Mother’s Day, Demo Day, and Yoga-Bikes-Beer

Posted on May 11, 2018 by Shaun

(Possibly the world’s sweetest Mum’s Day card, available at cubecure.co.uk)

CELEBRATING THE WONDERFUL WOMEN WHO STARTED IT ALL
It takes a very special sort of someone to start you off on your journey to YOU, and in honor of the moms who set our wheels rolling, Hometown Bicycles is offering an additional 5% on your Mother’s Day Hometown Gift Certificate purchases. That makes your $500 Gift Certificate $525 and your $1,000 turns into $1,050! (Valid today 5/11 through this Sunday 5/13.)

DEMO DAY 2018 WITH HOMETOWN BICYCLES

This year’s Island Lake Spring Bike Demo Day, put on by the wonderful folks of the MCMBA, attracted record crowds of over 400 riders and many, many more visitors. Gorgeous weather, eager cyclists, scads of bikes and gear – we’re talking FUN! Shaun and I always make a family affair of it, and what we saw made us extra proud to be Hometownies…

Above: Our Hometown jerseys and t-shirts were EVERYWHERE… and I’m not just talking about riders, either! Our Team stepped up with lightning speed to fill the majority of the MCMBA Demo Day volunteer spots, as well as our Team tent. Registration, food prep, bike corral – you name it, Hometown was there! Thank you, Team, for being so darn awesome!!

Above: Some Team Hometownies even managed to do crossover volunteering, like Leslie here, who represented both Team Hometown and IMBA National Mountain Bike Patrol!

Above: Even our Team Sponsors did us proud! Sandy of Beauchamp Water Treatment & Supply kept the Demo Day riders well hydrated from her table beside our tent. Yep, it was an event for building connections, strengthening ties, and advancing our sport!

Above: We want to give a special shout out to Team Hometown’s Steve Steinberg, who is not only on the board of the MCMBA, but also chairs this much-loved Demo Day event – clearly with no small measure of success. We’re proud to have such a devoted cycling advocate on our Team. Congrats on a stellar event, Steve!

At this year’s Demo Day, Hometown Bicycles grilled hot dogs and offered other complimentary refreshments to Demo-goers, while collecting donations to be funneled back into the MCMBA. Here, we’re proudly handing Steve that $188 donation to support the growth of Michigan Mountain Biking. It was a feel-good event, all the way around, and we can’t wait to do it again!

TEAM NEWS: HOMETOWN SPANS THE STATE

Boy, was our Team hopping this past weekend! They spanned the State – north, west, southwest, and southeast – with bike-bound adventures, advocacy, and races.

Eight Team members competed in Mud, Sweat & Beers Fat Tire Fest and Mountain Bike Race, with Scott Simpson nabbing a 2nd in single speed. Thanks for spreading the Hometown magic all the way up in Traverse City, Brad Allen, Paul Andres, Mike Dyer, Erik Frasier, Scooter Gates, Kevin Machuga, Jim Thompson, and Scott!

Jack Riddle and Matt Price raced 50 and 100 miles consecutively in West Michigan’s Hellkaat Hundie Gravel Road Race. Special shout out to Matt for taking 1st in the Fat Bike class and 15th overall!

Linc Wehrly represented in the Fort Custer Stampede Mountain Bike Race, known for its unique and exciting trails.

Bike Ypsi Spring Ride was 4 riders richer for the addition of Team Hometown’s Adam Baranski, Joe Ostervik, Jacob Henriksen, and Shannon McKay.

And like I mentioned above, not only was the State awash in the Hometown colors – so, too, was Spring Bike Demo Day 2018, where our Team rocked cycling advocacy with volunteer superstardom and participation!

Now, THAT’s the power of a 103-rider Team, Hometownies. Be proud!

REGISTER FOR MILFORD BIKE FEST: JUNE 2

Here’s an event you’ll want to add to your calendar – the MCMBA’s annual Milford Bike Fest & Trail Challenge!

This year, Hometown Bicycles is proud to be the primary bike shop Sponsor for this event. Our Milford connection, Hometown Service Manager Matt Fitzhorn, will be manning the Hometown tent and participating in the awards and announcements. Come hang out with him and the Hometown Team, while enjoying a beautiful blend of mountain biking, live music, delicious food, and beer!

REGISTER NOW FOR MILFORD BIKE FEST

REGISTER FOR POSES, PEDALS & PINTS: JUNE 23

We know there will be some hats tossed and cartwheels attempted over this latest piece of local news…

Poses, Pedals & Pints: Summer 2018 registration is now open! If you hearken back to last year’s P3 series, the event opens with beginner-friendly yoga, courtesy of Tocca Massage & Yoga, followed by a leisurely and scenic ride with Hometown, ending with a long, cool pull from the taps of Brewery Becker. Remember, this event sells out insanely fast!

