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(July 14, 1944 - February 3, 2008)
cyclist, ambassador, more
Sheldon
Respects
Eulogies
Obituaries
- by rob hawks
- by forbes bagatelle-black
- by plum
- in the boston globe
- on anarchocyclist.ca
- on belgium knee warmers
- on bent ride online
- on bicycle fixation
- on bike biz
- on bike friday
- on bike portland
- on bike radar
- on bike retailer
- on bike snob nyc
- on bikemagic.com
- on blacknell.net
- on chico gino
- on cyclelicio.us
- on cycleninja
- on cycling finial
- on cyclingedinburgh.info
- on dane 101
- on drumbent
- on harris cyclery
- on interbike
- on invisible summer
- on make zine
- on metrocyclist
- on patch
- on pedal revolutionary radio
- on see a puffin eat a fish
- on sfcyclotouring
- on south of the golden gate
- on the cycling curmugeon
- on underwire, via wired
- on universal hub
- on velonews
630 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 401 – 600 of 630 Newer› Newest»I can't believe it.. My deepest condolences to the family, a terrible loss for all. My next bike will be in dedication to the legend that is Sheldon Brown.
Rest in peace man. Your site has given not just me but the rest of the cycling community a lot of knowledge. May you website stay on? I think it shouldn't be removed for old time's sake. It is still the best source of knowledge
an amazing person who somehow always had the time to answer emails and random questions with great passion.
a true gift to the world of cycling - he will be greatly missed but will live on through the massive amount of knowledge he dispensed to us all
Thank you; I've learned so much from your website. You were not only a walking encyclopedia on bicycling, but also, from what I've read, a good and generous person.
Thanks Sheldon. The air of Helsinki, and of the world, is a bit less polluted because of all the help your site gave me in keeping bike going over the years. Times that by a good few thousand others like me.
That's something you can be damn proud of.
I hardly know what to say. I did not know the man, or even correspond with him, but his expertise and sense of humor struck me so much that I feel I must write something.
He has inspired me, and I think that is one of the greatest things that can be said about someone.
My heart goes out to those that knew him, and I can only hope make a similar difference in someone else's life like he has had on mine.
It was 2002 that I started to fight cancer.I quit riding to get better.I came back to riding in 2005.I had a older road bike that needed to be updated.All the bike stores said it could not be done.Sheldon said it could.So I listened to all he had to say and fell in love with the sport all over again.Thankyo uSheldon for you time and knowledge.You will be missed bay all.
Shane Camilleri.
his efforts were an integral part of my introduction to and enthusiasm for bicycle mechanics. My thoughts go out to all who knew him
Sheldon was awesome and his passing is one of the saddest milestones in modern cycling. If my bicycle could cry it would be weeping today. I hope his family and friends can take some comfort in knowing how respected he was by so many people around the world. Aloha Mr. Brown.
God speed... even if it is on a fixie.
Dear Sheldon, R.I.P. Your pages were an inspiration and constant source for me, and the humour that informed it all always helped.
Your common sense take on things never lacked in enthusiasm - a rare combination - and you were one of the few sources i followed pretty blindly when it came to decision making in all matters regarding bikes, and anything else i heard from you.
Best wishes and condolences to the family, we can only guess your loss.
And I need to add: I built up two bikes following Sheldon's advice; including one with self-built wheels, something I would have never dared to do without the encouragement and philosophical take of his. So they are kind of rolling memorials to his humble, self effacing genius that meant so much to so many people around the globe.
Thank you, Sheldon. Wishes of peace and condolences to his family. The cycling community is lucky to have had him in our midst for so long. He could have been building rockets, or better mousetraps or breakfast machines...but he loved bikes and because he chose to share, we all reaped the benefits of his genius. He was a testament to the notion that you should be who you are.
I'm really saddened to know you're gone. It'll take me more than a lifetime to read everything in your wonderful website - your legacy will last forever and continue to educate and inspire millions. When I created my own cycling website here in Manchester, UK, your website was the first to be added to my 'links' page. And when you meet someone who likes sheldonbrown.com you know you're going to get on with them straight away!
Like you, I'm not religious, but if there is a god up there in heaven, I'm sure he's had a special tandem built for the two of you to go exploring! You don't get punctures when cycling on clouds! R.I.P. (Ride in Peace)
You´ll be missed!
legends never die.
R.I.P.
from Germany,
Fiets
Good bye, God bless, rest peacefully brother.
Sheldon, Thanks for your help, your knowledge, and most of all your enthusiasm. You bailed me out of many a technical mess I got myself in too. I always came away from your site not only enlightened with answers but inspired by your dedication.
You left this bicycling community a much better place then you found it. Great job man. Enjoy the rest, you’ve more then earned it.
Today I will take an old bike, clean it, repair it, make it whole and ride it again;
Today I will show my son how to take apart a front hub, replace bearings and tension the cones,
Today I will fit new gear cables and fit them well;
Tomorrow I will continue my search for a Reynolds frame with rear facing (not) drop-outs;
I will do it with passion and great humour,
because Sheldon Brown lives in my shed.
Phil "I still have so much to learn" C
Canberra, Australia
I feel so fortunate to have discovered Sheldon. I believe we all are. He gave selflessly of his boundless knowledge and experience. But more than a fantastic mechanic adept at fixing problems with nothing more than a fiber optic cable, he was our Captain. Did he ever know how much he meant to all of us?
All my best to his family, especially to his wife and son and daughter. We are all saddened by your loss.
Like so many of you, I found on Sheldon Brown's web site not only incredibly useful information on every question I had but also a great warmth and enthusiasm for the many delights of cycling that was infectious.
In late January I revisited the site when considering converting a found frame to a fixed-gear project. It occured to me that I had never actually thanked Mr Brown for his great generosity and so I clicked on the link and sent a message to "CaptBike".
I am now so glad that I took the time to do this although I had no idea he was unwell.
In his reply, dated January 23rd he urged me to "Go for it ! ..." which I most certainly will do and I will make sure that I find room on the repainted frame for an Eagle in honour of Sheldon Brown. He also referred to himself as " ... a lowly pollywog. ; ". Sir I must beg to differ with you on this point.
I remember walking at lunchtime with my friend and boss George, up Prospect St to a bike shop Sheldon worked in before Harris, and passing Sheldon’s car parked by the curb on the way. It was a big old beater, and across the back trunk lid, in those peel-and-stick black-on-gold foil letters you used to be able to get at the hardware store, Sheldon had put it out there for the whole world to see (this was the mid-80’s before internet) “I LOVE MY WIFE AND FAMILY”. And he did.
If it weren't for Sheldon, I probably wouldn't be building bicycle frames today. I never had any formal mechanic's training, I got it all from Sheldon's site. When I needed to fix a Sturmey Archer hub, the info was there. When I couldn't figure out the whole ETRTO thing, Sheldon had my answers. When I needed to know just about anything about bicycles, Sheldon was my first source. Although I never had a conversation with him, or met him while cycling, or even exchanged emails with him, he talked me through my project bikes. And once I had committed massive amounts of his web site to memory I had the confidence to start building frames. Sheldon, you were awesome!
