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

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 Optimist Club, Brighton Optimist Club Bike Decorating Contest and Parade Ride, Cardio Drumming, Coast to Coast Gravel Road Race, Conely Auto, cycling, cyclists, Dawn Gaden, fat bikes, fat tire bikes, fitness classes, Fourth of July parade, group rides, Hometown Bicycles, Hometown Bikes, Hometownies, Howell Rotary Club, intenSati, Island Lake Recreation Area, Leslie Barrett, Leslie Cook, livingston county, Livingston County United Way, Martha Soraruf, Michigan, Michigan Challenge Balloonfest, Safety Town, Shaun Bhajan, shop rides, Team Hometown Bicycles, Tour de Livingston, tour de livingston kick-off ride, Tresa O’Rourke, Vote 4 the best, zumba, Zumba Gold | Leave a comment »

Home of the Same-Day / Next-Day Bike Service

Posted on June 30, 2018 by Shaun

“LEAD, OR GET OUT OF THE WAY… “
That’s been our mantra since day one. Hometown’s been revolutionizing the bicycle service industry since opening its doors in 2010, with a full-bore focus on speedy and spectacular service AND over 18,000 repairs to prove it. Leading the field is what we do.

Above is your Hometown crew – the finest mix of talent, character, and wonderfulness in the industry. Here, you’ll find leadership, heart, bravery, kindness, enthusiasm, ingenuity, and integrity. Every single one of us is here to give you a phenomenal Hometown experience.

It’s thanks to the exceptional skills of this peerless crew – and, most notably, the powerhouse addition of our fearless Service leader, Matt Fitzhorn – that the Best Bicycle Service in Southeast Michigan is now available with SAME-DAY / NEXT-DAY TURNAROUND. We’ll have you back on your bike in record time – it’s the Hometown way. Bring your bike in today!

Ride with Shaun in the Parade!

SHAUN AND I INVITE YOU TO RIDE WITH US & THE KIDS THIS 4TH…
Bring your bikes and your kiddies for a ride in Brighton’s 4th of July Parade! It’s FREE!!

Brighton Optimist Club hosts an annual Bike Decorating Contest & Parade Ride, and Hometown is helping out with bike decorating at our shop THIS WEEKEND, 2-4PM both Saturday and Sunday, including complimentary bicycle delivery and pick-up service to and from the parade. Plus, we’re offering free bike checks and helmet discounts to all participants! CLICK HERE for details and to let us know your coming!

TEAM NEWS: Tour de Livingston Kick-Off Ride

Our heartfelt thanks goes out to the top-notch Hometown Team members who took a morning out of their busy summers to help set-up, mark, and lead this year’s Tour de Livingston Kick-Off Ride. Beautiful day. Beautiful ride! Shout out to Howell Rotary and Livingston County United Way for another fantastic event! Now… time to sign up for the Tour!

SAVE THE DATE: HOMETOWN JULY JUBILEE (7/15)

Last year, we introduced the Hometown Bicycles Annual July Jubilee & Salewith a “huzzah!” heard ‘round the world! Now this year’s July 15th Jubilee takes the fun had last year, and exponentially multiplies it for an utterly epic, carnival-style, super-event that your whole family will love!!

— JULY JUBILEE EVENT & SALE – Sunday, July 15 from 1-5pm —

Food & YUMMMMMMMMMM Cotton Candy!!
Hydration courtesy Team Sponsor Beauchamp Water Treatment & Supply!

Face Painting
Artistic talent provided by Alison Peasley!

Games & Prizes
Including water balloon tournaments on the front lawn, tire toss, tricycle tug-of war, andcrazy cool lawn games, courtesy of Team Sponsor Hamburg Fitness Center & Camp!

Family Classes & Demos
Including Zumba-Cardio Drumming Fusion with Leslie Barrett and Martha Soraruf, Acro Yoga with Yoga Nature, Flow Yoga with Michelle Klinger, and Belly Dancing with One Spirit Dance & Fitness of Pinckney (all PG and kid-friendly!)

Tour de Livingston Tent
Learn about Hometown’s favorite local charity ride from creators, Howell Rotary andLivingston County United Way!

*** MEGA SUMMER BLOWOUT SALE on accessories – from bags to bells to saddles to tools – to make way for new product lines that you’re going to LOVE!! ***

———— JULY JUBILEE RIDE – Sunday, July 15 at 3:30pm ————-

Join our Team and Crew on a MASSIVE, July Jubilee Ride, for riders of all types, ages, and skill levels. We leave from the shop at 3:30pm for a leisurely spin around Island Lake. Make friends, have fun, and be back just in time for our…

— RED, WHITE, & BLUES CONCERT – Sunday, July 15, 5-8pm —

This ‘funk’y fundraising concert rounds out our July Jubilee celebration with the bluesy rock and roll of Hometown’s long time service tech and purveyor of extraordinary bike knowledge, Dan “CycloDan” Tribble, and his PBR Band.

