MI’s Best, Thule, and Triathlons 101

Posted on April 27, 2017 by Shaun

One of MI’s Best Bike Shops!

TURNS OUT WE’RE “A NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK”!
Guess which local bike shop made the list of The 10 BEST BIKE SHOPS IN MICHIGAN?!

We’re snapping our bib shorts suspenders with pride at seeing Hometown Bicycles rocking another Best Bike Shop list. This particular accolade can be found on the Best Things MI website.

Our favorite review from the site: “Stop in if you want to be treated like family. This place is a needle in a hay stack of bike shops. Truly an awesome experience. Great selection too!” ~ James R.

Thank you, James! Thank you, Best Things MI! And thank-you-thank-you-thank-you, loyal Hometownies!!

(Bottom 2 images – beer on the podium and Doug Queener catching air – © Jack Kunnen Photography.)

TEAM TIME TRIAL AT YANKEE SPRINGS

In the continuing saga of Team Hometown’s awesome adventures, last weekend found a fantastic five Hometownies racing the Yankee Springs Time Trial. Congratulations to Team member Scott Simpson for his 3rd place finish in Elite Expert single speed class! There were a couple other near-podium-experiences at this event – especially impressive as it’s “one of the largest and longest running time trial races in the Midwest”!

“TRIATHLON 101” CLINIC WITH AMY GLUCK

Let’s be real, here… a good majority of cyclists flirt with the idea of triathlons. They may or may not admit it to anyone, but there is something inherently intriguing about spanning the sports in one, body-and-mind-challenging event.

Hometown’s Amy Gluck has a history in IRONMAN competition, and is back in triathlon training following a life-altering accident. With her background in health and nutrition, an IRONMAN Coaching Certification, and a head-over-heels passion for tri’s, Amy is the perfect person to kick off this newest Hometown clinic.

If you’re on the fence about whether to try a tri, are new to the tri community, or are simply eager to pick up tips from a pro, this info-gathering clinic is for you! NO CHARGE and two days to choose from!
CLICK TO REGISTER FOR TRIATHLON 101 WITH AMY GLUCK
Tuesday, May 9th at 6pm – OR – Thursday, May 11th at 6pm
(in the Hometown Bicycles Community Room)

WE’RE NOW YOUR AUTHORIZED THULE DEALER

You’ve been asking, and we’re answering – all of you Thule-lovin’ Hometownies can now get your Thule racks right here at YOUR bike shop.

BASEBALL AND BICYCLES

Sounds like the title to an insanely cool new sport, doesn’t it? Anyone up to the challenge?
Actually, this is about the Brighton Bulldogs Baseball Travel Team that we are proudly sponsoring this year. In newsletters past, we promised a game schedule… a promise I can now deliver on! Shaun and I are looking forward to catching a game (and maybe a wayward ball?) at one of their local ballgames. We’d love to see you there!

CLICK HERE TO PICK A DAY TO CHEER ON THESE TALENTED KIDS

TOUR DE LIVINGSTON SAVE-THE-DATE

It’s almost like a countdown to Christmas! This scenic, local ride is a gift in so many ways – to the riders, to the Community, and to cycling at large. Be sure to mark it down now in your calendars as a 2017 must-ride! Visit their new website for details.

COMING THIS SUMMER TO A FRONT LAWN NEAR YOU…

Hometown’s lawn will soon be playing host to a fast-paced, Fresh Air Fitness class from our long-standing Team Sponsor Body Within. This mid-June class will be specifically designed to get your ride muscles in top form!

Interested? Good! Stay tuned for dates and details, or call Chris at (517) 304-2282 if you’re too excited to wait and need to learn more NOW!

(Last Sunday’s Exploring Trails Mountain Bike Ride was a hit, with gorgeous weather and new faces – welcome! This Sunday is the last time we’ll be “exploring” Island Lake singletrack, before we move on to new trails and new adventures. Don’t miss out on riding a classic… join us!)

HOMETOWN BICYCLES UPCOMING SHOP RIDES

THURSDAY SOCIAL ROAD RIDE (4/27)
10:00AM (meet at 9:45) from Hometown Bicycles
If the rain holds off, come check out the popular Thursday morning Social 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.

