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Flat Prevention, Part 2 of 3: Avoiding Grit & Debris
Since Wheelhouse opened in 2008, Detroit has come an increibly long way in terms of bicycle infrastructure. But one issue is debris in bike lanes, that can oftentimes cause flats.
Of course, all streets have the potential for debris along the curb, but it does seem to be more frustrating and noticable when a lane made just for you is pretty much unusable.
Whether or not you’re riding on a street with a bike lane, we recommend not riding in the debris, even if it pushes you out into another lane. Legally, cyclists have the right to do so. Of course, use caution and common sense.
Debris, including glass (Detroit Diamonds!) and small wires (these come from radial tires and can be almost invisible to the naked eye), are the second most common reason for flat tires that we see at the shop. We take care to find the culprit or replacing the tube is just going to be an exercise in futility.
If you’re changing your own flat, carefully feel along the inside of your tire for anything sharp. If it’s also gone through your tire, that will need to be replaced as well.
We do know that the Detroit Greenways Coalition is advocating for more regular bike lane sweeping and recently organized a cleanup of a portion of Hamilton’s bike lane.
We Got Secret Shopped!
Every year since 2015, we've submitted an application to the America's Best Bicycle Shop (Bicycle Retailer Excellence Award) program administered by the National Bicycle Dealers Association. The process is kinda a pain, but it's a great annual assessment of our operations. Part of the review process is being secret shopped.
A secret shopper emails, calls, and visits us — of course, we aren’t told when — and we get graded on professionalism, product knowledge, customer service, our website, and appearance of the shop.
We got back our secret shopper report and, well, we nailed it with a 91%! Kudos to our fantastic staff for knocking it out of the park!
We haven't heard back if we're ultimately being awarded ABBS/BREA for 2022, but this secret shopper report sure bodes well. We should hear in July. Fingers crossed for 8 years in a row!
Flat Prevention, Part 1 of 3: Get Pumped Up!
One of the shop’s sayings is, “Flats happen.” When it’s not something you’re used to, a flat tire can feel catastrophic, but it’s not uncommon. It’s also not 100% preventable, but there are some very simple ways to lower the likelihood of getting one.
One of the two most common types of flat is called a pinch flat. This occurs when a tire is underinflated and thus the tube inside gets pinched, causing a hole in the tube.
So therefore, the simplest way to prevent flats is by keeping your tires pumped up to their appropriate pressure.
First off, know your PSI! That number, standing for pounds per square inch, will be printed along the outside of your tire. It could say one number, like 80 PSI, or a range, like 80-100 PSI. In that case, since you’re primarily riding on city streets, you want to aim towards the higher number in your range.
A quick aside — we’ve noticed some people seem to favor the concept of keeping their tires underinflated but we promise that’s not a good idea. Trust us. We change dozens of flats a day, we’ve seen it all!
Another thing, squeezing a tire to “feel” if it’s full is not at all accurate. We surprise lots of people when we tell them what PSI they’re at and it’s waaaaay lower than they would have guessed.
Now that you know your PSI, you’ll want to pump up your tires to that number at least once a week. We sell a variety of floor and frame pumps and are happy to help you select one. The shop also always has a pump for you to use at our garage door during our open hours. Come by and get pumped!
If you haven’t ridden your bike in some time and your tire looks flat, make sure to pump it up and see if it holds air before assuming it is flat. Tubes lose air slowly over time, it’s normal.
Next time, we’ll talk glass and debris and wrap things up with tire upgrades.
June Tour Update
Our tour season is not underway, and our public tour calendar is complete! That means we have tours every single weekend up through the end of October.
Our public tours cap at six or 10 riders — depending on the route and/or guide preference — so you are always getting a very personal experience. It also means that the tours often do sell out. Both tours the weekend of June 4 are sold out, but we still have openings on the 11th (Southwest Detroit) and 12th (Urban Agriculture).
We are offering an Eastern Market tour bi-weekly every other Tuesday and Riverwalk/Dequindre Cut every second Thursday. These tours are both small in size, mostly off-road, less expensive, and shorter than other tours. Great for families and beginning riders!
As Detroit changes, we take our job as storytellers and interpreters very seriously. Our guides do lots of research, keep up on the news, and do our best to be aware of multiple sides of any story. Some of our tours are completely brand-new in content this year (Public Art, Underground Railroad, Southwest Detroit) and all others have adapted their narratives as reality changes (Auto Heritage, Urban Agriculture).
