It was 'my bike shop'

No matter the front door one ventures through, being on the receiving end of a warm welcome is always a good feeling. Whether it be at someone's home, a church, a favorite restaurant, or any store — it makes a big difference when you are greeted like an old friend. And that's how I felt at Mathieu's Cycle & Fitness, from the very first moment I stepped through their front door.

That is when it became my bike shop. For more than 13 years; the last four as a member of the staff. Doing my best to serve others the way I was initially treated. And now it is all gone. For various reasons, that front door no longer swings open. But I take with me countless fond memories.

A memento now in my garden shed.

More than anything else, if you haven't already figured it out, it was the people at Mathieu's who made it such a special place. Long before I even worked there, if my bicycle was in need of a small adjustment I felt comfortable enough to stop by while out riding. More often than not, they would halt what they were doing and get me back on the road. Indeed, plenty of friendships were made, both with customers and colleagues.

While I'm nowhere close to being considered a qualified mechanic, I did learn a ton just through the "hanging out" factor and listening, especially from my eventual co-workers Alan and John. Those two guys — along with Casey, Nash, Steve, and the others — really knew their stuff and they were always willing to share their knowledge.

Certain days at the shop were particularly thrilling. Like anytime I received a brand-new bicycle from Trek or Specialized. It was like being a kid again on Christmas morning. And while I literally cleaned thousands of two-wheeled machines, I'll never forget the time I had the opportunity to beautify a bike that had once been ridden in the Tour de France.

And there were funny moments galore. Scooting around the shop on a just-assembled kid's bike or goofing around when waxing the floors, placing a mop on my head. I even managed to generate a few laughs on the final day. Putting the finishing touches on a new bike, I over-inflated a tire just a tiny bit. At first, I could see the tube seeping from around the rim, then slowly growing into a large balloon. Oh no, past the point of no return. Wait for it — BANG! Even though I momentarily lost the ability to hear anything, I'm pretty sure there was a lot of chuckling going on at my expense.

Once I became employed at Mathieu's, there's no denying that the deep discounts were a nice perk. I was able to obtain items that enhanced my cycling experience, but couldn't justify the spending prior to being hired. However, it was just a small part of why I enjoyed working there. Simply put, the whole atmosphere further intensified my passion for riding a bicycle. I loved being a part of those kind of surroundings; honestly, I already miss it.

I'm so grateful to the owners, David and Lisa, for giving me the chance to work at Mathieu's. As I said earlier, it became my bike shop for so many reasons — a place of relationships that is going to be very difficult to replace. Thank you!