Drop by Cary Smith’s place in Bradenton, and -- if he’s not sleeping -- there’s a pretty good chance you’ll find him working in his lanai-slash-bicycle shop.
- "Bike Guy" Cary Smith refurbishes bikes for the needy
- Smith active in Bradenton ministries
- Given away 170 bikes in last year and a half
After all, he is the "Bike Guy."
A man of deep faith, it was while volunteering to serve breakfast to the homeless and financially struggling that he had his epiphany. He heard a story of a local man who needed his bike fixed in order to get to work.
“It was at that moment God hit me on the head like a ton of bricks and I said ‘I can do that and I can do more than that’ and so that’s where it started back in December of 2014. I began the Bicycle Ministry,” Smith said.
While very active with numerous programs of downtown ministries, giving bicycles new life (and new owners) is Smith’s primary focus and joy.
“It’s not work at all," said Smith. "It’s absolute fun. I enjoy every minute."
The day Everyday Hero host Bill Murphy visited, a new load of bikes arrived from the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office. For Smith, each bike represents a life.
“You’re putting someone in transportation,” Smith said. “They were in their shoes walking before that bicycle. They don’t have driver’s licenses. They don’t have automobiles. Now they have a bicycle.”
In the last year and a half he has been able to find a home for 170 of his made-like-new-again bicycles.
No matter in what shape they arrive, most leave ready to ride. And the ones that don’t?
“I’ve got like 30 extra tires out in my shed. If I strip a bike that can’t be repaired I’ll save everything off that bike that I possibly can,” Smith said.
And for the hundreds of new bike owners and their new independence, Smith remains kind of an unknown factor with which he is fine.
“They don’t even know I have a first name. I’m the bike guy,” Smith said.