A couple of recent tour reviews:
Having an architect run the architecture tour was a fantastic bonus! We knew the tour would be educational and interesting, but Chris's knowledge and enthusiasm for both Detroit and its architecture made for a POSITIVE/FUN experience in the 'D'! Highly recommend Wheelhouse Detroit tours and bike rental. We're spreading the word in Adrian.
We had a great time on the Underground Railroad tour! I thought I knew a lot about it, but Reggie gave us a lot of information that I never knew. Kelli was our “sweeper” and did a great job keeping us all safe! The pace was perfect! We will be doing all the tours they have to offer. Can’t wait!
Tour descriptions and reservations are HERE and a Google calendar of all of ‘em are HERE. We are also happy to set up a private tour for your group; more info HERE. We hope to explore Detroit with you this season!
How It's Going...June 2022 Edition
TLDR: Things are better but still not normal!
A full two months into what, frankly, is still Pandemic Season #3, we’ve definitely had a more “normal” year so far. Memorial Weekend felt like the old days — which is great! — but we’re not fully staffed for that yet, so the entire crew put in a lot of hours. We certainly appreciate the vast majority of our customers, who are patient, kind, and grateful and, for the few rotten apples, the less said the better.
There is some fear within the industry that due to recent COVID lockdowns in Asia, we’re going to see the not-even-fully-recovered supply chain relapse. We’re keeping our eyes on it and attempting to order bikes and parts accordingly.
We are hiring! We’re looking for an Assistant Bike Tech. This individual would be tasked with simple repairs and assisting with rentals. Find out more and apply! We are willing to train someone with less skills than we’re looking for if they’re motivated.
Thanks and happy riding - Kelli & Crew
Bicycle Content for a Quiet(er) Memorial Weekend
Awesome GIF from Jill Lepore’s essay on cycling in The New Yorker, linked to below
Many of us have big plans for the weekend, whether it be techno-centric or heading Up North or just a series of barbeques.
However, if you’ve got some quiet time on your hands, we’ve got some reading and viewing recomendations for ya.
TWO WHEELS GOOD: The History and Mystery of the Bicycle By Jody Rosen
This recently released book is getting lots of good press, including articles in the New York Times and Curbed. It takes a view of the bicycle over the years through the lens of an economic and class view and, while not a comprehensive history, “The strength of Two Wheels Good is the journalist’s eye [Rosen] brings to a basic technology that has had radically disparate identities at different times and in different parts of the world,” says Justin Davidson in Curbed. Purchase from 27th Letter Books.
Bicycles Have Evolved. Have We? By Jill Lepore in The New Yorker
A classic New Yorker longform weekend read, Lepore weaves a personal narrative of her own life on bike — from childhood first to the chunky Cannondale she rides now — into a Cliff Notes history of the mode of two-wheeled transportation that we so love. Perfect article to enjoy on the porch with a cup of coffee.
Staff Picks: 11 Spectacular Roads for Riding Your Bike from National Parks Conservation Association
Wet your travel whistle with this list of National Park rides that range from crazy hard (Hurricane Ridge, Olympic National Park, Washington) to downright leisurely (Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail, Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio). This one has me looking longingly at train schedules.
Bicycle Movies for a Bicycle Weekend by Katie Chicklinski-Cahill in the Durango Herald
In celebration of this Saturday’s 50th Annual Iron Horse Bicycle Classic, the Herald helpfully rounds up some bike-centric movies to enjoy over the weekend. Personally, I’d go with Pee Wee’s Big Adventure and Breaking Away — and do note the exclusion of Quicksilver.
Whatever your pleasure, we wish you a safe and Happy Memorial Weekend! - Kelli & Crew
Memorial Day Weekend at Wheelhouse
Gearing up for the official kick-off to Summer 2022? We are! We’ll be open 10am to 6pm the entire weekend — yep, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday — for all your cycling needs!
Remember to reserve rentals in advance (12 hours minimum) to save 10%, expedite pickup, and make sure the bike and/or accessories you need are waiting for you. Pick your ride and reserve HERE.
We have two great tours this weekend, both of which are one-offs for 2022.
