The Illiterate Cyclist

A Little Background Noise

15 year Veteran of the Bike Industry going it alone to offer the Detroit Metro area and beyond the best and most comprehensive bike service I can. I have run many bike shops across the country, lead multi-store service departments, been a Rep in the Recumbent world (we're not talking about it), a wheel builder, suspension tech, Inside and Outside Territory Manager for a few bicycle parts distributors, a Dealer Account Coordinator for helping shops globally build their repertoire for their local consumer needs, a multi-time organizer of Cranksgiving events, and highly proud to be a SAG Mechanic for Make-A-Wish Michigan and the WAM300 ride. I have been across the country quite a bit, but the Detroit area is where I want to lay the groundwork for supporting our bike community with the best mechanical support they deserve. Please see my Services section to get a better grasp. Also, please follow my often maniacal ramblings on Instaham @theilliteratecyclist or weekly updates on Facebook.

Highlander

There Can Be Only One

Repair Menu

Be it a proper bike tune-up, more singular and basic tweeks, custom wheel builds, suspension overhauls, and beyond; The Illiterate Cyclist has you covered.  Taking the Middle-Man out of the equation and by dedicating to the origins of a bike shop, The Service, allows me to offer you a better price, faster turn-around, and guaranteed, better results...because that's what I am known for.  

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Disclaimer:  The Illiterate Cyclist does not support any throttle driven bicycles.  And, I don't sell Schwinn's, nor do I buy them.

Tune-Up:  With A Side of Good Deeds

Proceeds Towards Make-A-Wish Michigan

The Summer of WAM Special! 

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Over the past few Summer's the Annual Wish-A-Mile 300 Bike Tour from TC down to Marshall has been the highlight of my year. A weird work vacation where I get up at 3 am, find myself wrenching in darkened parking lots an hour later, with just the best cast of characters I could ask for, and maybe get to bed at 11 pm...and then be ready to start over for the next day's journey. I believe we'd be going on the 34th year of the event this July, but then the World started falling apart. On average this generates $2.2 Million to go towards granting hundreds of Wishes each year for children, brave children, suffering from often incurable diseases that most strong adults couldn't burden. Now, the wishes can be as simple as a vacation trip to Disney World, a puppy (a freakin' puppy was purchased along the tour last year, folks), or something more selfless. Take Team Alex, who's namesake came from a young boy in the early 90's, who's wish was for a TV PSA to run on TV. The message was that if you saw a child suffering, in pain, in need of positivity; that you do the simplest thing of not looking away, but to give them a smile, just to show them that in their plight, people do care about them. And, in general, these wishes are to create memories for them and especially their families to keep with them after the potential of a life taken far too soon.

What am I doing, now that WAM is formally cancelled, and riders are struggling to garner donations in a more singular capacity in a virtual sense amid a far more cash strapped and weakened World? Exactly what Balthazar Impresario would do. My Meat N' Potatoes Tune is as standard $70, and is very comprehensive. Generally, as is, it's less expensive and better done than most anyone else's performance oriented tune in the area; because, as Ron Swanson said, "I know what I'm about, Son." So, if you opt for The Summer of WAM Special, the dollar amount now goes up to $100, but I split that 50/50 with Make-A-Wish Michigan through Aug. 16. At that point you are only paying $10 more than the "others" price, but you know a good chunk is going towards a very positive cause. Think about it, 20 repairs like that equates to $1000 towards the cause; and then I still can potentially keep the shop solvent (I hope). There can still be light at the end of this tunnel!

So, Ryan Reynolds, your PSA was great and all for MAW the other month; but, as I put it to the Avengers cast in a couple videos last July, "Come at me!"

#makeawishmichigan #WAMTour20 #theilliteratecyclists #ryanreynolds#supportyourbikeshop #ridejahbike

WAM 300

True And Honest Service

Make-A-Wish MI:  Wish-A-Mile 300 Bike Tour (Rider Sponsor, Tour Mechanic, Donor).  

