HOW PALACE TREATS EVERY CYCLIST LIKE ROYALTY

(This article first appeared in the Cumberland News in July 2000)

"ONE of the really good things about today's increased popularity of cycling is that bicycle owners are no longer seen as offbeat or unusual," says Mike Lee, owner of Palace Cycles in Botchergate.

Getting on your bike is more popular than ever today, and swelling the ranks are thousands of leisure riders who want comfort and maintenance-free riding as a priority.  There is no better place than this cornucopia of all things to do with cycling for those intent on buying a bike, or any of the other accessories that go with it (such as multi-functional leisure clothing) for the fairest price in the county.

To top off a successful year's business, Mike has recently been awarded the dealership of Cannondale, the prestigious American brand of bike, all hand-built to the highest spec in Bedford, Pennsylvania, and costing from £529 to £3,000.

Mike says: "We only stock the finest bicycles, quality models, which we would buy ourselves - such as those made by Orange, Scott, Dawes, Giant and Saracen. The fact we are now agents for Cannondale adds power to our elbow in being able to give the customer the very best value in bikes in the area."

This well-established business has been in the Lee family for 51 years.  Mike Lee took over from his father, Bert, in 1992 after returning from a long cycle trip through Asia. Today he carries on the good work by expanding the business. Palace Cycles is now double its original size, stocking approximately 200 bicycles and displaying at least 80 new models for customers to browse through in a fine showroom.

Prices range from £150 to over £2,000, with a £130 mountain bike representative of a reasonably priced cycle with good alloy parts and nice design. Guarantees always accompany each new bike sold - varying from a five-year-warranty to one that lasts a lifetime.
And Mike also stocks a good range of different models including mountain bikes, hybrid bikes, touring bikes and racing bikes - popular in summer when interest is generated by the Tour de France.

Women's bicycles are something of a speciality at Palace Cycles, too. You can even buy a bike for a child from the age of two upwards.

Mike goes on to say: "We have a strong emphasis on customer service, and we like to help the non-cyclist to buy a model, which will give them pleasure and good use. We have a good customer base who have been most supportive when we had smaller premises and who have remained loyal customers over the years.

"Our philosophy is that cycling should be for everyone whether as a leisure sport, a means of commuting to work or for the enthusiastic user".

"We have a strong, fast repair service and committed, trained and enthusiastic technicians. We also offer a specialist service in building wheels for cyclists who have a preference for certain hubs, brakes, rims and spokes. The one thing we do not do is try to bamboozle people with jargon".

"Modern bicycles are designed to make riding easier and more pleasurable for the newcomer to cycling and we believe in keeping the advice we give to customers simple, helpful and to the point."