Team Night | Hometown Bicycles

A Heartfelt Goodbye + Team Night Memories

Posted on December 18, 2019 by Shaun

A Heartfelt Note from Your Hometown CEO:

Dear Hometownies,

Ten incredible years of sharing memories and adventures with you makes my personal message to you today bittersweet…

As of January 1st, I will be moving on from my CEO position here at Hometown.

Many of you already know Shaun’s and my history. When Shaun first asked for my help with Hometown over 10 years ago, it was at the level of brainstorming, building, and marketing our new venture. As the shop grew and expanded, so did my role. Our kids were born, and became part of the evolution and revolution that was and is our shop. And then, two years ago, I accepted my most challenging company position to date – as Hometown’s CEO.

With your help, we’ve earned Livingston Daily’s 2019 People’s Choice for Best Bike Shop, Vote 4 the Best’s 2019 Best Bike Shop, and League of Michigan Bicyclists 2019 Bike Shop of the Year. All of this tells me that we are on the right track, and we are going places.

Am I proud? YES!!!

I never anticipated being here this long, or in this capacity, but WOW, what a ride. Best 10 years of my life, bar none.

Through my experiences here, I’ve developed opportunities for myself; it’s time for me to take advantage of those opportunities. I’m ready and eager for the next adventure…

In the meantime, I leave Hometown in the very best of hands – Shaun’s, our Crew’s, and yours. The foundation is laid. You all know what Hometown IS; I’d like to ask for your help now in making it what it can BECOME. Limitless potential, my friends… limitless.

I am still Hometown through-and-through, so you’ll still see me here often. Hometown will always be my second home, and I adore my fellow Hometownies. Plus, I happen to love the owner 🙂

Thanks so much for being a part of my story, for being integral to my family’s life, and for the privilege of being your Hometown CEO.

With love and gratitude,

Dawn Bhajan

Merry Christmas, Hometownies!

Your Hometown family wishes you and yours a truly magical Christmas and a New Year filled with hope, joy, laughter… and lots of cycling. Thank you for the most fantastic 2019. Cheers to another year of adventure ahead!

We close at 3 PM on Christmas Eve and reopen at 10 AM on Friday, January 3, 2020. We hope you enjoy this time with the people who mean the most to you.

With love and warmest wishes… Your Hometown Crew

Team Night 2019… and what a night it was!

On Sunday, December 15th, current and prospective Team Hometown Bicycles members gathered at the shop for a fun, informative evening celebrating all things cycling.

Shaun and Dawn shared this year’s success stories and thanked our Team Sponsors — we are so appreciative of their support! Team Awards were shared with our cycling ambassadors who went above and beyond to give to the cycling community. And we are geeked to announce that all of our Team Sponsors and our Team Captains, Joe Ostervikand Mike Dyer, will be continuing into 2020. YAY!

Team Night was a great display of community and camaraderie, support and gratitude, and love for the incredible sport of cycling. Over 30 riders signed on to be part of 2020 Team Hometown Bicycles at the event alone!! What about you? Will you join our friendly group of non-competitive and competitive riders?

Stop by the shop to learn more about our mission, team expectations, and team benefits… and to pick up a membership application. You may also download an application HERE.

For information on online ordering of the Team Kit, click HERE.

Coming Soon: Winter Clinic Series

Beginning January 11, 2020, we will kick off our highly informative and, many times, hands-on Winter Clinic Series!

All clinics will be held on Saturdays at 11:30 AM at Hometown Bicycles. Stay tuned for more details and sign-up information.

Here are the topics for 2020:

Fat Tire Fix
Emergency Repair
Bike Maintenance – Before the Ride
Bike Maintenance – After the Ride
Bike Fitting Basics with Vinnie Baylerian, PT, DPT, Certified Level 2 Clinical BikeFit Pro
Nutrition: Get Healthy, Get Fit
Where to Ride in Michigan

Filed under: Hometown Bicycles | Tagged: 2020 Team Hometown Bicycles, best bicycle repair, best bicycle service, best bike repair, best bike service, bicycle clinics, bicycle repair, bicycle service, bicycle shop, bicycles, bike clinics, bike repair, bike rides, bike service, bike shop, bikes, Brighton, CEO, cycling, cyclists, Dawn Bhajan, DJ Joe Ostervik, fitness classes, group rides, Happy New Year, holiday hours, Hometown Bicycles, Hometown Bikes, Hometownies, livingston county, Merry Christmas, Michigan, mike dyer, shop rides, Team Captains, Team Hometown Bicycles, Team Night, Winter Bike Clinic Series | Leave a comment »

Team Night THIS Sunday 12/15 at 5:30pm!

