May E-Blast

Happy May! Wheelhouse Detroit Bike Shop began operations on May 8, 2008. We are now entering our sixth year of business...in some ways, it seems like just yesterday that we opened our doors and, in others, decades ago! As that wise man Bob Dylan once sang, "I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now."

We'd like to sincerely thank you for being a part of the Wheelhouse family. We would not be here without you, and that's the plain truth.

We have been working hard to make this year our biggest and best ever and, therefore, this E-Blast might be our longest ever. Bear with us, we have some great news to share!

RETAIL

Wheelhouse strives to sell bicycles that are well-suited for urban riding; straddle the line of value and quality; and are made by a reputable manufacturer. We carry the following brands:

• Sun - cruisers, comfort hybrids & adult trikes.
• Origin 8 - Sun's urban offshoot; urban commuters, folding.
• Kona - hybrids, cyclocross.
• Brooklyn Cruiser - retro-styled cruisers.
• Detroit Bikes - locally manufactured urban commuters (avail. in July).

Wheelhouse might be small in square footage, but we've become pretty adept at keeping a robust array of bike goodies on hand for all of your needs and wants. We stock a full range of top bike accessory brands such as Continental, Topeak, Planet Bike, Bell, Giro, Axiom, Saris, Kenda, Park Tool, Knog, Michelin, Timbuk2, Kryptonite, Master Lock, Pedros and Jandd. What do you need? A tube, tire, saddle, bag, basket, pump, mirror, helmet…We’ve gotcha covered! And if you're in the market for a sharp Wheelhouse t-shirt, you can grab one of those on your next visit, or snap one up online.

SERVICE

We recently installed a new POS system, which was an opportune time for us to review our service prices. Rather than merely increasing them, we've broken them down in a way that we believe to be transparent. There's no man behind the curtain here! Check out our full menu of service prices here. Please note that, in almost every case, service requires that you drop off your bike. We will do our best to let you know when it will be ready for pick-up. We all want to see you back riding as soon as possible, but to do things right can sometimes take some time.

We are excited to announce that we now offer Service Delivery! Yep, we can pick-up and/or drop-off your wounded cycle. For pricing, please visit our Service Page.

TOURS

Our tour schedule for 2013 is finalized! A couple of notes worth mentioning: Our Underground Railroad Tour has added a stop at the Detroit Historical Museum to visit their recently renovated Doorway to Freedom exhibit; the Belle Isle tour has included a stop at the Acquarium to the roster; and we've developed a Music Heritage Tour that spans genres -- techno, rock, rap, soul, punk and Motown. You can scroll our Tours Page for details and to make reservations.

We also offer private tours, which are great as a corporate team-building exercise, non-profit fund-raiser, conference activity or pre-wedding excursion. A downloadable PDF with more info can be found here.

RENTALS

We are expanding our rental fleet, adding more cruisers, some comfort hybrids, an adult tricycle and an additional kids trailer. We will also soon have a couple of  Autobikes! Online advance reservations available for a 10% discount.

WEEKDAY WALK-IN SPECIAL: On Tuesdays and Thursdays, a 2-hour cruiser rental is half-off, just $7.50. Fine print: cruisers only, no reservations, subject to availability.

GOT A GROUP? We offer discounts to groups of six to 20 with advance notice and a deposit. More info available at Wheelhouse Group Rentals and Schools & Scouts. We can also deliver bikes to your event; inquire at info@wheelhousedetroit.com.

EVENTS

We have a lot going on, which might be an understatement. Read on...

It's great to see so many health-oriented businesses sprouting up around town, and we are partnering with several of them for some fantastic fun-n-fit activities through the summer months. We have Wheelhouse Workouts every other Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m., a free 12-15MPH ride; bi-weekly Endurance Thursdays, a free group ride that will be paced at 15-18MPH from 6-8 p.m. held in partnership with Detroit Endurance Lab; and a series of fitness tours with True Body Fitness. More info here.

We are also offering Cycle + Stretch with Midtown Yoga Shelter on May 19, register for that on our Tours Page.

A couple of annual rides that we are helping out with is the Ride of Silence on May 15 at 7 p.m. on Belle Isle and Cycle Into Spring on May 18 at Maheras Gentry Park.

