AND YOU’RE A KEY MEMBER…  
As our to-the-core Hometownie Team and Crew member, Meghan Terbush, wrote in a recent Facebook post:

The stories that flow through this place astonish us and touch us to the core. Hometown Bicycles is so much more than a bike shop, but a community full of wonderful people who enjoy having an active lifestyle. Let’s gain some recognition for why YOU all make this the Best Bike Shop! Vote your shop to be #1: https://www.clickondetroit.com/vote4thebest#/gallery/67648732/

In honor of this incredible Hometown community, we’ve packed this newsletter to the gills with stories about YOU – customers, Team, AND Crew.

And if you’d like to see some recognition for the bike shop that YOU helped create, please put your hearts-and-souls into it, and vote HOURLY through the final Vote 4 the Best tally this Sunday. Get others involved! Spread the word! You have the gratitude of an entire Hometown community behind you!!

AUGUST 27 LABOR EVENT: ADD IT TO YOUR CALENDAR!

With Labor Day just around the corner, it seems only fitting to pay tribute to the core of what we do – bicycle labor! Service is where we started, service is where we excel, and service is what our upcoming, Sunday, August 27thevent is all about!

Hometown Bicycles 1st Annual Pre-Labor Day Labor Event, running 1pm-5pm, will feature “labor stations” throughout the shop for ask-the-expert Q&A, demos, and cool tune-up tips; limited edition coupons; a treasure hunt, a chance to pit your wits and skills against our bike gurus’, and other opportunities to win prizes; and even a bike wash, with proceeds to benefit a local charity!

Look for further details in next week’s newsletter but, for heaven’s sake, get it on your calendar now!!

(Image courtesy Mike Dyer)

HOMETOWN VISITS BROWN COUNTY STATE PARK, IN

Our first story comes from the breathtaking hillscape of Brown County State Park in Indiana, where Team members Mike Dyer, Paul Andres, Jim Thompson, Keith Cowgar, and friend Andrew set aside racing for a bike-based “guys weekend”. Mike writes:

All I can say is it was a hell of an adventure. We made it out in one piece. No major injuries just some cuts, scrapes and bruises. Paul wins the most wounds of the weekend, and I win the most spectacular crash with a big endo over a rock garden!

(Photo credit: © Copyright Tom Demerly)

AMY’S BLOG: AUGUST 11, 2017

Every week, Hometown’s Amy Gluck – former All-American IRONMAN triathlete, survivor of a horrific accident, and now ferociously determined to return to IRONMAN – shares a piece of her ongoing story. This one will give you goosebumps…

Getting running back has been my biggest struggle following my accident.  It’s so frustrating watching my pace crash when I check my results after races. I’m doing EVERYTHING I can to recuperate my running… but sometimes I wonder if it’s really worth it.  Do I really need to come back to Ironman racing, or was surviving this accident good enough?   But it’s all I knew before my accident.  It’s all I did.  What keeps me motivated is… READ ON 

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

(Images courtesy Miles & Ann Janicki)

HAPPY 32 YEARS, MILES & ANN!

This next story hails from a wonderful couple who have been Hometownies to a remarkable degree. Miles and Ann Janicki recently took Hometown (and their trusty Jamis bikes!) with them on an especially meaningful adventure on the west side of our beautiful State:

We’re celebrating our 32nd wedding anniversary in Hometown style!  We’ve enjoyed being part of the Hometown family for the last seven of those years, and were just noticing today how the jerseys show the growth of sponsorship and community outreach, from the time of the original until now.  Great work Hometown team!