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS (4/28)
8:30PM (meet at 8:15) from Hometown Bicycles
Join us for an evening expedition onto Island Lake’s Blue/Yellow loops at an INTERMEDIATE pace. Make sure your lights are charged, as darkness may catch up to us on our 1.5-hour ride. We will re-group throughout the trail. Mountain and Fat Bikes are encouraged.

SATURDAY BEGINNER ROAD RIDE (4/29)
9:00AM (meet at 8:45) from Hometown Bicycles
Come grow with this weekly ride as we start out aiming for 10 – 15 miles and expand as the weeks roll by. Route will be on the park roads. Road bikes are preferred for this ride. All level riders are welcome. Weather could go either way, so be sure to check on Facebook for a pre-ride update!

SUNDAY GRAVEL GRINDER (4/30)
9:00AM (meet at 8:45) from Hartland Twp Hall
This week’s gravel ride along beautiful, rolling, country roads, will ease you in with a shorter, flatter route than normal, and ~ 3 miles of pavement (large shoulder on about half). Expect to venture across 29 miles with a 13-15 mph, NO-DROP pace. All bikes are welcome. Meet in lower parking lot (turn right once in the drive): 2655 Clark Rd, Hartland, MI 48353.

SUNDAY EXPLORING TRAILS MOUNTAIN BIKE RIDE (4/30)
4:30PM (meet at 4:15) from Hometown Bicycles
This is a Beginner Friendly mountain bike trail ride which will encourage riders to visit new trails as their skill level increases. We’ll ride to the back of Island Lake and explore 9 – 15 miles of singletrack. 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. **Location will rotate in future – check on start locations weekly**

MONDAY BEGINNER FRIENDLY ROAD RIDE (5/1)
Sponsored by Pro-Motion Physical Therapy
6:30PM (meet at 6:15) from Hometown Bicycles
This is a NO DROP Beginner Friendly road ride. We’ll be traveling the Island Lakes park roads to the well-known “Green Dumpster” and back. ~ 12 – 15 miles. Sound like too much for you? No worries – there will be an early turn-back option for a little less mileage. Bring a light if you have one, though we’re not expecting to need them. Road bikes recommended. All level riders are welcome.
WEDNESDAY HAMMERFEST (5/2) – THIS IS A DROP RIDE!
6:30PM (meet at 6:15) from Hometown Bicycles
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!

SPRING SNOWMAN 5K

Spring Snowman 5K Run/Walk is hosted by the Eric Hartwell Foundation, a remarkable organization created by the Hartwell Family (a particularly awesome group of Hometownies) to raise money to “directly support children, diagnosed with Leukemia and other blood disorders, being treated at C.S. Mott’s Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan.” Participants have a chance to win a Jamis bike, donated by Hometown Bicycles. Great cause. Great cross-training. Great prize.

GREAT TIME TO REGISTER, DON’T YOU THINK??

In winter, I plot and plan. In spring, I move.

– Henry Rollins

Filed under: Hometown Bicycles | Tagged: adventures, Amy Gluck, authorized Thule Dealer, baseball, Best Bike Shop in MI, Best Things MI, bicycle shop, bicycles, bike repair, bike rides, bike shop, bikes, Body Within, Brighton, brighton bulldogs, Chris and Jenny Schild, clinic, coaching, community, Community Room, competition, Exploring Trails Mountain Bike Ride, fat bikes, fitness class, Fresh Air Fitness, group rides, Hammerfest, Henry Rollins, Hometown Bicycles, Hometownies, Ironman, livingston county, Michigan, Midwest, mountain bikes, needle in a haystack, night ride, night riding, Pro-Motion Physical Therapy, race, road bikes, save the date, Scott Simpson, shop rides, Spring Snowman 5K, Team Hometown Bicycles, Thule, Tour de Livingston, travel team, tri clinic, triathlon, Triathlon 101, Yankee Springs Time Trial | Leave a comment »

Birthday Pics, Jamis’ CEO, and Upcoming Shop Rides

Posted on April 20, 2017 by Shaun

When Everything Goes Wonderfully Right

SHAUN AND I ARE IN AWE – LIKE, GIVES-US-GOOSEBUMPS AWE – of what Hometown Bicycles has come to mean to our customers and to our community, as evidenced by the INCREDIBLE turn-out for last weekend’s 7th Birthday Bash.

