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August Tour Update
Preaching to the choir I’m sure but, really, it’s August?!?!? You thought you had all summer to join us on a tour, but time is a-tickin’…so hop on one before it’s too late! Here is an overview of this month’s availability.
Tours with limited availability: Saturday’s Belle Isle Tour (8/3) has just one opening and Sunday’s Public Art (8/4) has four; Poletown August 10 and 11 each has one spot available; Architecture on the 18th has three; and Corktown on the 24th has two.
Tours with more spaces include: Eastern Market 8/6 and 8/20, Riverfront/Dequindre Cut 8/15 and 8/29, Music Heritage 8/17 and 8/31, and Auto Heritage 8/25.
Bikes for sale (07/17/24)
We are in the process of developing a new website so we haven’t been as diligent as usual about updating our Bikes for Sale page. In the meantime, here are the for-sale bikes we currently have built.
Please note: We have many other sizes and styles still boxed, so if you are interested in bike shopping, just reach out and let us know or, better yet, come by and take a test ride or two! We can always build up something for you once we know your size and style!
All new bikes purchased from Wheelhouse receive one year of complimentary service (excepting flat tires) and a water bottle and bottle cage. We will also make sure the bike is adjusted for your best riding ever!
This page cannot wholly represent in real-time what is available at the bike shop, so please come on by to see what’s what!
Bikes on Film
NERD ALERT
Kelli hosted a bike safety session at the Children’s Room at the Main Branch of the Detroit Public Library (one of her favorite places in the city) on June 28. She brought some bike-themed TV and movie clips along so as to not completely bore the poor kids. Here they are, in all their Youtube glory if you’re ever feeling nostalgic…
https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxumJz_bI3MF9Pvcvf0IlFN6YpHCID8-db?si=eYLZeBmH0aJ4O23A Sound of Music DO RE ME
https://youtu.be/xfeLsPRl3so?si=6pQo30Bo4vkGpmoS PEE WEE “Million Trillion Dollars”
https://youtu.be/urnRVr1P2bc?si=x3jMmWRYVAReRTgo PEE WEE “I MEANT TO DO THAT”
https://youtu.be/UMQwFhYMlqY?si=MgoaaS_4KJre_q9J Premium Rush
https://youtu.be/oR1-UFrcZ0k?si=WTWuWruW7cjKxtH7 E.T.
https://youtu.be/LHnqjCwKG5c?si=N54tHkHsV1HOanOX Goonies
https://youtu.be/54CdEbBHiSU?si=qJp-74JMtTbUIZRr Now & Then
https://youtu.be/16sUvkfzFdA?si=AzU9NJ9T2vydKECL Stranger Things
https://youtu.be/O2dvl7jOtzE?si=gVVcGrEe2Q-42rng Wizard of Oz
https://youtu.be/ucXQDtxUloo?si=CEW5z5A9X43Pj1Z2 Breaking Away
media mentions
Apartment Guide — 16 Unique Things to do in Detroit, MI to Get to Know the Motor City, 10/22/24
Detroit Free Press — 7 Detroit tours that tell a deeper story of the city: What to know, 7/28/23
Hour Detroit — Tips on Taking a Brewery Biking Tour, 07/10/2023
Fox2 — One of the Nation’s Only Female Owned Bike Shops (video), 05/31/2023
WDIV — Discovering the Riverfront on Two Wheels (video), 05/24/2023
Detroit Free Press — Southwest Pedestrian Bike Path Grand Opening, 05/24/2023
WDIV — Wheelhouse Reopens for the Season (video), 05/15/2020
Bicycle Retailer — Interbike Retail Award Recipients Share their Winning Ideas, 09/2018
Winnepeg Free Press - Motorless in Motor City, 03/27/2018
Süddeutschen Zeitung — Krisencruisen, 11/09/2017
Reimagining Detroit — Creative Reuse & Urban Farms - KCBX FM, 10/31/17
The Hamtramck Review — One of America's Best is right here in Hamtramck, 10/2017
Wander with Wonder — Outdoor Wonders of Detroit, 08/01/2016
MLive — Biking Detroit, 06/05/15
CBS Detroit — Ask an Expert: Best Bike Rides in Detroit, 04/06/13
National Geographic Traveler — Rise and Shine Detroit, 03/01/12
CBS Detroit — Businesses Are Banking On...Not Bashing Detroit, 07/05/11
New York Times — Detroit Pushes Back With Young Muscles, 07/01/11
Detroit Free Press — Good Company: Wheelhouse Detroit, 06/20/11
Wheelhouse Detroit Private Bicycle Tour Options (2024)
Near East Side — 8 to 16 miles, 2 to 3 hours: This tour showcases several of Detroit’s unique attractions. Depending on group choice, weather, and/or day of the week, stops may include the Dequindre Cut, Heidelberg Project, Earthworks Urban Farm, Eastern Market, Lafayette Park, Elmwood Cemetery, the Detroit Riverwalk, Belle Isle, and West/Indian Village. A beverage stop can be included upon request. This tour is highly customizable to the length of ride-slash-number of stops the group desires.