(Images courtesy Dan & Vanessa Smith)

A DYNAMIC DAD-SON DUO IN DAN & DONALD

Here’s another couple of exceptional Hometownies – a father-son duo – who embrace cycling for the joy it brings, the sportsmanship it inspires, and the bond it creates. Powered by the wonderful support of wife and mother, Vanessa, Dan and Donald Smith shared this awesome write-up on why they ride:

Riding bikes is second nature to [Dan and Donald].  For Dan, riding is more than just exercise.  He uses cycling as stress relief, a way to challenge himself, and also a way to travel to and explore new places with MMBA races. Most importantly, Dan rides to have fun with family and friends.  When Donald was asked why he rides, he did not know how to respond right away.  Riding is part of who he is as a person, he identifies himself as a biker rider.  When asked to dig deeper… he loves the feeling of going down a big hill, riding with his dad, using his Garmin to go faster each time he rides on the Blue and Yellow trails at Island Lake, and of course the cheering as he races by people… READ THEIR FULL STORY

(Images courtesy Colin & Cynthia Chisholm)

COLIN & CYNTHIA FLIP CANCER THE BIRD

We loved the cheek and defiant artistry of The “Eff Cancer!” Ride, organized by clever Team members Colin and Cynthia Chisholm. They used approximately 25 miles to “stick it” to a disease that has touched so many, and wrapped up the evening with a grill out at their home. As Hometown Ride Coordinator Jean put it, “It was intense to feel the pain of riding and think it was nothing to those we know, love, and may have lost going through cancer.” Kudos on your creativity, Colin and Cynthia!

(Images courtesy Sarah & Jeff Short)

THE SHORT-INATORS: SARAH & JEFF’S BIG DAY

We count Sarah and Jeff among our most loyal Hometown and Jamis ambassadors – with a passion for both that warms us down to our bike clips. We’re so proud of their recent adventure, made possible by a remarkable dedication to training, healthfulness, and support of each other. You guys are an inspiration!

Jeffrey Short and I competed in the Shermanator Aquabike in Battle Creek, MI this morning. 500 meter swim, 10 mile bike. Beautiful day and Jeff and I both finished in the Women’s and Men’s Aquabike as overall champs!!! So proud. I won first place overall too!!! What a day! Hard work pays off. Next up Tawas Aquabike!!! Woot woot!

YOUR HOMETOWN CREW’S GRAND ADVENTURES

We’d also love to give a shout out to the cycling fanaticism of your very own Hometown Crew – from Jean Steinberg, who’s about to race Ore-to-Shore with one particularly awesome sister; to Meghan Terbush, who’s mountain biking the U.P. with her impressively adventurous family; to Evan Nelson, who’s cycling amongst palm trees down in Florida; to Chris Buddingh, who’s been bikepacking the past couple weeks with his lovely wife; to Joel Rushlow, who’s about to embark on a multi-day solo bike expedition across MI (stay tuned for his story in our next email!); to Hometown’s high school crew members, who are training for their first MISCA mountain bike race of the season!

What can we say? WE LOVE CYCLING!!

PLEASE VOTE HOURLY THROUGH AUGUST 13TH!

(Image courtesy Evan Nelson)

MEET YOUR CREW: EVAN NELSON 

We thought we were well-versed in active people, but we seriously question whether Evan even sleeps – he’s involved in SO many things! He recently graduated from a high school career overflowing with DECA Club presidencies, school store management, crosswalk lobbying (ask him about this!), athletic endeavors, and even pie-making, just to name a few. We’ve been geeked to add “Hometown Events Associate” to his Renaissance-ian laundry list of skills and activities. Evan writes:

I strive to be active and started seriously riding bikes a few years ago. I love riding mountain bikes because of the challenges different terrain present.

I also enjoy kayaking, paddle boarding, hiking, running, and Scuba diving. Anything high energy and outdoors!

AUGUST 19: NEED FOR SPEED KID’S TIME TRIAL 

Parents, here’s a must-try for your mini-cyclists!

Think you have what it takes to be the fastest bike in town?SELCRA, in conjunction with Hometown Bicycles, is hosting the Inaugural “Need for Speed” Bike Challenge. Participants will compete in 3 time trials around the outdoor track. Prizes for top finishers in each age category. Other activities include, inflatables, Arts-n-Crafts, Food Trucks.

