Dear Harris Cyclery friends and customers,
It is with heavy hearts that we convey to you the news that Sheldon Brown has passed away. Our thoughts go out to his family at this time. The cycling community has lost one of it’s most passionate members.
Read more: sheldonbrown.com
February 4th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
A good man who contributed to all of our lives. He will be missed. My condolence to his family.
February 4th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
A true loss to the community. But at least his pain and suffering has ended.
His body is at peace now.
When is the memorial service at The Church of the Big Ring?
February 4th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
Never met the man, never knew him. I can say his site helped me figure out many things about my bike that I never would have figured out except thru catastrophic failure or many a bloody knuckle.
I went over his entries from the last year or so. A real shame, but you can say he lived life to its fullest in many ways. We can all learn a lesson from him. I will be taking this lesson to heart.
“In most ways my life is a dream: after 27 years of marriage, my wife and I are still very much in love.”
Thank you for pointing out what is really important.
February 4th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
Sheldon Brown will live forever in our hearts and minds. As well as on the net, all his knowledge and passion are still there guiding us, old and new.
I’m sure we are all grateful to Sheldon for being Sheldon and living his life dedicated to bicycles.
Each of our days will come and I can only hope, when my day comes, I can somehow be even half as helpful as Sheldon Brown.
Great people leave large holes in our common consciousness, that means we all need to step up a bit to fill that hole with good thoughts, versus ignorance and painful bumblings.
February 4th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
Every one of us who has ever turned a wrench is indebted to him. Rest in peace my friend.
February 4th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
One Sheldon Brown more than made up for all the hundreds of attitude-copping snotnoses working in “LBS’s” accross the country who won’t give the average rider the time of day, let alone freely share helpful information. Here’s hoping Sheldon’s website lives on for many years to come, and that more people will follow his example of generosity and encouragement. My condolences and prayers go out to him, and his family.
February 4th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
Guys–
Mr. Brown’s passing is a major milestone in cycling. I hope his encyclopedic and sometimes hilarious advice lives on forever. I keep his web site bookmarked, and I look stuff up on there!
Mikey
February 4th, 2008 at 6:40 pm
Why do we loose the good ones and the shit eaters always stick around?
February 4th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
I am saddened… in a twist of irony I received some tires for my old English three-speed today… Sheldon was the only one on the net with enough knowledge to articulate exactly what needed.
February 4th, 2008 at 7:47 pm
Wow. When I first started tweaking, then building bikes, I posted many stupid questions to Bikeforums and Sheldon was always there when no one else had anything constructive to say about a particular problem. Never condescending, never sarcastic (OK maybe a little!) but ALWAYS spot on. May we all aspire to be as good a human as Sheldon “taught us well” Brown.
February 4th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
Like others have said, he was always ready and willing to help on even the most basic issues.
He was one of a kind and will be missed.
Rest in peace, Mr. Brown.
February 4th, 2008 at 8:24 pm
Some time ago I e-mailed him what, upon reflection, were some incredibly stupid newbish questions thankfully lost to memory and his replies were always informative, congenial, and held absolutely no trace of malice or condescension.
A true gentleman and scholar that will be missed.
I wish I’d known him…
February 4th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
Just checked out some derailer advice from him last night. Very sad. I’m gonna get have a few shots of my sacred 1 Barrel just for Sheldon.
February 4th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
A real loss to cycling and everyone. He answered a ton of dorky questions for me from thousands of miles away. Just cus. Thanks Sheldon.
February 4th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
Amazing the loss one can feel for someone you’ve never met. I’ve E-mailed Sheldon Brown with a few questions over the years, and downloaded a ton of his cheat sheets for use around the shop, and kept up with his reports on his illness, but I found myself staring at the repairs sitting around the shop today remembering how much of what I know I first read about on his site, I’ll tip one in his direction tonight for sure.
February 4th, 2008 at 8:44 pm
Poured out “first share” to Sheldon tonight. Thank you for your contributions to cycling.