If I’m being entirely honest, there are moments when working ’round the clock daily (and I mean AROUND the clock), raising our family in a bike shop, and giving up any semblance of a “normal” life seems mildly insane to potentially certifiable. But this kind of outpouring of support – on the eve, no less, of a major holiday – VALIDATES why we do what we do.

And there’s a word for this: LOVE. I’ve been really thinking about this since the reality of 7 remarkable years struck home. We LOVE our Hometownies, we love what we do, we love being in the business of helping people have fun, achieve incredible goals, become the best version of themselves, and create memories to last a lifetime… I mean, really, how much more rewarding can you get?!

And you’ve made it clear that the love goes both ways. That’s a game-changer.

THANK YOU for celebrating with us. Thank you for letting us know that we’re doing it right. And thank you for making Shaun’s and my non-traditional lifestyle feel like a reward.

We also want to show some love for American Spirit Centre, which generously provided overflow parking across the street (it was needed!), Tour de Livingston for being there and being awesome, Shannon from Hamburg Fitness Center & Camp for hanging out with us and bringing the fun lawn games, Beauchamp Water Treatment & Supply for always keeping us hydrated, Pro-Motion Physical Therapy for the cool door prize donation, the Team volunteers and Hometown crew for an incredible work ethic and for saving what’s left of my hair since having children, and Mother Nature for giving us possibly the nicest day yet in 2017.

If you want to catch pictures of our event, check out our Facebook album HERE. If you want to go to your happy place… well, you know where to find us!

(Me with a pink-clad Marley Simpson, winner of our Jr. Hometownie T-Shirt Contest by popular vote!)

CONGRATS, MARLEY – WINNER OF OUR JR. T-SHIRT CONTEST!

Prior to our big birthday bash, we put a call out to the young’uns for a creative and colorful interpretation of our logo, which would grace a limited edition run of Jr. Hometownie t-shirts.

Votes were collected throughout last weekend’s event for the four, fantastic entries we received. There was a lotta love for all entrants, but Marley Simpson’s vibrant piece took home 1st prize!

Marley – age 8, 3rd grade – is the epitome of a Renaissance woman-in-miniature, with an absolute wealth of interests. She loves to bike (way to go, Marley!), is a gymnast, collects American Girl dolls, reads, plays with her guinea pig, jumps on the trampoline, hangs out with friends and, clearly, LOVES to draw (see her t-shirt design at left).

Marley wants to grow up to be an artist. We believe she’s already well on her way. Congratulations, Marley! (Keep an eye out for Marley’s winning design on t-shirts, coming soon!)

(Fantastic job, Jr. Hometownies! Here are the entries we received: Nicholas Baylerian [1, left], Abigail Dyer [2, top], Marley Simpson [3, bottom], and Abby Wheeler [4, right].)

SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM JAMIS CEO, CARINE JOANNOU

We’ve introduced you in newsletters past to Carine Joannou, President and Owner of Jamis Bicycles. She’s been a supporter of, a believer in, and a role model to Hometown Bicycles since day one.

Here’s a chance to hear from the woman herself about Jamis’ core values – it’s in large part because of these values that we’re such die-hard fans of the brand. CLICK HERE to watch her video.

HOMETOWN BICYCLES UPCOMING SHOP RIDES

SUNDAY GRAVEL GRINDER (4/23)
9:00AM (meet at 8:45) from Hartland Twp Hall
Though still quite hilly, this week’s gravel ride will encompass a shorter, flatter route than normal through back roads, with ~ 3 miles of pavement (large shoulder on about half). Expect to venture across 29 miles with a 13-15 mph, NO-DROP pace. All bikes are welcome. Meet in lower parking lot (turn right once in the drive): 2655 Clark Rd, Hartland, MI 48353.

The goal is to extend the route to 36 miles by late May – so come on out now and grow with the route!

SUNDAY EXPLORING TRAILS MOUNTAIN BIKE RIDE (4/23)
4:30PM (meet at 4:15) from Hometown Bicycles
This is a Beginner Friendly mountain bike trail ride which will encourage riders to visit new trails as their skill level increases. We’ll ride to the back of Island Lake and explore 9 – 15 miles of singletrack. 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. **Location will rotate in future – check on weekly start locations**

MONDAY BEGINNER FRIENDLY ROAD RIDE (4/24)
Sponsored by Pro-Motion Physical Therapy
6:30PM (meet at 6:15) from Hometown Bicycles
This is a NO DROP Beginner Friendly road ride. We’ll be traveling the Island Lakes park roads to the well-known “Green Dumpster” and back. ~ 12 – 15 miles. Sound like too much for you? No worries – there will be an early turn-back option for a little less mileage. Bring a light if you have one, though we’re not expecting to need them. Road bikes recommended. All level riders are welcome.