I never met you, but I feel as if I know you. You have been a guide to me and many others, as is apparent in these posts. I thank you for the inspiration that I have gained through you. Ride on peacefully Mr. Brown.
My thoughts are with your family.
I am so sorry to hear of his passing. He was a great help to me many times. I hope that his family knows that he will be in the thoughts of so many people.
Wow this is tragic. The cycling world had lost an icon. I never met Sheldon but I have seen him running around the trade show in vegas, and have used his site for it's vast technical wealth. The name is legendary around any shop. Thank you for all that you have given to the world of two wheelers. He will be mised by all
Thanks Sheldon, for helping me with my bike. You were one thoughtful, kind, and inspiring individual. An example for us all!
R.I.P. (Ride in Peace)
A great loss, My codolences to the family, I have spent many a rainy day trawling Sheldon Brown's site and links with intrest, a font of knowledge, and a man with a keen edge..........
I was fortunate enough to have met Sheldon twice. Once when I bought a tandem, and again when I had the opportunity to ride the dual handlebar bike that he built for testing Rohloff hubs. Each time he spent the time with me to make sure that I went away richer than when I had come in.
Thanks Sheldon and may you always have the wind at your back on your celestial one-speed.
I found Sheldon Brown’s website while putting myself through school working as a ‘bike mechanic’ at a rental shop. It was through time and his website that my skills were (slightly) honed my passion for bicycles was fueled and theories and wisdom were installed in me. I know I am not the only one who has felt this effect. Thank you.
we will miss you, Keep pushing that big ring in the sky!
Sheldon, though I never met him, was a fount of inspiration and wisdom for me. His name and know-how was so oft uttered from my lips that several people asked if I knew him. Sadly, I never had the pleasure of meeting him in his corporeal body. His legacy will live on in all who remember him and his contributions to bicycling and humanity. I wrote a little something for Sheldon in an entry called Fallen Heros. RIP Sheldon, you will be missed and NEVER forgotten.
Like so many of us, I never met Sheldon Brown, but I consulted his web site or chuckled over his musings so many times it felt like I had. He was a generous soul whose faith in life meant that he saw the potential note merely of bicycles, but most importantly of human beings. My thoughts go out to his family and friends. Thank you Sheldon for everything.
The first place I always turned was Sheldon's websites. It was amazing how often I was on his sites learning from the master. Thanks Sheldon and god speed!
Sheldon got me to strip down a perfectly good 10-speed to make a franken-fixie. Then he guided my first wheel-building attempts. I regard no-else as highly in the bike mechanic / advocate firmament. RIP noble dude.
I never met Sheldon in person, but I knew him through his many posts on the bicycle tech newsgroups, and from his website. I exchanged a few emails with him and he was always willing to share his knowledge. The biking world will miss him greatly. My condolences to his family.
As Sheldon's sister, I want to thank you all for your wonderful postings. I cannot read more than 50 or so at a time, without weeping (not only because of my loss, but because of your eloquence in recognizing Sheldon for the person he was.) I think Sheldon shared what he knew with joy, and I know his zany sense of humor and love of humanity filtered into his emails. He was my "little brother" and I knew and loved him all his life, and barely believe he is not now here when I come Boston, for a bear-hug and and some good times. together. Thank you again for remembering and learning from him, as I do/did. ..
I was sad to hear of Sheldon Brown's passing. He was a distinctive voice on the Internet, and a really good example of the power of being interested in something.
Thoughts to his family and friends.
Thanks for all the technical articles, the sense of humor, and thanks for sharing it all without a sense of elitism.
I wonder how many cars are rusting because of Sheldon's passion as a bike mechanic. I hope his writings and photos won't be lost.
I really wish I had met this great man. My condolences to his family and friends. In Heaven, I'm sure Sheldon's tinkering with some obscure tandem.
Let me know if there is anything I could do.
In the past year or so, I've been getting back into cycling for fun and fitness rather than just commuting, and since I found Sheldon's amazing site it has proved, and continues to prove, an extremely helpful resource for me, like so many others. I never had the honour of meeting or communicating with him in any way, but I wish I did so. It's clear from his site, and what others have said, that he was a truly remarkable man. R.I.P. Sheldon, and thank you.
Sheldon - nice pull, man.
Tears well up when I think of what this man meant to so many people. I only knew him within the context of his website but that alone was a universe to me, he created the most amazing and accessible repository of information for bicycle enthusiasts the world has ever known.
My condolences to his family.
Thanks to Sheldon, I now have a fixed-gear.
He was the best at making sure the "rest of us" didn't need a bike mechanic for most simple tasks.
My condolences to his family, though my congratulations for the blessing of living with such a gifted individual.
Dave
A heart that includes bicycles has to be a big one. I think Sheldon's must have been like the one in "The Grinch that Stole Christmas" it broke right out of the magnifying frame it was so big. I dedicate my next few rides to Sheldon Brown.
His knowledge of bicycling, I respect in quiet awe. I have learned a great deal. More impressive, though, were his worldview and kindness. I admire and appreciate those traits that shone through in everything Sheldon did.
I didnt know sheldon personally...but his information helped me with many projects and helped me to develop my passion in the world of cycling. I believe he is one of the legends of cycling and his spirit will live on forever.
I am a relative new comer to the world of cycling at the ripe old age of 53. I have visited Sheldon's web site, so many times, over the past several years and learned so very much. I am extremely distressed to learn of his passing. Please extend my heart felt condolences to his family and friends.
George E.
Baltimore, Maryland
I keep learning from Sheldon's articles. Heads bowed in salute.
I just learned today of Sheldon's passing and even though I never met him, I felt as though he was my mentor and inspiration. I love all things bicycle and he was everywhere I looked. Every question I had, he answered. He will be missed mightily.
I wish I got a chance to say Thank You in person, but I did not. You helped me countless times with bicycle projects of mine and I always enjoy reading articles you wrote whether silly or serious. Your spirit lives on and my best goes out to your family during these hard times.
There's nothing that I can say that hasn't been said. But I hope that the echo is still valuable, at least to his family whose grief and loss I can barely imagine.
Like many, for me Sheldon was the maintainer of a site of immense value. And a fellow biopace tragic.
And he always, always responded to emails - with a level of humour and personal involvement that belied the volume of emails he must have dealt with every single day.
Without a doubt he was, and will remain, one of the most important voices of advocacy for a balanced and inclusive perspective of bicyling.
While not headline news for the mainstream press in his lifetime his presence has been widespread and pervasive - and he will be quoted as a epifanic influence by many for many years to come.
My heart goes out to his family - with the message: Please remember that there are thousands of people "out there" thinking of you, even if we cannot be there in person.
