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Holiday Gift Guide: Party Biker
Some people know how to bring the party with them wherever they go. And some people do so on a bike, so offer kudos to your special unicorn with a gift that accessorizes their flair for life.
Walnut Studiolo Six Pack Frame Cinch - Handcrafted out of American leather, this accessory makes it a cinch for your Party Biker to transport a 6 pack of their favorite suds. $36
Outdoor Tech Turtle 3.0 - Small and powerful; waterproof (it floats!) and shockproof; this bluetooth speaker will be anyones new best friend. Did we mention it also serves as power bank and you can charge any micro usb device with it? $99.95
Green Guru Townie Touring Handlebar Cooler - Transport your lunch or a 6-pack of cans in this insulated beauty made from upcycled bike tubes. $38
Park Tool BO-2 - This bottle opener is built to perform under the most demanding conditions; a perfect complement to any tool collection. $6.26
Monkey Light M232 - Stay visible and bring the party (thousands of patterns and 42 themes) to your next group ride. Waterproof, up to 20 hours of runtime, and 32 full color LEDs (200 lumens). Made in the USA and comes with a 2-year warranty. $59.99
Microism Publishing Stickers - Get sassy and say it with a sticker! $2
Cosmic Brightz - Stay visible and turn your bike into the disco. Available in green, blue, red, and pink. $12.99
Microism Publishing Pins - A fun and silly way to express your feels. $2
Bikase Superband - Transport anything on your bike from a speaker to a cell phone; a juice pack or maybe a sausage; CO2 pump, light jacket, sunglasses; the possibilities are endless for only $19.99
Walnut Studiolo Bottle Belts - Transport a bottle of wine or spirits on your top tube with these handcrafted leather belts. $36
King Cage Oliver Flask Cage - Handcrafted in Colorado, we can't guarantee that these are legal but they’re definitely fun and will accommodate any 8 oz. flask. $22
Trixie & Milo Stainless Steel 8 oz. Flask - Makes a great partner for the King Cage Oliver or your back pocket. $29
Delta Cargo Net - Stretch web secures varied load sizes and hard to hold items. $8.99
Winter With the Wheelhouse!
We know that it gets tougher to put the medal to the icy asphalt for several months a year here in Detroit. We have put together a full roster of winter events to keep you engaged with cycling and hopefully get you to some more miles under your belt -- weather be darned!
FIRST FRIDAY HAPPY HOUR!
Join us the first friday of each month for food, drink, tunes and the chance to support a charity partner! The hours are 5 to 8 pm. Hope to see ya!
- November 3: Pietrzyk Pierogi / Axle Brewing / Lot No. 40 Rye / Motor City Brewing Works Hard Cider / Tunes by UNO MAS / Support the Girls Detroit ($108 raised!)
- December 1: Maggie Schultz / Honey & Buffalo
- January 5: Crispy Roll Detroit / Axle Brewing / Clyde Moop
- February 2: LaShawndra Clayborne / Axle Brewing /
- March 2: TBD
WINTER JOY RIDE!
We're gonna gather once a month on Saturday mornings for a two-hour no-drop ride. Pace, route and mileage will be dependent on who shows up and the weather. Stops will be similarly determined by the group that day. Flexible & Fun is the name of the game.
Come equipped with at least one spare tube. Helmet recommended. Saturday mornings, 9 to 11 a.m.
DATES: November 11, December 9, January 13, February 17, March 10
Bicycle Maintenance 101
Want to gain confidence out on the road? Join us at one of our Flat Fixin' / Basic Maintenance sessions this winter.
First order of business is changing out a tube when you get a flat. Front or rear, single- or multi-speed...even internal hubs, we can work with you to get you to be an expert at getting back to rolling quickly.
Already know how to change a flat? Awesome. We can help you learn how to perform minor brake and gear adjustments!
We recommend that you bring your own bike to establish familiarity with your own ride, but if that is an issue, we got you covered!
These sessions are woman-led and absolutely free. Thursday nights, 6 to 8 p.m.
DATES: November 16 & 30, December 14, January 4 & 18, February 1 & 15, March 1 & 15.
OPEN SHOP NIGHTS
We're open late on Thursday nights, and we invite you to come by with your project bike and tinker around with it in the shop. You can totally pick our staff's brain about what to do...but we won't do any of the work for you. This is all about learning and DIY. Tool loans within reason.
Thursday nights, 6 to 8 p.m.
December 7 & 21, January 11 & 25, February 8 & 22, March 8 & 22.
