Palmer Alaska

Today my dad handed me two tickets to the Matsu Miners vs. Anchorage Bucs game and told me to go. So I did. And this is what it was like:

I had never been to a baseball game before, much less one played by Palmer’s very own baseball team. The Matsu Miners began under the name the “Valley Green Giants”, but changed to their current name in 1980 to emphasize the important of mining in the Mat-Su Valley. The team is one of six in the state which compete against each other for a chance to go to Kansas for the National Baseball Congress championship.

Today the stands were packed with young and old. The atmosphere was rather hushed for most of the game in hopes it would boost the players’ concentration. One of the volunteers working the concessions stand told me more than 1,002 people payed to come and watch the game. That plus all those with season passes and gifted tickets led to packed sidelines and grandstands.

“We sell bicycles, not groceries!” declared Tony Berberich when asked why I should buy a bicycle here instead of from a department store. Backcountry Bicycles is located on the NW corner of the intersection of S Alaska St and W Arctic Ave (Old Glenn). Tony fits bicycles to people. If the bike isn’t comfortable, he works to make it so or finds a different one.

“We want people to ride bikes.” People go out and buy fancy uncomfortable bikes, use them for a couple weeks and then hang them in the garage like a trophy. The bike shop is here to make sure people get out and ride; maintain a healthier lifestyle. Sometimes Tony even gives bikes away for a good cause. Check out the article in the Frontiersman about this.

Backcountry Bicycles offers road, BMX, mountain, comfort, and commuter bikes. There are even unicycles and tricycles.  The store also has a repair shop in the back, where you can bring your bike in for adjustments and tune-ups.

All in all, Backcountry Bicycles gives great deals on great bikes, and offers a 12 month service plan free with each new bike.

Summer Hours:
(April 1 – October 31)
Tuesday – Saturday: 10AM – 6PM
Sunday: 12PM – 5PM
For more information, check out their website, www.BackcountryBikeandSki.com.

This post is sponsored by Valley Market Real Estate.