REGISTER NOW FOR POSES, PEDALS & PINTS – JUNE 23, 2018

WE’RE HIRING – STOP IN AND APPLY!
Creating the magic of Hometown is no small thing, and we don’t hire lightly, but we do offer positions that are meaningful and make a real difference in the lives of customers, our community, and the cycling industry. We currently have openings for:

Part-Time Social Media Specialist
Helps market and share the Hometown culture on social media. Must be social media savvy, highly organized, an excellent writer, and skilled in photography. Graphic design skills a plus.

Part-Time Events Coordinator
Coordinates and manages on- and off-premises shop events of all types. Must be highly organized, creative, detail-oriented, an excellent communicator, sociable, and enthusiastic.

Full- and Part-Time Service Techs
Provides reliably outstanding technical bike service. Some technical knowledge preferred. Must be self-motivated, detail-oriented, focused, and a quick learner.

Full- and Part-Time Sales Associates
Provides reliably outstanding customer service, including sales, cashiering, and shop organization and cleanliness. Must be self-motivated, detail-oriented, sociable, enthusiastic, and a quick study.

Drop by our shop, introduce yourself, and pick up an application. You’ll never know unless you try!

UPCOMING SHOP RIDES

Friday Night Lights
FRIDAY, MAY 11 | 9:00PM (MEET BY 8:45PM) | FROM HOMETOWN
It’s a different world out there when you’re riding by bike light! We’ll ride the Island Lake trails at an INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED pace. Make sure your lights are fully charged! Mountain and Fat Bikes are encouraged. NOT a beginner ride. Check Facebook for ride confirmation and changes!

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Beginner Friendly Road Ride

MONDAY, MAY 14 | 6:00PM (MEET BY 5:45PM) | FROM HOMETOWN
This one’s for the beginner rider who wants to increase mileage and speed. We’ll ride the well-known “to-the-Green-Dumpster-and-back” loop (~12-15 miles), or more for those who are ready. A and B groups will average 10-15+ mph. Road bikes only! Please have some experience on your bike, along with basic shifting and braking skills for the safety of the group. Beyond that, we’ll share some tips to make the hills easier and the flats faster! Check Facebook for ride confirmation and changes!

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Advanced Skills & Drills

TUESDAY, MAY 15 | 6:00PM (MEET BY 5:45PM) | FROM HOMETOWN
Want to learn to ride with a peloton? This ADVANCED, road warrior training is led by our Team racers! You’ll learn and practice: draft lines, hill repeats and intervals. Come ready to work hard. Bring a cadence sensor, speed sensor, and heart rate monitor. Check Facebook for ride confirmation and changes!

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Ladies’ Road Ride
TUESDAY, MAY 15 | 7:00PM (MEET BY 6:45PM) | FROM HOMETOWN
Ladies, this one’s just for you! This weekly, road ride is for gals of all ability levels. We’ll ride the well-known “green dumpster” loop at Island Lake (~14 miles) at a conversational, 10mph pace. All bikes welcome, NO DROP RIDE. Afterward, relax, connect, and rehydrate with your new biking friends. BYOB! Check Facebook for ride confirmation and changes!

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Gravel Grinding 101
WEDNESDAY, MAY 16 | 6:30PM (MEET BY 6:15PM) | FROM HOMETOWN
Ride with your Hometown bike guru, CycloDan Tribble! Front and rear light required, as we end at dusk. This ride weaves through and around Island Lake, covering 13+ miles of pavement, dirt trails and gravel roads (a few hills just for fun!) at an average 12-13 mph. Expect a “puddle” or two of sand and a few face slappers on the trails this time of year. Nothing our gravel, adventure or mountain/fat bikes can’t easily handle. Skinny tire bikes will NOT work for this ride. All levels welcome – NO DROP RIDE. Check Facebook for ride confirmation and changes!

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Ladies Only Beginner Mountain Bike Ride
THURSDAY, MAY 17 | 6:00PM (MEET BY 5:45PM) | FROM HOMETOWN
Ladies, come learn beginning mountain bike skills! We’ll tackle the trails in manageable bites, with the empowering support of skilled and supportive Hometown women. We’ll ride together to Island Lake Recreation Area, and focus on taking the fear and uncertainty out of riding the trails! NO DROP. Check Facebook for ride confirmation and changes!

CLICK HERE for our 2018 Spring/Summer Daily Shop Rides Schedule!

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 a high-energy pick-me-up, 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

Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few are dirt.