Held at Meijer Skate Park in Brighton, this bike race is for boys and girls, ages 5 and up. A short and sweet, looped course will take them over flat terrain, with great visibility for spectating families and friends!

REGISTER YOUR KID(S) NOW FOR THE “NEED FOR SPEED” BIKE CHALLENGE!

AUGUST 19: DOC MAY MEMORIAL MELON RIDE 

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 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! T-shirts, melon and ice cream for participants!

Lock in your registration now – which puts you in the running to win the sweet Jamis cruiser bike that we’ve donated to the cause! REGISTER NOW!

AUGUST 19: SINGLES RIDE

I know!! August 19th is one happening day!! Whether you opt to dip your spoons into the post-ride deliciousness of Melon Fest ice cream, or cheer on the wheeled kiddies at SELCRA’s 1st Annual Need for Speed event, if you’re single and over 18, consider your evening booked!

On Saturday, August 19th, we’ll meet at 4:30pm at the shop for a conversation-friendly, recreational road ride over the well-loved roads of Island Lake. (Crummy weather? No problem! We’ll switch it to movie night at the shop!) We’re manning this “no drop” ride with (single!) Team members and Hometown crew. Be sure to pack a lawn chair and beverage for a post-ride, campfire, singles mingle behind the shop!

Details can be found HERE. You must be single and over 18 in order to participate. If you’d like to be kept in the loop about future Hometown singles rides and activities, send me an email: office@myhometownbicycles.com. And please be sure to share our Facebook eventwith all of your friends – the more cyclists we get, the better your odds!

THE BEGINNING OF SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL…

I want to take a moment here to congratulate a pioneering group of women, who made new friends and Hometown history as the fabulous first participants in Hometown’s new, women-specific rides and events. Ladies, you made this ride GREAT, and we can’t wait to get to know you better, and share more adventures with you, going forward!

Our Women’s Road Ride is open to all ladies, at nearly all levels of riding – CLICK HERE to learn more, and to find out how to join us next Tuesday evening!

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

HOMETOWN BICYCLES UPCOMING SHOP RIDES

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS  (8/11)
9:00PM (meet at 8:45) from Maltby Intermediate School (4740 Bauer Rd. in Brighton)
It’s time to explore! We’ll ride to the Brighton Recreation trails, accessing them from the gravel roads. This will be an INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED pace. Make sure your lights are charged for this ride in the dark! We will re-group throughout the trail. Mountain and Fat Bikes are encouraged to join this ride. Details are HERE.

SATURDAY TOUR DE LIVINGSTON PREP RIDE (8/12)
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 (8/13)
9:00AM (meet at 8:45) from Hartland Township Hall
We’re up to nearly 36 miles with approx. 2,000′ of climb (which, for MI, is a TON of climb!) on beautiful and EXTREMELY hilly country roads (and limited pavement) – all with wonderful ride companions! This is an intermediate/advanced ride (check out Tuesday’s Gravel Grinding 101 for a less grueling option.) Expect several long, tough climbs at a MINIMUM 14-15 MPH 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 (8/13)
4:30PM (meet at 4:15) from Brighton Rec Trailhead – **NEW LOCATION!**
This is a Beginner Friendly mountain bike trail ride which will encourage riders to visit new trails as their skill level increases. We’ll meet at the Brighton Rec Trailhead, head out to the Appleton 2 mile beginner loop and then explore the Murray Lake Trail. Save 1.5 hours of your day to ride with the Hometown crew. All levels of riders are welcome – NO DROP RIDE. Mountain and Fat Bikes are encouraged to join this ride. You can find this Facebook event here.

MONDAY BEGINNER FRIENDLY ROAD RIDE  (8/14)
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  (8/15)
6:30PM (meet at 6:15) from Hometown Bicycles
Join Hometown service guru, Dan ‘CycloDan’ Tribble, for this unique, gravel grinding adventure ride.  **It’s time to start bringing lights!!**  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.

