Island Lake Recreation Area | Hometown Bicycles

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

Posted on June 27, 2019 by Shaun

**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!

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

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:

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!
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!

Hometown Bicycles is nominated: 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:

Visit the Click on Detroit website HERE
Choose the Sports & Recreation category
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!

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.

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!

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!

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:

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

Island Lake Rec Area, Spring Mill Pond

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

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Ride with Hometown in the 4th of July Parade!

Posted on June 21, 2019 by Shaun

Downtown Brighton, Thursday 7/4 at 8 AM

You have two great options for participating:

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!
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.

Hometown Bicycles is nominated: 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!

To vote:

Visit the Click on Detroit website HERE
Choose the Sports & Recreation category
Select Hometown Bicycles

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

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

Congratulations, new BICP Level 1 Coaches!

WE LOVE PARTNERSHIPS!
Thank you to MiSCA for bringing the Bike Instructor Certification Program (BICP) Level 1 certification course to Michigan and for allowing us to be part of it! We were happy to donate the use of our Community Room and shop to keep everyone dry during the torrential rainfall that pelted the Brighton area during your three-day training.

This hands-on training prepares students for leading rides and mountain bike guiding in a group situation. Completion of the course, in addition to passing a practical exam, qualifies an individual to assess the level of each rider in their group, assess and diagnose common errors within each rider’s fundamental skills, prepare and implement action plans in an emergency situation, and make responsible choices in picking trail routes for specific groups.

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

Island Lake Rec Area, Spring Mill Pond

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?

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 14 and 21
$10 drop in – With Dawn Gaden | Click to learn more

Filed under: Hometown Bicycles | Tagged: best bicycle repair, best bicycle service, best bike repair, best bike service, best bike shop, BICP Level 1 Coaches, bicycle clinics, bicycle rentals, bicycle repair, bicycle service, bicycle shop, bicycles, bike clinics, bike helmets, Bike Instructor Certification Program, bike rentals, bike repair, bike rides, bike service, bike shop, bikes, Brighton, Brighton Optimist Club Bike Decorating Contest and Parade Ride, Cardio Drumming, click on detroit, Conely Auto, cycling, cyclists, Dawn Gaden, fat bikes, fat tire bikes, fitness classes, Fourth of July parade, group rides, Hometown Bicycles, Hometown Bikes, Hometownies, intenSati, Intro to Mountain Biking, Island Lake Recreation Area, Leslie Barrett, livingston county, Martha Soraruf, Michigan, misca, Shaun and Dawn Bhajan, shop rides, Spring Mill Pond, Team Hometown Bicycles, Tresa O’Rourke, Vote4theBest, zumba, Zumba Gold | Leave a comment »

Hometown’s Jamis Demo is TODAY!!

Posted on May 23, 2019 by Shaun

Happy Memorial Day, Hometownies!
We’re hopeful the sun will shine in Michigan this Memorial Day weekend!

JAMIS DEMO DAY IS TODAY!

Test Ride Jamis’ New 3VO Suspension

RIDE WITH US: 5/23, 2-6 PM @ Island Lake Trailhead

Jamis Bikes and Hometown Bicycles are teaming up to co-host this AWESOME event at Island Lake State Recreation Area. Check out the latest Hardline® and Portal® 3VO Suspension bikes, as well as the Renegade, the superb and versatile adventure bike, in both steel and carbon!

Jamis’ new Portal® and Hardline® were developed by the Jamis design team over the past two years utilizing Chris Currie of Speedgoat Design’s patented 3VO suspension platform.

ALSO AT THE EVENT:
Test ride a Co-Motion Tandem road and mountain bike, courtesy of our good friend Joel of Midwest Bike & Tandem! Ever tried the trail on a 2-seater?? We double-dog dare you!!

Be sure to bring the following:

Drivers license
Credit card
Helmet
Optional – your own pedals

Stop by the Hometown tent to chat with our knowledgeable Hometown crew and volunteers from Team Hometown Bicycles!