~ John Muir

Filed under: Hometown Bicycles | Tagged: Beauchamp Water Treatment and Supply, bicycle repair, bicycle service, bicycle shop, bicycles, bike repair, bike rides, bike service, bike shop, Bike Ypsi Spring Ride, bikes, Brewery Becker, Brighton, Cardio Drumming, cycling, cyclists, donation, fitness classes, Fort Custer Stampede Mountain Bike Race, gravel road race, group rides, Happy Mother's Day, Hellkaat Hundie, Hometown Bicycles, Hometown Bicycles Gift Certificates, Hometownies, IMBA, Island Lake Spring Bike Demo Day, Leslie Barrett, Leslie Cook, Martha Soraruf, MCMBA, Michigan, Milford Bike Festival and Trail Challenge, mountain bike race, mountain biking, Mud Sweat and Beers, National Mountain Bike Patrol, Poses Pedals and Pints, Sandy Rachwal, shop rides, Spring Bike Demo Day, Steve Steinberg, Team Hometown Bicycles, Tocca Massage and Yoga, volunteers, zumba | Leave a comment »

Hometown’s Best Iceman Tune-Up to Date

Posted on October 26, 2017 by Shaun

ICEMAN RIDERS, THIS ONE’S FOR YOU, with love, from your Hometown Crew…

We know Iceman Cometh is a race favorite for our Hometownies, and we’ve seen it all in terms of post-race bike mayhem – mud, crud, and bikes held together solely by spit, grit, and a prayer. That’s why we’ve always offered our famous “Iceman Effed My Bike Tune-Up Special” for after-the-fact damage control.

By popular demand, this year, we’re also setting you up for success PRE-race as part of a new Iceman Special package! Here’s the scoop:

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$100 Hometown Bicycles Iceman Special:

PRINT THIS COUPON and bring it to the shop with your trusty, two-wheeled sidekick. This year’s special includes three elements – a Pre-Iceman Quick Tune, a Post-Iceman Tune-Up, and $20 Store Credit!

PRE-ICEMAN QUICK TUNE ($50 VALUE): We’ll clean and dial your bike, replace cables (only if needed – we generally don’t recommend replacing cables before a race), and set you up for a phenomenal ride.

POST-ICEMAN TUNE-UP ($69.99 VALUE): After the race, bring your bike back in for our legendary, full-blown Hometown Tune-Up. This is where we put your bike back to rights, and make it “Look Great, Work Great, and Blow Your Mind!”

$20 STORE CREDIT: When you pick up your bike from it’s Post-Iceman Hometown spa treatment, we’ll put $20 store credit on your account to use toward bikes and accessories.

There you go, bean counters – that’s a $139.99 value for just $100. Best of luck to all you Iceman riders out there, as you prep for the big day. Your Hometown Crew is here to help you have the ride of your life!

CLICK HERE FOR YOUR PRINTABLE ICEMAN SPECIAL COUPON

You got to get a little mud on the tires…

– Brad Paisley

Filed under: Hometown Bicycles | Tagged: bicycle race, bicycle ride, bicycle shop, bicycles, bike race, bike ride, bike shop, bikes, cycling, cyclists, Hometown Bicycles, Hometownies, Iceman Cometh, Iceman Effed My Bike, Iceman Special, mountain bike race, mountain biking, quick tune, riders, tune up, tuneup | Leave a comment »

Love for Your Bike, Your Fellow Cyclists, and Your Bike Shop

Posted on July 27, 2017 by Shaun

Choose Your Own Adventure… er, Products!

LET US KNOW WHAT REVS YOUR RIDE
We like to call Hometown Bicycles the shop that was built BY the people, FOR the people. Your loyalty and patronage is what got us to where we are today, and helps drive our decision making for Hometown’s ongoing evolution!

Along the way, you’ve been giving us feedback on product you’d like to see in our shop. Awesome! We’ve been connecting with new vendors who can help us meet your needs.

Over the coming months, we’ll be inviting new vendors to demo their products at our shop, so that you can meet the reps and scope out the products you’ve been asking for. Pay attention to our newsletters for these opportunities, and keep a weather eye out for the occasional survey to help us understand what you like best.

We’ve always been YOUR bike shop. Let’s take that to the next level!

TEAM NEWS: CRUSHING IT AT TREE FARM!

Team Hometown Bicycles returned home from last weekend’s Novi Tree Farm Relay in a blaze of glory! Not just four, but FIVE teams of four sported the Hometown jersey (when they weren’t in costume) – the sea of Hometown participation was, in and of itself, glory-worthy. But there were also 3 Team podiums to celebrate – first places, all!

FIRST PLACE – COSTUME DIVISION (above, top)
Congrats, Cobra Kai (who moonlight as Hometown Bicycles crew), Tim Bart, Colin Woods, Rocco Mularoni, and Andrew Jackson!