WEDNESDAY HAMMERFEST (4/26)
6:30PM (meet at 6:15) from Hometown Bicycles
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! Carve out 2 hours of your evening for this ride.

THURSDAY SOCIAL ROAD RIDE (4/27)
10:00PM (meet at 9:45) from Hometown Bicycles
Come check out the popular Thursday morning Social 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. **Location will rotate in future – check on weekly start locations**

For ALL SHOP RIDES, be sure to FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK for ride confirmations and updates!

And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.

– 1 Corinthians 13:13

Filed under: Hometown Bicycles | Tagged: Abby Wheeler, Abigail Dyer, American Spirit Centre, artist, Beauchamp Water Treatment and Supply, beginner friendly, bicycle shop, bicycles, bicycling, bike shop, bikes, birthday party, Carine Joannou, core values, creative, cycling, cyclists, Dawn Bhajan, draw, entries, fat bike, gravel grinder, group rides, Hamburg Fitness Center and Camp, Hammerfest, Hometown Bicycles, Hometown crew, Hometownies, Island Lakes, Jamis Bicycles, Jamis Bikes, Jr. Hometownie, love, Marley Simpson, Mother Nature, mountain bike, mountain bike ride, Nicholas Baylerian, Pro-Motion Physical Therapy, road bike, road ride, Shaun Bhajan, shop rides, social road ride, Team Hometown Bicycles, Tour de Livingston, tshirt contest, volunteers, winner | Leave a comment »

THIS SATURDAY: You’re Invited to Hometown’s 7th Birthday Bash

Posted on April 11, 2017 by Shaun

IT’S OUR BIGGEST, FAMILY-FRIENDLIEST, HOMETOWNIEST EVENT TO DATE
This Saturday, April 15th marks 7 incredible years of Hometown adventures and growth, from propping a sandwich board with a crudely painted “Shaun’s Bike Shop” in front of our original, tiny service shop, to throwing a community-sized 7th birthday bash at our roller-rink-sized bicycle adventure center. Through it all, you’ve been right along with us for the ride, and this weekend’s celebration is in honor of what your loyalty has created!

Here’s what’s on the party roster…

ALL DAY – A chance to make your mark on Hometown Bicycles! All customers who make a purchase the day of the event – and going forward – will be immortalized by signing their name on our “I Support Hometown Bicycles!” support pillars!

ALL DAY – Fantastic deals!

ALL DAY – Unveiling the 10 bicycles that Hometown Bicycles is donating to this year’s 10th Anniversary Tour de Livingston to raise money and awareness for Livingston County United Way.

9:00 AM – Doors open. Early bird door prizes, including some especially cool swag from Team Sponsor, Pro-Motion Physical Therapy!

11:00 AM – Easter Egg Hunt on the front lawn for kids up through 5th grade – with candy, stickers, and toy surprises in abundance! (No cost to participate!)

11:30 AM – Easter Egg Hunt in the shop for adults of all ages – with candy, stickers, and some awesome surprise deals for diligent hunters! (No cost to participate!)

NOON – Lunch on the grill (it’s free!) and lawn games, courtesy of Team Sponsor Hamburg Fitness Center & Camp.

2:00 PM – Family-friendly, casual road ride from the shop. This is a relaxed, ride-your-own-pace sort of slow roll with good friends and great conversation!

4:00 PM – Announcing the winner of our Jr. Hometownie T-Shirt Design Contest. Be sure to check out all the amazing entries that will be hanging in our Community Room!

5:00 PM – All good things must come to an end, but we’ll be here bright and early on Monday morning to help you get to your Happy Place! Happy Easter, Hometownies!!

Bring everyone you know, bring your bike, and definitely bring your sense of fun! This is going to be one for the record books!!