Our Basic Maintenance Classes w/Fender Bender are back! This two-hour class will teach you some basic mechanics like changing a flat and go over some basic rules of the road and commuting tips. Classes cost just $5 and include a patch kit. Dates for the year: May 30 - Jun 13 - Jun 27 - Jul 11 - Jul 25 - Aug 8 - Aug 22 - Sep 12 - Sep 2.

As biking becomes more and more visible as a form of transportation, more and more events are adding bike parking as an amenity, and we are happy to help out! You'll find us at Detroit City FC home matches at Cass Tech; Detroit Tigers Bike to the Ballpark on May 22, and Riviere 28's Light up the Riverfront on June 6 and Soiree on the Greenway on July 18. More to come!

We're going to venture up to Port Austin for the weekend of June 7 for Detroit Up North - Take Two. More info about the 75- and 150-mile options, camping and more here!

Hope we see you soon -- and that we've given plenty of reasons for that to occur. Ride often and well.

Thanks, Your Friends at Wheelhouse Detroit

April E-Blast

Hi everyone, It feels like we are still waiting for spring to begin, doesn't it? Now is the best time to bring your bike in for service, before you want to ride it, so it's ready for you when the weather turns. Plus, a basic tune-up is on special for just $40 for the rest of the month!

RETAIL

Wheelhouse carries the following bicycle brands: Sun and its urban offshoot, Origin 8; Kona; and, new for 2013, Brooklyn Cruiser and Detroit Bikes. Brooklyn Cruisers (pictured) come in single-, three- and seven-speeds and will begin arriving next week. Detroit Bikes, much like the Model T, are manufactured here and come in one color: black. They're expected to be here in July.

Every bike purchased from Wheelhouse is assembled by a trained mechanic, professionally fit and granted one free tune-up – with no expiration date. Prices slashed on all 2012 bikes and 2013 bikes are now arriving!

Want to ride more? You might need lights, a rack or fenders to make your ride safer and more comfortable. And guess what? We stock a full range of top bike accessory brands such as Continental, Topeak, Planet Bike, Bell, Giro, Axiom, Saris, Kenda, Park Tool, Knog, Michelin, Timbuk2, Kryptonite, Master Lock, Pedros and Jandd. What do you need? A tube, tire, saddle, bag, basket, pump, mirror, helmet…We’ve gotcha covered!

TOURS & RENTALS

This weather has caused us to postpone the start of our tour season a week, so we'll kick off the season with a tour of Belle Isle on April 20. Visit wheelhousedetroit.com/tours to read up on our offerings and make a reservation.

We also offer private tours, which are great as a corporate team-building exercise, non-profit fund-raiser, conference activity or pre-wedding excursion. Group rentals are also available at a discounted rate with an advance reservation. A downloadable PDF with more info can be found here and you can email us at info@wheelhousedetroit.com to set something up.

COMING UP...

There are so many amazing things approaching on the horizon...May will see the start of our fitness rides and maintenance classes and the Detroit City FC will kick off its season...June is Detroit Up North, River Days and the Motor City Bike Ride...July will be Bike the Bridge...and Tour de Troit is September 21...whew!

Also, stay tuned for info about our 5th Anniversary party in early May...You're invited!

Warmer weather is on its way, and we are looking forward to another great season here on the Riverfront.

Thanks, Your Friends at Wheelhouse Detroit

1340 E. Atwater Rivard Plaza, Detroit RiverFront Detroit, MI 48207 313-656-BIKE (2453) www.wheelhousedetroit.com Follow us on Twitter @wheelhouse_det Become a Facebook Fan of Wheelhouse Detroit Bike Shop!

March 2013 E-Blast

We're back! Can you believe this will be our sixth year in business?!?!? We have a ton of exciting things in the works for you this year but, for now, we just want to say a quick "hello" and let you know what is happening in this early spring season.

SPRING HOURS

Through March, we will be open Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Starting in April, we will also be open on Mondays and we'll go to seven days a week in May.

RETAIL

Wheelhouse carries the following bicycle brands: Sun and its urban offshoot, Origin 8; Kona; and, new for 2013, we are thrilled to announce that we will be adding Brooklyn Cruiser and Detroit Bikes to the roster! Every bike purchased from Wheelhouse is assembled by a trained mechanic, professionally fit and granted one free tune-up – with no expiration date. Prices now slashed on all 2012 bikes. 2013 bikes will begin arriving in April, just two weeks away!

