The State of the Supply Chain (TLDR: Not Pretty)

As we begin to see a light at the end of the tunnel in terms of leaving “these pandemic times,” there is an unfortunate reality: the supply chain is looking to be just as messed up as it was last year.

So we are gearing up for another season of bikes and parts shortages and increased costs -- both wholesale and freight -- across the board. I get multiple emails a week from our bike brand reps and distributors about this.

I encourage you to read up on the topic (if you can only read one article, the NYT one I posted below is EPIC). It feels to me like consumers don't really know about this even though it's a harsh reality for lots of businesses (hot tubs, kayaks, boats, appliances, to name a few off the top of my head). Just to put things in perspective, there are some tube and tire sizes we cannot find anywhere and we are still waiting on a shipment of bikes that we ordered in September 2019.

One decision we’ve had to make is that we will not be accepting deposits for individual special order bikes. While theoretically we can place individual bike orders, the reality is that wait times could be upwards of a year for fulfillment, and we do not feel comfortable being put into that position with zero control over the product.

In closing, pretty please be kind to people trying to do business but unable to get the stuff they need to do it properly. It's demoralizing to have to continually disappoint potential customers. Trust me, we want to sell you the bike stuff you need and want!

Here’s to understanding and patience in the coming season - Kelli

Further Reading:

‘I’ve Never Seen Anything Like This’: Chaos Strikes Global Shipping, The New York Times, 3/7/21

Broken Chain: Small and new brands hard hit by component shortage, Bicycle Retailer & Industry News, 3/7/21

Broken Chain: Why not build more factories? Here's why. Bicycle Retailer & Industry News, 3/9/21

Bike Shortages Will Likely Last Until Next Year, and Possibly into 2022, Bicycling, 11/6/20

It's Almost (Real) Spring! Time For Bike Service!

As I write this, we are in full-on construction mode at the shop. We’ve been planning this renovation all winter, and are really stoked as to how much it is going to enhance our efficiency.

We are currently booking service appointments for March 16 to 31.

Our March Special is free pickups and drop-offs for tuneups within the city limits. (Yes, that includes you, Hamtramck and Highland Park!)

A tuneup is $75 and includes brake and gear adjustment; minor (on-bike) wheel true; lube, check and tighten crank & headset. We’ll also wipe your bike down and get rid of the winter dust.

So email us at info@wheelhousedetroit.com to schedule whatever service you need. Let us know what you are looking for, times/days that work for you, and whether you’d like to drop it off at the shop or for us to come scoop it up. We can do as quick as same-day turn-around for tube and tire swaps. This is your chance to get your bike taken care of before the Spring rush.

We’ll be open for the season on April 2.

Haros Have Arrived Just In Time For Christmas

I know we all hear things like, “the supply chain’s a mess” all the time but unless you are inside of it, you might not realize just how bad it is. To wit, we still haven’t received bikes we pre-ordered in 2019 for the 2020 season, yet we are expected to put in pre-orders for 2021 because if we don’t, we may not get anything until 2022.

Every single one of our distributors says 2021 will be just as bad as 2020.

So it’s hard to explain how overjoyed we were to receive a small shipment of Haro BMX’s just in the nick of time for Christmas.

Here’s what we have available:

• 1 Downtown 26” in Black $440

• 2 Downtown 24” in Black $440

• 1 Downtown 20.5” in White $370

You can click through the photos for specs. We are happy to help you with a test ride or measurements to assure fit.

Please note our prices reflect freight costs. Unfortunately, due to the aforementioned supply chain issues, these cannot be absorbed into the bike’s cost at this time.

We are also able to deliver. Here’s a 26” that was pre-sold (in May!) on its way to its new home. This kid is gonna be so stoked on the 25th!

Please reach out to us at info@wheelhousedetroit.com to purchase or with any questions.

Rolling Out of 2020 with a THANK YOU

Before this year had arrived, I realized that 2020 would be our 13th year of operation. I joked about it being “Lucky 13,” with cautious optimism after having closed the Hamtramck location in 2019. There was a sense of failure, but also hope — after all, my life would be a tad easier without running back and forth between 2 locations, right?

The last emails in my inbox from early March are between myself and European tour operators, cruise ship companies, and other such tourism entities. I had been working over the winter with Visit Detroit to grow my outreach to active travelers.

Welp.

The next 2 months were spent pursuing grants and loans and freaking out at our ever-shrinking bank account.

Then we opened in May, and it was like I owned a completely different business. I spent so much energy saying “no” — you can’t come in without a mask…you need an appointment…we can’t get any bikes, saddles, tires, or any of the basic items that we sell…it will be 3 weeks for you to get your bike back from its tuneup…no walk-in rentals at this time…we cannot accommodate that size of a group — it was a real mind-bender as a small business owner whose number one goal is always to grow, to say yes, to enlarge! Suddenly it felt like we were operating from a dark corner.