America's Best Bike Shops 2017
We are excited to announce that we've been named one of America's Best Bike Shops by the National Bicycle Dealers Association for the third year in a row!
What is so especially gratifying about this recognition is that the application process looks at advocacy efforts, customer service, operations, product selection, staff expertise and store appearance. The NBDA also uses secret shoppers via email, phone and in-person, which helps to keep us on our toes!
All the 2017 winners were celebrated at Interbike in Las Vegas at a reception. The very same day, Kelli was interviewed by WJR about the program. Check it out at the link below!
Safe Cycling Tips
Guest Blogger Alert! When a lawyer reaches out and offers to write a blog post for you about safe cycling, of course I said yes. Thanks for the cogent write-up! - Kelli
Top Do’s and Don’ts of Dangerous Cycling Situations
When you’re out on the road, it can be difficult in the moment to decide how you will handle a potentially dangerous situation. How do you avoid that car that just seemingly appears out of nowhere? Where do you go when you see that car turning directly in front of you? How do you avoid obstacles without swerving into traffic? How do you stay safe?
Before your next ride, try to prepare ahead of time by learning the top do’s and don’ts for the most hazardous cycling situations.
Intersections
DON’T: Stall at the right of a car as you wait for the light to change. Not only does this keep you in the driver’s blind spot, but it can lead to a potential crash if they turn in front of (or into) your bicycle.
DO: Wait behind (not adjacent) to cars when you are in an intersection. This gives both you and other driver’s ample time to asses the situation.
DON’T: Assume that other drivers know you’re there, even when you’re riding through a crosswalk. Drivers on the other side of the street making left turns are especially prone to not seeing cyclists.
DO: Ride slowly around intersections. Try taking an earbud out or ditching the headphones altogether to be sure you are as alert as possible. Also, try to wear bright clothing during the day or reflective clothing at nighttime to make yourself as visible as possible to other drivers.
Unexpected Cars and Car Doors
DON’T: Hug the far right of the curb to stay entirely in your bike lane at all times. Especially when approaching hidden driveways or hard-to-see streets, this makes it difficult for your and other drivers to prepare.
DO: Play it safe and ride a bit further to the left than normal. This improves your line of sight and helps you see dangerous hidden drives before you ride through them. Also, look at a car’s wheels: If they’re turned toward you, the driver is likely about to pull out.
DON’T: Assume that parked cars are safe to ride by closely. Not only does this put you at risk for accidentally swerving into the car, but drivers may occasionally open their doors without seeing you, leading to a nasty crash.
DO: Regard even parked cars with caution. Try riding far enough away that even an open door would be too far to hit you. Even if this means riding in the car lane, it is better to be safe than sorry. The average car door is 5’ long, so if you ride 4’ away from parked cars, you should be safe.
Crosswalks and Sidewalks
DON’T: Ride against the flow of traffic. While it may seem safer to see oncoming cars, riding this way makes it difficult for cars that are turning to see you approaching a crosswalk. It also prevents you from turning right without dangerously crossing in front of other vehicles. And, in the majority of the United States, riding against the traffic flow is illegal anyway.
DO: Ride on the right side of the street, with the flow of traffic. This will keep both you and other drivers more aware of your presence. Just be sure not to cower to the right-hand side of the lane. This will allow motorists to assume they have plenty of space to pass you, when in actuality it’s nearly impossible to safely pass a cyclist in the same lane.
DON’T: Ride on the sidewalk. This limits your field of vision immensely and makes it difficult to see cars coming into crosswalks to turn. It also heightens your chance of riding hazards and limits maneuverability.
DO: Ride on the street. This allows you to move more freely and see your surroundings better. In a pinch, the sidewalk can be used, but this should never be your go-to riding lane.
Weather Hazards, Potholes, and Obstacles
DON’T: Ride without planning your route ahead of time, especially when there is potentially dangerous weather. This includes anything from blizzards decreasing visibility, to black ice making roads slick, to high winds increasing the chances of debris and tougher riding.
DO: Use GPS, map programs, and weather alerts to guide your route. The best way to tackle these situations is typically to avoid them altogether. If weather hazards are possible, consider taking another mode of transportation wherever you need to go. If using your bike is necessary, be sure to ride with appropriate attire and prepare proper gear (high-grip tires, headlights, non-slip bike grips, etc.)
DON’T: Act too suddenly or rashly when faced with a pothole, a fallen branch, a traffic cone, or other unexpected debris. While swerving to avoid these objects is likely your instinctual reaction, this can put you at high risk for a crash if there are cars close behind.
