Motorad

Could I please hear feedback of LBSs you would recommend in the Southeast Region of Michigan? My township branched off (about 50 years ago) of its mother-city of Dearborn, MI.

There are no bike shops in my township, so could I hear the shops you would recommend (and why) in and around the Dearborn area?

Gimpdiggity

It's not Dearborn, but it's Michigan...

If you were ever in Lansing, Riverfront Cycle downtown is a great place to go. That's where I got my bike from.

Velociped Peddler in East Lansing is also a great shop to look at.

Sorry I don't know much about shops in Dearborn, but if you can't find any it might be worth it to hop on the highway and check out the shops in Lansing.

TomMc1

BikeSport in Dearborn is very close to you. They really specialize in Tri but also sell normal road bikes. THey mainly carry Cervelo and Felt but have other brands as well. Good fitting.

A little further away in Ann Arbor is Two Wheel Tango. I've had great experiences there as well. I also like the folks at Dexter Bike & Sport in Dexter in your head west on I-94 to Dexter it isn't too far from where you are.

TomMc1

Thanks for the info on Lansing shops. I just started a new job in Okemos and haven't ventured out looking for shops at lunch of after work yet.

Are there any good areas to ride like a state park?

thanks,
- tom

ElJamoquio

I go to one of three- Bikesport (now on Michigan Ave near Oakwood), Jack's (Michigan between Outer and Telegraph), and... well, the third I can't remember the name of, but it's right off of Hines Drive in Plymouth. The name is something similar to Trail's edge. I go there if I need another tube on a ride...

Gimpdiggity

If you're in Okemos, you should check out Velocipede. They are right on the strip between campus and Okemos...on Grand River near Park Lake road. Riverfront Cycle is downtown Lansing, near the Oldsmobile Park (the Lugnuts Stadium).

There is also a shop out near the Meridian Mall in Okemos, but I can't for the life of me remember it's name right now. But if you're looking for one near Okemos, check out Velocipede...I've heard lots of good stuff about them and was treated very well when I went in there to look.

As far as parks go, there's not a whole lot of big parks. However, there is a HUGE bike trail that goes down along the river walk. You can access it in many parts of town. They should have maps of all the trails and suggested routes in a book at the bike shops. The book is printed by the Tri-County Bike Association. https://www.biketcba.org/

Here's a link to the TCBA maps of cross town routes. Should include quite a few of the bike traisl, and includes LOTS of roads that are a bit "less traveled" by cars...
https://www.biketcba.org/Maps/crosstown.html

TomMc1

Thanks for the info! Are the trails just for bikes or do they have walkers, runners, skaters and or strollers on them as well meaning that the speed limit is 10mph? I ask because I ride mostly at Island Lake state park near my house but also ride at Kensington metro park. I ride on the roads at both but do use the path at Kensington to get from one park to the other. It has a lot of foot traffic and I get off it as soon as I can get back to the road.

3MTA3

ride boutique downtown brighton. two wheel tango in ann arbor.

TomMc1 is right on with kensington/ island lake. i'm there alot.

Gimpdiggity

Alot of those trails are things for foot traffic as well, but I've never seen any kind of speed limit on them. I've run the river trail at an average of about 15mph before...just got to be weary of the people on foot. Not alot of skaters to worry about, just walkers and joggers.

However, ALOT of those things on that map are actually bike lanes ON roads. Those ones you don't have to worry about much except for idiots in cars.

Cheezerod

bike sport is a great shop. the prices are vey fair and the staff is great. they do specialize in tri but know road VERY well!! you should check out there web site. I was born and raised in Dearborn adn still work there. alot of good cycling there! I try to ride there as often as I can. in the summer i get out there atlest once a week to ride hines and that little trail behind UofM D.

DieselDan

I thought bikes and public transportation were banned in the Detroit area?

3MTA3

pretty much.

ElJamoquio

No, but they do break all the glass bottles on the side of the road so that it's troublesome.

Actually, Hines Drive is a bike rider's dream, except for the steel-radial and glass debris that is sometimes on the side of the road. Unfortunately, the layout of the rest of the area has very few bike-friendly roads.