Conrad D
Ever since I discovered Sheldon's Web pages 2 or 3 years ago, I have returned to browse around them every few weeks or so. Its not always that a website with such a basic presentation and such a lot of stuff to read can grab ones attention. That takes some real writing skill. It takes discipline to organize all that knowledge in such a way that readers can actually get it. And if there hadn't been the impression of a really all round regular guy coming through all of it, I think a lot of us would have gotten bored and given up.
I've been up to my neck in cycle activism for some years now and sometimes it just all gets too stressful and vexatious for words. Sometimes I just wish I could be a cyclist pure and simple, without all the political baggage. I wish I could get back to tinkering with bikes in my workshop, and then going out among the hills to see how they work, just like I did as a young teenager. And among Sheldon's articles, I got the strong impression of someone who never lost touch with that phase of discovery.
Many thanks, and my sincere sympathy.
Ben "If I ever get time, I wanna translate a few more of those articles into German" Hemmens (from Ireland)
Graz, Austria
Soon-to-be-relieved chairman of ARGUS Steiermark, the cycle campaining group
http://graz.radln.net
(one day I will also translate some of THAT into English)
I knew Sheldon through the funny and very impressive web site. the information i gained was second to none but was put across in a really good funny way!! The many articles i read had me chocking on my cornflakes and requiring a new keyoard!! A great loss to his family and his extended family of 1,2,3,4, wheeled worshippers!!
My condolences to his family
my next ride is for you Sheldon
Forever known as the man who finally brought proper gearing to heaven. You're missed, Sheldon. You're missed. SF,CA
It's an unfortunate truth that the most valuable and non-renewable resource we all have is time...
As each of us pass on -- which will indeed happen at some point-- it's how we used our time and to what effect for which we will be remembered.
I believe it is fair to say that Sheldon Brown made good use of his time as evidenced by the pride he had in his family that he freely shared, their love of him, and the outpouring of kind words that have always accompanied the mention of his name to anyone whom he or his knowledge ever touched.
I'm thankful that Sheldon touched my life: he was and remains my inspiration.
Thanks, buddy. For everything.
Someone here mentioned his 'outrageous stroke of invention'.
I once asked Sheldon if there was some way to carry my xc skis on my Kona xc bike as having them strapped to my day pack made me wobble.
He sent me a photo, standing in a yard with a silly grin on his face, he'd taken out two fencing slats to use as pretend skis and had rigged a secure holding device which he also showed in close up. It worked with no ill effect on the bike despite many hours of riding over Scottish moors just to get to my favourite snow holding forest.
He will be remembered.
Sheldon, We miss you and what you stood for. You helped via email with no thought of compensation. Many steel frames that would have been in a landfil are being ridden in the Chicago area due directly to your help. Local shops either had lost the knowledge or were unwilling to help. Sheldon ALWAYS emailed back with the fix and many times he had the part. He helped with so many things, french stems, chainlines, rear drop out spacing, bottom bracket compatibility, the list goes on and on. The world is less due to your passing. You truely made a difference in a messed up world. Keep the rubber up and hope to ride with you when we meet up down the line. Fare thee well family and friends of Sheldon. He will always be with me and my 45 year old Raleigh. Glenn
I was shocked when I read that Sheldon has died. I had sent him a few technical bike questions over the past few months which he always responded to quickly. He responded to a wheel question I sent him at 5:32 PM on Feb 3rd, which of was his last day with us. I was just preparing to email him a thank you note when I heard the news.
Sheldon was one of the most colorful characters in cycling. He will be missed greatly.
Bruce
The fact that there was a human like Sheldon Brown made me less worried about our whole species. If we can create characters like him, we've still got a chance.
I first encountered Sheldon Brown's work while building a single speed for my father in law. I started reading and couldn't stop. Finally, here was all the information on bikes that I had always wanted to know, but that no-one had ever been able to tell me.
Several times my girlfriend has come running downstairs to find out why I was jumping around and shouting in my workshop, having finally found the solution to a bike problem, "Of course! Of course! No-one knew! No-one knew, BUT SHELDON!
A few years ago I started a project to restore my wife's women's racing bike she had bought as a teenager. It hadn't been ridden in near 20 years and was absolutely filthy. I needed to get into the rear hub to clean out the old grease etc and the only place I could find information about stripping and rebuilding that particular brand/model from the 80's was on Sheldon's site. I emailed a thank you to him and he replied with further tips. Remarkable that someone would offer free advice these days when it seems like you get billed for so much online. A remarkable man who certainly didn't deserve to have a slow demise. Ride in Peace.
Sheldon answered one of my emails a couple years ago when I started to repair a 70's era Motobecane. The bike turned out great, it's a champ. The enjoyment it gives me is a small tribute to his life!
Thank you for all your help and inspiration, Sheldon ''Bike God'' Brown.
Your departure has left the world poorer.
If only we we're given one more moment to sing another song together.
Sheldon got me off my butt: Middle age doesn't have to mean middle age spread.
Because of him, my old Raleigh International will soon be reborn as a single speed bike.
A truly extraordinary man. An inspriation and one for the ages...
Happy pedaling, Sheldon, wherever you are.
Thank you Sheldon, for the information, and for the inspiration. You will be missed.
What a loss!! I hav enever met Sheldon, but I was looking forward to visiting Harris Cyclery and meeting him in person when I moved East this summer. I will soldier on (on bike!) in his name!!
Very sorry to hear of Sheldon's passing.
When I first began riding fixed gear single speed 9 years ago his pages on Harris's site were very informative and I was happy to have been able to exchange a few naive emails with him.
He was generous and as patient as one would expect from someone who surely was inundated with questions on a daily basis.
My condolences to his family for their loss, and all of ours.
Thank you for your articles and advice Sheldon. You helped me out more than once. You are a wonderful soul and you will be missed even by those of us who never met you in person. Rest in Peace, Sheldon.
I met Sheldon back in the late Sixties, and have tried to write something about him, but can't get it up (as it were).
Help!
I'd do an eulogy to him, his music and his sound.
clarkjohnsen at gmail.com
It's with a heavy heart that I learn of Sheldon's death.
Although I only traded a couple emails with him years ago, I felt a connection as a brother cyclist.
RIP Sheldon
Jim
Long Beach, CA
Thanks for all your help, Sheldon. I've learned so much from your web pages, and I have always been impressed by your informed, thoughtful, and gentle treatment of bike questions online.
I went to my local bike shop with a Sturmey Archer 3 speed and dynamo hub, in bits. They looked, they said "Sheldon Brown." I downloaded the diagrams, and began again - I got stuck. I e-mailed a question - and two days later had a reply.
Did he reply to everyone?
I think maybe he did.
For love, for fun, for life..
Amazing.
Harriet, my warmest regards.
Henry
Sheldon, I've just heard the tragedy on wikipedia.
and I've also used your archives of bike many time.
Just really want to say "THX Sheldon", you were exactry a good guy and enthusiast of bike.