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For the past 33 years, Make-A-Wish Michigan has had a Wish-A-Mile Bike Tour across Michigan the final full weekend of July.  Started as a challenge among a few riders in the 80's to raise funds to grant Wishes for children born with life threatening conditions; has now grown to a near 2000 rider strong group of people from across the country, raising on average $2.25 Million Dollars each year.  Normally, I would be the SAG Mechanic for the three day 300 mile tour from TC to Marshall, MI.  But, the World got flipped upside-down this year....  Most riders did smaller solo/virtual riders, or more singular rides with their respective Teams. Not to be undone, Monroe Cycling Club and local Gym Rats devised an advanced route to do the ride as planned, in legacy of the original riders and to keep the flame burning for the kids.  Adding two extra days with a Mackinaw starting point, we traversed MI to the Ohio boarder for near 500 miles.  Unplanned, my new SAG Vehicle for the business blew up right before reaching Traverse City (picture of me catching the group riding into TC, and their first mechanicals).  Luckily my Dad was able to drive up and offer me a loaner to make sure the riders were covered for the final, traditional 300 mile trek.  Butts rubbed raw from heat and hills.  Shaky interactions with gun and knife toting Rednecks in otherworldly parts of the Country, getting runoff the road by reckless motorists and truck drivers, and Satanists with time to kill...this was the darkest of timelines.  I was even asked to hop on my bike and join the Team as we shot to the OH boarder, death-sprinting in the Summer heat to find refuge under an abandoned gas station in a cornfield before the final push.

But, in the end, Monroe Wish Riders neared $40,000 in donations to Make-A-Wish; and through my tune-up specials and Go-Fund-Me, I got to $1230 of my $1500 goal.    Next year will likely be the most triumphant party by bike when we all come together as one group again.

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Cranksgiving

Respecting Luxury

Global Bike Based Scavenger Hunt:  To Collect Food To Feed Those In Need.  

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Sunday Nov. 22 (10-12:30):  You (Yes, You!) are going to be rippin' up the streets on your bike and best portaging device.  Riders will be given a multi-choice list of non-perishables and essentials to help fight hunger and help those in need.  All goods will be donated to Gleaner's Food Bank of Michigan the week of Thanksgiving.  This is now a 20 year strong Gobal event, doing a heck of a lot of good as we come into the more trying time of the year, especially with all that's transpired in 2020.  

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Where:  Well, the bike shop, of course, at 10 am.  We only had eight riders last year, without the shop, and under the new guise of The Illiterate Cyclist...but we collected 430lbs of food by bike in two hours!  I want thirty people on bikes this year.  Costumes welcomed...prizes at the end?!

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More details to follow on Facebook.  

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FB4K Detroit

TIC Bike Shop (Donation Location)

Free Bikes 4 Kidz (FB4K) is a non-profit organization running in a handful of major cities across the US. The main objective is to collect and refurbish children's bikes (12-24" wheeled bikes) from Oct-Dec; and then donate those bikes through partner organizations to help provide bikes to those families and kids most in need for a healthier and happier childhood....right around the Holidays!

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So, bring your gently used kids bikes (or those needing a slight touch of TLC). I'll do what I can with sprucing them up, and then deliver them to FB4K on the day's I'm closed (Wed). Very petite 26in bike's are likely OK, too. At the same time, I'll do what I can volunteering at their facility just North of Downtown Detroit at the Piquette building. You are also welcomed to sign up and volunteer for any bike savvy folks, or donate bikes directly at their hub.  They need volunteers!

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Click the logo to bounce to their site.

Gulable?  More of a Gula-Calf:  The Things I Get Roped Into.

Impeccable Results

Ride Edward Hines X Wayne Bicycle Club:  All Summer long, Edward Hines Drive is closed from Ann Arbor Trail to Outer Dr until about 3:30 in the afternoon, offering a long, safe stretch of road for Cyclist, Joggers, Walkers to use.  Sat. Aug 29, we will be posted up with the Wayne Bicycle Club at Nankin Mill or the park across the road for a bike ride, get together, and picnic from 10-2.  Offering free minor bike services (look for the Van and Flag).  Shop open from 2-5, otherwise.

Watermoo Gravel Race:  A 112 Mile Gravel and B-Road Bike Race through some of the Dexter/Pinckney/Chelsea area's most scenic and forgotten backroads.  TIC was there to offer whatever tweeks, flat changes, and other mechanical support riders needed on a long and dusty journey.  In collaboration with FitMi! (Pro Bike Fitting), Ann Arbor Velo Club, Ann Arbor Running Co, and Jolly Pumpkin Artisanal Ales.

Contact Us

Address:

33423 Ford Rd, Garden City, MI  48135

Email:

Phone:

989-450-9349