We stock a full range of top bike accessory brands such as Continental, Topeak, Planet Bike, Bell, Giro, Axiom, Saris, Kenda, Park Tool, Knog, Michelin, Timbuk2, Kryptonite, Master Lock, Pedros and Jandd. What do you need? A tube, tire, saddle, bag, basket, fenders, pump, mirror, helmet…We’ve gotcha covered!

SERVICE

We have a couple of early-season specials on standard tune-ups:

Next weekend, we have a March du Nain Rouge Special -- a Tune-Up for just $35 with a small catch: you have to say, “Get that Nain off my back!” to get the deal! This is good only for bikes brought in March 22 to 24.

The remainder of Spring, we will perform tune-ups for $40, with the price resetting to regular ($50) starting May 1.

For the second year running, Wheelhouse is teaming up with Fender Bender to offer regular “Maintenance 101” classes! Learn how to change a flat and make adjustments to your bike. We’ll also review Rules of the Road and discuss commuting tips. Classes will begin in May and run through September.

TOURS

We will be returning all of our tours from 2012 – including Architecture, Belle Isle, Eastern Market, Public Art, Hamtramck, Auto Heritage, Urban Agriculture, Murals of SW Detroit and Underground Railroad – and we’re working on a couple of new ones too! Tours start at $25 per person or $35 with a bike rental.

Look for our calendar to publish in early April. In the meantime, if you’d like to schedule a tour for your group (work, church, school, family, friends, whatever!) shoot us an email at info@wheelhousedetroit.com!

RENTALS

Bike rentals start at $15 for 2 hours and $35 for a full day. We can also accommodate multi-day rentals and we do offer accessories such as child trailer or seat or an auto rack.

Group rentals are a great outing! We do offer a price-break for groups of six to 20 with an advance reservation. Email info@wheelhousedetroit.com to book your date!

RIDE

Starting in May, we will be hosting a couple of regular fitness rides. One will be at a 12-16 mph pace and is co-sponsored by the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy and Fitness Works. The other will be a 16-20 mph pace and will be co-presented by Detroit Endurance Lab.

Also stay tuned for Yoga + Ride with Midtown Yoga Shelter Sundays in May, the Ride of Silence (5/15), Detroit Up North (6/7 to 6/9), bike-parking at Detroit City FC home matches…and lots, lots more! 

We look forward to seeing you and your bike very soon.

Thanks, Your Friends at Wheelhouse Detroit

1340 E. Atwater Rivard Plaza, Detroit RiverFront Detroit, MI 48207 313-656-BIKE (2453) www.wheelhousedetroit.com Follow us on Twitter @wheelhouse_det Become a Facebook Fan of Wheelhouse Detroit Bike Shop!

May E-Blast

We believe our monthly email missives are truly the best way to stay up-to-date with Wheelhouse goings-on. Check out our latest and, if you agree, sign up at wheelhousedetroit.com! Hello there, Wheelhouse friend!

We are now fully entrenched in our seven-day-a-week summer schedule. We are open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The only day we will be closed this month is May 30, when we'll take a belated day off for Memorial Day. Otherwise, come by during our posted hours and we promise that we will be here rain or shine!

Retail+Service Looking for a new ride? Look no further! We have hybrids and cruisers starting at just $300. We carry Kona, Origin 8 and Sun. For an updated list of bikes currently on the floor, head over to Bikes for Sale.

We stock a wide variety of accessories that can make your bike prettier, tougher, more utilitarian…whatever you desire it to be! We carry pumps, lights, racks, baskets, saddles, pedals, fenders, bells and helmets...and if we don't carry it, we get special orders in weekly.

Never let it be said that we put the cart before the horse: we finally have t-shirts! Featuring our street/spoke logo in white on black and retailing for $15, you'll want to buy a spare!

Tune-ups are back to regular price: 50 bucks. We pride ourselves on quality service and a quick turn-around, so drop your bike off and, when you pick it up, we believe that you will be highly satisfied with the results. And if you are not? We promise to rectify the situation.