Enjoy outstanding music, dancing, snacks (BYOB), and socializing… all while directly supporting your fellow cyclist and Hometownie, Dan Rosenhack, and his amazing family. Dan’s diagnosis of terminal brain cancer has resulted in costly medical and living expenses, and this concert is geared to help relieve the financial strain on his family. Half of your $10 cover charge helps pay for the band, and half will be gifted to Dan Rosenhack’s family.

It’s laid back, funky fun that will wow your ears and tickle your tastebuds, all while supporting a deeply meaningful cause.

Please let us know you’re coming, so we can plan for enough refreshments!

VISIT HOMETOWN AT A TASTE OF BRIGHTON!

This year, Hometown’s headed downtown July 13th & 14th (with July Jubilee on the 15th!) for the annual A Taste of Brighton affair, where we’ll give festival-goers a flavor of what makes our shop and our sport so darn special! Shaun will be on stage running several Bike Care 101 and Flat Tire Fix clinics throughout the event, and our tent will be crankin’, with our Service Crew demo-ing what we’re famous for – the best bike repair in Southeast Michigan! Add this event to your family calendar, and be sure to stop by and say “hi!”

KIDS LEARN SAFE CYCLING WITH HOMETOWN BICYCLES

Last week kicked off the 2018 Brighton Safety Town kids training series located at Hilton Elementary School. It’s an event we look forward to every year! Shaun trots out the Hometown-mobile and traffic cones for a Hometown-style kiddie clinic in bike checks, helmet fit, and cycling safety. Nearly 30 children attended this year’s event! Want to enroll your child? CLICK HERE for details!

KIDS SELF DEFENSE CLASS AT HOMETOWN

JULY 26, 7-8PM: If someone wants to hurt our children, they won’t choose a time or a place with witnesses. The safety of our children will depend on their ability to recognize a threat and respond effectively.

Hometown is thrilled to welcome back Ian Kinder of Live Safe Academy for a fun, interactive and age-appropriate workshop that teaches essential, lifesaving information about threats, strategies for prevention, and real world techniques.

Coed, for ages 6-12. Class fee is $25. REGISTER NOW!

PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTES FOR HOMETOWN!

** The Best Bike Shop section on Livingston Daily’s survey is question number 53!
** In Vote4theBest, you can go directly to Hometown’s voting page: CLICK HERE!

UPCOMING SHOP RIDES

Saturday Road Ride

SATURDAY, JUNE 30 | 11:00AM (MEET BY 10:45AM) | FROM HOMETOWN BICYCLES
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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Sunday Hartland Gravel Grinder

SUNDAY, JULY 1 | 9:00AM (MEET BY 8:45AM) | FROM HARTLAND TWP HALL
Come enjoy beautiful, HILLY country roads and wonderful ride company. Expect several TOUGH, LONG CLIMBS, at an average 14 – 15 MPH pace for all 28.2 miles. The group may split into 2, with the front pack averaging > 15 mph. (Check out Dan’s Gravel Grinding 101 ride for a less grueling option.) Cross/Gravel, Mountain and Fat bikes are welcome. Meet in the Hartland Twp. Hall lower parking lot (turn right once in the drive) at 2655 Clark Rd. Check Facebook for ride confirmation and changes! Check Facebook for ride confirmation and changes!

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Sunday Exploring Trails Mountain Bike Ride

SUNDAY, JULY 1 | 4:30PM (MEET BY 4:15PM) | FROM HOMETOWN
Join your Hometown Crew for our beginner-friendly mountain bike trail ride, which encourages riders to explore new trails as their skill level increases. This week, we’ll enjoy 9 – 15 miles of Island Lake single track over the course of 1.5 hours. All levels welcome – NO DROP RIDE. Mountain and Fat Bikes are encouraged. Riders under 15 must 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. Check Facebook for ride confirmation and changes!

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Monday Beginner-Friendly Road Ride

MONDAY, JULY 2 | 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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Ladies’ Road Ride

TUESDAY, JULY 3 | 6:30PM (MEET BY 6:15PM) | 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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Ride with Shaun in the 4th of July Parade
WEDNESDAY, JULY 4 | MEET 8:30AM AT LYNCH & SONS FUNERAL HOME
Shaun, Dawn, and the kids invite you to ride with them in this year’s Downtown Brighton 4th of July Parade!! It’s FREE!! Read up on all the exciting details HERE!