FIRST PLACE – CO-ED DIVISION (above, bottom right)
Helmets off to the lightspeed pedal power of Olga “The Romanian Rocket” Negrut, Doug Queener, Justin Hamm, and John Wyatt!

FIRST PLACE – MEN’S SPORT CLASS (above, bottom left)
Kudos on some pretty slick speed work from Matt Maximoff (a Team Sponsor), Scott Simpson, Brandon Bailey, and Aaron Smith!

We were also proud to be represented by the great sportsmanship of Paul Andres, Bryan Beach, Leslie Cook, Michael Dyer, Roger Pelkey, Steve Steinberg, Jim Thompson, and Linc Wehrly. Trail conditions started off sloppy, and progressively dried, so an additional shout out to the trailblazers who took one for their teams in the form of mud-encrusted bikes and gear. We happen to know a great place for getting your bikes cleaned and back to fighting fit… just sayin’!

PLEASE VOTE HOURLY THROUGH AUGUST 13TH!

SINGLES RIDE: WHO’S IN??

Matchmaker, matchmaker, pedal me a match… it’s said that one of the best ways to meet a special someone is by sharing a common interest. Call me a romantic, but I think that the combination of pedal-powered locomotion, fresh air, good company, and mutual helmet hair creates prime conditions for the warm fuzzies. My husband and I met over bikes!

Matchmakers, we are not, but we can at least set the stage for possibility! Please help us gauge interest in a Singles Ride* by completing an easy-peasy, 5-question, Singles Ride survey HERE. Thanks for your input, single Hometownies!

*This ride would be for single men and women, ages 18 and older.

POSES, PEDALS & PINTS – FALL EDITION: IT’S A GO!!

Good news… no, FANTASTIC news!! The uber-successful yoga-bike-beer event that we supported this past Spring has been resurrected for a round 2 on Saturday, September 30th.

Based out of Downtown Brighton’s beautiful Brewery Becker, this event opens with beginner-friendly yoga, courtesy of event coordinator Tocca Massage & Yoga, follows up with a scenic and recreational bike ride with Hometown Bicycles (new route!), and ends with a long, cool pull from the taps of Brewery Becker.

Registration is limited to 50, so if you missed out last time, be sure to hit the link below, like, IMMEDIATELY!
REGISTER NOW FOR POSES, PEDALS & PINTS – FALL EDITION

21 DAYS OF ACTIVE PLAY FAMILY CHALLENGE

Fitness… Family time… Fun… Now, that’s a program we can throw some rpm behind! Here’s the scoop:

More than $2,000 in prizes are up for grabs, and all you have to do is PLAY!

Sky Zone Brighton, Hometown Bicycles, and Body Within Personal Training have teamed up to bring you the FREE 21 Days of Active Play Challenge. We are challenging Livingston County families to commit to 21 Days of Active Play this August. From going on walks together, to riding bikes, to jumping around on trampolines, families will pledge to spend a minimum of one hour per day being active.

Registration is open NOW through August 3rd. The Challenge begins August 4th.

Be sure to read up on the amazing prizes, mid-challenge incentives, and final wrap up party. You’ll find details and a registration link HERE.

AMY’S BLOG: JULY 27, 2017

Here’s your latest race update from Hometown’s Amy Gluck, an IRONMAN competitor who nearly lost her life after getting hit by a gravel truck, and is now intensely and personally driven to overcome her new physical challenges, and the naysayers who say she can’t, all the way back to IRONMAN:

I pushed hard on my road bike during the race. Between not setting up my Garmin correctly and a non-functioning speedometer (I’d switched up wheels a number of times), I had to wait until after the race to find out that I had biked 3:16 faster at the Pterodactyl triathlon than I had at the Triceratops triathlon. Yeah, road bike!… READ ON

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

MEET YOUR CREW: COLIN WOOD

Colin makes an art of being helpful. He’s studious, he’s polite, he’s intelligent, he’s friendly, and he’s scary fast on a bike! Many a customer have commented on Colin’s charisma on the sales floor. He’s carried on the tradition of equating the name “Wood” to overall awesomeness, as started in Hometown’s early years by his brother Austin. We’ll sure miss him when he heads off to college! Here’s Colin’s story:

I was 8 years old the first time my father took me mountain biking. Since then, I have gone from closing my eyes every time I get near a tree, to competing at the highest level within Michigan. My sophomore year of high school, I joined the Brighton Cycling Club. That year I finished as the 2nd place overall JV racer in the State. I was hooked. This past season I finished 3rd place in the Varsity Points series, as well as claiming victory at my home course, Island Lake. This fall I will be attending Colorado School of Mines to study Mechanical Engineering. While at Mines, I plan on racing for their cycling team. Working at Hometown has provided me with the ability to be around my favorite type of people, cyclists, and has given me the knowledge of everything bike related.

