Forum Suggestions & User Assistance - In Memory

Just an idea here. In memory of Sheldon Brown.....Instead of letting his redstar go to waste how about donating it to a current non redstar member. Maybe look for a younger member who can't afford the $25.00 who has really added to the quality of BF.

good idea!!!

Bear with me. I'm working on tracking down Sheldon's favorite charities.

Just an idea here. In memory of Sheldon Brown.....Instead of letting his redstar go to waste how about donating it to a current non redstar member. Maybe look for a younger member who can't afford the $25.00 who has really added to the quality of BF.

Or, perhaps "adopt a member in memory of Captain Brown". I think I will do that, if possible.

Perhaps now he can get a gold star...

East Hill

I would suggest it be a custodian for Sheldon's red star, not an adopt-a-member or just a current non-red-star member. I think it should reside in the Bicycle Mechanics forum where Sheldon was most active and made, overall, the most significant contribution to cycling.

And I would suggest for consideration members such as Retro Grouch (who also freeranges over to Classic), Hillrider and several others who, in my humblest of all opinions, make excellent contributions in the spirit of Sheldon Brown.

Or, perhaps "adopt a member in memory of Captain Brown". I think I will do that, if possible.

Perhaps now he can get a gold star...

East Hill



^^ That seems like a good idea. BF members who contributed and were well respected should be entitled to a post humous 'gold star' -- and Sheldon Brown should be it's first recipient. imo.

^^ Actually, sydney first, then Sheldon.

I am embarrassed to say I have never heard of a "gold" star. What is it?

We don't have a Gold Star......some of the members just want to honor Sheldon, garysol. It's not a bad idea either.........;)

We don't have a Gold Star......some of the members just want to honor Sheldon, garysol. It's not a bad idea either.........;)

Not a bad idea at all!!!!!!!!

Any updates?

I would suggest it be a custodian for Sheldon's red star, not an adopt-a-member or just a current non-red-star member. I think it should reside in the Bicycle Mechanics forum where Sheldon was most active and made, overall, the most significant contribution to cycling.

And I would suggest for consideration members such as Retro Grouch (who also freeranges over to Classic), Hillrider and several others who, in my humblest of all opinions, make excellent contributions in the spirit of Sheldon Brown.

As flattering as this suggestion sounds, I can't do it. Just doesn't seem right to me.

While it's an objective of mine to make contributions in the spirit of Sheldon Brown, I don't feel like I pack the horsepower to do it. I don't have his depth of knowledge and I doubt I've been as consistantly respectful to people who hold opinions that differ from mine..

There will never be another Sheldon. We should be grateful for the opportunity we have had to experience his knowledge and wit this closely. Without the miracle of computers and the internet I couldn't have gotten to know the type of person he was. It was a wonderful thing.

Unfortunately, now Sheldon's gone. He can't be replaced.

As flattering as this suggestion sounds, I can't do it. Just doesn't seem right to me.

While it's an objective of mine to make contributions in the spirit of Sheldon Brown, I don't feel like I pack the horsepower to do it. I don't have his depth of knowledge and I doubt I've been as consistantly respectful to people who hold opinions that differ from mine..

There will never be another Sheldon. We should be grateful for the opportunity we have had to experience his knowledge and wit this closely. Without the miracle of computers and the internet I couldn't have gotten to know the type of person he was. It was a wonderful thing.

Unfortunately, now Sheldon's gone. He can't be replaced.

That doesn't mean we could not contribute a star to you in his memory, is this not true?

Sheldon's memory will live through the small kindnesses we show to each other.

East Hill

That doesn't mean we could not contribute a star to you in his memory, is this not true?

Sheldon's memory will live through the small kindnesses we show to each other.

East Hill

That's a nice gesture, but a bit off track. I need to find out what charity Sheldon would have wanted us to support. Then I will see if maybe I can give stars to members that donate to the charity. I've got a couple of other ideas that I'll need to work out the details for, but first I need to know which charity.

Any assistance would be much appreciated.