Sati Yoga comes to Hometown’s Community Room

NEW YOGA OFFERING!
Join Dawn Gaden, RYT on Sunday, May 26th at 9 AM! This class is about aligning the mind, body and spirit for a powerfully deep and energetic practice. Sati yoga includes breath work that allows our mind to focus and our bodies to flow. Expect an intermediate class of vinyasa flow, inversions, meditation, and mantras. Bring a water bottle and yoga mat.

At 10 AM, stay for intenSati, which means mindful intention. This unique class is a combination of movement, music, voice and stillness to help you tap into your full potential and create a healthy relationship with your body, mind and spirit. Bring a water bottle and mat; shoes are optional.

Each class is $10 — or $15 for both. Drop ins are welcome.

Gooo, Team Hometown!

Team Hometown member Andrea Dahline, her friend Helen Lachowicz, and Hometown’s cardio drumming queen Martha Soraruf headed to the Zoo-De-Mack this past weekend for a glorious 51 mile ride.

The Zoo-De-Mack is not a race, but a gathering of approximately 4,000 outdoor enthusiasts who want to enjoy a little physical exercise together in one of the most beautiful areas in the state of Michigan. This was the 30th year for the event.

From Andrea:“Helen Lachowicz and I have been training with Martha for over 8 months, and we really owe it to her and all the cardio drumming and cross training with weights that allowed us to be able to accomplish the 51 miles with all the hills as well! Our legs and hearts were STRONG. Of course the awesome JAMIS bikes helped too!”

Great job, ladies!

Hometown is hoppin’ with involvement in community events!

Check out these fun, family-friendly events coming up SOON. We love being part of them and hope to see YOU there.

Milford Bike Fest– Saturday, June 1 (registration begins at 7 AM)

MCMBA brings you this exciting day exploring the trails of Milford and enjoying live music at Main Street Grill & Tavern! Hometown will be on site for bike support, as well as leading a guided ride at 9 AM with Hometownie Tom Hermann. Back by popular demand, the Milford to Commerce Grand Tour traverses 30 miles of dirt roads, singletrack, two-track, and paved bike paths. We will split it into two groups; a spirited pace of 15 mph and a no-drop group ride at a pace of 10 mph.

Take a Kid Mountain Biking Da y – Sunday, June 2 from 10-2, Brighton Recreation Area, Sandhill Pavilion

This FREE event is brought to you by the Potawatomi Mountain Bike Association (POTO)to encourage communities to join together and get kids excited about riding! Bike the 2 mile beginner Appleton Lake Loop trail with a guide or try out the bike skills course. Hometown Bicycles will be assisting with free bicycle and helmet checks.

Brighton Optimist Club Fishing Derby – Saturday, June 8 from 8:30-11:30 AM

FREE catch and release fishing derby sponsored by the Brighton Optimist Club, for ages 16 and under. Be one of the first 150 to register to get a complimentary t-shirt. Hometown will be there to talk up how you and your kids can ride with us in the 4th of July Parade!

Family Day at Settlers Park – Saturday, June 8 from 10-2

In partnership with our amazing Team Hometown Bicycles sponsor, Kevin Brennan with Michigan Financial Planning, this FREE event will include guided paved and mountain bike rides for all ages, food and refreshments, and demonstration bikes. Come out and see what Settlers Park has to offer!

Filed under: Hometown Bicycles | Tagged: 3VO Suspension, best bicycle repair, best bicycle service, best bike repair, best bike service, bicycle clinics, bicycle rentals, bicycle repair, bicycle service, bicycle shop, bicycles, bike clinics, bike rentals, bike repair, bike rides, bike service, bike shop, bikes, Brighton, Brighton Optimist Club Fishing Derby, Cardio Drumming, Co-Motion Tandem, cycling, cyclists, Dawn Gaden, Family Day at Settlers Park, fat bikes, fat tire bikes, fitness classes, group rides, Hometown Bicycles, Hometown Bikes, Hometownies, intenSati, Island Lake Recreation Area, Jamis Demo, Jamis Hardline, Jamis Portal, Kevin Brennan, Leslie Barrett, livingston county, Martha Soraruf, Memorial Day, Michigan, Michigan Financial Planning, Midwest Bike and Tandem, Milford Bike Fest, shop rides, Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day, Team Hometown Bicycles, trailhead, Tresa O’Rourke, Zoo-de-Mack, zumba, Zumba Gold | Leave a comment »