WISHING YOU SPEEDY RECOVERIES, BRIAN AND MEL!

Team Hometown’s Mel Robinson and his trusty recumbent are regulars at shop rides and events. This kind soul and avid cyclist is currently on the mend from open heart surgery. Mel, we just wanted to wish you a speedy recovery – can’t wait to see you back on your bike!

Another heal-quickly shout out goes to a man who has religiously gone above and beyond in service of Team Hometown Bicycles and the shop. This one’s for Team Captain, Brian Forhan, whose pending back surgery puts him out of outdoor cycling for the remainder of the season. Brian, if you get itchy legs, know that you’re welcome at the shop any time for bike talk, beer, and other cycling geekery!

REGISTER NOW FOR DOC MAY MELON RIDE ON 8/19

Hometown’s been proud to be the ongoing sponsor of this charming and delicious, Doc May Memorial Melon Ride on Saturday, August 19th at 9am.

Our Team and Crew marks off the route, leads off and mans the ride, provides on-site SAG support, and also offers bike valet service until 2pm, so you can enjoy the Festival without worrying about your two-wheeled babies!

Now’s the time to lock in your registration – which gives you a chance to win the sweet Jamis cruiser bike that we’ve donated to the cause! REGISTER NOW!

HOMETOWN BICYCLES UPCOMING SHOP RIDES

THURSDAY SOCIAL MORNING ROAD RIDE (7/27)
10:00AM (meet at 9:45) from Hometown Bicycles
Come check out the Thursday Social A.M. Road ride as we hit the back entrance to Island Lake and explore the 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. Check HERE for ride details.

SATURDAY TOUR DE LIVINGSTON PREP RIDE (7/29)
9:00AM (meet at 8:45) from Hometown Bicycles
Come grow with this weekly ride as we start with 10 – 15 miles and stretch the distance week by week. Route will be on the park roads. Road bikes are preferred for this ride. All level riders are welcome. 12 – 15 mph pace, 1.5 hours. Follow this Facebook event for updates.

SUNDAY HARTLAND GRAVEL GRINDER (7/30)
9:00AM (meet at 8:45) from Hartland Township Hall
We’re up to nearly 36 miles with approx. 2,000′ of climb on beautiful country roads (and limited pavement) – all with wonderful ride companions! Expect a 13-15 MPH “NO DROP” pace. Cross/Gravel, Mountain, and Fat bikes are welcome. Meet in the lower parking lot (turn right once in the drive) 2655 Clark Rd, Hartland, MI 48353. Click here for this Facebook event.

SUNDAY EXPLORING TRAILS MOUNTAIN BIKE RIDE (7/30)
4:30PM (meet at 4:15) from Hometown Bicycles
This is a Beginner Friendly mountain bike trail ride which encourages riders to visit new trails as their skill level increases! This week, we’ll explore 9 – 15 miles of the Island Lake Mountain Bike trails. All levels of riders are welcome – NO DROP RIDE. We do ask that riders under 15 remain with their guardian throughout the ride. Be mindful that the trail has several hills and some minimum level of fitness will be helpful to make for a positive experience for this planned 1.5 hour ride. Mountain and Fat Bikes are encouraged to join this ride. You can find this Facebook event here.

MONDAY BEGINNER FRIENDLY ROAD RIDE (7/31)
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 ride Island Lake roads to the well-known “Green Dumpster” and back – approx 12 – 15 miles. Those ready for more will group up to take on more mileage! Expect a 12 – 17+ mph pace to accommodate riders’ skill levels. All levels are welcome – we’ll split into groups according to experience and speed, with a sweep to bring up the rear. Click to check out the Facebook event page!

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 (8/1)
6:30PM (meet at 6:15) from Hometown Bicycles
Join Hometown service guru, Dan ‘CycloDan’ Tribble, for this unique, gravel grinding adventure ride. We’ll tackle road, singletrack, and gravel, including portions of Island Lake, hopping a guardrail, sand “puddles”, and a few hills just for fun! Plan for just over an hour, covering 13+ miles at a 12 – 13 mph average pace. Gravel, adventure, or mountain/fat bikes required (not appropriate for skinny tires). All levels of riders are welcome – NO DROP RIDE. Check here for ride updates.

WEDNESDAY HAMMERFEST (no Son of Hammerfest this week) (8/2)
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 Island Lake roads. Expect the flats pace to range 24 – 28 mph! Check Facebook for ride updates.