But we did it and came out the other side breathing. For that, I thank my wonderful staff. We worked less hours, but harder hours. I also decided this was the year that we would begin to pay everyone a minimum of $15 an hour. I figured if that was the reason my business died this year, so be it. That’s not going away.

All my love to the incomparable General Manager, Tatiana — she is a rare bird of so many talents and such loyalty I feel lucky every single day that she is on my team. Linda managed our appointments and bookings like a champ. The number of emails and calls she chewed through with kindness and professionalism is simply awesome. Judith and Rob, our mechanics, faced a daunting amount of repairs and an inability to source all the parts we normally have access to. They are both talented, ingenius, and, most importantly, good people. And I can’t imagine getting through this year without Joseline’s steadfastness, unflappability, and reliability. We didn’t do many tours, but I appreciate the willingness of Mike, Amanda, Chris, and Reg to jump in during such a weird season.

Some silver linings: We developed a Virtual Tour app that we will continue to grow in 2021, and the National Bicycle Dealer Association named us one of America’s Best Bike Shops for the 6th year running.

The amount of support and congeniality among the Detroit small business community never fails to amaze me. And when times were darkest, the collective light shined so bright. There are many that inspired, but I really need to thank the fine folks from Trixie’s Bar and Canine to Five for helping out with our weird pandemic storage needs.

We were fortunate to receive support, financial and otherwise, from TechTown, Wayne County, DEGC, Invest Detroit, Robar PR, our amazing accountant Belal Majed, MEDC, the City of Detroit, Hatch Detroit, and Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses. We are also blessed with a friendly landlord in the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy.

In conclusion, thank you to every single one of our customers for patronizing us this difficult year. We are moving forward into 2021, our 14th season — and 14 is actually my lucky number, so that feels nice! — with high hopes, the proven ability to adapt, and the wish for peace, health, and happiness for each and every one of you.

Sincerely,

Kelli

Holiday Shopping At Your Convenience

We are currently open by appointment for shopping, both at the shop and virtually.

If you haven’t heard, the supply chain for bikes and accessories (and many many other things, right?) is a complete mess, and it isn’t getting sorted any time soon. So special orders are tough right now, it is kind of a what-you-see-is-what-you-get scenario. With that said, we do have quite a bit! All your basics, like helmets, lights, bags, pumps, baskets, bells, and locks. Components like pedals, grips, bar tape, etc. as well.

We have a small but mighty selection of new and used bikes, including folders, trikes, and more. Reach out for a test ride appointment!

Some great news: We have a handful of Haro 2021 Downtowns (20”, 24”, and 26”) arriving shortly and are currently accepting pre-orders. These are some of the best BMX bikes out there and we were fortunate to score some in time for the holidays!

Check out our array of US-made Winter gear HERE, including Wheelhouse logo hoodies.

Email us to set up a shopping appointment. We are responsive and flexible, we want to make this experience as convenient as possible for you. Buy where you ride! Thanks for your support!

Need a Repair? We're Here to Help!

We are currently Open By Appointment. Call it “off-season but not really.”

We are happy to meet you at the shop for drop-off and pickup. We are very communicative and flexible; you will have a confirmed time for bike drop-off, communication throughout the service process about timing and price, and a specified time to pick up after completion that works for you.

We can also come to your home or place of work and save you a trip! Pricing for this service is as follows:

• Within City Limits (including Hamtramck and Highland Park): $5 each way; FREE with full tuneup ($75)

• Inner Ring Suburbs: $25 round-trip; $10 with full tuneup ($75)

• Outer Ring Suburbs: $50 round-trip; $25 with full tuneup ($75)

More info about Service, including pricing, can be found HERE. To schedule that appointment, reach out to General Manager Tatiana at info@wheelhousedetroit.com. She’ll be in touch within 48 hours.

Ride With Wheelhouse Anytime With Our Virtual Tours!

You know those bright sunny Winter days that are rare and precious? Those are the ideal days to gather your household and head out on a Wheelhouse Virtual tour!

We have 2 to choose from: Auto Heritage and Corktown. Both are just under 10 miles and include 11 and 7 stops, respectively.

So how does it work? First, you download the Totago app, available for both Android and Apple devices. Next, you go to the “Wheelhouse Detroit - Auto Heritage Tour” or the “Wheelhouse Detroit - Corktown Tour” and pay for the download — it’s $15. The download includes a route map you can follow while you are riding along with marked stops. At each stop, there is a video included with your virtual guide there to give you information about the place where you are at that very moment! Here is a preview, this is the video that would play at the start of the Corktown tour: CORKTOWN START.

All the download linkage and tour details can be found at our website. And if you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Tatiana or Kelli at info@wheelhousedetroit.com. They’ll be glad to walk you through the process!