Tour the city with Wheelhouse! We blast into our peak tour season with our May roster, which includes at least three tours a week. This weekend features Architecture (5/5 10 a.m.), Underground Railroad (5/5 1 p.m.) and Grandmont Rosedale (5/6 11 a.m.). The rest of the month features Urban Agriculture, Eastern Market, Hamtramck, Belle Isle, Midtown/Woodbridge, Murals of Southwest Detroit, Automotive Heritage, Southwest Detroit/Fort Wayne, Public Art and our favorite Memorial Day Weekend treat: Techno in the 313. Be sure to visit wheelhousedetroit.com/tours to read up on our complete roster of offerings and to make a reservation.

Our tours are a fun and healthy way to explore the city, and we believe that even life-long Detroiters will learn a thing or two on them! To make sure that we have accurate and up-to-date information, we partner with community organizations and then share a portion of the proceeds -- over $6,000 to date -- with the group that helped us design and execute the tour. Some of our partners include People for Palmer Park, Bridging Communities, Automotive National Heritage Area, Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance, the Sierra Club, Villages CDC and the Belle Isle Conservancy.

We also offer private group tours, which are great as a corporate team-building exercise, non-profit fund-raiser, conference activity or pre-wedding excursion. Group rentals are also available at a discounted rate with an advance reservation. Give us a call at 313-656-2453 or email us at info@wheelhousedetroit.com and we'll set something up!

Fender Bender Maintenance Classes Mark your calendars for our bi-weekly bike maintenance classes taught by our friends at Fender Bender! The two hour Tuesday workshops includes instruction on how to change a flat, patch a tube, adjust your seat and handlebars plus some trouble-shooting tips, Rules of the Road discussion and commuting guidelines. Classes cost just $5 and include a patch kit. Dates are May 8 and 22; June 12 and 26; July 10 and 24; August 14 and 28; and September 11 and 25. They start at 6 p.m. sharp and are first-come, first-serve.

Wednesday Wheelhouse Workouts Every other Wednesday, join us for Wheelhouse Workouts, a 20-mile fitness ride at a casual pace (12 to 15 mph) with a varying route. This ride is offered in conjunction with our friends at FitnessWorks, who will kindly provide participants with a rest and water stop. Dates are May 16; June 6 and 20; July 18; August 1 and 15; and September 5 and 19. This ride is FREE!

Other Great Events There is a great number of exciting rides in Detroit this year, and we wanted to make sure that we at least inform you of the ones in which we are involved!

• Ride of Silence: An annual, national, slow-paced bicycle ride that honors those cyclists who have been killed or injured while cycling on public roadways. The 10-mile Detroit Ride of Silence will be on May 16 at Belle Isle leaving from Scott Fountain promptly at 7:00 pm.
• Cycle Into Spring: Join the Detroit Eastside Community Collaborative for this inaugural event on May 19 to raise funds for the Conner Creek Greenway. The 20-mile route will begin and end at Maheras Gentry Park on the shores of the Detroit River; sites include Mt. Olivet Cemetery and Chandler Park. The ride costs $25 or $35 with lunch from Slow's Bar B Q. Join us on the Eastside for a fun ride for a great cause! Registration is open.
• Detroit Up North Ride: We're hitting the road to Port Austin! There are one- and two-day options for this 150-mile haul and you can also choose to camp with us if you so please. Get the deets here and register here.
• Tour de Troit: Registration is open for the Eleventh Annual Tour de Troit. This year, the date is September 15. We're looking at 5,000 participants this year, so lock your spot in early!

We will have more information on other rides we support in future E-Blasts, including Cycle for Literacy (June 16), Bike the Bridge (June 17), Colin Hubbell Memorial Ride (August date TBD), Jcycle II (August 19) and Compuware Motor City Bike Ride (August 25).

One last thing: Wheelhouse will be providing free bike parking at all Detroit City FC home games, which will be held at Cass Tech. The matches are set for May 12 and 26; June 2, 16 and 23; and July 1. We are super excited to support Le Rouge!

See you soon at the Wheelhouse…and on the road!

Looking forward to a great summer, Your Friends at Wheelhouse Detroit

1340 E. Atwater Detroit, MI 48207 313-656-BIKE (2453) www.wheelhousedetroit.com wheelhousedetroit.wordpress.com Become a Facebook Fan of Wheelhouse Detroit Bike Shop!

Watch out Port Austin!

On June 8 and 9, denizens of Detroit will peaceably invade Port Austin, a charming town at the Tip of the Thumb on Lake Huron. Wheelhouse is organizing a supported group ride with one- or two-day options with optional camping. Find out more here!