Near West Side — 8 to 16 miles, 2 to 3 hours: Explore the Riverwalk, Downtown, Corktown, and Mexicantown on this tour. Depending on group choice, weather, and/or day of the week, stops may include the Underground Railroad Monument, Campus Martius, Capitol Park, Most Holy Trinity, the site of Tiger Stadium, Michigan Central Station, Ste. Anne’s Church, and Clark Park. A beverage stop can be included upon request.
Detroit RiverWalk/Dequindre Cut — 5 to 8 miles, 2 hours (This tour is $200 on weekdays for up to 6 riders, $250 on weekends.): Ideal for families, this tour is almost entirely on greenways, separated from auto traffic. Short and sweet, it focuses on the beautifully renewed RiverWalk and the Dequindre Cut rail-to-trail.
Booze* & Bikes — Approx. 10 miles, 3 hours: Detroit has an amazing craft beer, cocktail, and wine culture. Stops will vary depending on interest, time, and date. Options include Atwater Brewery, Motor City Brewing Works, Batch Brewery, Motor City Wine, Two James Distillery, Detroit Distillery, Brix Wine, and more. *If booze ain’t your thing, we can take you to cafes or shops instead!
Corktown — Approx. 8 miles, 3 hours: Get inside info on Detroit's oldest neighborhood, including charming Victorian homes, historic churches and buildings, and vibrant and dynamic businesses. Stops include Most Holy Trinity Church, Michigan Central Station, North Corktown, and the site of Tiger Stadium. A beverage stop can be included upon request.
Eastern Market — Approx. 5 miles, 2 to 3 hours: This tour takes in the Dequindre Cut, Lafayette Park, and the historic market, with an emphasis on history, current development, shopping opportunities, and vibrant murals.
Belle Isle — Approx. 15 miles, 3 hours: Explore the architecture and ecology of Detroit's island gem, including the Flynn Pavilion, Aquarium and Conservatory, Oudolf Garden, the Iron Belle Trail, the Boat and Yacht Clubs, the Casino, Dossin Great Lakes Museum, and Livingstone Lighthouse. Depending on the day of the week, the tour can include stops at one or more of the listed attractions.
Music Heritage — Approx. 12 miles, 3 hours: Music originating from Detroit has been innovative and impactful, spanning many genres that include techno, rock, gospel, hip hop, soul, punk, and, of course, Motown. This tour will take in many relevant sites, including the Masonic Temple, Michigan Theater, St. Andrews Hall, Detroit Opera House, Music Hall, Chin Tiki, the site of the Gold Dollar, United Sound Systems Recording Studio, and the Motown Museum. A stop at the Old Miami, Motor City Brewing Works, or Third Man Records can be included.
Public Art — Approx. 12 Miles, 3 hours: Detroit has a plethora of amazing public art, and this tour travels from the Riverfront through Greater Downtown, Midtown, and the East Side to take in a wide variety, ranging in scale, material, and era. This tour has been redesigned in 2024.
Books & Bikes – Approx. 13 Miles, 3 hours: Check out some of Detroit’s independent book shops. Stops can include John K. King Books, Detroit Specials, 27th Letter Books, Source Booksellers, Vault of Midnight, and the main branch of the Detroit Public Library. A beverage stop can be included upon request.
Haunted Detroit — Approx. 13 miles, 3 hours: This tour combines some ghostly anecdotes with factual historic info about Harry Houdini, Elmwood Cemetery, Capitol Park, and the St. Aubin Street Massacre. We also visit a few spots rumored to be haunted, including the Fort-Shelby and Leland Hotels, The Whitney, and the Masonic Temple and talk about the legendary Nain Rouge. The route includes Rivertown, Elmwood Park, Poletown, Midtown/Cass Corridor, and Downtown. A beverage stop is included.
The 11 tours described above all have at least one guide with flexible availability. We also have a couple of tours with guides that have more limited availability. If one of them is your preference, we are happy to reach out, we just want you to be aware that it’s not always possible.