R.I.P.
I just heard, or rather saw, the news via the IHPVA site and I offer my deepest condolences to his loved ones. :(
I don't think I can even begin to say how helpful he was. If it hadn't been for his advice, I might have gotten a raw deal on trying to find a good bike. Instead, and based on his sound recommendations, I got the best bike I could possibly have gotten without having to sell my soul to pay a high price for it.
Like many on here, I e-mailed him as well and was both floored and genuinely warmed by his willingness to be so openly helpful. It's not really something you expect nowadays.
You won't find many as great as him. Rest in peace dude.
I'm an American in a small town in Japan, and reading Sheldon's site changed my life. I sold my car and began commuting entirely by bike...and now many of my students think bikes are cool!
Harriet, Tova and George, You're hurting now, I understand, having lost my father too. But please know your father touched more people than most of us ever dream of.
May you live long and happy, with wonderful memories of a wonderful man!
Altough we newer saw him,
He was a Teacher for us
I can never claim to have met you.
Nor have I seen you in passing.
However, I think I am able to glean a thing of your character.
You may have never run into a burning building, but your level of selfless charity is worthy of a hero's toast.
When next I raise my glass, it will be to wish your soul a peaceful journey. Sleep well, you more than many have earned it.
i never met the man, however i respect him very much for his devotion to anything bicycle-related. because of his website, i am able to help others learn about cycling. it is the most positive and simple thing, and something EVERYONE can appreciate and participate in.
i believe that this man has set a profound, positive example. due to the information on his website, i am able to continuously improve my lifestyle.
he was a truly dedicated individual for a global (and i mean that) opportunity for people to change their perspectives on life. i will not forget the example he set, and he has inspired me to help others as he did.
my sincere condolences go out to his family.
his internet encyclopedia of bicycle information is top notch. it was made by one man, for anyone. absolutely anyone was able to ask him any question whatsoever, and he answered it.
that is practically the same as having a professor of "bicycology".
sheldon brown was a truly great individual.
Dear Sheldon:
You were a great honest man.
Your posts and patient emails taught me how to structure an environment to allow my children to teach themseles to ride a bike. This was a really great gift to us all.
Thank you for your love and dedication. Ride on!
R.I.P my friend... Your hardwork shall not be forgotten!
I only heard today. I was buying a second hand bike and was chatting with the seller about perhaps converting to a fixie. After the jargon ramped-up (in both directions) we probably became more like friends than commercial players. A shared enthusiasm. He asked me whether I'd worked in a bike shop. "No," I said, "Sheldon Brown". "Did you hear?" he says. I'm from Australia and just moved to London.
I honestly salute Sheldon's generous contributions to cycling and send my condolences to his family and friends.
Sheldon, thank you very much for sharing so much knowledge on the web. It enabled me to basically re-build my bike and repair some of my friends' bikes, which made us really happy.
Actually, many people aren't willing to share their knowledge and instead hide behind meaningless phrases (that's not only true for bike technology)... You were the perfect counter-example, I mean that's really a matter of culture. You were helping us out there, others not. God bless you.
I wish the Brown family all the best, many condolences to you. I hope you pick up some courage, as Sheldon gave us.
What a great guy. His website is such a gem of cycling knowledge. Very sad to see him go.
Andreas, Auckland, NZ
As a newcomer to the sport of cycling I started visiting Sheldon's page to learn from a true master and an avid enthusiast of cycling.
I am very sorry to learn that he passed away. Still I believe Sheldon is with us, in every corner, in every bicycle ride, I have gained so much just by reading his advice and I feel safer on the roads and for this I am forever grateful. My sincere condolences to his family and friends.
A friend from Greece.
In 1999 as an UK IT consultant I worked in Boston for 9 months. I went over to Harris Cyclery almost to say I had been there. I swapped a minutes conversation with Sheldon about something (cycle locks I think) and then spent nearly a decade recalling the details.
My 1992 Raleigh hybrid morphed into a single speed commuter a few years ago courtesy of Sheldon's web site and I will be attending London's memorial ride to thank him for his contribution.
Thank you Sheldon.
Chris B.
A sincere thanks to Sheldon for sharing his knowledge and passion.
There are not enough guys like you in this world.
Best wishes to family and friends.
Sheldon, you are a wealth of information. I can't thank you enough for your website and advice. The time you devoted to it in the interest of making us all a little smarter is appreciated more than you know. You are one of those rare individuals who made a difference. You will be missed by us all.
--Mike U.
A big cycle star has gone. RIP.
I just heard about Mr. Brown's death and am shocked. Please accept my deepest condolences. I am 26 years old, and my boyfriend and I just used Sheldon's method to help me learn how to ride a bicycle for the very first time. My last obstacle was starting the bike ... once I took Sheldon's advice to reject the "bunny hop" method, I started without problems. Thanks in no small way to Sheldon, I look forward to enjoying many years of cycling. I am a marathoner who has always been interested in triathlon, but never thought I'd be able to complete one because I couldn't ride a bike. Thank you so much for helping me get past my fear, Mr. Brown. May you rest in peace.
Christy Johnson
New York, NY
Sheldon Brown helped to push me down the slippery slope of becoming a bike nut, thanks to his generous offerings on his website, and from a few emails exchanged where he patiently answered my bonehead questions. It got to the point where, if I had a bike related question, I no longer bothered to google it, but went straight to Sheldon's site. And after I finished getting my tech advice, I'd poke around and read about all of Sheldon's other cool interests.
What a man he was, and what a life lived...my sincerest condolences to his family. We'll all certainly miss him out here in cyberspace.
Art
I have always ride bikes. My father bought me a bike 11 years ago. That introduced me to a life of quality through exercises (I run and swim also). Even thought it's not my first sport, riding my bike is one of them, and it gives me a lot of joy and great moments.
I was never interested in bike mechanics. I thought that bycicling was a known subject for me, and bike mechanics was made for unemployed people. I sincerely thought that I would never spend my time working on a bike, I prefered to delegate the work to others (shame on me, how wrong I was).
A month ago I discovered Sheldon's site and started to read its articles. I was very surprised by the great amount of bike information and knowledge written in it. There is so much interesting information that I was overwhelmed and I thought "He must be a bike genius ! He knows everything about it. It will take a lot of time to process all this information !". So I kept reading some of his articles and used the information in practice.
I got sad when I heard about Sheldon's death, even thought I didn't met him. I got sad not because he was a relative or a friend of mine (cause he wasn't), but because I felt that his contribution to people like me and so many others, who are interested in learning more about bikes, has ended. I am very grateful because in the past he decided to share his and others bike knowledge with others, and this sharing contributed and will continue to contribute to the development of the bike comunity, This is something that no one can be sorry about ! Thanks, Sheldon Brown ! Wherever you are !