WEDNESDAY SLOW ROLL WITH HOMETOWN (8/2)
6:30PM (meet at 6:15) from Hometown Bicycles
It’s time to dial it back on this social, slow paced road ride (~ 8-10 mph). If you have a need-for-speed, this is NOT the ride for you! Bring your cruiser or whatever you like as we Slow Roll down sidewalks and streets. Expect to cross Grand River, possibly a couple climbs/descents, and beautiful park landscape. May not be suitable for young, unseasoned kids. Parents, please decide what is safe for your family, as there are no lights or designated crosswalks for Grand River or Academy. This is a NO DROP ride. Check HERE for ride details.

THURSDAY BAKERY SOCIAL MORNING ROAD RIDE (8/3)
10:00AM (meet at 9:45) from Wal-Mart in New Hudson – **Special start location!**
It was fun, so we’re going to do it again! Bring along your wallet for a tasty treat or coffee as we pedal to a Bakery via the rails-to-trails system. It will be a 5-mile, ~10 mph pace, relatively hill-free ride. Does include a busy road crossing. Ride whatever bike will work for the pace and your desired exercise level for this NO DROP ride. Follow along on Facebook for ride updates.

Meet in the Wal-Mart parking lot – take the entrance right off Lyon Center Drive between the Wal-Mart/Lowe’s, turn right, and stay closest to the Lyon Center Drive end of the parking lot.

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 with Martha Soraruf at Hometown Bicycles CARDIO DRUMMING | Wednesdays at 6:45PM
$5 class fee / $5 equipment rental – With Martha Soraruf
Click to learn more

DYNAMIC YOGA | Fridays – August 4, 11 & 18
$10 drop in – With Ashley Knuth of Tocca Massage & Yoga
Click to learn more

Zumba with Leslie Barrett at Hometown Bicycles 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

As soon as I saw you, I knew an adventure was going to happen.

– Winnie the Pooh

Filed under: Hometown Bicycles | Tagged: 21 Days of Active Play, Amy Gluck, amy's blog, Ashley Knuth, beginner rides, bicycle shop, bicycles, bike race, bike rides, bike shop, bikes, Body Within Personal Training, Brewery Becker, Brian Forhan, Brighton, Cardio Drumming, challenge, Cobra Kai, Colin Wood, cycling, cyclists, Doc May Melon Ride, family, financing, fitness classes, fun, gravel grinder, group rides, Hammerfest, Hometown Bicycles, Hometownie, Leslie Barrett, livingston county, Martha Soraruf, matchmaker, Mel Robinson, Michigan, mountain biking, Novi Tree Farm Relay, Poses Pedals and Pints, shop rides, singles ride, Sky Zone Brighton, synchrony, Team Hometown Bicycles, Tocca Massage and Yoga, Vote 4 the best, yoga, zumba | Leave a comment »

Your Father’s Day Treat, Burnin’ Fat, and Tykes on Mountain Bikes

Posted on June 15, 2017 by Shaun

We love you, Dads!

(Happy Father’s Day to my soulmate and father of my amazing children… you’re a wonderful dad, Shaun!)THIS SUNDAY, IT’S ALL ABOUT YOU, DADS!
Dads are remarkable people – combining the best of provider, protector, and person we most admire in one exceptional human being. That warrants some extra love this Father’s Day, June 18th, don’t you think??

So, this Sunday, it’s DADS’ turn to be pampered, compliments of your Hometown crew. There’ll be beer, t-shirt give-aways, A

ND the first 20 bikes purchased by or for a dad come with a COMPLIMENTARY Hometown Bicycles Father’s Day package – a cycle computer, safety light, bottle cage, water bottle, and seat bag at NO ADDITIONAL COST.And for those of you who were wondering… why, yes, we DO have bicycle neck ties (arriving today!)

(Upper right and center left photos courtesy PotoMBA)

THE FUTURE OF MOUNTAIN BIKING LOOKS GREAT!

Last weekend, Shaun and a handful of Team volunteers set up a support station at the PotoMBA’s Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day event… and shared the joy of cycling with a knee-high crowd of cuties.

Boys and girls of all ages learned trail skills, rode obstacle courses, enjoyed toured trail rides, and picked up great swag from an incredible group of Sponsors. Our Jr. Hometownie t-shirt giveaway was an especially big hit. (Marley Simpson, pictured center with mom, was the artiste behind the awesome t-shirt artwork.)

Shout out to Team Hometownie Jacob Henriksen (at right) for having the foresight to bring extra kiddie helmets for children who came without head gear. They were put to good use!

Overall, we’re thrilled to say that the future of mountain biking is looking just grand!

(We met up with Team Hometown’s Title Sponsor, Vinnie Baylerian of Pro-Motion Physical Therapy, whose son plays on the Team)

HEY, BATTER-BATTER-BATTER… SWING!!