Saturday, 5/28 10am-1pm: Underground Railroad | As of 5/26 SOLD OUT
Sunday, 5/29 Noon-4pm: Techno | 11th Annual (we took 2 years off cuz, COVID) | This tour includes a visit to Exhibit 3000, a techno museum located at the headquarters of Submerge.
We look forward to seeing you this Techno Christmas Weekend!
Job Posting: Assistant Bike Tech
Job Title: Assistant Bike Tech
Pay Rate: $13.50-15/hour depending on level of experience. Evaluation and raise after 30 days.
Hours: 14-30/week. Requires at least one weekend shift.
Location: Wheelhouse Detroit
Duties: An Assistant Bike Tech is an integral component of a multi-faceted bike shop that services a diverse clientele with a strong focus on customer service. Their primary responsibility is to ensure a smooth running shop at all times. This can include maintenance of the rental fleet; contributing to the inventory management, cleanliness, and organization of the service department; assisting with the assembly of new bikes and the servicing of customer bicycles; and assisting with bicycle rentals, including saddle adjustment, helmet fitting, and loading and unloading the delivery trailer.
Additional hours are possible by assisting with deliveries/pickups and sweeping tours.
This job requires a positive attitude, strong teamwork skills, willingness to learn on the job and absorb constructive feedback, and some mechanical experience. Proven customer-service experience and/or prior bike shop experience would be a plus.
We do not expect candidate to be a fully trained bicycle mechanic, but ability to perform simple tasks such as replacing tubes and tires and gear and brake adjustments are a requirement.
You will report directly to the General Manager and work closely with the Mechanic. A successful candidate will contribute to the overall success of the company by participating in all aspects of the business, including retail, service, rentals, and tours. Wheelhouse is a small shop and everyone helps each other out when possible. We also have a lot of fun together and most employees have been with the Wheelhouse for 5+ years.
This job is very physical and requires a willingness to get your hands dirty in all kinds of weather.
This job does require customer interaction including answering general questions about the Riverwalk and bike routes. The shop is oftentimes a hectic environment with lots of people and noises.
Due to the seasonal nature of this position, candidate must have weekend and holiday availability.
Dress code is pretty relaxed: no open-toed shoes; fancy clothes are not recommended.
This job is at-will, part-time, and seasonal. Season is May-September.
Send resume or summary of work experience and 2-3 references to info@wheelhousedetroit.com. No calls. If you’d like to come in and check out the shop prior to applying, that is more than welcome but, if staff is busy, please respect that and reach out to the owner and GM via email with any questions.
Wheelhouse embraces and celebrates the diversity of our customer base, and we also strive for the same in our employees. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, religion, national origin, gender, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital or parental status, disability, veteran status, or other class protected by applicable law. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.
Tour Calendar Update + May Discount Offer
The majority of our public tours are posted and ready for registration, including:
Architecture (offered monthly)
Auto Heritage (offered monthly)
Churches of Poletown (offered just twice)
Corktown (offered monthly)
Eastern Market (every other Summer Tuesday!)
Haunted (offered four times in October)
Historic Places of Worship (offered just once)
Public Art (offered monthly)
Riverwalk/Dequindre Cut (every other Summer Thursday!)
Southwest Detroit (offered monthly)
Techno (offered just once)
Underground Railroad (offered just once)
Good to know: Our public tours are capped at just six or 10 riders depending on the route. If there are more than six riders, you will be riding with a guide-slash-ride leader and a sweeper, who helps keep the group together and safe and is also equipped to handle mechanical issues.
Through May 7, we are offering a $10 discount on 4 of our May tours: Corktown (5/7), Southwest Detroit (5/14), Historical Places of Worship (5/21), and Underground Railroad (5/28). Use Promo Code MayFlowers on any of these specific tours to receive your 10 bucks off!
We will definitely be adding some Belle Isle dates (after Grand Prix infrastructure is removed), as well as Sports and Music Heritage. A couple of surprises may pop up too!
And remember, you can always schedule your own private tour for one to 20 riders! Find out more HERE.
Summer Hours are Here!
It’s official! We have launched Summer hours effective immediately!
We’re now open Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday Noon to 6PM and Saturday and Sunday 10AM to 6PM.
In the market for a new ride? We keep our website’s Bikes page up-to-date, so you can see what bikes we currently have in stock. Something catches your eye? Come in for a test ride!