DO: Stop and walk your bike if there are too many unavoidable obstacles. If you know obstacles are coming, slowly correct your trajectory so you will be out of their way without suddenly swerving into traffic. If absolutely necessary, move to the sidewalk or swerve to the right to give yourself the lowest chance of a crash with other vehicles.
There is no way to avoid a careless motorist, but if you keep some simple safety tips and techniques in mind, you will significantly lower the chances of getting in a crash.
*This article was provided by Personal Injury Help and was not written by an attorney. You should consult your city’s local cycling ordinances to ensure you’re always riding legally!
Hamtramck Sign Variance
Wheelhouse is applying for a signage variance from the City of Hamtramck Zoning Board of Appeals and is seeking community support via an online petition.
Hello Hamtramckans!
We are applying for a variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals for a sign to be painted on the south-facing (Florian corner) of our building. The existing signage ordinance allows for just the business name and address or phone number. We are asking for the variance so that our sign can include a little bit more information about our business as well an image of a bicycle with our logo inside the wheel.
We have worked with Detroit Sign Painters to develop an attractive sign in line with the historic nature of Jos. Campau. We believe it will be an asset to the business district as well as provide Wheelhouse some visibility -- the trees in front of our building are awesome but can make us kind of hard to see from head-on. We also have no problem with signing a binding agreement with the city and/or our (supportive) landlord specifying our responsibility for removal of the signage if we were to move out of our current location.
The hearing is set for July 5, and we are reaching out to Hamtramck residents, workers and business owners to sign a petition so that we can demonstrate public support for the sign.
The petition can be found HERE.
A mock-up of the sign painted on the side of our building:
Nice, right?
This photo shows the trees blocking (in a good way!) our front facade:
Trees, you are making signage kinda difficult, but we promise we love you.
If you are a zoning nerd, the ordinance can be found HERE (pages 77 to 88 are relevant). We have spoken with the city inspector and city planner in preparation for the hearing and so that we can be sure that we understand the ordinance. If you have any questions whatsoever, do not hesitate to reach out to Wheelhouse's owner, Kelli Kavanaugh at kelli@wheelhousedetroit.com. She is very responsive to email.
We really appreciate your consideration of support. We love Hamtramck and only want to see it get even better!
Get Rolling This Memorial Weekend!
We've got a lot going on this weekend, so this is the spot to find out all the latest information!
HOURS & LOCATIONS
RIVARD PLAZA
- Friday & Saturday 10am-8pm
- Sunday & Monday Noon to 5pm
HAMTRAMCK
- Friday & Saturday 11am-7pm
- Sunday Noon to 5pm
- Monday CLOSED
EASTERN MARKET (RENTALS ONLY)
- Friday 10am-3pm
- Saturday 9am-3pm
TOURS
- Techno (Extended): Friday Noon to 4pm
- Belle Isle: Saturday 10am-1pm
- Music Heritage: Saturday Noon-4pm
- Techno: Sunday Noon-3pm
More info and reservations HERE.
BIKE PARKING
We are also offering free bike valet at Movement Festival. The location is near Mariners' Church on Jefferson just east of Bates and the festival's main entrance. (See #8 on the festival site map.)
We are also offering complimentary bicycle parking at the Detroit City Football Club's match against Glentoran FC on Saturday! Find us at the east entrance. #DCTID
Rentals at Eastern Market!
Wheelhouse is providing bicycle rentals at Eastern Market for the 2017 season! Explore the Murals in the Market and the Dequindre Cut. It's so easy!
We are located at 1454 Wilkins between Russell and Riopelle, just west of the new entrance to the Dequindre Cut.
Hours:
- Friday 10am-4pm
- Saturday 8am-4pm
Rates start at $10 for 1 hour; helmets and locks are included at no additional charge. We accept cash or credit card; we will make a copy of a photo ID and do require a credit card deposit for all rentals.
We will be adding Tuesday and Sunday hours when the Market season expands and will also be facilitating online reservations in due time: stay tuned!
Wheelhouse Detroit Bicycle Rentals in Eastern Market are presented in partnership with the Eastern Market Corporation.
Now Hiring Shop Help!
Job Title: Shop Helper
Pay Rate: $9/hour Hours: 10-32/week. Evaluation and raise after 30 days.
Location: Shifts are available at both Rivertown and Hamtramck locations.
