Spring Snowman | Hometown Bicycles

Hometown’s 6-Year Birthday Party

Posted on April 12, 2016 by Shaun

“Hometown Turns 6!” Party

PUT YOUR PARTY HATS ON… YOU’VE GOT A CELEBRATION TO ATTEND!

A bike shop doesn’t celebrate 6 gloriously eventful years without the through-thick-and-thin loyalty of the very best kinds of customers. So, this Saturday, April 16, we’re throwing a birthday party for Hometown that celebrates YOU!

Store hours on April 16: 11am-5pm – 6 HOURS OF FUN!
Get 6% OFF ALL PRODUCTS, including sale items!
FREE MULTI-TOOL KIT to the first 15 people to attend (1 per family)
Enjoy BIKE GAMES, like tire toss, for BONUS DISCOUNTS
FREE HOT DOGS from 11am-2pm
LIVE MUSIC and more!

SATURDAY, APRIL 16, 11AM-5PM
“Hometown Turns 6!” Party

We can’t wait to celebrate with you, your family, and your friends!

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SO, YOU WANT TO BE UNIQUE…

Hometown artist, Lauren Patrell of LPbyLP, has once again blown our cycling socks off with her mastery of fabric and thread. Hometownies, this gal can SEW!!!

While her limited production purses, coin purses, and wallets made of repurposed upholstery fabric have been giving us whiplash as they fly off our shelves, Lauren’s put the pedal to the metal on her sewing machine with a new product line made especially for Hometown!

In a fun and entirely unique twist, this new collection of purses, passport covers, totes, wallets, and even notecards is made of bicycle fabric HAND-STAMPED by the artist, and sewn with an insane level of craftsmanship.

Gift yourself. Gift your friend. Gift your sweetheart. These are the very definition of “one of a kind!”

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CARDIO FITNESS DRUMMING – SAY WHAT??

If you haven’t heard of it yet, this new fitness craze is making some serious noise in the workout world… and at Hometown these next few Wednesdays!

Cardio drumming incorporates drumsticks, hands, drums, and fitness balls to get your blood pumping and relieve built-up tension. It’ll be something to see, hear, and try. Come on Hometownies – time to rock that sense of adventure!!

Martha Soraruf’s Cardio Fitness Drumming class runs April 13, 20, and 27 at 6:45pm in the Hometown Community Room. Call her – (734) 678-9647 – for details and to register.

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CALLING ALL RVers – FOCUS GROUP AT HOMETOWN

You’re wondering – what on earth does RVing have to do with bicycles? EVERYTHING, as it turns out, for many of our adventure-lovin’ customers! Check out what’s strapped to the back of the next RV you pass – odds are it has 2 wheels and a saddle…

Next Tuesday, April 19th from 7-8pm, Hometownie Fred Tomczyk (my dad!) will be running a Focus Group out of the Hometown Community Room, introducing a new product concept for RVing. And here’s the deal, he needs your honest-to-goodness feedback. You must have, or have experience with, RVs with holding tanks.

Get a sneak peek at a product soon to be launched in the RV market, share opinions with fellow RVers, and enjoy refreshments.

CLICK TO REGISTER FOR THE RV FOCUS GROUP
April 19 from 7-8pm in the Hometown Community Room

Special Note: Fred has had a hand in planning, prepping, cleaning, painting, and otherwise renovating almost literally every square inch of Hometown – please help us support the venture of someone who has been so unselfishly instrumental in creating this place that you love!

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THE RUN THAT CAN WIN YOU A BICYCLE

The Eric Hartwell Foundation is the local brainchild of two of the world’s coolest people, and when it comes to supporting the awesomeness that Mike and Lisa Hartwell – and all of their amazing family, friends, and supporters – create, we are all in.

On Saturday, May 7th at 9am is the annual running/walking of the Foundation’s beloved Spring Snowman 5K/10K through the beautiful Brighton Pine Creek Ridge neighborhood. Registering early gives you a chance to win the cherry red Jamis Allegro from Hometown that you see pictured above.

Shaun and I did this event hand-in-hand, and loved every minute of it. You will, too. Get registering, Hometownies!

