Baftap

I know many on this forum choose not to frequent the road forum, but news of Sheldon's passing was posted there earlier today.

https://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycling/385194-r-i-p-sheldon-brown.html

Just thought you should know.

Artkansas 

Yes. According to Harris Cyclery,

"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."

His email is captBike@sheldonbrown.com. I'm not sure if that is the best way to send your condolences.

He is going to be very missed. I had heard that he was sick and emailed him last summer. I'm sorry to hear of his passing.

Harris Cyclery

shmulb

RIP Sheldon, As a new cyclist I have learned a huge amount from his website

maddmaxx 

Sheldon Brown was one of the great figures and characters of the bicycling world. I'm going to miss you Sheldon.

Tom Bombadil

That is sad news. I had followed the downturn in his health, but had hoped that he would find a path to improvement. He was too young and too vibrant to have suffered the way that he did. Life is never about being fair, but if it had been, he would have had another 25-30 years in good health.

BSLeVan

As many of us learned, some always knew, and others were unfortunate not to know, Sheldon was a legitimate character, passionate advocate of cycling, incredible storehouse of knowledge, and a very decent human being. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends. Damn, the cycling community has indeed lost one of its best. I am going to mourn this loss and honor him with a period of silence. This shall be my last post for today. Sheldon, I hope you are riding to a place where the roads are always smooth and the wind is always at your back.

dbg

I will certainly miss him. He was an inspiration to me.

Beverly

This is sad news.

His website was a wonderful place to learn about anything related to biking. I occasionally checked his journal where he posted about his struggles with his health.

Digital Gee

I am saddened by this news. From what I could tell, Sheldon was a giant in the cycling community. He will be deeply missed.

gpelpel

Very sad news.
Sheldon's leaves an incredible wealth of cycling knowledge. All of us owe him so much.
My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.

BengeBoy 

What an amazing guy. He'll be missed.

And an inspiration to 50+'s. Sheldon turned 50 in 1994, which (I think) was the year that the first widely usable web browser became available. But go to the web today, do a search on almost any mechanically oriented bicyling question, and Sheldon's site surfaces at the top of search results. I don't know much about Sheldon's work before the Internet, but clearly in the Internet age he appears to play in almost any discussion about bicycle mechanics. So here's a guy who took a lifetime of knowledge and passion -- along comes a new technology -- and he totally nails it. He leaves behind a legion of fans and a important body of work.

Condolences to his friends and family --

bcoppola

I actually got some responses from him just a few days ago to a question I posted on the Bike Mechanics forum concerning my Trek 820 project. And his post included a notice about a community Gilbert and Sullivan operetta production he was appearing in. So he wasn't letting his illness stop him from enjoying life!

And like untold others, his articles on darn near anything bike related have been invaluable to me.

There's a "bikes Sheldon helped you with" thread on the Mechanics forum; at this posting it's over 4 pages.

I found out via a posting on Detroit Craigslist, of all things.

Louis

I am stunned, I just saw this post. I want to scream but I'm going to cry.

oilman_15106

Sheldon responded to my most stupid questions. A true teacher if there ever was one. The first time he and I had a kind of web based conversation was about my Centurion rebuild, I was blown away that such a legend would take the time to try to set me right about my work. He answered my dumb question about a Shimano hub last week.

Thanks and RIP. Our thoughts and prayers are with your family.

Billy Bones

In deep homage to him, I'll paraphrase his signature lines. . .

I'm Billy (Wiping Away a Tear) Bones.

solveg

This is so, so sad. I knew he was sick, but it seemed like such a slow thing that I kind of stopped worrying about him.

Tom Bombadil

I accessed his on-line information a number of times, but never asked him a question, via email or on a forum. Nor have I ever read a BF post by him, as I only look in on this forum, and then occasional on the recreation and recumbent forums and he didn't post in any of these three.

I figured he was too busy and was focused on getting healthy, so I never "bothered" him. Now I kinda wish I had at least once.

If anyone hears of a memorial being started, for his family or his favorite charity, I would appreciate it if that were posted here.

BluesDawg

So sad.
Goodbye, Captain Bike. You stomped terra.

Dellphinus

What a terrible loss. It was always such a treat to have Sheldon pop into a thread and answer one of your questions, and it happened fairly often.
From Sheldon's site:
"My "Panache" is a plastic eagle which probably began life at the top of a small flag pole. It is a road find. It is held on to my old Bell Image by a plastic zip tie.

This is a marvelous conversation piece, and has broken the ice on a great many contacts with strangers. Someone on the 'net once said he thought it was cool, but that he could never do something like that, 'cause he still cared what people thought of him. Well, I too care what people think of me! I hope people will think that I am:

* Independent minded.
* Original.
* A person with a sense of humor.
* Somebody who doesn't take himself too seriously. "

What a class act.

Old School

Well put -- class act indeed. Rest well, my friend. I am missing you already...

John E

When business travel took me to Boston in July 2003, I took the commuter rail ride out to West Newton to meet Sheldon at Harris Cyclery. He was as gracious and helpful in the flesh as he was on the Internet. I will miss him, and I can only offer my heartfelt condolences to his wife, Harriet Fell, and their two adult children, as well as the entire gang at Harris.

BillK

Wow....his helpful insights and good humor will be sorely missed. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family.

Shifty

I recall many times Sheldon would post to a thread and others were in awe, it's like what else needs to be said here, except "Thank you oh master" He was completely unselfish, sharing his knowledge and expertise for the good of all the cycle community.

He will be sorely missed, but his work will live on.

Dogbait

What an awful silence is the only noise that is made when giants fall.

Thanks, Sheldon for your words of wisdom, for passing on your boundless knowledge and for showing me how to build a wheel that starts and stays round and true.

The cycling world is only beginning to understand the loneliness of your absence.

May your family find comfort and peace in the coming days.

freeranger

Sheldon rightfully earned a great deal of respect and admiration from the cycling community. His site contains info not easily found anywhere else, and he was very helpful in offering advice when someone would need it. I would have liked to have met him, seemed to be quite a character. He will be missed.