**NEW-ISH RIDE!** TUESDAY WOMEN’S ROAD RIDE  (8/15)
6:30PM (meet at 6:15) from Hometown Bicycles
Ladies, this one’s just for you! This weekly, women-only road ride is for gals of all ability levels. We’ll ride the well-known “green dumpster” loop at Island Lake – about 14 miles of road – at a conversational, 10mph pace. All bikes welcome, NO DROP RIDE. Afterward, relax, connect, and rehydrate at a behind-the-shop, BYOB bonfire with your new cycling buddies! Stay tuned to our Facebook events page for ride/weather updates.

WEDNESDAY HAMMERFEST (8/16)
This is a DROP RIDE!
**No Son of Hammerfest this week**
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  (8/16)
6:30PM (meet at 6:15) from Hometown Bicycles
6:30PM (meet at 6:15) from Hometown Bicycles
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 SOCIAL MORNING ROAD RIDE  (8/17)
9:00AM (meet at 8:45) from Hometown Bicycles –  **NEW START TIME**
This conversational morning ride will find us exploring Island Lake’s beautiful 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 back for ride confirmation/changes due to weather.

**NEW POP-UP RIDE!** SATURDAY SINGLES ROAD RIDE  (8/19)
RAIN OR SHINE! If it rains, we’ll simply switch to movie night at the shop!
4:45PM (arrive at 4:15 to meet your fellow singles!) from Hometown Bicycles
This ride is all about making connections, so we’re keeping it conversation-friendly with a recreational road ride leaving from Hometown Bicycles, and traveling over the well-loved roads of Island Lake. Expect approx. 14 miles round trip at a 10mph pace. All bikes welcome. We’ll have this ride well-staffed by (single!) Team members and Hometown crew, so no one will get left behind. (NO DROP RIDE!)

Pack a lawn chair and beverage for a post-ride, campfire, singles mingle behind the shop. We’ll keep the shop open for helmet-hair damage control and calls of nature. MUST BE SINGLE & OVER 18 TO PARTICIPATE. Be sure to follow our Facebook event page for ride updates and weather-related info.

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 | Tuesdays & 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 | Mondays at 6PM & Thursdays at 9:30AM
$8 drop in or “10 classes for $50” punch card – With Leslie Barrett
Click to learn more

Take only memories, leave only treadprints.

– Adapted from Chief Seattle

Filed under: Hometown Bicycles | Tagged: Amy Gluck, amy's blog, anniversary, aquabike, Ashley Knuth, beginner rides, best bike shop, bicycle repair, bicycle service, bicycle shop, bicycle tune up, bicycles, bike challenge, bike repair, bike rides, bike service, bike shop, bike tune-up, bikes, Brewery Becker, Brown County State Park, Cardio Drumming, chris buddingh, Colin and Cynthia Chisholm, cycling, cyclists, Doc May Memorial Melon Ride, EFF Cancer ride, Evan Nelson, financing, fitness classes, gravel grinder, group rides, Hammerfest, Hometown Bicycles, Hometown Bicycles 1st Annual Pre Labor Day Labor Event, Hometownie, Indiana, Jean Steinberg, Jeff and Sarah Short, Jim Thompson, Joel Rushlow, Keith Cowgar, kids bike race, Leslie Barrett, Martha Soraruf, Meghan Terbush, mike dyer, Miles and Ann Janicki, misca, Need for Speed, Ore-to-Shore, Paul Andres, Poses Pedals and Pints, running, Saturday Singles, SELCRA, Shermanator, shop rides, singles ride, synchrony, Team Hometown Bicycles, time trial, Tocca Massage and Yoga, Vanessa Dan and Donald Smith, Vote 4 the best, women only ride, womens road ride, yoga, zumba | Leave a comment »