Posted on December 13, 2019 by Shaun

Want to join Team Hometown Bicycles? Join us at Team Night!
THIS SUNDAY, December 15 from 5:30-7:30 PM

What happens at Team Night?

We honor our 2019 Team Sponsors
We congratulate and celebrate our 2019 Team and Team Captains
We announce 2020 Team Sponsors and Team Captains
We talk about the roles and responsibilities of joining our Team
We distribute awards to very cool people
We EAT, laugh, socialize and share the cycling love

Sign up HERE!

Toys for Tots at Hometown!

Hometown is an official drop-off site for the Toys for Tots drive. Between the Marines and Salvation Army, 800 families in Livingston County have a Christmas they wouldn’t have otherwise, thanks to programs like this and the generosity of supporters like the Hometown community.

Toys are for kids up to age 14, and must be new and unwrapped. No stuffed toys, please.

We’re having a Roadies vs. Mountain Bikers competition — fill the boxes!
(Currently, the MTB-ers are beating the Roadies 39-22. Step it up, Roadies!)

A room full of Entrepreneurs is a beautiful sight!

Over 25 entrepreneurs and small business owners joined us on Tuesday 12/10 for our Marketing Yourself & Your Business forum. Our Community Room was filled with creative-minded go-getters, a combination of Livingston County business owners and newbies ready to bring their dreams to fruition!

A huge thank you to our wonderful panel of speakers:

Susan Pominville, Abovo Visual Communications
Mike Langford, Turtlehut Internet Marketing
Blair Bradford, Sky Zone
Nicole Dietrich, Lake Trust Credit Union

This engaging group shared information on building your brand, internet marketing, putting together a cohesive marketing strategy, the importance of networking & more!

Your Hometown ladies, Dawn and Leslie, are big supporters of entrepreneurship so you better believe our next forum will be coming up in early 2020. Keep your eyes peeled!

Hey, Fatties! Thanks for your support of Global Fat Bike Day!

Team Hometown had a fantastic day riding on Saturday 12/7 — it was the 2019 Global Fat Bike Day. Our shop ride headed to Island Lake Recreation Area, with Team members Gary Kulhanek and Gary Weak serving as ride lead and sweep. They were joined by Team members Jeff Wirth and Dennis Doherty and five newbies who were geeked to head out on their first fat bike ride with Hometown.

Other Team Hometown members headed to Sleepy Hollow State Park: Co-Captain Mike Dyer, Tom Hermann, Erik Frazier, and Andy Showerman with his two sons.

Coming Soon: Winter Clinic Series

Beginning January 11, 2020, we will kick off our highly informative and, many times, hands-on Winter Clinic Series!

All clinics will be held on Saturdays at 11 AM at Hometown Bicycles. Stay tuned for more details and sign-up information.

Here are the topics for 2020:

Fat Tire Fix
Emergency Repair
Bike Maintenance – Before the Ride
Bike Maintenance – After the Ride
Bike Fitting Basics with Vinnie Baylerian, PT, DPT, Certified Level 2 Clinical BikeFit Pro
Nutrition: Get Healthy, Get Fit
Where to Ride in Michigan

Filed under: Hometown Bicycles | Tagged: Abovo Visual Communications, Andy Showerman, 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, Blair Bradford, Brighton, cycling, cyclists, Dawn Bhajan, Dennis Doherty, entrepreneurship event, Erik Frazier, fat bikes, fat tire bikes, fitness classes, Gary Kulhanek, Gary Weak, Global Fat Bike Day ride, group rides, Hometown Bicycles, Hometown Bikes, Hometownies, Island Lake Recreation Area, Jeff Wirth, Lake Trust Credit Union, Leslie Barrett, livingston county, marketing for entrepreneurs, Michigan, mike dyer, Mike Langford, Nicole Dietrich, phone system, Roadies vs. Mountain Bikers, shop rides, Sky Zone Indoor Trampoline Park, Sleepy Hollow, Susan Pominville, Team Hometown Bicycles, Team Night, Tom Hermann, Toys for Tots, Turtlehut Internet Marketing | Leave a comment »

“How to Market Yourself & Your Business” Clinic Tuesday 12/10 + Team Night 12/15!

