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!

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 and
the 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.

Haunted Detroit Bike Tour

Detroit Bikes! is hosting its 4th Annual Haunted Detroit Bike Tour on October 25. Sites include the Majestic Theater, Orchestra Hall, the Masonic Temple, the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Detroit Historical Museum, Wayne State University, The Bonstelle Theatre, The Fox Theatre, Grace/Harper Hospital, The Riverplace Grand Heritage Hotel and Elmwood Cemetery. It begins at 10 a.m. at the Millennium Bell in Grand Circus Park.

The 16-mile ride is free. Contact dialogue@detroitsynergy.org for more info or to volunteer as a mechanic or tour assistant. Helmets are mandatory.

Tours June 7 and 8

Wheelhouse Detroit, in partnership with Inside Detroit, has 2 great tours this weekend. Saturday’s will take in Downtown highlights and Sunday’s adds in Midtown (perfect for Festival of the Arts!). Call 313-656-BIKE (2453) to reserve a slot. Sunday’s is already filling up!

Read more about our tours here. Look for an announcement about nighttime tours in the next couple of weeks.

Another bike tour scheduled for this weekend will be led by Detroit Bikes! It meets at 10 a.m. at The Thinker in front of the DIA. The 4-hour tour will focus on art around town. More info here.

Nice weather is here

It’s great to see people out and about on their bikes again. Kelli and Karen both got their first flats of the year — kind of like the first robin of spring…

This Saturday, Detroit Bikes! will be swinging by the Wheelhouse while they ride around town. We’ll take a break from painting to say hello!