Martha Soraruf | Hometown Bicycles

Countdown to Tour + Hometown’s a finalist for LMB’s Shop of the Year Award!

Posted on September 26, 2019 by Shaun

ONE WEEK COUNTDOWN to Tour de Livingston!

Sunday, October 6th

Look out, world! Our very own Shaun is a radio star! On September 16th, he was part of a WHMI broadcast to promote the event, along with Jacob Andrews, Tour de Livingston Co-Chair. Shaun says he has always had a face for radio!

Listen up, peeps! We are ONE WEEK away from the 2019 Tour de Livingston! This is our FAVORITE ride of the year!

Hometown loves, loves, loves this event, and has been its Major Bike Shop Sponsor since the beginning! We will be there to provide bike support, to ride, and to man our much-loved bike corral, where riders can leave their bikes while they enjoy the food and festivities indoors. Be sure to stop by the Hometown Bicycles tent on Tour day for any/all of your cycling needs!

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. Since its start in 2008, the Tour de Livingston has raised over $400,000 to address the community’s most critical needs. The Tour de Livingston is organized and run by the Howell Rotary Club.

Check out the schedule!

Registration Starts at 7:00 am

Course Opens at 8:00 am

Breakfast is Served 7:00 am – 9:00 am
* All riders must report to Mt. Brighton for packet pickup and breakfast

Announcements and Bike Giveaway (donated by Hometown!) at 7:50 am – 8:00 am

Group Start 8:00 am
* All riders must start by 9:00 am

Lunch is Served from 10:30 am – 3:00 pm

GM Proving Grounds closes by 12:00 pm

Century Ride Celebration (100 Mile Riders) 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm

* Please Note that All Rider Services End at 5:00 pm

All Riders MUST wear a bicycling helmet

Location:
Mt. Brighton Ski Resort, 4141 Bauer Road, Brighton

Check out the routes!

FAMILY FUN LOOP, ISLAND LAKE ROUTE & RECREATIONAL RIDES
An easy novice route consisting of paved bike paths, low to no traffic and neighborhoods. Some routes with ice cream shops near the halfway point. Estimated 5,10 or 20 miles.

ISLAND LAKE ROUTE
This is bike-friendly with paths and park roadways within Island Lake and Kensington. Great for families, beginners, or those that prefer to ride on roads less traveled. Routes will include 5, 10, and 20-mile options with hospitality stops every 6 miles. Island Lake route riders must register at Mt. Brighton, drive to Island Lake for ride and return to Mt. Brighton for lunch.

EXPERT ROAD BIKE ROUTES
Spend the day enjoying the countryside of Livingston County. Three different expert level loops begin and end at Mt. Brighton. Choose from 38-mile Parks Loop, 62-mile Metric Century, or combine to ride a Century Route. All distances are approximate!

NEW THIS YEAR
GRAVEL GRINDER ROUTES
New this year, our Gravel Grinder routes to “Hell and Back” will consist of 2 routes approximately 36 miles and 50 miles from Mt. Brighton to Hell, Michigan. These routes will take you on paved and unpaved gravel roads and will inspire the adventure seeker in you!

LMB Awards: Hometown’s a FINALIST!

Celebrate with the League of Michigan Bicyclists (LMB) as they recognize the outstanding contributions of cycling advocates from around the state and experience a night of exciting indoor cycling races on October 19th at the Lexus Velodrome in Detroit.

The 64,000 square foot, $4 million Lexus Velodrome is the most talked-about venue in the U.S. cycling world – and it’s right here in Michigan!

HOMETOWN BICYCLES IS UP FOR SHOP OF THE YEAR!
Hometown is one of five bicycle shops in the running for the Shop of the Year Award, alongside Pedal Bicycles – Portage, Brick Wheels, Sweet Bikes, and Kids Repair Program.

Winners will be announced during a pre-race reception at 5 PM (heavy hors d’oeuvres and cash bar), followed by the Velodrome’s Saturday Night Rumbles at 7:30 PM.

Get in on the action, and buy your tickets HERE!

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

|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 | Mondays 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

Filed under: Hometown Bicycles | Tagged: 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 Area Schools, Brighton Therapy Dogs, Cardio Drumming, cycling, cyclists, Dawn Gaden, fat bikes, fat tire bikes, fitness classes, group rides, Hometown Bicycles, Hometown Bikes, Hometownies, Howell Rotary, intenSati, League of Michigan Bicyclists, Leslie Barrett, Lexus Velodrome, livingston county, LMB Awards, Martha Soraruf, Michigan, Shaun Bhajan, Shop of the Year, shop rides, Team Hometown Bicycles, Tour de Livingston, Tresa O’Rourke, WHMI radio, zumba, Zumba Gold | Leave a comment »

Kiosks, shoes, dogs, and focus groups – just a typical day at Hometown!

