Ride of Silence 05/19 + Bike to Work Day 05/21

This year's Detroit Ride of Silence will take off from Scott Fountain on Belle Isle at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 19. This slow paced, silent ride will commemorate cyclists that have been injured or killed while biking. Friday, May 21, is Bike to Work Day. Detroit Synergy's Detroit Bikes! is hosting the event, which has three options, all of which end Downtown at Campus Martius:

• Ride 1: Woodward Ave ride (Royal Oak/Ferndale/Midtown)
• Ride 2: Jefferson (Grosse Pointe/East Side/Rivertown)
• Ride 3: Michigan Ave ride (Dearborn/Mexicantown)

Find out more here.

Detroit Bikes! Cinco de Mayo Ride

On May 1, Detroit Bikes! will host a Cinco de Mayo ride that will take off from Clark Park at 10 a.m.  The 10.5-mile route will take in Fort Wayne, Riverfront Park, and St. Anne’s Church. Registration and free bike helmet raffle begins at 9 a.m. For more information, visit www.detroitsynergy.org/projects/detroitbikes or email detroitbikes@detroitsynergy.org.

It's the Final Countdown!

The biggest day of the month is surely March 19, when Wheelhouse opens its orange garage door again for the season. We are literally counting down the days, ordering bikes and some new product lines and all that good stuff. Just to put things in perspective, here are some other things to look forward to this month. March 15:  St. Patrick Parade, Corktown. 2 p.m. A raucous day to say the least...in some ways the beginning of Spring! (If you want to see Kelli at her bitchy-bartender best, she'll be slinging drinks at PJ's Lager House. Do not under any circumstances ask her for a martini.)

March 19, 20, 21: We are open! from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. You best come visit!

March 20: Our friends at Detroit Bikes! are having their first group ride of the year. This one is sports-themed and takes off at 10 a.m. from the Millennium Bell at Grand Circus Park.

March 21: The first annual Marche du Nain Rouge.

Slightly less organized than the St. Pat's Parade, expect a bunch of freak flags flying on Cass Ave. Yeah, we'll be there.  3 p.m. at the Third Bar is the meet up.

Click here to see the poster: Marche_8.5x11_color

March 25: Alley Cat, 6 p.m. @ The Hub. Looks like it's to be followed by some bike-oriented films at the Burton Theatre. Sweet!

March 28: Second Annual Colin Hubbell Memorial Fund Event @ The Majestic. A fun afternoon with bowling, an art auction and even cornholing, er, beanbag tossing. Find out more here.

We've started posting our tours at wheelhousedetroit.com/tours, so keep checking and start registering!

2 Riding Opportunities

What a great November for cycling! Not too windy, not too cold, we've been pretty lucky these last few weeks! We thought we'd share a couple of organized rides coming up. This Saturday, November 14, Detroit Bikes! is hosting their Third Annual Java Junket. Starting Location: Biggby Cafe, 4501 Woodward Ave. just south of Forest Scheduled stops include Cafe 1923 in Hamtramck, Cafe con Leche in Mexicantown, 1515 Broadway Cafe Downtown and Good Girls Go to Paris Crepes in the Park Shelton. The ride starts at 9 a.m. sharp and will conclude at about 1 p.m. Ride length is about 18 miles. The cost is FREE, but riders are encouraged to bring cash to patronize the stops. Bonus: Biggby is offering a free apple cider donut with purchase of a grande beverage before the ride, so get there a bit early.

On Wednesday, November 18, Wayne County is hosting its annual Bike Through the Lights on Hines Drive. It's about a 10-mile ride previewing the great light display that lines Hines for the holidays. It starts at Merriman Hollow, which is off Merriman between Ann Arbor Trail and Warren. Lights and helmets are required. Onsite registration is $20 and includes a long-sleeved t-shirt. There are prizes for decorated bikes. Ride starts at 7 p.m.

Tackle the Dream Cruise by Bike

This weekend is the Annual Dream Cruise, not really our cup of tea! But there are two group rides this Saturday, August 15,  that will give you the chance to pedal Woodward. Detroit Bikes! is hosting its inaugural Pedal Woodward Dream Cruise. It leaves from Rivard Plaza (Wheelhouse's home turf) at 9:00 a.m. and will return at 1:00 p.m.

There is also a Critical Mass ride, Crash the Cruise, that will take off from the Ferndale Public Library at 2:30 p.m. Costumes and noisemakers optional!

Tour de Dearborn 8/8/09

Join Detroit Bikes! for one of their monthly rides, this one taking in our friendly neighbor to the west: Dearborn. Tour Times and Location: Tour will start @ 10 a.m. PROMPTLY at the East End of Ford Field (in Dearborn) near Brady Street. This tour is at beginner-level cycling speeds.

This free tour of Dearborn's landmarks will focus on many of the Ford destinations, as well as city heritage sites, and fashionable cultural locations.  Take in the fabulous views of Dearborn and its surrounding neighborhoods and districts including these sites:  Greenfield Village, West Dearborn, Fairlane Mansion, Dearborn's Ford Field, Dearborn City Hall, East Dearborn, the Ford Rouge Complex, Mediterranean Village, Gelato and more!  The end of the tour will be at Ford Field to celebrate the Dearborn Homecoming Festival.

