EASTER EGG HUNT, DOOR PRIZES, DEALS, FAMILY RIDE, FOOD & COMPETITION
We’ve had some exceptional events in our time, but a 7th birthday for Hometown Bicycles… now THAT deserves something on the scale of momentous!

Details are coming in next week’s newsletter, but some highlights you can expect for this Saturday, April 15th event include door prizes, an Easter Egg Hunt for kids AND adults, food, a family road ride, announcement of the Jr. Hometownie T-Shirt Contest Winner (see below), deals, the unveiling of the 10 BICYCLES WE ARE DONATING to this year’s 10th Anniversary Tour de Livingston, and a chance to make your mark (literally) on Hometown!!

Did some of that sound mysterious? Good! Come see what all the excitement’s about. A birthday party just isn’t the same without family, and that means we want YOU there!

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REMINDER: JR. HOMETOWNIE T-SHIRT CONTEST

Remember, Hometownies, 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 April 15th event, 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 acknowledged on our website.

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

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BULLDOG PRIDE AT HOMETOWN BICYCLES

At Hometown, we’re big on activities that involve fitness, family, and the great outdoors, so you can imagine how geeked we are to be Sponsors of the 2017 Brighton Bulldogs Travel Baseball Team. Last night, they met in our Community Room to prep for a stellar season, and impressed the socks off of us with their energetic camaraderie and good manners… plus, they were genuinely kind to Liam, which wins them bonus brownie points in this mama’s book! Stay tuned for a list of their games.

So, now we’ve hosted Bulldogs Baseball, Lacrosse, Football, and Art in our Community Room – yep, we’re definitely feeling Bulldog Pride! Have a Team, Troop, or other group that needs a meet-up spot? Email events@myhometownbicycles.com for Community Room reservations – it’s free for non-profits!

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(Photo © and courtesy Hamburg Fitness Center & Camp)

HOMETOWN ♥s HAMBURG FITNESS TRIATHLON CLUB

We know our tri-geared Hometownies are getting the “brick” bug as the months creep toward triathlon season. That’s why we’re teaming up with Team Hometown Sponsor Hamburg Fitness Center & Camp to take their much-loved Triathlon Club to the next level of awesome!

We’re chipping in gift certificates for motivation, transition training to maximize your swim-to-bike/bike-to-run efficiency, and Hometown’s own Amy Gluck will be imparting expert advice from her Ironman background.

TRI Club Memberships are available for non-members (810-231-4169 for details). You can also join Run Club with Pro Triathlete and Personal Trainer Ryan Rau (call 734-476-4444). I speak from personal experience when I say that his run input can be a game changer!

Join Hometown and your fellow triathletes at the Club’s first informational meeting on April 11th, 6PM at Hamburg Fitness Center & Camp.

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(Photo © and courtesy Randy Kessler and Motor City Mountain Biking Association)

BE A HERO: BIKE PATROL TRAINING AT HOMETOWN

It takes a first class sort of person to step up and actively seek ways to support fellow cyclists and, as it so happens, that’s exactly what Hometownies are… first class! So, if you’ve got it in you to give back to the cycling community, here’s an opportunity happening right here at Hometown THIS SATURDAY, April 8th (limited space, so register now!):

Like to Ride? Like to help people? The National Mountain Bike Patrol may be for you…

The mission of the Mountain Bike Patrol boils down to:
• Assist in medical and mechanical emergencies
• Educate trail users of proper etiquette
• Inform land managers, land owners, trail coordinators

For detailed requirements and/or to register for training, contact Randy at bikepatrol@mcmba.org.

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(Team member Joe [left] and Service Lead Andrew [right] set up and eat up at the Sportsman’s Banquet) 

SHAUN LEARNS TAXIDERMY

Well, not quite – but he sure learned a lot about it from fellow sponsor and skilled artist Tom Stombaugh of Anything That Moves Taxidermy at Brighton Nazarene Church Sportsman’s Banquet.

Our fellas dined on venison, oggled weaponry, talked taxidermy and bikes, and (I personally suspect) grunted like Tim Allen. It was definitely one of the more unique events in which Hometown has participated. Shout out to “The Naz” for this manly opportunity!

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(Photo courtesy Jacob Henriksen)

Exploring Trails Mountain Bike Ride – THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, APRIL 9TH – 4:30 P.M. – MEET UP AT HOMETOWN BICYCLES
Our Fat Bike Friendly Shop Rides have come to a close for the season to make way for our Spring shop ride, Exploring Trails. This is a NO-DROP, beginner friendly mountain bike trail ride – FAT BIKES WELCOME! – which will encourage riders to visit new trails as their skill level increases. If Poto is your goal, this is the weekly ride to get you there by the end of the season! Save 1.5 hours of your day to cover 12 – 16 miles of trail.

Weather dependent – we don’t want to mess up the trails if they’re mucky! Be sure to FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK for ride confirmation and details.

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CRAZY HARE-BRAINED TOUR – APRIL 15TH

What a great name! Hometown is thrilled to 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 1PM.

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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??

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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!

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Great minds ride
a bike.

– Anonymous