Auto Heritage — Approx. 12 miles, 3 hours: Discover how Detroit became the center of the automotive industry with stops at the Globe Building, Dequindre Cut, Packard Plant, the GM Detroit-Hamtramck (Poletown) Assembly Plant, Fisher Body 21, New Center (former GM Headquarters and Fisher Building), TechTown, and the site of Ford’s Bagley Garage. Midway, we will enjoy an extended stop at and brief tour of the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant (dependent on date/time). This tour is conducted in partnership with the Motorcities National Heritage Area. A beverage stop can be included upon request.
Architecture — Approx. 15 miles, 3 hours: This informative overview of significant architecture in and around Downtown Detroit is one of our most popular tours. Led by architect Chris Gongora, the discussion centers on architecture in relation to urban planning, past and future developments, and the social implications of architectural design, good and bad, in Detroit. Sites include Hart Plaza, the Financial District, Cass Corridor, Brush Park, Eastern Market, and the Dequindre Cut. As a private tour, Architecture is only available on weekdays. For an additional fee, Chris can customize a tour for your group that focuses on a specific neighborhood, era, or building type.
Last edited 06/12/24
NBDA Retailer Excellence AWARD!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wheelhouse Detroit Earns 2024 NBDA Retailer Excellence Award
Detroit, MI, May 23, 2024 - Wheelhouse Detroit is proud to announce their certification by the National Bicycle Dealership Association (NBDA) as being among this year’s top local bicycle retailers in the United States. Fewer than 50 qualified for this honor.
Participants worked with the NBDA over a period of three months to meet current challenging industry conditions and turn them into opportunities for growth and excellence. They developed communications, elevated key performance indicators (KPIs), organized community events, and gathered feedback from the community – all with a focus on achieving retail excellence.
“I am so inspired by our retailers who are doing the hard work of looking inward at the volume and quality of sales, and come together with us and share ideas to help this amazing community of retailers that we have around the country,” said Heather Mason, president of the NBDA.
The NBDA Retailer Excellence Award requires not only great shopping experiences and expert leadership, but also support for their local community and national cycling advocacy. Each retailer awarded fits these criteria and more.
“Wheelhouse really strives for excellence in terms of quality and customer service, so it’s great to be recognized by our industry’s trade association,” said Kelli Kavanaugh, Owner. “During the NBDA process, I spent time learning how to evaluate and improve our KPIs, and our guided tours served as established events that we could share with our peers.”
The local bicycle retailer is not only a store, but also a pillar of a community. By being given this award, Wheelhouse Detroit has proven that they exemplify this ideal.
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About Wheelhouse Detroit
Owned by Detroiter Kelli Kavanaugh, Wheelhouse Detroit Bike Shop was established in 2008 and offers retail, service, rentals, and tours.
About the National Bicycle Dealers Association (NBDA)
The National Bicycle Dealers Association (NBDA) has been here since 1946, a nonprofit organization representing and empowering specialty bicycle dealers in North America through education, communications, research, advocacy, member discount programs, and promotional opportunities.
Motorcities <3s our Auto tour!
We’re excited and grateful to announce that we’ve been named an official tour partner of MotorCities National Heritage Area for the sixth year running!
MotorCities Announces Its Tour Operator Partners for 2024
Companies Offering Automotive History Experiences in the Detroit AreaThe MotorCities National Heritage Area, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving Michigan’s automotive and labor heritage, is partnering with five Detroit-area based tour operators to offer public tours this tourism season. The partnerships continue a program that originally launched in 2019 to serve the 16-county National Heritage Area.
Tour experiences available vary from traditional walking tours to pedaling a bicycle – all while visiting key automotive and labor historical sites and learning the story of how the region put the world on wheels.
“We’re excited to continue partnering with these companies to offer additional tour options and bring more of our amazing automotive heritage to both metro Detroit residents and out-of-town tourists alike,” said Shawn Pomaville-Size, MotorCities’ executive director.