That's a nice gesture, but a bit off track. I need to find out what charity Sheldon would have wanted us to support. Then I will see if maybe I can give stars to members that donate to the charity. I've got a couple of other ideas that I'll need to work out the details for, but first I need to know which charity.

Any assistance would be much appreciated.

Yes, I agree it would be good to support charities which Sheldon also supported.

What kind of assistance were you looking for?

East Hill

Yes, I agree it would be good to support charities which Sheldon also supported.

What kind of assistance were you looking for?

East Hill

I haven't found anything online, and haven't heard back from anyone at Harris yet. I need to know which charity. A quick pat on the back to anyone that knows.

I would think that contributions to the MS Society would not go amiss, and would certainly be relevant, but you are correct, I can't find anything online offhand.

I'll keep looking.

East Hill

One suspects Sheldon's charitable interests were not medically related, but rather in the arts. He also was NOT a fan at all of bike-a-thons to the point of saying they were bad for cycling's image. I doubt he would, in all honesty, be terribly impressed by people involving themselves in MS rides just because he had the ailment.

That doesn't mean we could not contribute a star to you in his memory, is this not true?

Sheldon's memory will live through the small kindnesses we show to each other.

East Hill

While I feel really, really honored that a couple of folks have thought of my name regarding some kind of memorial for Sheldon, I don't want to wear Sheldon's star.

One suspects Sheldon's charitable interests were not medically related, but rather in the arts. He also was NOT a fan at all of bike-a-thons to the point of saying they were bad for cycling's image. I doubt he would, in all honesty, be terribly impressed by people involving themselves in MS rides just because he had the ailment.

I did not know he was not a fan of bike-a-thons, but I most certainly did get the idea that he truly loved the arts.

East Hill

While I feel really, really honored that a couple of folks have thought of my name regarding some kind of memorial for Sheldon, I don't want to wear Sheldon's star.


All right, RG, no star for you then ;) .

East Hill

What about donations to other cycling related charities, such as Dave Zabriskie's fledgling YieldToLife.org (www.YieldToLife.org)(already working for change in Utah, Brian :) ) or any of the countless local advocacy groups that may impact a user's local area (e.g. in my area there is the Chicagoland Bike Federation or the League of Illinois Bicyclists).

Not trying to open a can of worms here, but there are tons of worthy groups out there to support that might be worthy of recognition. Maybe a roll-call in a separate sub-forum, if users wanted to be recognized for their support?

I did not know he was not a fan of bike-a-thons, but I most certainly did get the idea that he truly loved the arts.

East Hill

I couldn't find anything that confirmed he had MS, only mysterious MS-like symptoms. I may just contact a few charities over the coming days, and see if they can get something going. I recently blogged about the charity that gives away thousands of bikes to needy kids each year. A donation to them in Sheldon's name can't be a bad idea.

What about donations to other cycling related charities, such as Dave Zabriskie's fledgling YieldToLife.org (www.YieldToLife.org)(already working for change in Utah, Brian :) ) or any of the countless local advocacy groups that may impact a user's local area (e.g. in my area there is the Chicagoland Bike Federation or the League of Illinois Bicyclists).

Not trying to open a can of worms here, but there are tons of worthy groups out there to support that might be worthy of recognition. Maybe a roll-call in a separate sub-forum, if users wanted to be recognized for their support?

Zabriskie's is a good one, and I'm on good terms with their PR firm, which also handles Interbike. Coincidentally, I'm putting together a list of charities for another site I work for, so I've got a stack of contacts. There are only so many hours in a day though.

I couldn't find anything that confirmed he had MS, only mysterious MS-like symptoms. I may just contact a few charities over the coming days, and see if they can get something going. I recently blogged about the charity that gives away thousands of bikes to needy kids each year. A donation to them in Sheldon's name can't be a bad idea.

I agree, and I will do a write up about Sheldon Brown on my blog later today. I will include the name of the charity, and link to your blog as well if that's all right with you. It's been a bittersweet week for me with cycling...

