If only in Detroit…

You don’t need to understand Japanese to get this video. If only bells had such power on the Detroit RiverWalk!

Adieu, Adieu!

Wheelhouse would like to wish a fond farewell to two of our favorite people at the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, Bill Bohlen and Caroline Marks. Bill, the operations director for the DRFC was our go-to guy with any questions or problems, and Caroline did so much to help get the word out about our new business. We wish you both the best and insist that you come visit regularly. We’ll miss you!

Win free bike rentals!

Channel 4’s “Free Friday” is giving away a Riverfront Package that includes 4 free 2-hour bike rentals. Enter for a chance to win here.

Dequindre Cut Re-Cap

The opening of the Dequindre Cut was truly lovely. Can’t say much about the speechifying, because we were too busy transporting (where was Jason Statham when we needed him?) 10 bikes from the shop over to the Cut!

Two of our cruisers were used to string the ribbon across the Cut for the grand snip. After the ceremony, there was a parade down the Cut with marching bands, walkers, roller bladers and, yes, bikers! Then we offered free 1/2-hour rentals so folks could ride to the end and back. We estimate we did about 35 or so — and between that and the wind knocking our bikes over, Alex and Kelli were busting butt the whole time! But well worth it — it seems like good times were had by all.

Read more about it at the Metro Times or watch this video!

The Last Word

Kelli & Karen had “The Last Word” in this week’s Real Detroit.

We know we are dorks.

Here’s a sample:

What was the most exciting thing about being down here finally and what was the biggest challenge that you faced?
KK: The challenge was to get the word out, get people to come down here and see biking as a feasible entertainment option — not just for people who ride regularly. One of the most exciting things is when we rent to people from other places. You go to most major cities and renting a bike is not abnormal. They come here and expect to rent a bike and have Detroit deliver for them — it’s not a radical experience for them. Getting to see a city by bike is awesome, and allows a fair view of this town that not many visitors get to see.
KG: On the flipside, I love it when Detroiters and residents and local people come in and are like, “Whoa! That’s whats up.”

Check the whole thing out here!

Also, remember to come out tomorrow between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. for the grand opening of the Dequindre Cut! We’ll be at the Woodbridge (south) entrance with free bike rentals, coupons and of course, info about tours, group rides and all that kind of fun stuff.

Congrats to our friends + bailout for bikers

Congrats to our two (other) favorite Metro Detroit bike shops, Continental and The Hub, for being named 2008’s best by Metro Times staff and readers, respectively. Kudos!

Wheelhouse was mentioned as part of “Detroit’s Best Step Forward” category, which the RiverWalk won.

Once a terribly neglected resource, Detroit’s riverfront has been transformed into a true gem — we’d say a sapphire, given the sparkling blue waters now easily accessible because of the lovely promenade constructed in recent years under the guidance of the nonprofit Detroit RiverFront Conservancy. When completed, the walkway will stretch from the Ambassador Bridge to Gabriel Richard Park (just past the MacArthur Bridge leading to Belle Isle). The first phase has focused on the 3.5-mile section that starts at Joe Louis Arena and continues east; nearly 3 miles of that portion are complete. New features added this year at the Rivard Pavilion — site of the Cullen Family Carousel — include the Wheelhouse Detroit, which provides bike rentals and tours, and RiverWalk Café. If you haven’t walked the riverfront lately, now’s the time to check it out. You won’t be sorry.

Cool! Read more of the MT’s Community Chest picks here and The Glories of Capitalism here.

Buried in the fine print of the economic bailout package is good news for bike commuters: a tax credit for commuting to and from work. It’s not a lot, up to $20 per month, but maybe it’s a start. From treehugger:

It allows for a “qualified bicycle commuting reimbursement” for “reasonable expenses incurred by the employee during such calendar year for the purchase of a bicycle and bicycle improvements, repair, and storage, if such bicycle is regularly used for travel between the employee’s residence and place of employment”- your bike expenses, up to 20 bucks a month, can be covered by your boss as a benefit tax free.

Read more here.

Tricentennial Park Expansion

Just to our east, the state of Michigan has begun construction on the wetlands that will expand Tricentennial State Park and will include pedestrian and bike paths. It’s quite exciting on a couple of levels: we’re going to be next-door to wetlands (seriously, how cool is that!) and the RiverWalk will extend yet farther east. m-bike has some pics. Good news for the city and the state. And we can all use that these days.

Things that make us happy

1 – Beautiful autumn weather – best cycling of the year!

2 – The fact that construction has begun on the expansion of Tricentennial State Park — next year we will be next-door to actual wetlands. Amazing.

3 – 3 days and counting to the Tour de Troit — see you there!

Parking liberation

Breaking News: The parking lot adjacent to Rivard Plaza is back to free!

Parking Announcement

There is now a $2 charge to park in the lot adjacent to Rivard Plaza. If you are dropping off or picking up a bike for service, please pull into Rivard directly south of Atwater. Sometimes the gate is open for the free lot otherwise, you can just pull up to the fence.

We are sincerely sorry for any inconvenience and we are doing our best to figure out a better long-term solution to this problem.

UPDATE: At least for now, the lot just west of the building is being kept open for our customers.