Upcoming Cycling Events

It finally seems like spring has sprung. On that note, Wheelhouse has a few events we'd like to clue you into in the coming month. National Transportation Week is the week of May 4. On May 8, there is going to be a Transportation Fair at Campus Martius to encourage commuters to bike or take the bus to work. It's from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and we'll be there with coupons -- so come say hi!

That leads right into Bike to Work Day on May 15. Visit our friends at Detroit Synergy to keep up-to-date on that. We're pretty sure there will be one from Royal Oak and there might be additional ones between downtown and Dearborn and/or Grosse Pointe, too.

SEMCOG is issuing a Commuter Challenge between May 11 and 22 to encourage car- and van-pooling, public transit, biking and walking. Join in at SEMCOG.org/mirideshare.

Ride of Silence: An annual, national, slow-paced bicycle ride that takes place the third Wednesday of May to honor those cyclists who have been killed or injured while cycling on public roadways. Wheelhouse Detroit is co-sponsoring the Detroit Ride of Silence 2009. It will begin on Belle Isle, leaving from Scott Fountain promptly at 7:00 pm on May 20. The 10-mile ride will head west along Jefferson, north along Woodward to Comerica Park, and reverse route back. After the ride, there will be a free bar-b-que sponsored by Macomb Bike & Fitness.

Check out our Tours Page for info on our tours and a chance to register. We'll be posting more about them soon!

Back at the shop, and it feels so right!

Day One of Wheelhouse's 2009 season is here, and it's already been a great day -- despite the snowflakes in the air when we opened the doors. Here's how we look these days:

We had a nice morning visit from about 35 intrepid Detroit Bikes!-ers and we've already got some service bikes keeping Ron busy. Here's a group shot of those cyclists on the River.

Plus, Supino Pizza for lunch. What could be better?

Wheelhouse would like to wish our friends Erin and Brad a hearty congratulations. The dashing pair was married last evening at the Masonic Temple and we wish them all the best!

(Although our hangovers are so not the best.)

One last thing: We are offering a spring special on tune-ups, so be sure to bring yours in soon. In April and May, they cost just $40 -- that's a 20% discount!

Spring Training Ride 3/21

On Saturday, March 21, Detroit Bikes!  will host the Second Annual Spring Training (STR) ride.  Given that the Detroit Tigers will soon begin their season, the Red Wings will begin hockey’s second season (playoffs), and the NCAA Final Four will take place at Ford Field, a sports theme ride is a no-brainer (no jokes, please). The Detroit Bikes! Spring Training Ride will cruise past current and past Detroit sports venues, including Tiger Stadium, Olympia Stadium, Recreation Park, and others.

Wear something that represents your favorite Detroit team (professional, college, high school, etc.), such as a T-shirt, bandanna, whatever, and help us challenge Mother Nature to bring the warm weather on!

When: Saturday, March 21, 2009

What: The Spring Training Ride: A riding tour of past and present Detroit sports venues

Cost: FREE!

Ride Starts: 10 AM sharp at the Millennium Bell, Grand Circus Park, downtown Detroit.  Please arrive 10 minutes ahead.

Distance of ride: approximately 16 miles

Length: approximately three hours

Pace: Relaxed but steady pace

Needs: We need a rider to take photographs of our event!  I'll bring the digital camera.  Also, we always need ride helpers to make sure no one gets left behind, assist with minor repairs, etc.

Additional: Helmets are required!

Dress: Show your Detroit sports pride by wearing your favorite Detroit team's T-shirt, hat, bandanna, flag, socks, wristbands, whatever!

Route: Depending upon weather and road conditions, the exact route may be modified.  From Grand Circus Park, the Spring Training Ride (STR) will skirt Comerica Park and Ford Field.  The STR will head east on E. Lafayette to Helen Street, the former site of the Detroit Tigers' ancestral home, Boulevard Park.  The STR will then head west on the Riverwalk, stopping at Rivard Plaza and the Wheelhouse bicycle shop, continuing to Cobo Arena and the Joe Louis Arena!  From the Joe, the riders will wheel past old Tiger Stadium and will make a pilgrimage to the site of Olympia Stadium on Grand River at McGraw.  The STR will head back west past the Wayne State University athletic to Cass, and make a drink/luncheon stop at Lefty’s Lounge!  Lefty’s Lounge is a true sports bar, owned by two former minor league pitchers.  (www.leftyslounge.com). The STR will then bike through the Detroit Medical Center, paying a brief visit to the former Recreation Park, the long-forgotten home of the world champion Detroit Wolverines baseball team!  The STR will then head back to Grand Circus Park.

November 15 Java Junket Ride

On November 15, Detroit Bikes! will host its second annual Java Junket bike ride with stops at Good Girls Go to Paris Crepes, the Detroit Welcome Center in Mexicantown, the Mercury Coffee Bar, Cafe 1923 andthe Woodbridge Pub.

Nice touch, finishing off at pub (with a huge bike rack, natch).

The rides starts at 9 a.m. in Grand Circus Park. It's a 15-miler.