Posted on September 13, 2019 by Shaun

Countdown to Tour de Livingston!
Sunday, October 6th
There are only THREE weeks until the 2019 Tour de Livingston! The excitement is building!

As the major bike sponsor, Hometown is very invested in the success of this event! To make things convenient, we have set up a Tour de Livingston Kiosk in the shop for any and all of you to register for this scenic ride!

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.

Click HERE to register or raise funds!

LMB Awards: Get Your Nominations In!

The League of Michigan Bicyclists (LMB) is gearing up to recognize the best of Michigan cycling at their annual awards to take place October 19, 2019 at the Lexus Velodrome in Detroit. The 64,000 square foot, $4 million Lexus Velodrome is the most talked-about venue in the U.S. cycling world – and it’s right here in Michigan!

But first things first — get those nominations in by September 16th by clicking HERE!

Check out the categories and nominate the worthy folks who are making Michigan bicycling better:

Changemaker of the Year
Shop of the Year – with your help, this could be Hometown Bicycles!
Club/Team of the Year – with your help, this could be Team Hometown!
Business Champion of the Year
LMB Volunteer of the Year
Outstanding Infrastructure Award
And more!

Ignite the Spirit
Let’s help our friends at the Brighton Area Fire Authority!

On September 14, 2019, Ignite the Spirit will begin a week-long bicycle ride from Chicago to Toronto, averaging close to 80 miles of biking each day! All proceeds will benefit the Ignite the Spirit Cancer Fund.

The Chicago Fire Department spearheads Ignite the Spirit. Because of the inherent dangers that firefighters and paramedics face on a daily basis, they are exposed to known and unknown carcinogens. While many of their Brothers and Sisters are surviving in remission and leading normal productive lives, the fact remains that this calling to serve has taken the lives of far too many First Responders. The Ignite the Spirit Fund was created with the idea of providing financial help when they are faced with battling cancer.

The cyclists will be hosted by the Brighton Area Fire Authority for dinner on September 16th, as they pass through Livingston County. If you would like to ride in and out of Brighton with these cycling warriors, contact the fire station at (810) 588-7845.

This is what community is all about!

It is quite an honor that Hometown’s own Shaun Bhajan has been invited to participate in the Pathways & Parks Focus Group as part of Brighton Township’s Master Plan Update. The purpose of the group is to discuss ways to better connect the community and enhance recreational opportunities, and we have so many ideas to share on this subject! Read more about the Master Plan HERE.

“Thank you Brighton Township for investing in our community. I am proud to be part of this group to look at infrastructure, business development and recreation in our area. They are embracing the core values of the township. I’m really excited for the good work that is being done for the direct benefit of the residents,” states Shaun.

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In other community news, we are a drop-off site for the Brighton Area Schools fundraiser to support Brighton’s Pack of Therapy Dogs and less fortunate people around the world. Simply donate your gently used (or new) shoes, cleats, slippers and boots. Over 2800 pairs of shoes have been collected community-wide so far and there is still time to help!

Place shoes in a bag (with laces tied where applicable) and place in the collection bin near our front counter. Spread the word and help make a difference to the social-emotional learning dogs who make such a difference in our schools.

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 | Mondays 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

Filed under: Hometown Bicycles | Tagged: best bicycle repair, best bicycle service, best bike repair, best bike service, bicycle clinics, bicycle repair, bicycle service, bicycle shop, bicycles, bike clinics, bike rentals, bike repair, bike rides, bike service, bike shop, bikes, Brighton, Brighton Area Schools, Brighton Therapy Dogs, Brighton Township Master Plan Update, Cardio Drumming, cycling, cyclists, Dawn Gaden, fat bikes, fat tire bikes, fitness classes, focus group, fundraiser, group rides, Hometown Bicycles, Hometown Bikes, Hometownies, Howell Rotary, Ignite the Spirit, intenSati, Kem Krest Employee Wellness Fair, League of Michigan Bicyclists, Leslie Barrett, Leslie Cook, Lexus Velodrome, livingston county, Livingston County United Way, LMB Awards, Martha Soraruf, Michigan, Pathways and Parks, Shaun Bhajan, shop rides, Team Hometown Bicycles, Tour de Livingston, Tour de Livingston kiosk, Tresa O’Rourke, zumba, Zumba Gold | Leave a comment »

Ride happy this Labor Day weekend!