BONUS BIRTHDAY BASH NOTES:

WE’LL BE IN THE NEWS! We’re honored to have Livingston Daily Press & Argus running a story on Hometown Bicycles and our family-friendly birthday event in this week’s paper. Thanks, Livingston Daily! Hometownies, stay on the lookout for our story!

ADDITIONAL EVENT PARKING: Our friends across the road at American Spirit Centre have generously offered us the use of their parking lot this Saturday for overflow event parking. If you do use their lot, please respect our veterans, and leave the front parking spaces for those who served our Country. Thank you!

JR. HOMETOWNIE T-SHIRT CONTEST DEADLINE EXTENDED

Creativity takes time – we get that! Upon popular request, we’re extending our deadline for the Jr. Hometownie T-Shirt Design Contest to April 14.

CHECK OUT THE CONTEST DETAILS HERE!

The winner will be announced at Hometown’s April 15th Birthday Bash, and their winning design will grace a limited edition run of Jr. Hometownie t-shirts! They’ll receive a complimentary Jr. Hometownie t-shirt, and will be featured in our weekly newsletter and website. ALL participants get an official Hometown sticker, and will be mentioned on our website.

(Photo at left: Jr. Hometownie artist, Abby, brought her family along to drop off her colorful Contest entry!)

(From left: Rex Blair, Brian Forhan, Joe VanGordon, Deb Godmer, Jim Cleer, Mark Lang, & Linc Werhly)

TEAM HOMETOWN GIVES LOVE TO THE LOWELL 50

Seven of our intrepid Team members biked the challenging, but scenic dirt roads of The Lowell 50 Classic Gravel Road Race (see above photo). It was a challenging field, but the Team dubbed it a fantastic race – definitely one to do again.

A “whoop-whoop!” goes out to Team member, Joe Ostervik, who took the jersey on the road at the first race in the Waterford Hills Road Racing Spring Training Series.

(Photos courtesy and used with the permission of Tiger Cub Scout Pack 365)

CUB SCOUT BIKE SAFETY MERIT BADGE – COMPLETED!

Tiger Cub Scout Pack 365 contacted us with a mission – to earn their Rolling Tigers Bicycle Safety Merit Badge with the help of Hometown. We LOVE investing in the future of cycling, and these kids are exactly that… cycling’s energetic future!

Congrats on earning your Badge, Pack 365. You made this experience FUN!

FEELING SAFER BY THE MINUTE – MCMBA BIKE PATROL

National Mountain Bike Patrol Training is no cakewalk – nor should it be… it’s about saving lives, preserving trails, and promoting the sport – and we saw a group of volunteer heroes put through their paces at last weekend’s intensive class here at Hometown. Happily, we had both the classroom and the on-site trails to accommodate!

Our congratulations and thanks to the men and women who have stepped up to keep us and our trails safe! If you’re interested in learning more about Bike Patrol, CLICK HERE.

Family Friendly Road Ride – THIS SATURDAY

SATURDAY, APRIL 15TH – 2:00 P.M. – MEET UP AT HOMETOWN BICYCLES
This is the ride that’s a part of our big Hometown Bicycles Birthday Bash! Easy pace and limited miles, this ride is about socializing and enjoying the Spring weather. A great ride for the whole family!

Our regular group rides will start up again after Easter. Stay tuned! Be sure to FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK for ride confirmation and details.

When in doubt,
pedal it out.

– Anonymous

Filed under: Hometown Bicycles | Tagged: American Spirit Centre, bash, Bicycle Safety, bicycle shop, bicycles, Bike Patrol, bike shop, bikes, birthday, Brian Forhan, candy, classic gravel road race, Community Room, cycling, cyclists, deadline, deals, Deb Godmer, donation, door prizes, early bird, easter egg hunt, family friendly, group ride, Hamburg Fitness Center and Camp, Happy Easter, happy place, heroes, Hometown Bicycles, Hometownies, in the news, Jim Cleer, joe ostervik, Joe Van Gordon, Jr. Hometownie, lawn games, Linc Werhly, Livingston County United Way, Livingston Daily Press and Argus, Mark Lang, MCMBA, merit badge, National Mountain Bike Patrol, newspaper, overflow parking, Pack 365, parking, party, Pro-Motion Physical Therapy, Rex Blair, road ride, Rolling Tigers, Shaun Bhajan, Shaun's bike shop, shop ride, Spring Training Series, stickers, t-shirt design contest, Team Hometown Bicycles, team sponsor, The Lowell 50, Tiger Cub Scouts, Tour de Livingston, veterans, volunteers, Waterford Hills Road Racing, winner | Leave a comment »