Posted on December 6, 2019 by Shaun

Hot Topic Clinic for Entrepreneurs: MARKETING!
Tuesday, December 10 from 6-8:30 PM

SIGN UP HERE TODAY!

Join us at Hometown Bicycles for a fun, engaging and informative program aimed at business owners, start-ups, and entrepreneurs who want to enter the new year with a solid marketing plan.

Meet Our Speakers!

There will be time for a Q&A session following the speakers, plus refreshments and time to chat with like-minded folks in our community. Can’t wait to learn alongside you!

Toys for Tots at Hometown!

Toys are for kids up to age 14, and must be new and unwrapped. No stuffed toys, please.

We’re having a Roadies vs. Mountain Bikers competition — fill the boxes! (Currently, the MTB-ers are beating the Roadies 37-20. Egads, Roadies! Santa is watching you!)

Team Night!

Sunday, December 15 from 5:30-7:30 PM
It’s that time of year ALREADY?!
Time to think about joining Team Hometown Bicycles for the year 2020!

We’re having a grand celebration to recap this year’s triumphs and contributions to the cycling community, distribute awards to our existing (and very awesome) Team members, present information to prospective members on what it means to join Team Hometown, and eat loads of Gus’s mostaccioli and breadsticks!

This event is open to ALL — you will have the opportunity to learn what Team Hometown is all about, join the 2020 Team, and sign up to be a Ride Volunteer. Come one, come all for a fun, interactive and all-around feel good evening celebrating YOU.

Sign up HERE!

Filed under: Hometown Bicycles | Tagged: Abovo Visual Communications, 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, Blair Bradford, Brighton, Colleen Fitzgerald, cycling, cyclists, fat bikes, fat tire bikes, fitness classes, Global Fat Bike Day ride, group rides, Hometown Bicycles, Hometown Bikes, Hometownies, Island Lake Recreation Area, Lake Trust Credit Union, livingston county, marketing for entrepreneurs, Michigan, Mike Langford, Nicole Dietrich, Roadies vs. Mountain Bikers, shop rides, Sky Zone Indoor Trampoline Park, Susan Pominville, Team Hometown Bicycles, Team Night, Toys for Tots, Turtlehut Internet Marketing | Leave a comment »

Kicking off December in incredible ways!

Posted on December 6, 2018 by Shaun

Team Night was AMAZING!

There was laughter. Inspiration. Unveiling of the new Team Kit. Camaraderie. Awards. And there was a KILLER taco bar!

What a GREAT NIGHT recapping all of the amazing 2018 Team Hometown Bicycles accomplishments and sharing heartfelt appreciation for everyone who made it possible: Sponsors, outstanding Team Captains, volunteers who went above and beyond, and everyone else who helped to make it one fantastic year!
We welcomed new Sponsors and returning Sponsors — thank you! — and feasted. We welcomed new Team members and shared our mad love for cycling — and feasted. We laughed and some of us even cried — and feasted. Oh my gosh, did we mention that we feasted??

Thank you to Lowry Solutions for sponsoring Team Night and to Beauchamp Water Treatment for supplying the bottled water for the evening. We couldn’t do it without you!

Missed Team Night? You can still join the Team! Drop by our shop for a Team Application and to figure out your kit size!

Sponsor Corner: Meet ProMotion Physical Therapy

Team Hometown Sponsors are so much more than a logo on a jersey. Our Sponsors live the lifestyle we promote and actively participate in the sport we love!

Over the coming emails, you’ll enjoy interviews with each of our Sponsors – courtesy of your Events Coordinator Leslie. Learn what makes them tick, the services they offer, AND crazy fun trivia about these amazing people who have chosen to support your Team!
Platinum Sponsor: Vinnie Baylerian, PT, DPT of ProMotion Physical Therapy

First, some background!
Originally from the Detroit area, Vinnie attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, where he competed on the Varsity football team and earned his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. He was accepted into the Physical Therapy Program at Daemen College in Amherst, NY and graduated with his BS in 1996. After many years in the field, and a climb from staff therapist to clinical director, Vinnie returned to Daemen College and earned his Doctorate in Physical Therapy in 2004. In 2010, he started ProMotion Physical Therapy, PLLC, in Brighton. His main focus is the treatment of orthopedic and sports-related injuries. In addition, Vinnie is a certified Level 2 Clinical BikeFit Pro.

