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CLOSED Saturday, September 17 for Tour de Troit
The Wheelhouse crew is helping out at the 20th Annual Tour de Troit on Saturday, 9/17. We apologize for any inconvenience, but we love being a part of such a legacy cycling event in Detroit.
We’ll be back in action on Sunday, 9/18.
Service Series: Using an Air Pump
The very best way to prevent flats is by keeping your tires properly inflated, which we covered in the very first installment of our Service Series. But now you’ve gotta pump your tires up to their proper PSI.
If you don’t know how to properly use an air pump, you are not alone. Keep reading for a step-by-step instructional and GET PUMPED!
If you’re a video learner, this one from Park Tools is helpful. Please note you will more-than-likely be using the consumer head type of lever that they reference. In fact, the pump used in this video is the very one we have to loan out at the shop!
Tour de Troit Bicycle Rental
The Tour de Troit is coming up on September 17. If you’re coming in from out of town or haven’t had the opportunity to properly service your bicycle in preparation, you can rent a bike from Wheelhouse.
There are also a limited number of spaces remaining (7, as of 9/7) in our trailer — we can deliver your bike right to the Roosevelt Park ride start!
Pictured above from left to right, we have sport hybrids, comfort hybrids, or deluxe cruisers available.
Find out more about your options and reserve HERE.
September Tour Update
It’s hard to believe we’re already in a month-that-ends-with-an-R, but that’s how time has flown this season. But we’re here for some of the best riding weather of the year: Autumn!
This coming weekend, we have space on Saturday morning’s Music Heritage Tour and Sunday afternoon’s Belle Isle Tour. The former is a wonderful overview of Detroit’s numerous, influential, and harmonious contributions to the world. The latter shines a light on both the history and ecology of Detroit’s island gem. Both are a guaranteed great time.
On the 15th, there’s our final Thursday afternoon tour of the Riverwalk and Dequindre Cut and, on the 20th, our final visit to Eastern Market’s Tuesday Market. Both are quick, inexpensive, and easy rides that feel like a private tour because of their small size.
Wrapping up the month, there’s Architecture and Auto Heritage on the 24th and 25th, respectively. These are two of our most highly-regarded tours and usually sell out, so don’t delay!
Rolling into October, we have 5 tours - Public Art, Corktown, Belle Isle, Auto Heritage, and Architecture - with openings. If you were hoping to hop onto a Haunted Detroit Tour, they’re all full. But have no fear, you can set up a private outing for a spooky fun group ride - or any of our tours! - by reaching out to Linda at bookings@wheelhousedetroit.com.
We hope to ride with you this Fall!
Service Series: Frame Size
Instead of riding around like Deebo, we want to help you make sure you’re selecting a bike that fits you!
One issue we’re seeing is that a lot of internet bicycle companies use height to guide customers when selecting a bicycle. We find that inseam (or leg length) is a much more important measurement. Two people of the same height with different inseams (ie long legs/short torso vs. short legs/long torso) can ride different-size frames!
The easiest way to make sure your frame is properly sized is to stand over the top bar. You should have about 2 fingers-width between you and the frame.
Step-through frames are different, since the top bar of the frame triangle is angled downwards. In this case, you’ll want to focus more on how comfortable your “lean” towards the handlebars is rather then the height of the frame.
When we’re working with you on picking out a new bike, the frame size is the most important part. Think of it this way: when it comes down to it, anything except the frame can be changed on a bike! The frame is essentially the bike and you want to be 100% certain of its fit.
Just one more reason to Buy Where You Ride! Come by for a test ride of one of the awesome new bikes we have for sale and we’ll make sure you are comfortable and satisfied.
If you want to get real nerdy on frame size, check this out. Rabbit hole alert!
Labor Day Weekend
It’s hard to believe, but Labor Day Weekend is right around the corner.
We will be open on the holiday Monday 10AM-6PM — same hours as Saturday and Sunday. We encourage advance reservations for rentals. You save 10% and time! You can do so HERE.
There are two tours running:
Finally, we are thrilled to be partnering with the Detroit Jazz Festival to provide bicycle parking. You can ride down to Hart Plaza to listen to some first-rate tunes — FOR FREE — and there will be volunteers to keep an eye on your bike while you do!
This summer has been all-too-brief, so we hope you get to spend some of this Labor Day on 2 wheels!
