Sheldon Brown Stories

Sheldon’s site has been a fantastic resource for me as I learn more about bicycle mechanics, commuting, riding, everything else bike-related. Thanks to Sheldon, and may his love of pedal power serve him well in his next life.

I will miss his huge wealth of bicycle info. A sad day.

Sheldon’s the guy who got me in to writing about cycling in the first place. He helped set up my first single speed, fix my chain line, figure out what non-rotational washers I needed for an internally geared hub, decide I needed a Raleigh 20, decide I didn’t need a Raleigh 20, and countless other meanderings through his huge site.

For some months I actually had ‘wants to be sheldon’ as part of my IM handle (this was when I had the Raleigh 20).

I never met the man, I’m saddened that I won’t have the chance. I can’t thank him enough for all the help and inspiration over the years.

My sincere condolences to his family, friends, and to the rest of us who only got to know him through his writings and site.

This is a huge loss, and I’m personally mourning Sheldon’s passing. One way that I think we can all honor his memory, however, is to try and remember that the Internet is as much a means of giving as it of taking. Have you figured out a neat trick for bleeding brakes or solving chain suck on your bike? Post it. Share it. Get it out there. The Internet is a conversation. We can’t just listen.

Sheldon Brown offered great information without condition, In his beginning, he felt that knowledge is useless if not shared and so begin the sheldon brown story. The first time I read any of his writing was on a search for bike repair and I was astounded at the wealth of information offered. And as I continued to peruse his site I started seeing more and more peoples referral to it. It is a sad day today when he is lost, regardless he will be remembered. As with Ken Kifer, the information will always be there. It is good that the cyclist community was moved by his contributions may he rest well in the singletrack in the sky.

I actually knew Sheldon a bit in real life. Harris Cyclery is one of a couple of bike shops that used to be right along my commute, and Sheldon ran irregular rides during the summer, on a few of which I went.

Sheldon clearly loved bikes, but what many of you who didn’t have the good fortune to meet him may not know is how much he also loved to sing. So much so that it’s shocking to many of us, after years of wishing he had volume settings other than “loud” and “really freaking loud” to realize that he’s gone, and the world has lost an incredibly generous and knowledgeable voice.

I have long treasured this photo from Sheldon’s and Harriet’s wedding. Not that I’m in any danger, but if I ever marry I want a tandem on the way out of the synagogue.

There’s discussion of how to maintain his web page as a resource for future cyclists among the people of the Massachusetts Bicycle Coalition. Also, discussion has begun of keeping alive certain other traditions of Sheldon’s.

Harriet has announced that they’re postponing any memorial service for now so that friends and family can gather.

I remember walking at lunchtime with my friend then 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.