Posted on August 29, 2019 by Shaun

Labor Day Hours

Hometown Bicycles will be open on Labor Day
from 9am-3pm!

Enjoy the beautiful weekend with your loved ones and don’t forget to take a bike ride! Stop in to see us for your holiday cycling needs or to rent a bicycle for the weekend!

And in Team News…

The 13th Annual Maybury State Park Time Trial took place on Sunday, August 25th. Brought to you by the MCMBA, this year’s race was Maybury as you’ve never experienced it before — the course included some awesome race day-only singletrack. The mix of fast open sprints and tight, technical singletrack rewarded both cardio AND bike handling skills.

Team Hometown was represented by Co-Captains Mike Dyer and Joe Ostervik, Jacob Henriksen (pictured above left), Dan Tribble (pictured above right), Roger Pelkey and Andrew Showerman (and his two sons). Great job, everyone!

And because he’s just this amazing (and maybe a little bit c-r-a-z-y), Joe Ostervik did another race earlier that day! Two races in one day?! What?!

From Joe himself: “So I was a little crazy!! Did 2 races in the same day!! I was at the Debaets-Devos Race and got a flat in the 3rd lap. Swapped out the tire and got back in the race as they came by, but couldn’t get back up to speed and ended up last. Then I was able to make it to Maybury and missed the cutoff for the sport class. They let me do the beginner race, but technically I am a beginner in the race world because I only do one, maybe two, MTB races a year. Rode angry and got 1st in my age group which is OLD!!”

Girl Power is Alive & Well at Hometown!

Left to right: Dawn Bhajan (CEO of Hometown Bicycles), Martha Soraruf, Leslie Barrett, Jenny Schild and Debra McGaffey

Fun and inspiration was shared by all who attended the latest installment of our Women’s Entrepreneurship Series on Thursday, August 22. Our panelists were dynamic, our audience was engaged, and we all enjoyed a friendly flow of conversation about building a fitness business in today’s market. There’s not much better than this kind of camaraderie among female entrepreneurs! We at Hometown Bicycles LOVE this!

Many, many thanks to our guest speakers: Jenny Schild with Body Within, Leslie Barrett of Zumba with Leslie Barrett, Martha Soraruf of Cardio Drumming Hosted by PURE Fitness & Nutrition: owered by Arbonne, and Debra McGaffey, owner of Ignition Fitness and Beauty From the Inside Out.

A special shout-out to Nicole Dietrich, Business Development Manager with Lake Trust Credit Union, for spending the evening with us. Nicole shared information about Lake Trust’s Micro-Loan Program for Small Businesses and discussed the importance of building a network. Nicole (pictured below) even helped clean up the Incubator after Thursday’s forum — just another way Lake Trust displays their dedication to building community and supporting their partners!

Lake Trust Credit Union has enthusiastically stepped into the role of Hometown’s Incubator Title Sponsor. In this role, they will not only subsidize the first month’s rent for our first 12 Incubator entrepreneurs*, but will also share a wealth of resources and insights at our entrepreneurship events and programs.

Our Incubator is nearing completion and we cannot wait to share it with you!

Stay tuned for our next Entrepreneurship Event, coming soon to Hometown Bicycles!

* Contact Dawn at office@myhometownbicycles.com for details about the Hometown Business Incubator and Lake Trust Credit Union’s amazing Sponsor subsidy.

Countdown to Tour de Livingston!
Sunday, October 6th
There are only FIVE weeks until the 2019 Tour de Livingston! Hard to believe we’re looking toward October already!

This scenic ride provides an opportunity for riders of all levels to enjoy 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.

The Tour de Livingston is organized and run by the Howell Rotary Club. Hometown is proud to be the Major Bike Shop Sponsor!

Click HERE to register or raise funds!

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 – NO CLASS ON LABOR DAY
$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

Filed under: Hometown Bicycles | Tagged: 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, Cardio Drumming, cycling, cyclists, Dan Tribble, Dawn Bhajan, Dawn Gaden, Debra McGaffey, fat bikes, fat tire bikes, fitness classes, group rides, Happy Labor Day, Hometown Bicycles, Hometown Bikes, Hometown Business Incubator, Hometownies, intenSati, Jacob Henriksen, Jenny Schild, Lake Trust Credit Union, Leslie Barrett, livingston county, Martha Soraruf, Michigan, Nicole Dietrich, shop rides, Team Hometown Bicycles, Title Sponsor, Tour de Livingston, Tresa O’Rourke, zumba, Zumba Gold | Leave a comment »

Hometown Featured on Channel 4 Website + We Won Again! + TONIGHT: Women’s Fitness Forum

Posted on August 22, 2019 by Shaun

Women’s Entrepreneurship: FREE Fitness Forum
Hosted at Hometown Bicycles by your Hometown girl power connection!