We Did It for Dan with ALL of Your Support

Posted on May 10, 2019 by Shaun

With our deepest gratitude, thank you…

(Photo courtesy Miles Janicki)
There are truly no words to capture the incredible outpouring of support and love we witnessed this past Sunday. It was a breathtaking moment to realize that over 550 riders and walkers were present in body, mind and soul at Island Lake to honor fellow cyclist, Dan Horal, whose life was tragically cut short after being struck by a car mid-ride on April 25th.

(Photo courtesy Doug Lapp)

We could not have asked for more… absolutely amazing weather, a beautiful tribute, and a COMMUNITY who came together in solidarity to offer condolences to Dan’s family while also raising awareness about bicycle safety. Thank you so very much.

We offer our warmest gratitude to each of you who had an impact on this Memorial Ride for a great man who touched so many lives. We would like to call out a few particular individuals and businesses that helped take this Ride from meaningful to sheer magic.

Our sincere thanks go to…

The Horal Family – For allowing us to honor Dan’s memory and celebrate his life. Our love and support are with you.

Every cyclist who attended – For helping the Horal Family and cycling community make an unforgettable statement, and for not letting Dan’s tragedy go unremarked.

Cyclists in other States – For implementing your own Do It for Dan Memorial Rides and, in doing so, spreading the message and mission of this Ride beyond Michigan!

The Hometown Crew & Team Hometown Bicycles – For spreading the word so well and so quickly!

Unit Manager Andrew Haapala and Island Lake Recreation Area – For being wonderfully supportive and helpful throughout the process of creating this Ride

The Plotners & Wheels in Motion (at right) – For dropping everything to come out and support this Ride as a family and a team

WHMI – For their helpful promotion of this Ride

Channel 4 & Channel 7 – For making an appearance at this Ride to help spread the message

League of Michigan Bicyclists – For using its vast network to help spread the word

MCMBA – For allowing us to use Demo Day to promote the event

All of the Demo Day participants – For rallying to the cause, and helping get the word out throughout the cycling community

(To all of the amazing vendors at Demo Day, THANK YOU for helping to spread the word about the Ride!)

Kirt Albrecht at Big PDQ – For his contribution toward printing the Ride flier

Robin Fry – For her lightning-fast turnaround on, and her contribution toward, the unmissable Ride t-shirts

Fred Tomczyk – For his skillful rendering of the Ghost Bike Memorial design

Scott Brooks – For his artistry and craftsmanship in the creation of the Ghost Bike Memorial

Joel Hakken of MidWest Bike & Tandem – For his bicycle donation for the Ghost Bike Memorial

Master Blaster – For donation of his services to prep the Ghost Bike for painting

Matt Maximoff – For his invaluable assistance in creating the Memorial plaque

Joe Ostervik of DJ Mobile Rhythms – For emceeing the Ride, and the use of his sound equipment

Mike & Lisa Hartwell of The Eric Hartwell Foundation – For the loan of their bullhorn

Beauchamp Water Supply & Treatment– For generously supplying all of the water for the Ride

Les Cook – For carrying on his tradition of being the world’s most helpful sweep, and assisting cyclists all along the Ride

Jim Plaunt with Bike Tour Vacations – For sharing his heartfelt blog post about the Ride

Miles Janicki, Jill Zamojcin of Jilly Bean Photography, Doug Lapp, and a host of other skilled photographers – For photographic and video documentation of the event

Click to view Miles’s stunning event photos

Click to find yourself in Jill’s Facebook rider collage

Click to view Doug’s awesome Ride video

The Do It for Dan Memorial Ride will now become an annual event.
Mark your calendars for Sunday, May 3, 2020.

With May being National Bike Month, the timing couldn’t be more appropriate. In partnership with the Horal Family, and with your support, we want to finish Dan’s ride year after year.