Filed under: Hometown Bicycles | Tagged: anniversary, bicycle, bicycle shop, bike, bike shop, birthday party, Cardio Drumming, Cardio Fitness Drumming, celebration, coin purse, Eric Hartwell Foundation, focus group, Fred Tomczyk, Hometown Bicycles, Lauren Patrell, LPbyLP, notecards, purse, RV, RVer, RVing, Spring Snowman, wallet | Leave a comment »

Team Time, Hidden Treasures, and Inner Tube Earrings

Posted on March 29, 2016 by Shaun

WHETHER YOUR INTEREST IS SHOP RIDES OR TEAM HOMETOWN, this Thursday at 6:30pm is an event you want to attend!

We’ll provide pizza, you BYOB, and we’ll answer all of your questions regarding the official Shop Rides schedule and Team Hometown Bicycles, plus you’ll get to meet our ride leaders and Team Captains.

If you already know you want to be part of Team Hometown Bicycles – AWESOME!! You can officially sign up at this event.

THIS THURSDAY, MARCH 31ST AT 6:30PM

REGISTER HERE IF YOU’LL BE ATTENDING TEAM NIGHT
No obligations and no charge – just a chance to learn what all the excitement’s about!

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AND THE JERSEY TRADE-INS KEEP ROLLIN’ IN

(Above: A few of the trade-ins already brought in – some still have the tags!)

In a previous newsletter, we talked about our Jersey Trade-In program, where we invited you to raid your closet and bring in your clean, rip-free jerseys for $10 store credit apiece!

The response has already been fantastic, and that means there are some extra-great buys here at Hometown for our bargain-lovin’ bike fans. Come in and check out the “Hidden Treasure Jerseys”, which are not-so-hidden on our clothing racks. Don’t forget to bring along a few trade-ins of your own – one cyclist’s trade-in, another cyclist’s treasure!

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MEET THE BIKE ARTIST: AUBREY BAUMEIER

Using inner tube, chain, gears, and shifter cables in crazy-clever and gorgeously-crafted ways, Hometown’s newest artist, Aubrey Baumeier of Sunshine Design, set a record for the shop when her first piece sold before we’d even finished installing the display!

And believe us, you’ll understand why when you see her work for yourself. Her pieces range from funky to classic, and are all founded on the core principle: “recycle it!” You’ll never look at your cast away bike bits the same way again.

Think “wow factor,” ladies. Think “she’ll love it,” fellas. Just be sure to check them out!

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MEET THE BIKE ARTIST: MARLA JAMES

Marla of Marla’s Mud is fun, energetic, and head-over-heels for the creative process – and it sure shows in her hand-thrown and hand-glazed mugs and pendant necklaces. Each piece is unique and intriguing.

Marla’s creative engines are revved, and you’ll be seeing more of her playful craftsmanship appearing in our store. She told us that her mugs hold cold as well as heat, so picture yourself post-ride sipping a refreshingly cold beverage from your one-of-a-kind, cyclist-friendly mug. Now that’s worth a look!

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TEAM HOMETOWN’S ALREADY ROCKIN’ THE RACES

(At Waterloo Grit & Gravel, from left: Gary Spencer, Tom Hermann, Jim Cleer, and Mark Lang)

Hometown jerseys have been popping up all over the early Michigan race scene. Three cheers to our hardy Team Hometown Bicycles riders who tackled Epic Race’s newWaterloo Grit & Gravel event. Riding 50K and 100K, these super-cyclists put a sizable dent in the misconception that cycling season starts when the weather warms.

Team Captain Jim Cleer had nothing but positive feedback about this race – well-organized, well-designed, and well-run. Team Hometown will definitely ride it again!

In the meantime, cheer on the Team at their next event, Barry-Roubaix Killer Gravel Road Race on April 16th. It’s the largest race of its kind in the world!

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BONUS HOMETOWN NEWS

We still have copies of the cyclist’s best friend – LMB’s Ride Guide – at our shop. It lists rides, races, and cycling events around Michigan… a must have for any cyclist and free of charge!

Hometown ♥♥♥ The Eric Hartwell Foundation, and that’s why we’ve been involved with their Spring Snowman Run/Walk from Hometown’s beginning. We’re super-proud to be a part of what they do – raising funds to support children at C.S. Mott’s Children’s Hospital with leukemia and other blood disorders – with a bike donation for this event.Register early for a chance to win the Jamis Allegro!

Hometown will soon be echoing with the energizing beats of Martha Soraruf’s Cardio Fitness Drumming class. Held in the Hometown Community Room, this class will run April 13, 20, and 27 at 6:45pm. It uses drumsticks, hands, drums, and fitness balls to get your blood pumping and relieve built-up tension. Call Martha – (734) 678-9647 – for details and to sign up! (Thanks for the pic, Martha!)