What sets ProMotion apart…
As a family owned and operated facility, ProMotion values their patients and staff as extended family. The core staff has been together for over 5 years. Trying to keep patients with the same therapist as much as possible is a key philosophy. The facility is open early mornings and later evenings, as well as Saturdays, to meet the needs of their client base. ProMotion is actively involved in the community, including Brighton Area Schools.

What’s this about a BAND?
In the spring of 2016, Vinnie’s cousin, Greg, said, “Let’s form a band, and you can play the bass.” This sounded great in theory, as Greg and his brother, Steve, had been in bands before – Vinnie, however, had never played the bass!

Good thing he was game for trying because the band D.o.L. (Descendants of Levon) was formed. Levon was the middle name of Vinnie, Greg and Steve’s grandfather. Family inspired the formation of the band; therefore, it seemed apt to choose a band name to represent theirs.

When asked about favorite songs in their repertoire, Vinnie said some of his include “Dreaming” by Blondie, “Why Pt. 2” by Collective Soul, “Am I Wrong” by Love Spit Love, and “Only a Memory” by The Smithereens.

Stage fright? Yay or nay?
“It hasn’t really been an issue at this point, and I hope it stays that way,” says Vinnie.

Did you know… that Hometown is planning a Roll & Rock Fundraiser? Which band should we include?! Hmm…

Family also means the four-legged variety
The Baylerian family recently lost their beloved dog, Bodi, a Kai Ken. She was a week shy of her 16^th birthday in July. “The perfect dog, in our opinion. Very smart, loving, active and independent. We miss her every day!”

Someone, um, really, um, likes ice cream…
Mint chocolate chip, coffee, superman, blue moon, bubblegum, chocolate chip, moosetracks. Yes, these are some of Vinnie’s favorite things.

And how about those resolutions?

Whether or not we like to admit it, most of us do set resolutions or goals for the New Year. We had to ask Vinnie to share his. Here they are:

As always, ride more!!!
And lose about 10 pounds (see above – the many ice cream flavors!)

We can’t wait to collaborate with Vinnie and ProMotion on MANY exciting endeavors in 2019. Stay tuned to see what kind of fun we’re cooking up together!

When MAGIC Happens at Hometown…

Above from left: Colleen Fitzgerald of Sk y Zone Indoor Trampoline Park, Dr. Tianna Rooney ofPerspectives Therapy Services , Lisa Nelson of Hush Intimate Apparel, Dawn Bhajan (Hometown, CEO), Kelly Myers of Myers & Myers, PLLC, and Leslie Barrett (Hometown, Events Coordinator).

Yes, MAGIC… because that is exactly what happened at our inaugural Women’s Entrepreneurship Forum on December 4th.

Wow, wow and WOW! Over 40 women attended our kickoff event for women business owners, current and prospective. Dawn and Leslie, your Hometown ladies, both believe strongly and passionately in entrepreneurship and understand the many challenges women face along the way. We couldn’t be more pleased with the exceptional panel of REALwomen who shared their expertise, personal struggles and triumphs, humor, and vulnerability with all of us at this event. Thank you so much for giving of yourselves.

What a diverse and fascinating audience too! With the positive feedback we received, we cannot WAIT to continue this series in the New Year and create a supportive network for women entrepreneurs here at Hometown.

If you have an entrepreneurial area of particular interest, please email Dawn at office@myhometownbicycles.com or Leslie at events@myhometownbicycles.com. We would love to hear from you!

“A brilliant idea doesn’t guarantee a successful invention. Real magic comes from a brilliant idea combined with willpower, tenacity and a willingness to make mistakes.” — Lori Greiner

In Case You Were Wondering…

YES!! Our Inventory Reduction Sale of up to 70% on in-stock items and up to 40% on in-stock bikes is STILL GOING STRONG!! Drop by to see what kind of damage you can do to that Christmas list…