Next spring, we plan to launch several more Virtual Tours, so stay tuned!

We Got Warm, Cozy Winter Gear MADE IN THE US

Looking for cozy winter gear that will make for a great gift? We got you!

You can’t go wrong with a Wheelhouse hoodie! We have zip-up ($40) and pullover ($38) styles. They are high quality, long-lasting, American-made, and locally printed.

Keep those extremities toasty! We carry DeFeet wool socks ($13) and gloves ($30). They are warm, well made, and are also made in the US. (Sensing a theme here?)

We also have a range of classic Walz wool caps ($30-45) for the cool cat in your life. These made-in-the-US cycling caps work well for a range of functions from sporty to casual to dressy. We’ve got houndstooth, plaid, and solids.

And last but not least, the amazing Weatherneck balaclava system. It’s 2 parts, uses magnets to secure flexible connections, and is sewn in Milwaukee! It costs $40 and a solid investment for fall, winter, and spring due to its adaptability.

To make a shopping appointment, email us at info@wheelhousedetroit.com. We can also set up a virtual shopping appointment and deliver your selection(s)! We are flexible and aim to make your experience as convenient as possible.

Give the gift of FUTURE cycling while supporting your local bike shop TODAY!

While there are those that enjoy — or endure — cycling year-round here in Michigan, there is no shame in pedaling only 3 seasons a year. Seriously, no judgement here!

But that doesn’t mean that we don’t dream of great rides to come. And we have 2 convenient ways to give the gift of future cycling while supporting your local bike shop today:

GIFT CARDS

You can purchase a gift card in any denomination. We will mail it free of charge to either the gifter or the giftee. A personalized note can be included as well.

Gift cards can be used towards any retail purchase, any bicycle service (idea: tuneups are $75 so they’ll be ready to roll come Spring), or towards a private tour.

It couldn’t be easier: just fill out this handy dandy FORM and we will call you at the time you request to complete the purchase.

ONLINE GIFT CERTIFICATE

We also offer online gift certificates, which can be used to reserve a rental bike or towards a spot on a public tour. These do not expire and can be emailed to the recipient on the date that you specify.

More info and to purchase HERE.

Just a quick consideration: this gift supports and encourages a super-safe pandemic &/or lockdown activity. We’ve been operating above the minimum threshold for COVID safety and will continue to do so no matter what the future holds.

We truly appreciate each and every purchase this time of year (AKA hibernation). Looking forward to a happier 2021 and many more rides!

September Haps

It’s wild that our season is winding down when, in some ways, it feels like we just got started. Good news is that we’ve got a solid six weeks left, so let’s make the most of it!

TOURS

We’re offering a very limited number of public tours the rest of the season and, due to COVID caution, we are limiting the number of spots to six. Because of that, tours can sell out really quickly. Here’s how many slots are left:

• Sat 9/19 Corktown: 1 (Last open slot for this season, Oct Corktown tour is sold out)

• Sat 9/26 Public Art: 5

• Tues 9/29 Eastern Market : 4 (Last one of season)

• Sun 10/4 Public Art: 5 (Last one of season)

• Sat 10/10 Auto Heritage: 6 (Last one of season)

• Sat 10/24 Haunted: 5

• Sun 10/25: 3 Haunted (Last one of season)

We are also booking private tours, so if you’d like to gather a small group of up to six together, we’d be happy to accommodate you. Dates open include most weekdays and the following weekend days: 9/20, 9/27, and 10/3.

If you are schooling from home this year, may we suggest a tour as a great opportunity to combine exercise and local history. It’s very possible for our guides to weave in information about the environment, architecture, development issues, and history such as Prohibition and the Underground Railroad into our tours.

Reach out to bookings@wheelhousedetroit.com to get your group rolling!

And remember, we’ve launched a virtual tour app so you can tour “with us” on your own time and at your own pace. The first one we have to offer is Auto Heritage, and a couple more will soon be loaded up. Find out more HERE.

NEW BIKES

We have received a small shipment from Sun Bicycles, including folding bikes and trikes. We are expecting a shipment of BMX bikes from Haro, some hybrids from Kona, and some cruisers from Brooklyn Bicycles before our season ends. From all angles, it appears that 2021 will not be an improvement in terms of bicycle availability, so we are doing pre-orders now and will be accepting shipments through the winter (not ideal timing for a seasonal business, but we have to roll with the pandemic punches!). Stay up-to-date with what we have in stock at wheelhousedetroit.com/bikes.

SERVICE

This season was intense in terms of service. We were seeing so many bikes that had been sitting in a garage for decades, and we were able to bring so many back to life. Well, things have settled down, so our turn-around time is super fast right now. So bring your bike in or set up an appointment via info@wheelhousedetroit.com and we’ll get you riding in record time!