T-Shirt Competition, Trail C.P.R., and Podiums at Barry

Posted on March 30, 2017 by Shaun

Jr. Hometownie T-Shirt Competition

WITH HOMETOWN’S 7TH ANNIVERSARY JUST AROUND THE CORNER, we’ve got some coolness in the works… including a t-shirt art competition for our junior Hometownies! Here’s the scoop…

Have your preschool – 5th grader paint or sketch up a fun and colorful t-shirt design (no larger than 8″ x 8″), that includes the following:

A hand-drawn or hand-painted Hometown logo
The words: “I’m a Jr. Hometownie!” (Mom and Dad can help, if needed)
Any other bicycle-related art that your young Hometownie is inspired to create!

Bring in their entry by Monday, April 10th to proudly display in our Community Room for the rest of the month!

The winner will be announced at our 7th Anniversary event on April 15th (details coming soon!), and their winning design will grace a limited edition run of Jr. Hometownie t-shirts! How cool is that?!?

In addition to bragging rights, your school-age winner will also receive a complimentary Jr. Hometownie t-shirt, and will be featured in our weekly newsletter and website! ALL participants will receive an official Hometown sticker, and be acknowledged on our website. We can’t wait to see what your talented, pint-size Hometownies create!!

(Cute kiddie graphic above courtesy www.clipartfest.com)

JAMIS COUPON FOR CYCLISTS WHO ENTERED BIKEPACKING CONTEST

Okay, so, you didn’t win the pair of Dragonslayers in Jamis’ recent bikepacking contest. But you still get a perk for entering!

Check your email for a special offer from Jamis for 10% off MSRP on up to two new 2017 model Jamis bicycles! Special orders included. Just bring in the unique coupon code provided in your email. What a great opportunity to become part of the Jamis/Hometown family!

TEAM HOMETOWN BIKES THE BARRY

It was another Team Triumph over Ma Nature at last weekend’s Barry-Roubaix Killer Gravel Road Race!

Placing 2nd overall, 14 Team Hometown riders squelched through muck and cold to a glorious podium finish – only a little over a minute shy of 1st place! Special kudos to riders Mark Lang and Jim Cleer (see above), who took 2nd and 5th consecutively in their age division. Plus a Hometown huzzah to Jack Riddle who, although too under the weather to ride, still made the drive to support his Team. WOW! Awesome job, Team!

HOMETOWN TRAIL C.P.R.

Following what we’ve dubbed The Great Wind Storm of ’17, our shop trails were littered with branches and debris. But with their usual good spirits and can-do attitude, our Team breathed new life into Hometown’s damaged single track.

Thanks, Jean Steinberg (Hometown’s Ride Coordinator), for getting this ball rolling. And Tom Hermann (who spearheaded the effort), you are a total rockstar! Plus a million thanks to the wonderful Team members who rallied to the cause. Come out and ride their handiwork!
(Ed got an early start on trail clean-up – thanks, Ed!)

SPRING SHOP RIDES – COMING SOON!

We’re just waiting for the weather to break to unleash the flood of fantastic shop ride opportunities that you’ll be enjoying this Spring!

Want to start selecting some “must-try”s for your “wanna-ride” list? Click the PDF at left for a printable preview of the awesomeness to come. Details may change – be sure to watch our newsletters and Facebook for ride updates and information. Pedal on, Hometownies, pedal on.

SHAUN EATS ELK

Shaun will be channeling his inner caveman at this weekend’s Brighton Nazarene Church Sportsman’s Banquet, hosted by their Men’s Ministry. Hometown is a proud supporter of this manly, April 1st event which, in turn, supports building projects “that promote community and family”. Two of our favorite things!

The event includes a wild game dinner, raffles, silent auction, and a world-renowned key note speaker. Gentlemen Hometownies, you can join Shaun by ordering tickets at www.thenaz.org or get further details on their Facebook events page.

