Larry Pelkey paints an old bike at his home in Hornell. (Spectrum News 1) HORNELL, N.Y. — Everyday heroes don’t always wear capes. Sometimes they quietly go about their business, making a huge difference in their community. That’s what’s happening in Hornell, where “Larry the Bike Man” has provided more than 1,000 free bicycles to local kids.
When Larry Pelkey retired a few years back, he knew he had to stay busy.
“I know I could use a hobby, that’s for sure,” said Pelkey.
He found it in old bicycles. Some purchased at local yard sales. Some were donated.
“I got thinking about it,” he said. “And next thing I know I decided maybe I could get a couple bikes and put them together.”
Three years ago, Larry’s home in Hornell started to become a bike repair shop. He began making old bikes new. And for all of his hard work, he won’t take a dime.
“I don’t sell any,” said Pelkey. “They’re all free — 100%.”Pelkey says he’s had almost 200 bikes donated this year. It’s not unusual to come home to three or four bikes left on his front porch. Kindness returned to a one-man crew who, up until three years ago, knew absolutely nothing about how to fix a bicycle.“It’s just me, myself and I,” he said. “I’ve improved a little bit there.”As mentioned, Larry’s house had become a bike shop. That is a wild understatement. Three upstairs bedrooms are full of bicycles.“I think the most I’ve had in the house is […]
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