I've been riding bikes for 20 years or so and have recently discovered the beauty of riding fixed. I converted one of my bikes to a single speed/ fixed gear using Sheldon's website. I use it for commuting and have started doing longer rides on it on the weekend. It's absolutely great to ride.
Thank you Sheldon. You will be missed.
Chris
London, UK
Thank you Mr. Brown for your invaluable and knowledgeable support...my next ride is for you...
Thank you Sheldon.
Felt I knew you from your wonderful website ! Happy riding in the hereafter !
Pete (UK)
Sheldon - never met him, but feel like I knew him... via the 'net, folks across the whole world knew you could rely on Sheldon to have something useful to say about everything to do with cycles - and a whole lot more!
We'll all miss him :-(
When I heard that Sheldon Brown had died, I was working in a bike shop in Auckland, New Zealand, and I froze. I hadn't put the pieces together, had never looked at it directly, but he was probably the reason I found myself there, 10,000 miles away from home, reshaping a derailer cage with a hammer.
My experience of Sheldon was a strange one-- I never knew him. I didn't really know much of his history, or of the lore surrounding his life, family in friends. But I grew up on his writing, literally. When my dad showed me Sheldon's site for the first time, I must have been 10 or 11 years old. His site was always there, for a quick answer (Sheldon always had the answer) or a story, or a theory, or an idea on a new project. My collection of bikes in the basement began to grow, feeding dually from the local dump and the growing bike market on the Internet. By the time I finished high school I had a small used/rebuilt bike business on the 'net myself.
I realize now how much of that was Sheldon's doing. He made it seem natural to me that bikes and the web should go together, that bikes can be a noble calling. He brought me into the fold in a big way, and made me who I am: a 19-year-old with no driver's license and a garage full of bikes.
And I didn't even know him. What a great man.
sheldon, you are going to be missed, your insightful and learned articles about bicycling coupled with your passion about the most efficient mode of transportation ever conceived by man, are matters that future generations of cyclist would forever treasure and appreciate. keep on riding!
keep on rollin´ ... wherever you are now.
thx4all
Today I came across Sheldon's sites for the first time, and began to get a glimpse of a truly remarkable and interesting man. Best wishes to his family and friends, and thanks so much for maintaining his legacy online!
Far to late I'd like to thank you for guiding me deeper into the wounderful world of cycling, answering my emails and for being a stand up guy! I'll keep the memory of you in my heart and try to do good to others as you did to all of us.
Thank you!
Pedda Pedal
Thanks so much for all of the wisdom. You've helped me in so many ways and I'll remember that forever. Years and years from now my children will be reading your website as they become interested in bicycles. Your legacy will live forever, Sheldon Brown. Rest in peace.
my first 'bookmark' was sheldon's site. will miss him.
Apparently I am the last person who cares to hear of Sheldon's death. I actually read it on a bumper sticker pasted to a bike rack I locked up to last week that said "Sheldon Brown RIP" and had to check it out. I first encountered Sheldon in 1997 when I bought an old Armstrong Club Racer frame that had been outfitted with a S-A 3-speed hub on a 650C rim, track cranks and bars and a 20" front wheel at an auction in NYC. Shortly after buying it, the hub started getting sketchy and I started searching online (since the 6 bike shops I went to in NYC kind of laughed at me for wanting another S-A 3 speed) and soon found Sheldon. He personally built me 2 different wheels, one w/ an S-A 3-spd w/ freewheel and another w/ a Rohloff 7-spd hub that I still regret parting with, and gave me more good advice over email than all of the bike shop employees I've ever interacted with in 15+ years of racing and daily commuting put together.
Sheldon, I wish you strong tailwinds and 6% downgrades. You made me and countless other cyclists better and more in love with the sport and the cycling life.
I just want to say thank you for now kind getting the gist of wheel building and that I am very sorry to so late discover the guru I should have had all along that was Sheldon Brown. Again, did I say thank you? Thank you and all the best... I feel this came up short as an exchange for what I got. I guess the best is to keep rolling and saying thanks. -d-
After ten years of bikelessness, I didn't know where to turn for information about repairing old bikes. I found all the answers I needed and more at sheldonbrown.com. Now I have too many bikes to fit in my house. Thank you, Sheldon, for helping me get back into bikes.
Sheldon's online bicycle technology encyclopedia is so full of life, and so useful, that it gives the appearance of being actively maintained. Were it not for the fact that I stumbled across an obituary for him, I would not have guessed that Sheldon had passed away.
A large number of people, myself included, owe Sheldon a good deal for his generosity in sharing his knowledge of cycling, and bicycles, with the world via the web. I didn't know him personally, but I wish I had.
Four months and a few weeks late to the memorial, it seems a bit awkward to note that the guy who helped me unstick my seatpost in 1995 (via email correspondence!) did more to help me keep my bikes running than all of the shops and mechanics in the area, combined.
Thank you, Sheldon. You will be missed.
i shed a tear for you brother. you enabled me to enjoy life by inspiring me to build and ride my own way. til next time...
I am an American currently living in France, and doing some on-line research into what kind of bicycle to buy (I like the idea of owning an older, european randonneur - like the Peugeot PY-8 etc). Anyway, Sheldon Brown's articles kept popping up during my Google searches and I read a good deal of them. I enjoyed his writing style and the information was really useful. Ironically, it wasn't until about three days into this process that found out that he was no longer with us. It was kind of a shock - and it seems a great loss. But I suppose it is somewhat reassuring for his family to know that even today, months after his passing, people are still benefitting from his advice and knowledge! Thank you to Sheldon and thank you to everyone else (family and friends) who keep the knowledge he provided alive on the Web for us all to see. It's a great benefit and a lovely testament.
Best regards,
Brian
thanks shel
Thank you Sheldon for helping me see things in the most beautiful way. I am not kidding. I feel indebted.
I was genuinely sad and shocked when I heard this terrible news even though I live on the other side of the planet.
I felt for his family and friends and the rest of us who were touched by his attention, enthusiasm and absolute commitment to all the most important things about bikes and cycling.
To be remembered always.
My favorite place to visit, the famed Sheldon ("insert idiosyncrasy here") Brown website. I stayed up so late into the wee hours (avoiding college papers) learning technical advice on bikes and at the same time, reading about Sheldon's hats, cameras, and other personal affections.
I finally emailed Sheldon after looking on the internet and not finding my answer to a particular metallurgical question. I didn't expect a quick response; within one day I had an answer.
I didn't know him personally, but feel like anyone could know him so well thanks to his succinct and open sincerity.
You are in my thoughts every time I ride my Fixie. "Fixed For Fun!"
From California, I miss you.
Sheldon was brilliant, eccentric, ornery, cantankerous, and funny.
He was about bikes not bullshit.
The Internet allowed a rare gift to humanity to happen.
I'm truly sorry to hear about the passing of Sheldon Brown. I've read through his encyclopedic website while researching how to build and modify my bike. His work helped me get in touch with something I really enjoy. Thank you.