In fact, we did swing by the Brighton Bulldogs’ U9 Travel Baseball game last weekend to cheer on the Team that Hometown Bicycles is proudly sponsoring… and we learned that the attention span of a 2-year-old and a 9-month-old adds up to approximately 2.9 minutes, so we sadly didn’t stay long enough to see our favorites win 17-11!

Congrats, Bulldogs! Click HERE for the Team’s game schedule.

TEAM NEWS: THE HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE

In last weekend’s Island Lake Challenge Spring Mountain Bike Race, 9 Team members – Leslie Cook, Mark Lang, Olga Negrut, Joe Ostervik, Roger Pelkey, Doug Queener, Brien TerBush, Linc Wherly, Steve Wortley and John Wyatt – laid some definitive claim on what amounts to Hometown’s “backyard”.

We’d like to congratulate Olga “ The Rocket” Negrut, who took home the gold in Expert Women, Roger Pelky, who also powered to 1st in Sport Men 60-65, and Linc Werhly, who podiumed at 3rd place in Beginner Men 50+. (Thanks, Jack Riddle, for capturing it all on camera!) Job very well done, Team!

Fourth of July border

SAVE THE DATE: 7/1/17! HOMETOWN’S JULY JUBILEE

Next week, you’ll hear all the glorious details about this first-of-its-kind, biggest ever, Hometown summer celebration, but in the meantime – I’m telling you – you really want to mark this one on your calendar!! JULY 1ST: Think American, think family, and think “one for the record books”… (stay tuned!)

TODAY: FLAT TIRE FIX SUMMER CLINIC

Shaun Bhajan teaching Emergency Bike Repair at Hometown Bicycles 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:
• Thursday 6/15 (Flat Tire Fix)
• Tuesday 6/27 (Flat Tire Fix)
• Thursday 6/29 (Emergency Repair).
NO CHARGE for these HANDS-ON CLINICS.

TOMORROW (6/16): TRAMPOLINES & PUPPIES

Hang out with Hometown at Sky Zone Trampoline Park of Brighton at their annual Summer Bash on Friday, June 16, 12pm-5pm, where Shaun will be running our tire toss game!

As a fundraiser for the Livingston County Humane Society, there will be adorable animals for snuggling and adopting, plus a fire truck and police car for kids to explore, face painting, balloons, food trucks, coupons and swag from local businesses, raffles, and giveaways. Think about the fun you’ll have with your kiddies!! Click here for info or, better still, come out and help us support a fellow business that’s supporting our community!

TOMORROW (6/16): 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 starts 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.

CLINIC: TEACHING YOUR BODY TO BURN MORE FAT

Tapping on her Degree in Nutrition and Bob Seebohar’s revolutionary Metabolic Efficiency research, Hometown’s Amy Gluck is coming back next week with a topic to intrigue ANY athlete – a way to train your body to burn fat for fuel, instead of using quick-access carbs. It can be done!

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”

Tuesday, June 20 from 6-7pm – or – Thursday, June 22 from 6-7pm

AMY’S BLOG: June 15, 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 6/15/17 installment:

“At the park, I SQUEEZED into my wetsuit. They’d made me gain 40 lbs. in the hospital – I was 120 lbs. upon admission and they discharged me at 160 lbs. – but they did not offer to replace my wetsuit! With my wetsuit all zipped up, my lungs felt crushed. As I started swimming across the lake, my goggles fogged up and I had to stop and tread water to clear them out. By the time I figured out where I was going and put my face back in the water to swim, I was so out of breath after treading water and being suffocated in my wetsuit, that there was no way was I was going to swim back to the shore! What was I going to do? I was in the middle of the lake with no oxygen coming into my lungs.…” READ ON

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

JUNE 25: 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. Ride with us!!

A SUCCESSFUL FUNDRAISING EVENT, SANS SHAUN

Sadly, Shaun missed out on putting the green at what turned out to be a wonderfully successful Charity Golf Classic for the Huron-Clinton Metroparks. The keynote speaker, Greg Kelser, was warm and engaging, and the light showers cleared up in time for a beautiful day and evening. But Hometown was still proud to contribute with a bicycle donation for their silent auction, which was won by an architect with four children ranging from ages 7 – 14. So, the bike will get a lot of love, the Parks benefited, and that makes us happy.

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 (6/15)
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.

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS (6/16)
9:00PM (meet at 8:45) from Janowski Field Trailhead (301 Peters Rd. in Milford)
Join us for an INTERMEDIATE pace forward/backward loop night adventure at the Milford Trail. We roll from the Janowski Field Trailhead (301 Peters Rd – between GM Rd & Commerce Rd). Charged lights are required for this ride. We will re-group throughout the trail. Mountain and Fat Bikes are encouraged to join this ride. Check back for ride confirmation/changes. Don’t forget your bug/tick spray!

