grown from a fly-by-the-seat-of-our-pants service hang-out to the best bike shop in Southeast Michigan (your words, not… oh, who are we kidding – we feel that way, too!)

The realities of running a sustainable and mind-blowing business are challenging… but not a bummer. We have a long-term vision of becoming your ultimate, one-stop bicycling resource, so the hard work is continually justified. YOU justify it.

I hear every day the most heartwarming show of support ever from customers who tell me how PROUD they are of what WE have created here at Hometown.

But do you understand the role that YOU have played? Take credit, Hometownies!! Everything from your inner tube purchase, to ride participation, to bike buy, to online review, to referral to friends and family – THAT is what makes us a success. If we’re doing it right, you’re PROUD to shout from the rooftops that Hometown is YOUR bike shop.

So come in – let us know how your Christmas went, and what YOUR vision is for Hometown. Your input has as much relevance as ours!

In the meantime, here are some opportunities for you to enjoy extracurricular, winter value from your bike shop – Team membership, bike clinics, fitness classes, and shop rides. Enjoy them with our thanks. We look forward to pedaling through 2018 together!

TEAM HOMETOWN – STILL ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS!

If you missed Team Night… major bummer, because it was an absolute blast. But you still have the chance to enjoy events, just as amazing, as a member of our Team!

We’re accepting Team applications all the way up through our big Potluck Party on March 1st. Our Team is already nearly 70 strong, with a wonderful mix of new and familiar faces, and riders of all types and skill levels. We’d love to welcome you aboard!

To learn more about becoming a member of Team Hometown Bicycles 2018, contact our Ride Coordinator, Laura, at ride@myhometownbicycles.com.

WINTER BIKE CLINIC SERIES STARTS JAN 9TH

Life after the holidays… ? Why yes – yes there is! January and February are not only prime fat bike, spin bike, and trainer time, ’tis also the perfect season for educating yourself on how to be a savvy cyclist. We’ve run our Winter Clinic Series since opening in 2010… not to toot our own horn, but *toot* we’re really good at it! All clinics are FREE and, this year, we’re also offering some new perks and privileges – click the links below for details and to register:

Flat Tire Fix Hands-On Clinic
Tues, Jan 9th, 12:15-1pm & Thu, Jan 11th, 7-8pm

Emergency Bicycle Repair Hands-On Clinic
Tues, Jan 16th, 12:15-1pm & Thu, Jan 18th, 7-8pm

Bike Maintenance – Before the Ride Care
Tues, Jan 23rd, 12:15-1pm & Thu, Jan 25th, 7-8pm

Bike Maintenance – After the Ride Care
Tues, Jan 30th, 12:15-1pm & Thu, Feb 1st, 7-8pm

Bike Fitting with Pro-Motion Physical Therapy
Thu, Feb 8th, 7-8pm

Cycling Nutrition Clinic
Tues, Feb 13th, 12:15-1pm & Thu, Feb 15th, 7-8pm

Cycling Gear & Wear Clinic
Tues, Feb 20th, 12:15-1pm & Thu, Feb 22nd, 7-8pm

Where to Ride in Michigan Potluck Party
Thu, March 1st, 7-9pm

<< Click the image at left for a printable Clinic Series flier!

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

HOMETOWN BICYCLES SHOP RIDES

Fat Bike Friendly Ride
SUNDAY, JANUARY 7 | 2PM (MEET AT 1:30PM) | FROM HOMETOWN BICYCLES
This typically Saturday Ride has been moved to Sunday due to an expected cold snap.
We’ll pedal our fat bikes through the hills, sand, and snow of Island Lake Recreation Area (behind “the pond”). This is an INTERMEDIATE (No Drop) Ride – NOT an easy ride for beginners! We’ll cover about 12-16 miles of adventure. Come dressed for the weather. Check Facebook for Ride confirmation and changes!

**Fat bikes are available for rent at the shop!**

…………………………………..

Night Riders with CycloDan
TUESDAY, JANUARY 9 | 6PM (MEET AT 5:45PM) | FROM HOMETOWN BICYCLES
Hometown’s “CycloDan” Tribble leads this Beginner/Intermediate paced group to the Island Lake Mountain Bike Trails. FRONT AND REAR LIGHTS (fully charged) REQUIRED. Mountain and Fat Bikes are welcome. This is a NO DROP RIDE. Check Facebook for Ride confirmation and changes! We’ll ride as long as trail conditions are favorable.

**Fat bikes are available for rent at the shop!**

Four wheels move the body. Two wheels move the soul.

~ Unknown

Filed under: Hometown Bicycles | Tagged: 2018, bicycle clinics, bicycle shop, bicycles, bike clinics, bike rides, bike shop, bikes, Cardio Drumming, cycling, cyclists, CycloDan Tribble, fat bike, fat bike ride, Happy New Year, Hometown Bicycles, Hometownies, Leslie Barrett, Martha Soraruf, resolutions, shop rides, Team Hometown Bicycles, vision, zumba | Leave a comment »

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year, Hometownies!

Posted on December 24, 2017 by Shaun

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Hometown Bicycles

HOMETOWN BICYCLES HOLIDAY HOURS:

Christmas Eve |  9AM – 3PM
Christmas Day through New Year’s Day |  CLOSED
Monday, January 2nd |  9AM – 9PM (regular hours)

We wish you and your family and friends enough holiday cheer to last the year round, and all the bike time you can wrangle out of a hectic holiday schedule!

See you next year, Hometownies!