The tour operators selected offer the following experiences:
City Institute - MotorCities Auto Heritage New Center and Dearborn Walking Tours On the New Center walking tour, guests will experience the past, present and future of the Detroit area, going back in time with a visit inside the Ford Piquette Plant Museum and the chance to speak with some of the innovators who now call these neighborhoods home. The Dearborn walking tours provide the opportunity to learn how the past and present of this city are interwoven, get to know the people leading some exciting new projects and see the innovations and adaptations of this important city. For 2024, the New Center tours are offered on June 22 and August 24, and the Dearborn tours are offered on May 25 and July 27. For more information, please visit http://thecityinstitute.com/public-tours
City Tour Detroit - Becoming the Motor City: A Timeline of Detroit’s Auto History Paul Vachon, author of the Reedy Press book of the same name, guides these tours offered monthly on June 22, July 21, Aug 24, and Sept 29. The 3-hour walking tour will also utilize the Detroit People Mover and QLine. For more information, please visit https://citytourdetroit.com/
Michigan Labor History Society – Detroit Labor History Tours This group offers a free two-hour bus tour in June that drives by the Ford Rouge plant, site of the 1932 Ford Hunger March and the 1937 “Battle of the Overpass” with stops of the Ford Piquette Plant Museum, the Motown Museum and the “Transcending” labor legacy landmark in Hart Plaza. A narrated one-mile walking tour of downtown Detroit is also available. For more information, please visit http://mlhs.wayne.edu/.
Russell Brothers City Tours – Customized Automotive History Tours Get on board for a fun-filled tour of automotive landmarks in the city of Detroit. Your guide, Emmy-winning TV and radio personality Greg Russell, takes guests to places they may know and some sites they might not. If guests have particular sites they’d like to see, just let Greg know. The tours are informative, insightful and most importantly, fun! For more information, visit https://russellbrotherscitytours.com/.
Wheelhouse Detroit - Auto Heritage Bicycle Tour On this 15-mile tour, guests will discover how Detroit became the center of industry. The tour takes in the Globe Building, Dequindre Cut, Packard Plant, the GM Detroit-Hamtramck (Poletown) Assembly Plant, Milwaukee Junction, New Center (old GM Headquarters and Fisher Building), and TechTown, where we will learn how industry is evolving with advanced technology. Tours are available on June 23, July 28, August 25, September 22, and October 13. For more information, please visit https://www.wheelhousedetroit.com/auto-heritage.
For more information on tours and events, visit www.motorcities.org.
About MotorCities NHA:
Established in 1998 and headquartered in Detroit, the MotorCities National Heritage Area Partnership is a nonprofit corporation that is part of the National Heritage Area System of the National Park Service, serving 16 counties representing a population of over 6.5 million. Its mission is to preserve, interpret and promote the region’s rich automotive and labor heritage while enabling, supporting and respecting its diversity, equity and inclusion. Regional programs inspire residents and visitors with an appreciation for how the automobile changed Michigan, the nation, and the world. Each year, MotorCities generates $489.7 million in economic impact, supporting 5,343 jobs and producing $40 million in tax revenue in Michigan. Over its 25+-year history, MotorCities has awarded more than 300 grants for a total investment in local programs of more than $1.6 million. Find MotorCities on the web at www.motorcities.org; also visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/motorcities and follow them on Twitter/Instagram: @MotorCities.
Upcoming special hours
Wheelhouse is currently open 5 days a week, Wednesday through Sunday 11AM-6PM, with the following exceptions:
We will be open Monday, Memorial Day, May 27, 11AM-6PM.
We will be closed May 29 through June 2 due to the Detroit Grand Prix.
MAY TOUR REPORT
Hard to believe we’re already halfway through May, but here we are. Here’s a quick note to summarize the state of the rest of the month’s tours.
We have openings on:
May 19, Auto Heritage
May 24, Underground Railroad *only offered twice this season, and the other one is already fully booked
May 25, Music Heritage
May 26, Techno *only offered once per season for Movement Weekend
Please note that our Eastern Market and Riverfront tours kick off in June. These are offered on weekdays (Tuesdays and Thursdays, respectively) and are less expensive than our regular weekend tours.
Now Hiring: Shop Help
Job Title: Shop Help
Pay Rate: $15/hour minimum
Hours: 14+ week. Requires Saturday, Sunday, and holiday shifts. Other shifts possible depending on availability.
Location: Wheelhouse Detroit
Duties: Shop Help is an integral crew member 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 assisting with bicycle rentals, including saddle adjustment, helmet fitting, and loading and unloading the delivery trailer; maintenance of the rental fleet; contributing to the inventory management, cleanliness, and organization of the service and retail departments; and assisting with the assembly of new bikes and the servicing of customer bicycles.
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 aptitude. 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. But if these skills aren’t yet mastered, we’d love to teach you!
You will report directly to the Shop Manager and work closely with the Mechanic and Owner. 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 8+ 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. Growth into a mechanic or managerial role is very possible!
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 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.