(Image courtesy Bike Tour Vacations, LLC)

CRAZY HARE-BRAINED TOUR – APRIL 15TH

What a great name! Hometown is thrilled to also be supporting this Michigan cycling event. Hosted by Hometown Winter Clinic Series guest speaker, Bike Tour Vacations, LLC…

“The Crazy Hare-brained Tour is a fundraiser to help cover touring expenses for 3 Northern Michigan University students as they cycle 1,400 miles around Lake Superior in May.

Our event is up to 40 miles of 100% traffic-free trail riding for road bikes, and up to 30 miles of 100% traffic-free dirt riding for mountain bikes. All ages are welcome, 9 a.m. at Atchison Park in New Hudson.”

Winning raffle tickets will be drawn at event sponsor Draught Horse Brew Pub around 1 p.m. CLICK HERE to register for the Crazy Hare-Brained Tour!

POSES, PEDALS & PINTS – REGISTRATION FULL!!!

It sure didn’t take long for registration to fill up on this “triathlon” of a different color!

Missed your chance? Don’t worry – it’s looking increasingly likely that this won’t be the last Poses, Pedals & Pints for you to participate in this season! Stay tuned…

SPRING SNOWMAN 5K – CROSS-TRAINING THAT FEEDS YOUR SOUL

GREAT TIME TO REGISTER, DON’T YOU THINK??

Hometown Bicycles Service Tech Jerry Cross

MEET YOUR CREW: JERRY CROSS

If you look up “nice guy” in the dictionary, you’ll spot a photo of skilled Service Tech Jerry. He’s frequently accompanied by his equally likable dog, who customers can’t help but love. Jerry says:

I have been riding bikes since I was five. I started working at a bike shop after I graduated. Bought my first Mountain bike and was instantly hooked. I have completed over 50 races, from 5 to 100 mile rides. Bikes have always been a big part of my life.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED – ISLAND LAKE BIKE DEMO DAY

The MCMBA has put a call out for Demo Day volunteers for this wonderfully popular Spring cyclists’ event. (Hometown will be there!) Running May 6th at the ILRA Spring Mill Pond, you can volunteer for everything from setup and registration, to parking and grilling. They write:

The Island Lake Spring Bike Demo Day is now in it’s 12th year. This is the second year the event is put on free of charge by the MCMBA. It’s a great chance to talk face to face with people who live the life: building, riding, and maintaining the bikes you want to own. Take a few out for a test ride on the roads and trails at Island Lake, finding the perfect bike or bikes for you.

CLICK HERE to throw your hat into the volunteer ring!

Fat Bike Friendly Shop Ride – THIS SATURDAY

SATURDAY, APRIL 1ST – MEET UP AT HOMETOWN BICYCLES @ 9:45 A.M.
No foolin’ around – this ride is a classic! Join us for an April Fool’s Day adventure through the Island Lakes Badlands on this relaxed pace, NO DROP shop ride. Be prepared to push your bike up a hill or two! This is a Plus/Fat Bike expedition. Not appropriate for “skinny” tires. As always, follow us on Facebook for ride confirmations and updates.

Want to try a fat bike? We rent! Call our shop: (810) 225-2441

I just need to ride my bike.

– Emily Rooney

Filed under: Hometown Bicycles | Tagged: 7th Anniversary, art competition, badlands, Barry Roubaix Killer Gravel Road Race, bicycle shop, bicycles, bicycling, bike repair, bike shop, bike tour, Bike Tour Vacations, bikepacking contest, bikes, bragging rights, Brighton, Brighton Nazaren Church, C.P.R., C.S. Mott's Children's Hospital, community, Community Room, contest, Crazy Hare-Brained Tour, cycling, cyclists, Draught Horse Brew Pub, Eric Hartwell Foundation, family, fat bike friendly ride, fatbike, group rides, Hometown Bicycles, Hometown shop rides, Hometownie, Island Lake Recreation Area, Island Lake Spring Bike Demo Day, Jack Riddle, Jamis Bicycles, Jamis Bikes, Jean Steinberg, Jim Cleer, junior, kids art contest, manly, Mark Lang, MCMBA, Men's Ministry, Michigan, Northern Michigan University, podium, Poses Pedals and Pints, riders, shop rides, singletrack, Sportsman's Banquet, spring rides, Spring Snowman 5K, students, t-shirts, Team Hometown Bicycles, The Great Wind Storm of '17, the Naz, Tom Hermann, trail, triathlon, volunteers | Leave a comment »

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