A Special Note from Mike.
Thanks! Many of you have been on rides with me this year and in years past.
I am writing you today to say, Thanks for taking the time to drive up or down to Ellijay and ride with Cartecay Bike Shop. Story time.
1976 Happy Birthday America! 200 hundred years! The Bicentennial party. I was in the fifth grade and walking. Our fifth grade class was told to bring your bicycles to school to be in a three mile parade. One kid in the class did not have a bike. Guess who! The class decorated the bikes with red, white, and blue ribbons. All I could do was stand around and watch.
I was in the middle of a large crowd of students waiting to walk three miles while all of the fifth graders rode their bikes. That was the longest three miles I have ever walked. I will never forget that day.
Soon after I started working at a small bicycle shop in Atlanta. My father and I tried to weld old bikes together to make something work. Bottom line is we could weld forks together.
I finally saved up enough money to buy a bicycle. Budweiser sneakers from Family Dollar, old jeans, t-shirt. They said who is this kid, six foot tall with a afro and moustache that just demolished the world champion. This kid would always turn around and shake his competitors hands after every race, not knowing he was being watched by the managers wife of the Schwinn Factory BMX squad.
Three months later a thirteen year old kid signed a five year deal with the Schwinn Company. The contract was nine pages and my father and I did not know what we had signed because we both could not read. All I could remember were the people in life that said you would never make it. My oldest brother showed me how to read cycling magazines, while my sister would drive and cook for me during those years and mom and dad would work. Bicycling was and is a family sport.
Now there is a third generation of Palmeri’s riding and racing bicycles. I am proud of where I came from. I am proud of my shop and most of all I am proud of my loyal customers. We ride bikes. We love bikes. We love people who love bikes. The next time you are searching for a part or a bike, remember our shop.
Everyone thinks about price but what price do you pay for a relationship where we care about you as a friend and customer? Our commitment to you is a good product and good service at a fair price. We only ask for a chance to serve you. Let’s work together to keep Cartecay Bike Shop around to serve you for many more years. I am committed to cycling as I am committed to you. As long as we have our legs we can always ride!
Friday October 7, 2005 I depart from my house (in Ellijay, GA) to ride to Illinois by bicycle. Special Thank you to Charlie for working on my bike for the trip. Doyle Stanley for safety control. Plan your next adventure with Cartecay as soon as I return. Thanks to all of you. — Mike Palmeri
Mike Palmeri is the owner of Cartecay Bikes in Ellijay, GA and one of my biggest supporters. Thank you Mike!