Origin Story: MadCat Bicycles



MadCatters (left to right): Ross Stewart, Kris Morin, Eddy Fontes, Hank Mini, Nick Almond, Mike Upchurch,
Phil Montbriand, Tony Troy with Avery Morin on the one purple bike in existance that Mike didn't ride. 



It all began with a purple Stingray bicycle. Purple wasn't even the original color. It was a painted purple Stingray, given to him at the tender age of four, that started Mike Upchurch on the trail to becoming owner of MadCat Bicycles. Once he outgrew that chick-magnet he upgraded to riding a Miyata road bike along the Garden Highway -where he lived as a boy- so he could visit his friends. Mike found that neither Stingrays nor road bikes could fire his blood like the off-road adventures that only a mountain bike could provide so when he got out of the Navy he went straight to the bike shop with a buddy and procured a Rockhopper. A green bike with PURPLE accents (which he further outfitted with purple toe clips). With all the red and black floating about the MadCat logo who would have known of Mike’s secret passion for purple.



Mike Upchurch, Eric Taylor and Dawn
Grove at MadCat. Mike helped organize the
donation drive for Eric Taylor last spring.

I am hoping the fact that we have known Mike for a few years will get us off the hook for the Barney-ish line of teasing. I think we’re safe though, because that is one thing Mike has in spades; a sense of humor.  Which could very well be one of the secrets to Mike’s success; people like Mike and like hanging out with him. In return, he likes hanging out with his fellow cyclists - hence the hideously wonderful gold couch that is the center piece of his modest bike shop in Sacramento. He may not win an award from the Interior Designers Association for good taste but MadCat certainly got the vote for Best Bike Shop 2011 from the KCRA A-List with over 2,300 votes. So maybe owning a great bike shop is more than how many bikes you have but in your attitude.

Interviewing Mike was a challenge in his very busy shop.
Mike is helping customers in the background while
Eddy and Tony field question in the foreground. 

MadCat is all about attitude and a different type of business model: “We are kind of a non-profit” Mike jokes, “we make enough to pay the bills but not too much more.” Mike measures his success by smiling faces and how many people he is helping to get on a bike. He does this by focusing on service and he strives to run a business based on “good, honest service and approachability”.  He admits that, just like everyone, they are not immune to making the occasional mistake, but he prides himself on his commitment to "making it right" claiming; “It’s what you do after a mistake that makes the difference”.

Jax crashes on the famous gold couch.

Mike’s background in marketing and his experience working at Peak Adventures for many years had a lot to do with his current business philosophy. His job was service oriented and it was his number one mission to make the customers happy. When Mike was laid off from his full time job at Peak Adventures in 2004 he worked for a while on an indoor mountain bike facility but when it became clear after nine months that Mike “needed to get a job” he discovered an existing bike shop location and inventory that was for sale. “It was essentially me buying myself a job that I wanted.”

Always something happening.

The transition from the former bike shop to MadCat happened, quite literally, overnight: “On Monday night they closed their shop and Tuesday morning MadCat was open for business.” The first few years were tough as Mike pulled ten to twelve hour days, six or seven days a week. Even through such a gruelling schedule Mike never lost his love of riding and his passion for the adventure and technical challenge of mountain biking has morphed into his current appetite for the intense challenge of cyclocross. He has finally reached the point where he takes weekends off, he explains that he makes less money that way but the peace of mind and being able to enjoy his family and cycling makes it worth it. Of course, even when Mike is “off work” he finds himself fielding questions from fellow cyclists and he is “always on”. When asked if he ever gets tired of it he asserts that he doesn’t mind at all because he is doing what he loves.

So it’s 2011 and the little boy on the purple painted Stingray has grown up into one of the most well-known bicycle shop owners in the region. Mike helps run and/or sponsors many of the most popular cycling events in our area. You see Mad Cat shirts and jerseys all over the place and the MadCat racing crew is kicking ass and taking names (in the nicest possible way). The popularity of MadCat has reached near cult proportions and doesn’t seem to be ready to pause and lick off the road dust any time soon.  

 

Editor's Note: MadCat will be holding their 5th Annual Bike Swap this Sunday at their location from 8 am to 12 noon. Therein you shall find bikes, music, raffles and PANCAKES!

THE END

Next Origin Story: Body Concepts (once we get their group photo...)