NO SUNDAY GRAVEL GRINDER THIS WEEKEND
In observance of Father’s Day… but be sure to check out our Dad’s Day ride below!

SUNDAY TAKE YOUR DAD MOUNTAIN BIKING RIDE (6/18)
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 (6/19)
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.

TUESDAY GRAVEL GRINDING 101 WITH ‘CYCLODAN’ TRIBBLE (6/20)
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 (6/21)
This is a DROP RIDE!
6:30PM (meet at 6:15) from Hometown Bicycles
SON OF HAMMERFEST (for those that would like to build up to the original Hammerfest):
NO Son of Hammerfest this week, but if you’re prepared to ride at warp speed…
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!

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 with Martha Soraruf at Hometown Bicycles 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 with Leslie Barrett at Hometown Bicycles 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

Attitude is the difference between an ordeal and an adventure.

– Bob Bitchin

Filed under: Hometown Bicycles | Tagged: 4th of July, Amy Gluck, amy's blog, Ashley Knuth, bicycle shop, bicycles, bike clinics, bike decorating contest, bike rides, bike shop, bikes, Bob Seebohar, brighton bulldogs, Brighton Optimist Club, Brighton Rec, celebration, charity golf classic, cycling, cyclists, Dad's Day, emergency repair, Father's Day, flat tire fix, fundraiser, giveaways, group rides, Hometown Bicycles, HometownBicycles 1st Annual July Jubilee, Huron-Clinton Metroparks, Island Lake Challenge MTB Race, Jack Riddle, Jacob Henriksen, Jr. Hometownie, Linc Werhly, livingston county humane society, Marley Simpson, metabolic efficiency training, mountain biking, Olga Negrut, PotoMBA, ProMotion Physical Therapy, road ride, Roger Pelkey, Romanian Rocket, Shaun Bhajan, shop rides, silent auction, Sky Zone Indoor Trampoline Park, summer, summer bash, Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day, Tocca Massage and Yoga, tour de livingston kick-off ride, trail ride, travel baseball, Vinnie Baylerian, wetsuit, yoga class | Leave a comment »

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Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few are dirt.

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Hometown Bicycles

Visit Our Store!

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Fun Emails!

Mother’s Day, Demo Day, and Yoga-Bikes-Beer

DEMO DAY 2018 WITH HOMETOWN BICYCLES

TEAM NEWS: HOMETOWN SPANS THE STATE

REGISTER FOR MILFORD BIKE FEST: JUNE 2

REGISTER FOR POSES, PEDALS & PINTS: JUNE 23

Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few are dirt.

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Hometown’s Best Iceman Tune-Up to Date

You got to get a little mud on the tires…

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Love for Your Bike, Your Fellow Cyclists, and Your Bike Shop

Choose Your Own Adventure… er, Products!

PLEASE VOTE HOURLY THROUGH AUGUST 13TH!

SINGLES RIDE: WHO’S IN??

POSES, PEDALS & PINTS – FALL EDITION: IT’S A GO!!

MEET YOUR CREW: COLIN WOOD

WISHING YOU SPEEDY RECOVERIES, BRIAN AND MEL!

REGISTER NOW FOR DOC MAY MELON RIDE ON 8/19

HOMETOWN BICYCLES UPCOMING SHOP RIDES

FITNESS CLASSES AT HOMETOWN

As soon as I saw you, I knew an adventure was going to happen.

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Your Father’s Day Treat, Burnin’ Fat, and Tykes on Mountain Bikes

We love you, Dads!

THE FUTURE OF MOUNTAIN BIKING LOOKS GREAT!

HEY, BATTER-BATTER-BATTER… SWING!!

TEAM NEWS: THE HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE

SAVE THE DATE: 7/1/17! HOMETOWN’S JULY JUBILEE

TODAY: FLAT TIRE FIX SUMMER CLINIC

TOMORROW (6/16): TRAMPOLINES & PUPPIES

TOMORROW (6/16): YOGA FOR EVERY BODY

CLINIC: TEACHING YOUR BODY TO BURN MORE FAT

AMY’S BLOG: June 15, 2017

JUNE 25: TOUR DE LIVINGSTON KICK-OFF RIDE

A SUCCESSFUL FUNDRAISING EVENT, SANS SHAUN

KIDS 4TH OF JULY BIKE DECORATING CONTEST

HOMETOWN BICYCLES UPCOMING SHOP RIDES

FITNESS CLASSES AT HOMETOWN

Attitude is the difference between an ordeal and an adventure.

Share this:

Like this:

Since We Opened

Overall Repair Count

Thank you, 2019/2020 Team Sponsors!