BLOG
Gift Guide: Adventurer
This is the guy or gal that puts more miles on their bike that you ever thought possible...typically in jeans and a hoodie. To this cyclist, we bring gifts that will make those miles even more pleasurable.
Green Guru Townie Cooler - A great place to store some ice cold bevs or easy to grab tools right on your handlebars when you’re out riding 60 miles a day. Made in the USA out of upcycled materials. $38
Ironweed Orpington - Handmade in Iowa City, this water resistant 100% cotton canvas front bag was designed with the Midwest in mind - more machine shop-esque than fashion top. Best fitted on a front rack, this roomy bag is equipped with easy on and off side release buckles and has stainless steel D-rings. $105
Cygolite Dash Pro 600 / Hotrod 50 Combo - Engineered for road cyclists, these lights enable an extra wide, long range beam to maximize line of sight, beyond its exceptional night capabilities. USB rechargeable; all weather conditions; 600 lumens; the perfect gift for any touring cyclist in your life. $59.95
Dimension Compass Bells - Rings loud and clear with a built-in accurate compass (not completely accurate if you’re in an area affected by magnetic fields because, science). $6.99-$8.99
Topeak Mini 18 Plus Multi-Tool - 1-piece super lightweight folding tool comes with 18 tools total: 2, 2L, 2.5, 3, 4 (2 each) 5, 6, 8, 10mm Allen wrenches, T25 Torx wrench, 15g/14g spoke wrenches, cast chromoly steel chain tool, super hard anodized aluminum tire lever, Phillips/Flat screwdrivers, steel bottle opener and chain tool with pin breaker. The real deal and a must for anybody commuting long distances. $32.95
Topeak Road Morph G - A touring favorite, this light weight pump mounts onto any frame with its sexy butted aluminum barrel. With its fold-out foot pad, it is a true treasure to any road cyclist.
Cateye Padrone Smart Cycling Computer - Upload your riding data with a press of a button. Bluetooth Smart technology enables riders to view calls, emails, texts, and ride data in real time on one of the largest cycling computer displays available. 1-month of premium Strava membership included with purchase. $90
Nite Ize HandleBand - Universal phone mount that will fit almost any bar diameter and most smartphones. Bonus: it doubles as a bottle-opener! $23.99
Park Tool SW-7.2 - Triple spoke wrench fits perfectly in your hand. Comes in handy when you’re busting spokes out on the road in the middle of nowhere! Just ask Dan. $8.54
Zefal Raider Front Rack - More rack means more stuff you can carry with you on your trip! This ultra-resistant lightweight rack is a great starter and can accommodate up to 40 lbs of camp gear, beer, or whatever your heart desires. $49.99
Saris Bike Racks - Made in the USA with a lifetime warranty; these car racks are not what you’ll find at a department store. Every single rack is designed to accommodate a specific vehicle for a superb and safe fit, this company truly stands behind their brand. Trunk, Hitch, and specialty racks start as low as $150
Saris Bike Beam - Ever wonder how to carry a step-thru bicycle frame on a trunk rack and it not fall off on the highway because you rigged it? Here’s your answer! $40
Gift Guide: Noob
This buddy just got a bike this summer, so the best gifts ever will be geared towards gearing them up!
Lights - Headlights and taillights are an important accessory that every bike rider should have (legally) on their steed. Be seen and be safe! Pictured above is Planet Bike’s Beamer 1 + Blinky 3 durable cycling safety set that you can snag for $30 with a lifetime warranty. We carry both headlights, tail lights, and sets ranging from $10-$139.
Portable Pump - A must have for your tool kit on the bike. If you catch a flat, this (pictured) Crank Bros. Sterling Pump can and will be your best friend. We have an assortment of other portable pumps from Planet Bike, Zefal, and Topeak $24.99-$42.95
Tire Levers - These trusty little levers will help you get them tight tires off without damaging your rim. $3.99-$6.49
Multi-Tools - Perfect in any tool denomination for any biker! These mini multi tools range from 6-18 bike specific tools (e.g. allen wrenches, phillips/flat head screwdrivers, chain tools, etc.). $9.95-32.95
U-Locks - Keep that bike safe! We highly recommend u-locks for urban and suburban riders alike. All of the u-locks we stock come with a theft insurance program that protects your investment anywhere from $500-$4500 with a simple registration on their websites. We carry Kryptonite and OnGuard locks ranging from $26.95-$143.95
Saddle Bags - Commonly referred to as “Seat Bags,” these bags (that fit conveniently under your saddle) make carrying a mini tool kit easy and fun. We stock different brands to fit a ton of personalities: Green Guru, Timbuk2, Jandd, & Sherpani ranging from $16.95-$28
Floor Pumps - Give the gift of less flats and an overall better riding experience! Pumping up is at least a once a week ritual if you plan on riding everyday. If you don’t bike daily and are more of a few times a month kind of rider, we recommend that you inflate before every ride. We carry Joe Blow, Topeak, Park Tool, and Pedros. $34.95-$49.69
Helmets - Brains before beauty! We stock a helmet for everyone’s tastes in a range of different colors and styles (e.g. BMX, retro, sport). $28.99-$99.00
Holiday Gift Guide: Artsy
We've all got that friend or family member who looks effortlessly cool while pedaling around town. Their je ne sais quoi merits some additional style points this holiday season.
Kryptonite Krytolok Series 2 Mini-7 - 13mm hardened performance steel shackle resists cutting and leverage attacks. Up to $1750 in theft protection when registered. Available in 4 fun colors: Pearly White, Merlot, Blue, and Orange. $42.95
Bicycle Coloring Book - Cooler than your average adult coloring book, especially for bike lovers. Vol. 2 by Taliah Lempert $10
Jodi Lynn Art Prints - Bicycle, Hamtramck, and Detroit inspired. Support a local artist this holiday season. $20
Monkey Light M204 - 40 lumen, 4 LED, full color visibility. Depending on your mood, you can even switch the color theme with a simple click of a button. Made in the USA for all weather conditions backed by a 2-year warranty. $25.99
Lightweights Power Reflectors - With 86 pieces in a set, you can design all sorts of patterns that are hardly noticeable until hit with a beam of light. $14.99
Altro Sunglasses - Shades in all sorts of fun colors and styles with a lifetime warranty; polarized & non polarized available from $30
Bring A Ling Bells - Locally produced with Detroit scenery. For every bell bought, $1 is donated to the Tricycle Collective which helps keep Detroit families out of foreclosure. Bell with a bang! $14.99
Microism Publishing Magnets - For the fridge, for the tool box, for the car. These magnets are sure to attract and charm. $4.72
Jodi Lynn Magnets - Not only does Jodi do prints, she also makes magnets! If your giftee is into old school cycling heros, you just found that one quirky one-of-a-kind gift. $12
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.