TONIGHT AT 6 PM!
Great information for EVERY type of entrepreneur, fitness or otherwise!

Don’t miss out on this fun and inspirational event for female business owners!
Spend the evening with a group of positive women who embarked on very personal journeys to become fitness professionals and entrepreneurs. Bring your questions and pick their brains in this Q&A session!

SIGN UP HERE!

Topics to be covered:

Where should I teach?
What should I expect in terms of startup cost?
What is my target client base, and how do I find them?
How do I increase attendance?
What are the best ways to market myself?
When do I throw in the towel and when should I persevere?
Competitors — friends or foes?
And much more!

In recent weeks, we introduced you to three of our panelists, Jenny Schild with Body Within, Leslie Barrett of Zumba with Leslie Barrett and Martha Soraruf who operates Cardio Drumming Hosted by PURE Fitness & Nutrition: Powered by Arbonne.

Meet our last-but-definitely-not-least presenter, Debra McGaffey, owner of Ignition Fitness and Beauty From the Inside Out.

Debra has been training for the last 10 years. In 2017, she became an ACE Certified Personal Trainer. She has made it her mission to help others be fit and healthy. Passionate about what she does, Debra will motivate you by setting goals and providing feedback and accountability to you, as her client. She makes working out fun yet challenging.

“I have walked the path back to health. Knowing what your client is going through is key to success! Let’s ignite your inner fuse and begin the path to improved health,” states Debra.

Debra has also been belly dancing since 2010, and currently performs with and teaches at One Spirit Dance and Fitness in Pinckney. As part of the Professional Troupe, Intermediate Troupe and Fire Troupe, she is instrumental in writing combinations and co-creating choreography.

And did you know?
We’ve been bringing to life a specially dedicated rental space in Hometown Bicycles’ back room – a Hometown Business Incubator, where fledgling business owners can turn their visions into reality. This space is designed to give entrepreneurs a resource-rich home base to launch their businesses, build a following, and get a taste of leasing without overwhelming costs or lengthy commitments.

Lake Trust Credit Union has enthusiastically stepped into the role of Incubator Title Sponsor. In this role, they will not only generously subsidize the first month’s rent for our first 12 Incubator entrepreneurs*, but will also share a wealth of resources and insights at our entrepreneurship events and programs. Nicole Dietrich will join us TONIGHT to talk about the importance of building a network and share information about Lake Trust’s Micro-Loan program!

* Contact Dawn at office@myhometownbicycles.com for details about the Hometown Business Incubator and Lake Trust Credit Union’s amazing Sponsor subsidy.

Thank you, Livingston County!

We’re humbled and proud to win the 2019 People’s Choice Award for
BEST BICYCLE SHOP!

This annual contest is sponsored by Livingston Daily. Thank you, Hometownies, for your patronage and support in making us #1!

Hometown’s Feature on Channel 4’s Website!

Cycling is fun. The industry is fun. The people in it are fun. WE have fun…

And that is why, following up on Hometown’s win in the ClickOnDetroit Vote 4 the Best contest, we were honored to be selected for a special feature article on Channel 4’s website! Wow – thank you, WDIV-TV Detroit Local 4!

Check out our leap to local fame by CLICKING HERE!

Riding for Cancer Awareness…

The 3rd Annual EFF Cancer ride took place on Saturday, August 17th to honor those who are battling or have battled cancer.

Approximately 70 cyclists showed their support, with many dedicating the ride to someone.

Hometownies Colin and Cindy Chisholm organize the event each year.

“I can tell you that the vibe was phenomenal,” says Colin. “Everyone was touched. So many people took me and Cindy aside to thank us and tell us their story, and they shared their story with others too.”

It’s amazing what Hometownies are doing out in the community! It makes us proud!

Monkey Loob and Hometown!

On Wednesday, August 14th, Monkey Loob inventor and owner, Lyndsay Stiles, spent the evening at Hometown!

She joined in our Gravel Grinder shop ride for 13 glorious miles of rough road riding, and then everyone regrouped at the shop for a Monkey Loob demonstration and informational session.

We had an amazing turnout, and everyone got to witness firsthand what a kick-arse cyclist Lyndsay is… and learn why Hometown Bicycles is mad about Monkey Loob!! Thank you, Lyndsay, for sharing your time and knowledge with us!

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