Duties: A shop helper at Wheelhouse Detroit is an integral part of a busy, multi-faceted bike shop that services a diverse clientele with a strong focus on customer service. S/he will assist with renting bikes; general inquiries; minor mechanical issues such as changing a flat tire; restocking inventory; cleaning…and whatever else needs to get done!
Skills: The most important thing necessary for this job is the willingness to jump in and get your hands dirty! Scared to talk to strangers? Need not apply. This job can be high-energy and it can be fun. It can be stressful and it can be quiet. A successful candidate will be quick on their feet and nimble of mind. Must have weekend and holiday availability.
This job is the starting position at the Wheelhouse and, depending on your skill-set, can lead to another position at a higher wage fairly quickly (ie, Tour Sweeper, Mechanic or Retailer). Most shifts are 5-7 hours a stretch. No uniform is required, although we will provide you with a couple of t-shirts. No open-toed shoes. Fancy clothes are not recommended.
There will also be opportunities to pick up Bike Parking shifts, which also pays $9/hour and sometimes comes with free event tickets (ie, Movement Festival, Detroit City FC matches). It's probably the most fun you can have working.
This job is at-will, part-time and seasonal. Season is May-September.
Send resume and three references to info@wheelhousedetroit.com.
Spring Sale = March Madness!
To celebrate spring's arrival, Wheelhouse has a 25% off sale on cruisers & kids bikes from Sun, Origin8 bicycles, Chrome panniers & backpacks, Walnut Studiolo leather goods and all winter apparel!
Celebrate the coming of spring with our Major March Spring Sale! Selected bikes and accessories are 25% off!
Sun Bicycles: Colorful lightweight cruisers. Perfect for rollin' slow and comfy. Many color options. Single speed, 3-speed and 7-speed. Some with fenders. All with cushy seats. Used starting at $150; New starting at $289...LESS 25%. A few kids bikes on hand, too. Sale applies to in-stock 2016 cruisers & kids bikes only. Kids bikes start at $180 reg. LESS $25!
Origin8 Bikes: Street-smart quick ride. Option of riding single speed or fixed gear. Starting at $345...LESS 25%. In-stock Fix8 & Intersekt models only.
Chrome Industries: Panniers & Backpacks. Street-tested. Guaranteed for life. US-made. Starting at $160...LESS 25%.
Walnut Studiolo: Quality leather accessories including hand grips, 6-pack carrier & bottle strap. US-made. Starting at $24...LESS 25%.
PLUS...WINTER GEAR! Face it, you'll get a month of usage out of any winter gear you buy now and you'll start the next winter with some fresh stuff. 25% off sale includes the Weatherneck tear-away balaclava, knit caps, wool socks, winter gloves, bar ends and pedal covers.
Scroll through the slideshow to see some of what we have for sale!
New to Wheelhouse: USED BIKES!
The additional floor space we now are luxuriating in at Wheelhouse Detroit - Hamtramck means that we are able to add used bikes to our array of offerings. What does this mean for our customers? That we will be able to offer more quality bikes at even more affordable prices!
Some quick facts about our used bike program:
- With a few exceptions, the used bikes we carry will be targeted specifically towards the urban rider.
- We are sweeping the state for great deals on well-maintained unique bikes with quality components. Think Raleigh, Cannondale, OG Schwinn, Trek, Specialized, etc. You are not going to find Big Box reboots.
- Some of our rental fleet will become available for purchase.
- All bikes will receive a thorough going over by a professional mechanic prior to being offered for sale.
- Just like with our new bikes, all used bike purchases will come with a complimentary tune-up that can be used at any time ($50 value).
- This one is important: We are committed to stocking quality used bikes from legitimate sources at a fair market price. What does this mean? This is not a pawn shop. We will not be taking bikes of questionable provenance EVER.
If you are interested in trading in your bike towards the purchase of a new one, we can talk! We do ask that you provide proof of purchase or that the bike is registered with the City of Detroit or the City of Hamtramck and that the bike is one that was purchased at an IBD (independent bicycle dealer AKA a bike shop) not a big box store. We are not trying to be bike snobs, but we are also committed to quality.
You may as well know upfront that you should not expect to receive store credit equal to the resale value of the bike. As with most consignment-type operations, our internal costs must be accounted for, including staff time (both mechanic and administrative), insurance, taxes, and much, much more. If you are looking for the most cash possible out of your bike, by all means take it to Craigslist. But we promise to be fair and help you chip away at the purchase price of the bike of your dreams!
To see what we currently have available in terms of used bikes, check out our website. Questions? Email us at info@wheelhousedetroit.com.