Wow...I've been spending weeks reading Sheldon Brown's articles and websites. Today I ventured to see if I missed any by Googling him and discovered that he's passed away. I am sorry that I never got the chance to meet such a remarkable man.
I lost one of my few heroes.
One of the photographs I love most in the world is by him, riding in france.
We, people thousands miles away, lost so much, I can't even imagine the pain of his relatives, I'm so sorry.
You learned me to love old Raleigh-Bikes. A few weeks after visit your page for several minutes I bought an old Raleigh Sports in dark green.
Thank you for everything I could learn from you!
I have used his site so many times, it is invaluable ..... I really respected someone who would give so much of themselves to the world. We have really lost someone special. My condolences to his family.
I only visited Sheldon's knowledge base a few time, but indeed learned so much! This was truly a great man so willing to share what he knew. My belated condolences to his family as I just got the news of Sheldon's passing. regards, Jimbomu
2 months ago I started riding again, got a mtn bike used and once again was bitten by the cycling bug. A few weeks ago I decided to rescue my old 1973 Nishiki International from the basement where it's been stored for nearly 18 years. I've been learning about unsticking seatposts, removing stubborn freewheels, etc. from Sheldon's many articles. I was saddened to learn that the man from whom I am learning so much passed earlier this year. He will live on through the wisdom and inspiration he has left for us all. Perhaps I'll convert the old Nishiki into a fixie...
As an avid cyclist and bicycle shop employee, the sport would never be the same without your knowledge. Thank you so much for making you knowledge accessible to the cycling community.
Thank you so very, very much.
Ted
i think i began reading sheldon's site at the beginning of this year. i've always loved riding my bike, but his site has been a fantastic resource for me to learn more about it. thanks, sheldon. and prayers and peace to sheldon's family.
I've never meet him before, but i sure read through all of his articles. His website is like bicycle's wikipedia. His writings & way of life truly inspiring.
Sure heaven got lots of bikes to fix there. :-)
Thank God for Sheldon Brown.
While riding my bicycle home from work tonight; I decided to change my fixy's gearing, shortly after arriving home I went to my favorite and trusty web based gear calculaterizer and found sad and heart rending news.
Though sad, I am also glad. Glad to find a way to tell his family and friends how helpfull and encouraging Sheldon Brown has been, and will be, to me and thousands of others.
Gear ratio's and wild ingenuity will allways bring Sheldon Brown to my mind.
God Bless.
I never met Sheldon Brown, but I used his excellent website often enough to know that I will like him when I meet him in the hereafter. This is a great loss to the bicycling community throughout the world. I offer my deepest sympathy to his family, relatives and friends.
I live in Finland and this man half a world away had my highest esteem and held me in awe with his knowledge and willingness to share. As a lone rider with no skills Sheldon Brown made me understand and appreciate what bikes are. In his webpage he was always obsessed and wanted to make others enjoy their cycles. I mourn for him allthough I only knew him through the web.
So sorry to hear this news. Just last month I was fixing up my '72 Raleigh. Looking back on it I realize now that I wouldn't have even attempted to fix that fickle Sturmey-Archer shifter had Sheldon not given me the knowledge, and courage, to do it myself. And how do I know what year my bike was? ;)
Sheldon's passion, knowledge and generosity was second-to-none.
We were almost the same age--a few weeks difference--and I loved that he was more thorough about cycling details than I am. I have nine journals that record every time I left the house on a bike, every mile, altitude, weather, speed, heart rate, and the two foxes I see 2/3 of the time. I just retired a bike with 43,000 miles on it, a visitor to Ireland and an old friend kept running smoothly by frequent consultations with SheldonBrown.com. Such a generous man--yes he and his family offered him magnanimously to us for so many years--such a great heart, such a subtle sense of the absurdity and splendor slowly sipped while cycling the world--one of him is enough to fill eternity with songs of spinning wheels and saints and angels in hats.
Just replaced a Freehub used his site enough said, even after his death he helps us novice mechanics.
Many Many Many Thanks Sheldon. You'll be missed by all the cyclists.
Like a lot of people, I first went to Sheldon's site for technical help, then bought an old Raleigh, and finally ended up working on a bike task force for my town. The man was inspiring. We'll all miss him.
Thank you Sheldon,
A Bicyclette (Pierre Barouh)
Quand on partait de bon matin
Quand on partait sur les chemins
A bicyclette
Nous étions quelques bons copains
Y avait Fernand y avait Firmin
Y avait Francis et Sébastien
Et puis Paulette
On était tous amoureux d'elle
On se sentait pousser des ailes
A bicyclette
Sur les petits chemins de terre
On a souvent vécu l'enfer
Pour ne pas mettre pied à terre
Devant Paulette
Faut dire qu'elle y mettait du cœur
C'était la fille du facteur
A bicyclette
Et depuis qu'elle avait huit ans
Elle avait fait en le suivant
Tous les chemins environnants
A bicyclette
Quand on approchait la rivière
On déposait dans les fougères
Nos bicyclettes
Puis on se roulait dans les champs
Faisant naître un bouquet changeant
De sauterelles, de papillons
Et de rainettes
Quand le soleil à l'horizon
Profilait sur tous les buissons
Nos silhouettes
On revenait fourbus contents
Le cœur un peu vague pourtant
De n'être pas seul un instant
Avec Paulette
Prendre furtivement sa main
Oublier un peu les copains
La bicyclette
On se disait c'est pour demain
J'oserai, j'oserai demain
Quand on ira sur les chemins
A bicyclette
Thanks Sheldon, you provided a great service to the biking community. You will be missed.
I cannot believe I am just now coping with the death of my hero almost a full year after his passing. The only person who has passed that affected me more was my first wife! Ride on Sheldon!
The man lives on through the work he left behind. An inspiration to do what you love, and love what you do.
a good father, proved in his children
I've read so many articles, and enjoyed all of the detail of his writing, showed me why I love to ride... I don't know why I came back to the site today almost exactly a year after his passing. My condolences to the Brown family.
Thank you
I have today, for the umpteenth time, spent a pleasant, meditative hour following link after link through the marvellous and unrivalled encyclopaedia that is sheldonbrown.com.
Just this last Saturday evening I was telling a cycling friend about Sheldon. I had no idea he was gone. He was passionate about the sport and a storehouse of knowledge. His writings on cycling will continue to educate and inspire.
When I was seven, I learned to ride my Mother's bike. When I was 47, I found Sheldon on the net and learned so much more about cycling. It was like being seven again! You never knew me but you gave me and a lot of my bike crazy friends inestimable pleasure. Great gift from a great guy.
I can't find the words to express my sadness. It is an exceptional human who can touch people without having met them.
Thank you, Sheldon. I still have so much to learn from you.
