Sheldon "The Man Who Loved Bicycles" Brown

Sheldon Brown suffered a massive heart attack yesterday. Now he's gone and that leaves a gaping hole in the lives of those who knew him, read his work and shared his passions.

His health was worsening over recent years due to gradual nerve deterioration in his legs and the last two years I saw him at Interbike, he was driving a mobility scooter. When I spoke to him at last years show, I was happy to see that his sparkle was still there. As his on-line journal says, he didn't wan't to bother others with his health problems.

He wasn't one to focus on carbon fibre gee-gaws and 10 speed cassettes, but oh, he loved bicycles. A look at his creations over the decades leaves no doubt about that.





(photo courtest of sheldonbrown.org)

And he was inventive, a tinkerer and justifably proud of his handiwork, but there was no hint of selfish pride. He knew he was good and so he did what any decent human would do with his expertise, he shared with wit & wisdom, creating the most comprehensive series of web-based technical pages that would be well-nigh impossible to improve on, willingly contributing to individuals and to various cycling-related fora .


Sheldon Brown 1944 - 2008

Someone who touched many lives and made a difference. Sadly missed.