East Hill

East Hill - sounds good. I'd like to try to contact all these charities, and see if they can in some way acknowledge donations made in Sheldon's name.

Zabriskie's is a good one, and I'm on good terms with their PR firm, which also handles Interbike. Coincidentally, I'm putting together a list of charities for another site I work for, so I've got a stack of contacts. There are only so many hours in a day though.

I'm suggesting that the whole board could help compile a list of them, though who knows what kind of stuff that might entail in discussions. Maybe a caveat that any US organization needs to be 501(c)3 to be included on any final list? Not sure how charities outside of US would be verified.

Where would be the best place to solicit that from board users?

Where would be the best place to solicit that from board users?

Perhaps just a sticky in each forum?

East Hill

I'm suggesting that the whole board could help compile a list of them, though who knows what kind of stuff that might entail in discussions. Maybe a caveat that any US organization needs to be 501(c)3 to be included on any final list? Not sure how charities outside of US would be verified.

Where would be the best place to solicit that from board users?

We could probably do that in Announcements, with a locked sticky pointing to it in other threads.

There are only so many hours in a day though.

PM sent Brian

We could probably do that in Announcements, with a locked sticky pointing to it in other threads.

I think there would be a pretty good response, as long as the perameters are well defined about what constitutes a proper charity/organization. It's the perameters that might get fuzzy, which is why I mentioned 501(c)3 status for US charities. If there is a better definition, I'm all for it.

I am inclined to say just be a bit cautious about localising any memorial too much. Sheldon's influence extended way beyond the US borders, his transations of website pages indicating just how widespread. I know Brian is putting a lot of effort into finding a charity, but look outside the square a bit. Maybe a BF scholarship in Sheldon's name. Now I would be prepared to contribute to that. It would show BFs respects along with its members, and be a long-living memorial.

I am not really sure why we can not just keep this within the BF boundaries. There are many ways to show our respect and our thanks without it costing tons of time or money.
A. Rename the mechanics forum for him.
B.Donate his star to a worthy and wanting member who will in turn be asked to watch the above forum for a set time period.

A. Rename the mechanics forum for him.


Something like:

"Mechanical Advice from sydney and Sheldon"
[How to fix your bicycle]

That gets both Jim Price and Sheldon Brown, and it's alliterative too!

East Hill

it's alliterative too!


I had to look it up :)

Alliteration is the repetition of a leading vowel or consonant sound in a phrase

I'm working on something. Bear with me.

Try this for size:

The Sheldon Brown Memorial Foundation, established by Bike Forums to foster the interest in bicycling mechanics.

The foundation to be a trust fund managed by a team of mature members of BF and others as considered appropriate. The trust to be funded by donations from the cycling public and from corporate donations. The trust to be registered in the US for the purposes of being a not-for-profit charitable organisation.

The intent is to provide an annual scholarship to a bicycle mechanic from anywhere in the world but essentially a Bike Forums member for at least a year, to participate in a bicycle mechanics course conducted by Barnetts or UCI (or whatever it's called) and to do an internship at a bicycle shop (preferably Harris Cyclery with their permission). Throw in maybe a period with a pro bicycle team as a mechanic.

The trust board to select the appropriate candidate based on enthusiasm, knowledge, maturity, ability to serve the public and communication (this is where membership of BFs comes in).

Also essential during the scholarship period is participation in a community-based bicycle recycling or mechanics education program, and (odd as this may seem) attendance at a minimum of two theatrical or arts performances during the year to round out the education and indulge Sheldon's interests.

Envisage the scholarship to provide air fares, assistance with work/study visa, a contribution to rental accommodation for the year, a contribution to the bike shop's costs, a pro tool kit, etc, etc.

The concept goes beyond international boundaries, and keeps the faith as a BF project.

I emailed Harris Cyclery, and asked whether Harriet had expressed what organizations donations could be made to "In Memoriam".

They've posted some suggestions on their website at
http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/sheldonmemorial.html

I'm giving a pointer, rather than copying the text, so that we can automatically track changes