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

Go play outside!

~ Moms & Dads everywhere

Filed under: Hometown Bicycles | Tagged: A Taste of Brighton, best bicycle repair, best bicycle service, best bike repair, best bike service, bicycle repair, bicycle service, bicycle service industry, bicycle shop, bicycles, bike decorating contest, bike repair, bike rides, bike service, bike shop, bikes, Brighton, Brighton Optimist Club, Cardio Drumming, cycling, cyclists, fitness classes, Fourth of July parade, group rides, Hilton Elementary, Hometown Bicycles, Hometownies, Howell Rotary, Ian Kinder, July Jubilee, kids self defense, Leslie Barrett, Live Safe Academy, livingston county, Livingston County United Way, Livingston Daily People's Choice, Martha Soraruf, Matt Fitzhorn, Michigan, parade, ride with Shaun, Safety Town, shop rides, Team Hometown Bicycles, tour de livingston kick-off ride, Vote 4 the best, zumba | Leave a comment »

The Young & The Priceless

Posted on July 12, 2016 by Shaun

(Photo courtesy of and used with permission of Brighton Safety Town)

HOMETOWN HELPS SAFETY TOWN TEACH TINY TOTS TO RIDE SMART

One of our absolute favorite summertime activities is working with Brighton Safety Town to teach kindergarten-age kiddies how to enjoy safe fun on two (or three) wheels.

Between tricycle checks, helmet fits, and pedal-powered parking lot practice, we’re helping the next generation grown into smart cyclists! In fact, if you’re reading this email Tuesday morning, than Shaun is at Hilton Road Elementary School, “schooling” the next batch of pint-sized cyclist-to-be’s. We’re telling you… it’s priceless!

Check out Brighton Safety Town’s Facebook page and website to see all of the cool things they do!

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4TH OF JULY PARADE FUN… WITH BICYCLES!

Every year, Hometown has the pleasure of teaming up with Brighton Optimist Club on 4th of July parade prep for bicycle-bound youth. This year was a blast – check out Bradley’s sweet rig (at left) that he decorated for the event!

Next year promises to be especially fun with bike decorating at the shop, convenient bicycle/tricycle transport provided by your Hometown crew, awards, adventures, and all the other seasonal coolness that goes along with this awesome Brighton Optimist Club program. Stay tuned next year for details!

Thanks for letting us be a part of it!

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$10 BICYCLE ART BY PINCKNEY STUDENTS

Hometown recently had a blast hosting an art reception open house for the creative kids of Pinckney schools.

Art teacher Hallie Levine made the clever decision to create prints of her students’ pieces before their original artwork headed home with them for the summer. What does that mean for you?

It means fabulously imaginative bicycle art available for purchase at Hometown… for just $10! And remember, on any student art purchase, 100% of the sale goes directly to the student! Come support these creative kids!

Capital-“K” Kudos goes to Brianne Campbell whose whimsical balloon bike art (above left) was the first piece of Pinckney student art to sell at Hometown Bicycles. Congrats, Brianne!

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BONUS BIKE BITS

HOMETOWN COMMUNITY ROOM RENTAL

A word from our Events Coordinator, Jennifer McCauley:
Are you or anybody you know looking for a location to teach an exercise class? Instruct artists? Inspire crafting? Lead a seminar? Hometown’s Community Room is being used for everything from Yoga to Cardio Drumming, and personal trainer clinics to painting parties… and we’re looking for more activities!

Our room rental is the best you can find. I know because I checked around! Please contact me atevents@myhometownbicycles.com with your rental questions.

FREE WEEKLY TRI WORKOUT WITH TEAM HOMETOWNIE JOHN VAN ALSBURG
Our Team is so cool! Team Hometownie John is an experienced tri-guy with a wealth of knowledge to share and a passion for the sport. He’s providing FREE brick workouts every Tuesday evening at 5pm (swim at 5, usually riding by 6:15… or ride only, if the water is too cold). Everyone is welcome.

John’s tri workout meets weekly at Island Lake’s big Kent Lake parking lot.

CONGRATS TO HOMETOWNIE RICK SMITH ON HIS CROSSFIT LAUNCH
We’re constantly inspired by our customers’ drive… like Rick Smith – long-long-long-time Hometownie – who deserves a shout-out for his upcoming Earned Not Given CrossFit grand opening on Saturday, July 30th from 10-2.