You sir are a legend and I use your pages daily, will catch up with you in a few years and talk "twenty" tales, God Bless
Sheldon Brown was a great human being as well as very talented. I sent an email to him regarding my inability to do anything pertaining to bicycle repair and he personally wrote back to me several times until I got hip to what the problem was and how to fix it. I can't imagine many experts doing that for a total stranger. This was around June of 2007, now to find out he was dealing with cancer at around this time! Phew, I didn't know him personally but I sure wish I did. Rest in Peace.
Thanks Sheldon, your writing has been responsible in no small part for my continued enjoyment of cycling.
Sheldon's website has been and continues to be a great resource for me, an for many bicycle enthusiasts I know. His passion, plain speaking, and sense of humor has helped me discover the joy of working on bicycles. I was saddened to learn that he is no longer with us.
merci à Sheldon pour avoir été un de ces "spécialistes" dont la plus grande qualité était tout d'abord d'être un citoyen du monde et un humaniste. Remi, from Lyon, France.
How sad to learn that there will be no new chapters in Sheldon's book of life. I knew him only from the web, but I learned a great deal of the lore, the art and the science of cycling from him and I continually refer other cyclists to his website. Thank you for inspiring us.
Thank you Mr. Brown, your spirit and knowledge live on, but I will miss new jokes every oncomming april.
Salute from over the ocean!
Spoked my first wheel from scratch a while back. Fitted a Sturmey 3-speed hub on an old camper bike in order to turn it into a cargo bike. When I got started Sheldon was still alive. The project rested a while and he passed away. Many thanks for your DIY guides!
Ps. I re-painted the rims red...
Sheldon was a great guy. He responded to my e-mail and answered my questions, and he seemed genuinely interested in helping. I think he honestly wanted to help everybody he met. It was his mission to make sure that others got along better with their bicycle. Truly, if anyone was an Ambassador to Bicycling, it was Sheldon Brown. It didn't matter what bicycle you had, he was not judgmental about it. He seemed to care more that you were getting the most out of your bicycle, whatever it was. That was what mattered to him--that other people enjoyed bicycling as much as he did. I wish that I could have met him in person. He was a rare individual who cared about others, and was selfless with his time. God bless Sheldon. I read his web site thoroughly, and enjoyed his writing very much. Perhaps he did not become rich in the bike business, but he was a great man for contributing to the richness of others. Everyone who interacted with him benefited.
The best....thanks for all the detailed info!
Chris Doyle SF, Ca.
Tristeza nao tem fim, felicidade, sim...
there will be forever sadness without Sheldon Brown; bicycles and riding will never be the same...
Oreste Drapaca
New York NY USA
OK, yes Australia can be a bit behind the times... I failed to hear of Sheldon's passing until well over a year later!
I've relied on Sheldon to deliver explainations to simple (and not so simple) problems related to cycling for my coaching clinics(and appropriately acknowledged him!). I always had a great laugh with his wit and love of cycles and all to do with them.
As a former rider for the US National team and Olympian ('84), I send my condolences to family, and will see you up there big guy - one of these days!
Janelle (Parks) Graham
Having just arrived in the UK and had my bike delivered across the pond in several pieces, I had to admit that there was a lot I didn't know about maintaining and adjusting my bicycle for optimum performance. After a bit of googling I found Sheldon's witty, accessible and comprehensive archive of biking wisdom. In about 20 minutes he had posthumously helped me understand not only how to put my derailleur back on but how to adjust it for optimal performance so I can climb hills better than before. Thank you, Sheldon. And thanks to the Brown family and friends for keeping the site up as both a terrific resource and fitting memorial to a great guy. My deepest condolences and best wishes to his family and I'm sure I will return to take in his knowledge and wit and warmth again and again. Best wishes, Peter
I realize that Sheldon did not believe in angels, but I also realize that heaven has gotten its best cycle mechanic ever.
Of all my heart.
A W E S O M E. We can't return all that he give us.
I always thought Sheldon Brown's website was in the best traditions of information sharing on the internet. I'm sorry to hear that he's no longer with us and I'm grateful for everything he shared with us.
P.S. It makes me smile to know that he would get who my username refers to :-)
I often come back to Sheldon Brown's website and rapidly find useful information. I will do so many times over again, his legacy will never die ! :)
RIP
Another memory of Sheldon got tripped today. Attended the Cambridge Christmas Revels this evening. Sheldon had been a volunteer there for many years. It was a little sad to not see his name listed in the program...
difficult to explain the impression this man has left. a truly wonderful person, whom we would all wish to transpire to be like. Sheldon, you made a difference.
all my respect.
Years ago, I started at the junkyard with one and eventually built like 30-40 bikes, by myself and later helping others to build their own, giving them away to the builders. Years later, my love and I still have the one we built together. I was taught and inspired by sheldon brown's writing and knowledge and love of cycling. Thank you for giving so openly. It's 2010 and you're still missed. Thank you, Sheldon.
I didn't know Sheldon Brown, however for many years now I've come across his work on the internet. His work is still relevant to many, and likely will be as he was a source of information on already out-of-date subjects such as 1970's era equipment and repair.
His extensive website has helped me time and time again when trying to work out a fixie conversion for commuting to school. I just went to shoot him an email about frame spacing and remembered his tragedy.
The entire cycling community has suffered this loss of such a helpful, enthusiastic, and bike-centric man.
RIP Mr. Sheldon Brown. I wish I could have met you and shaken your hand, and taken a gander at that wonderful helmet!
Two years have passed, but Sheldon's influence and spirit lives on. Thank you Sheldon for sharing everything!
Every time I go to Sheldon Brown's site I regret never having met him. It brings me to tears sometimes. I am a nurse and I have spent countless hours caring for people who are now gone. Words fail to describe what I took away from my time with them and words fail to describe the man Sheldon Brown was and how many people will miss him. I miss him and I never met him. So here is some love from us here on earth Sheldon. I will keep pedaling for the pure joy of it and in your honor. Namaste my friend.
Thank you Sheldon.
A big thank you to Sheldon for all his documentation and wit without which so many of the arduous tasks we came to him for advice on would not have been tolerable.
A legend in the industry forever.
Thank you, Sheldon. You sparked an interest in bicycle maintenance and this morning I installed my rear brake. I couldn't help but think of you. I am grateful that I got to meet you.
It was April Fool yesterday. Since Sheldon's passing, each first of April have been poignant days for me, as I am reminded of his classic April Fool's articles.
A life well led, bravo.
I would never have attempted to build my own wheels without his excellent and inspiring wheel-building article on his website. His departure was a very day for cycling.
I am a proffesional bike mechanic in the Netherlands. Yet my skill and experience pale in utter insignificance to Mr Brown's! Over the years his site (and he personally by mail) helped me out in countless ways, not only in relation to bike tech..! The only qualities about Sheldon that outshone even his unparalleled expertise were his caring, generosity, altruism and impeccable taste.
This legacy can still be enjoyed by all at his wonderfull site.
I sincerely and seriously hope a statue of him will be erected. I for one will put up his picture in my bike shop and on my site for inspiration.
