Good Bike Karma- Paying it Forward...

[Running Mommy]

Haven't had much time to post lately, as the shop has been crazy busy. We are truely blessed to have such great customers, and so many that have become friends.
We are also blessed to have the best Manager/lead mechanic in the land.
And last week I learned just 'WHY' he's such a great person.
As you may have read in previous posts, running hubby, son, and our manager have started racing out at the bmx track.
Well there is a kid out there that was racing on a pretty heavy bike. He always got SOOO close, but could never quite catch his competition as he was on such a lighter bike. This kid is the epitome of a sportsman. He takes all the new kids under his wing and shows them the track, gives them tips, and is always friendly with everyone- even the ones that beat him.
When we started racing out there he took our manager under his wing and showed him the ropes.
Meanwhile he was asking me how much a new bike would be. I later found out that he was trying to sell his RC cars on ebay to finance a new bike.
I'm not sure of his financial situation at home, but I know they didn't have the money to just go buy him a bike.
A week ago his dad pulled me aside and asked me how much a new bike would be. I told him I would check prices and give him the best deal I could. Truth be told I was going to give it to him at cost.
Well last Monday morning our manager came to me and told me he wanted to sponsor him- he wanted to buy him a bike. I told him that I would help as well.
We called Intense to see what was available, and then went to work. He loves blue, and we couldn't get him a blue bike, so we changed out a bunch of parts with blue ones. He ended up getting about a 900.00 (retail) bike.
This boy lives near Justins family, so they were in on it. I asked Justins mom to bring the kids by the shop before racing on Friday, so we could present it to him.
He had NO IDEA, and as I was talking and telling him how his "sportmanship has not gone un noticed" he started shaking. I think he was realizing that something big was about to happen. When we wheeled the bike out to him he almost burst into tears. It was just the best moment I've had in a long time!
We had a customer in the shop at the time and she was blown away by it all.
I guess when he got in the car the first thing he asked to do was call his Grandma. And when we got to the track his parents attacked us with hugs.
To us, it was just paying it forward for the blessings we have been given.
It's just so cool seeing such a deserving kid ride by you with such a wide grin on his face!

[redrhodie]

I can hardly write through my tears. What a wonderful thing to do!

[Blueberry]

Wow!! How very cool You guys ROCK!!!!!

CA

[tulip]

What a wonderful story! That put a big, big smile on my face. Thanks for being so generous and sharing (to your customers, community, and us).

[Running Mommy]

Thanks ladies.
I have another one.

a couple of months ago we had a guy come in the shop with a hard luck case. He was riding in on an old Diamond Back mtn bike.
His story (true or not we don't know) was that he was riding across country and his bike and all his gear had been stolen. The sherrifs office had given him the diamond back out of their unclaimed locker, but he needed a road bike to get across the country.
He was american indian, so the BIA had given him some money. He handed me a chunk of money and asked me if I had a bike I could sell him.
I ended up selling him a low end Jamis road bike at about 24.00 under my cost. I didn't want to take all his money.
He left us with the Diamond Back, and everyone teased me about my trade in.
Well a couple of weeks ago a guy from the Phoenix fire dept called me. They have a guy with special needs that they've taken under their wing. Apparently the guy gets everywhere by bike. I guess he was in an accident and the bike was totalled. So they were looking for a cheap bike for him. I ended up giving him the Diamond back, and apparently the man was thrilled. It was a beater bike in our minds, but it was gold to this guy.
So again, just practicing good bike karma and paying it forward.

[Mighty Mo]

Awesome story!

[mtbdarby]

Denise - YOU GUYS ROCK!! I just love reading these wonderful stories.

I think you need to post some pix of this fine rider and his new bike so we can see the purdy thang (the bike of course!).

And how is Justin doing?

[Wahine]

Denise - I love you guys!! ((((((((HUGS))))))). That is just the greatest. You made me cry. I'm coming to Tempe sometime just to meet you. I'll wait until winter though I think.

[Zen]

that kid is going to remember that moment for the rest of his life.
Thank you and everyone at the shop.

Re- the Diamondback.
I hope we can tall take a moment and appreciate how good our lives really are.

[sundial]

When we wheeled the bike out to him he almost burst into tears. It was just the best moment I've had in a long time!

I am so moved by your generosity. Thank you for being who you are.

[Crankin]

I wish we had known a shop owner like you when my son was racing. Although we could afford the bike, all of the things he had to buy added up and up and up... and then we had to get a better bike, a cross bike, and another better bike. If they had just given him a little shwag for gratis, it would have gone a long way. Junior racers get treated like doo-doo to begin with, and they could have had a lot more business from us if Scott had been treated better. As it was, my husband became a "mechanic," because it would have been unbelievably expensive for us to pay for all the work he had to get done.
You rock! I will definitely be stopping by when I'm in Tempe during the next year.

[KatyLady]

What great stories!!! Thanks for sharing them with us.

[jesvetmed]

Way to go Denise. I always believe in the Kharma.... it's sad that many don't. Way to be a shining light in your community! That stuff ought to make the papers instead of all the other "*%#*" we have to read about daily!!

You've given me chills on a hot day! THANKS!
Wish I could bring my business to you guys! Kind of a long drive or ride, though.

Jes

[PinkBike]

oh great, i'm at work at one of the public computers and getting tears in my eyes while i read this thread.

denise, you bless others and are so blessed in return. good on ya.

[melissam]

RM,

It's stories like this that help restore my faith in humanity. Thank you for sharing!

- Melissa