Service Series: Saddle Height
One of the simplest adjustments to be made on a bicycle is to the height of the saddle. To be frank, Detroit, many of you are riding around with saddles that are waaaay too low!
From adjusting rental saddles dozens of times a day, we know that there are lots of people who feel safer with the saddle too low, as their feet can touch flat on the ground that way.
We encourage you to take some time riding around with it higher — your foot will come to the ground on a mellow tiptoe — and your knees and back will thank you! Plus, you get a more efficient “stroke,” which will make your ride that much easier.
Simply put, on the downstroke your knee should be slightly bent. Not fully extended — in that case, your saddle is too high.
If you have a quick release seatpost clamp, you can raise and lower your seat without a tool. If not, you’ll need a hex wrench (probably a 4, 5, or 6mm). As always, feel free to swing by the shop for advice and guidance!
Service Series: Flat-Fixing 101
Don’t let a flat be a ride-ender! Changing a flat isn’t that tough. We’ve created this 3-part series to help you be able to help yourself.
Part 2: Basics to Have on Hand (er, Bike)
Part 3: Let’s Do the Dang Thing!
If you prefer the hands-off model of bicycle maintenance, we got you! A flat change is $12 + cost of the tube (usually $8-10). We can typically do it while you wait or take a stroll on the Riverwalk.
1 Free Tour for Small Youth Group!
Last week, we were able to share a tour of the Detroit Riverwalk and Dequindre Cut with the Hamtramck High Outdoor Adventure Team. Thanks to the generosity of Dykema, we have one additonal free 2-hour tour for a youth group (sports team, scout troop, school or church group, not-for-profit org) that serves children in Detroit, Highland Park, or Hamtramck.
Here’s the fine print:
Weekday afternoons only;
A max of 6 youth + 1 chaperone (additional people can be added for a fee, but 6/1 are comped);
All participants must have some bicycle experience;
A waiver must be signed for each participant (by a parent/guardian if 17 or younger); and
We need a minimum of 7 days in advance to set it up.
If your group fits all the parameters, reach out to Kelli with 3 potential dates. If you don’t hear back, it’s because your request doesn’t fit the guidelines or a group that does reached out ahead of you.
Flat Fixing, Part 3 of 3: Let's Do the Dang Thing!
Now that you have the proper-size tube and the necessary tools, we’re going to jump in, get our hands dirty, and Change. That. Flat!
First, you’ll need to remove the wheel from the frame. We are actually going to devote an entire blog post soon about wheel removal but, for now, the experts over at Park Tool have a great how-to video HERE.
Remove the tire from the wheel. Use tire levers, if necessary.
Remove the tube from the tire and set the tire down; pull the tube out of the tire with the valve lined up with the top center of the tire - this will help you locate shrapnel in the tire, if any, later!
Inflate the problem tube and do your best to locate the puncture. Once you find the puncture, line it up with where that part of the tube was on the tire - do you see any glass or tiny wires in the tread? If so, remove the shrapnel.
Bike Shop Pro Tip: Take your fingers and gently feel the inside of the tire throughout the entire diameter of the tire. This will help you detect small wires and shards of glass you may not see on the outside tread or outside of your initial puncture location! Also, take this opportunity to inspect the steel bead and sidewalls of the tire, along with the outside tread, looking for any damage.
If the tube looks like it has a snake bite and you cannot locate anything stuck in the tire that may have caused it, you’re not crazy - it was likely caused by low air pressure and the tube got pinched between the bead of the tire and the rim (more common than you think)!
Take your new tube and add some air to give it some shape. 10 PSI should do ya. Place the tube inside the tire, lining the valve up with your P.S.I or the tire label is a bonus. (This will help you find flat-causers in the future, a la Step 2!)
Put the tire (with the slightly inflated tube snugly inside of it) back onto your wheel, one side at a time. Here’s where those tire levers come in handy again.
Attach your pump to your valve and slowly start inflating your tire to make sure your tube isn't trying to sneak out between the tire bead and the rim. (Putting the tube inside of the tire is usually very helpful in preventing this, which is why we mentinoed it!)
Once you’ve pumped about 25 PSI into the tire with no bulging, it’s safe to say that you’re good to go and you can inflate the tire to its maximum capacity.
Now put the wheel back into the frame and you’re ready to roll!