February 4th, 2008 at 10:37 pm
…i went for a spirit ride on my cross rig today, after i heard the news…sunny day, muddy conditions & i just wanted sheldon’s spirit to see the beauty of this area through my eyes…he carried me through the ride…
…if that sounds dumb or hokey, then i guess i’m dumb & hokey…
…c’est la vie…
February 4th, 2008 at 11:11 pm
the number of people who e-mailed Sheldon, and got an answer … is amazing … on bike forums all over, in the most obscure places .. I am seeing that same thing …
he communicated with thousands and thousands ….
incredible
February 4th, 2008 at 11:21 pm
my heart is heavy I will miss him
February 5th, 2008 at 12:09 am
RIP bike bro..
February 5th, 2008 at 12:26 am
aw man……
SB had a nice visit to the 3rd planet…a life perhaps better than most..but it sucks rocks to know he’s done. The Telegraph & the Times won’t run the obit, but he should be there.
His rock in the pond made ripples that traveled a long, long way.
February 5th, 2008 at 12:29 am
Even though Sheldon Brown was suffering pretty bad from the MS, he still continued to work and help people. That says a lot. I feel so awful for his wife and children. He was still quite young.
February 5th, 2008 at 7:10 am
A great loss for Sheldon’s family and the bicycling community. I remember the first time I came across his website and felt I had found a pot of gold. I spent many hours reading it like the best book ever written. It was comedy, drama, encyclopedia, school book all in one. Unfortunately it has now ended as a tragedy.
RIP Sheldon Brown, you will be missed.
February 5th, 2008 at 7:50 am
I learned wheel building from his brilliant guide, I wish I could have thanked him personally for it:
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/wheelbuild.html
I’m just building up a sick SS wheelset for a guy, 36 hole Salsa Delgado 29er Race rims with WOOdman hubset and DT-Swiss SuperComps to lace ‘em up.
February 5th, 2008 at 8:46 am
I had the oppurtunity to meet him and had my picture taken with him at this past year’s Interbike. I am glad that I was able to personally thank him for his website and the tons of help that it has given me.
His memory will be a major subject of tonight’s CRAP ride in Tempe.
-The Devil Horned Helmeted One
February 5th, 2008 at 9:16 am
I spent many hours reading his articles on the Harris Bike website, many more hours reading his shiz on rec.bikes.tech
Ride On Sheldon, right on.
February 5th, 2008 at 10:20 am
Same as everyone else, eamiled him and he answered spot on and even his typed answer showed he cared. Ronnie Thomson, Sheldon Brown, this year has not started off well…
Glass will be raised.
February 5th, 2008 at 10:24 am
Add my name to the long list of shade-tree bike mechanics who have learned so much from his enormous wealth of knowledge.
Let us celebrate the life and works of Sheldon Brown.
February 5th, 2008 at 11:18 am
I couldn’t sleep last night so I went to the shop, cleaned up and did some adjustements with my colorcoded tools using some notes from his rear deraileur adjustment suggestions.
Damn.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
This dude always had time for answers. Every email or call I put in to him about bike mechanics he answered with everything including where to get stuff…and he always followed with more questions
RIP
War Old Guys on Fixies with mad Burns
February 5th, 2008 at 6:38 pm
BikeSnob knocks it out of the fucking park for Sheldon.
Read this; it’s really a beautiful, beautiful tribute.
http://bikesnobnyc.blogspot.com/2008/02/thanks-sheldon_05.html
February 5th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
…as does padraig at belgiumkneewarmers.com …
February 5th, 2008 at 7:12 pm
I was really happy to see that of all the stuff posted day to day, this got the number of responses it did. Shows what an impression SB had on so many of us. Chalk me up as one more that consulted with the old wizards simple instructions.
February 5th, 2008 at 8:12 pm
Sheldon rules! We should all take up a collection and make sure his website lives on forever!
February 6th, 2008 at 1:01 am
Ditto, Sheldon will be missed. The guy was a class act.
February 6th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
He was / is part of my continuing education…