Thank you Sheldon! Hatts of to you sir!
A note from Harriet Fell
Sheldon Brown died on February 4, 2008 -- but I am now actively maintaining, updating and expanding his Web site, along with his close friend John Allen, co-author of most editions of Sutherland's Handbook for Bicycle Mechanics.
The pages still carry the Harris Cyclery banner at the top, and many links to products on sale at Harris Cyclery. In addition, we are supporting updating of the site with Google ads on our pages. We hope to keep this site growing and improving.
Work on the site will include, more or less in order, but overlapping:
• a review of what is online -- link checking, spell checking, dealing with repeated or missing information, etc.;
• new, updated information added to existing articles and in new ones (suggestions and new content are welcome!);
• an appearance makeover.
We will be adding an e-mail group and a blog, where we will keep you informed of the latest updates to the site, and other items of interest.
Please help get the message out!
If you like the site, tell somebody about it! Put a link on your own site, or, better yet, multiple links! We encourage people to link to individual articles, or sub-directories where appropriate, and to individual definitions in the Bicycle Glossary. We will keep the URLs stable so your links will not go bad.
-- Harriet Fell, Sheldon's widow
Sheldon was the first one who successfully through his website explained to me why bicycle tires should be smooth if the bike is to be ridden on asphalt. It was an eye opener to think that tread is for decoration on street bikes.
I was at a bike shop yesterday. I saw yet another young hipster sporting a big beard and a cycling cap. I thought "Oh, jeez that makes 3 sheldon clones I've seen today." Being the anti-hipster I am (making me even hipper), I really wanted to be mad at Sheldon for unknowingly spawning all these fixed gear riding self indulgent SOBs.
I couldn't bring myself to thinking a bad thing about the guy. I felt like a big turd just for trying. I learned so much from digging through his writings over the years. I refer to something he's written at least once a week. He never asked me for a cent or a favour in return. He always seemed to stand up for the underdog be it, 3 speeds or one of my passions, french road bikes of yesteryear. What a bitchin' legacy.
Thanks to Sheldon's website, I have been able to research what gearing I would need on a road bike. I have learnt a lot, so his knowledge is still helping people.
Thanks to all his family.
It's been a while since I visited Sheldon's website, but recently I have been building a new fleet of bikes for my family as the kids keep getting bigger - spare parts from Ebay and a lot of help from Sheldon Brown and everything is tickety boo.
I wanted to say a huge thankyou to Harriet Fell and John Allen for keeping the website going as it continues to be a valuable resource for thousands of people around the world.
I never had the pleasure of dealing with Sheldon on a personal level but I used the vast array of information on his website countless times over the years. Sheldon's early grasp of how the internet could be used to help others by sharing information with so many more people, and his unrivelled enthusiasm for sharing his passions particularly Cycling should be an inspiration to others of what can be achieved.
Sheldon you will be missed.
I've been checking out Sheldon Brown's site for a few years now, but only today did I realize he had passed. That was strange and also very sad.
Ride on..
I learned a few things from your posts and I'm sure I will continue to learn. So useful things, that I can learn for free at least that I could say: Thank you!
It's unfortunate that i didn't learn of him until after his passing. His contributions to cycling will not be forgotten.
I only hope he now fully believes in angels.
-Olympia, WA
I'm always looking for information, I started reading is advices for my riding problems, and ended up reading all i can all the suden I realized that "this man it's really THE COOLEST of all,a soulmate on a bike.I check now and then on the website like visiting a long distance friend, but today He wasn't here, ok maybe next time. Enjoy your ride Sheldon.
So sorry for family and friends of Sheldon, and so sorry for the community.
We have him as a mentor, an exemplar, and thank you Sheldon for that.
As a cyclist, aspiring mechanic, atheist, humanist, father, and husband, I feel a closeness to a man I've never met and never will. Like countless others, I've learned so much from Sheldon and wish I could thank him in person for sharing his wealth of knowledge with the world. It may be over 2 years late, but my thoughts go out to his family. He will be missed. :-)
ACQ in Spokane, WA
You are an inspiration. Your spirit for life has touched me. I will strive to be kind to all those around me. I offer my belated condolences to your family, and I trust that you are at peace.
Sheldon helped me with getting my bike on the road. And for his memory I will ride it forever. Finding out his death in 2010, it saddens me, yet I am proud that our community became stronger because of his hard work and dedication.
Salute to you Sheldon!
Sheldon helped me with getting my bike on the road. And for his memory I will ride it forever. Finding out his death in 2010, it saddens me, yet I am proud that our community became stronger because of his hard work and dedication.
Salute to you Sheldon!
morre o homem nasce o mito
Such a loss:a cycling authority and a man of genius,unquestionably.
Just now I'm going to build a set of wheels following his tutorial,I've learned a lot from his website-thank you
Il nous manque...
Les écrits de Sheldon sont la seule bible que j'ai jamais lu !
Treberden
When I entered the world of bikes I, as did most of us, knew slightly less than nothing. Now, a decade later and with more than twenty restored vintage road bikes to my name, I can safely say that at least three-quarters of what I've ever learned about bikes was learned from Sheldon Brown. The last quarter? Merely the refinement and esoterica of specialization which remains utterly mind-numbing to all but the most boring of our hobby.
About eight years ago, after having learned more about the man as well as about the craft, I put him on my mental list of people I would like to meet one day. It saddens me that I was never able to do so and it saddens me even moreso that others will not get the chance either.
Few of us can truly hope to live on through the things we have done in life but I have a feeling that in decades to come people will still be speaking the name Sheldon Brown.
As a relative late comer to cycling (I'm 47) I found Sheldon's site to be an absolute godsend, not only because of the unparalleled wealth of knowledgabe material available, but also because of his inspiring no-nonsense no-job-is-too-difficult approach, and his infectious enthusiasm for all things bikey. As generous as he was knowledgable, a great ambassador for his sport, and a champion of the freedom of the internet and the free exchange of information.
merry Christmas sheldon, hope youre riding free now...
Was Googling for some brake levers today and Sheldon's name came up. I exchanged email with him years ago to find bottom bracket cups for my Peugeot tandem. He answered my question and I still have the tandem and the cups. A really great guy.
After a long hiatus from bikes I returned - constantly using the Sheldon Brown pages as a reference but until 5 minutes ago I never actually researched who he actually was.
I wish I'd done it earlier and been able to personally thank him. As close to an industrial pioneer in the mould of Da Vinci, Brunell et al as we'll get.
UK Triathlete
Once again, I was searching for something bike-related and came across Sheldon's page. It was a little over 3 years ago that he passed and I'm still pretty bummed about it even though I never knew him personally. He did so much for the sport of biking through his web site..... He's missed.
Sheldon Brown is the man!
RIP
Thanks so much for everything. I am becoming a real cyclist now. Sheldon's info has been so useful to me, I hope one day someone will look at my bike and ask, "Do you read Sheldon Brown's website?"
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