Charlie has succumbed to the complications of a brain injury from a bike accident that took place over 10 years ago. If you don't know about the pioneering work done by Charlie you owe yourself a quick internet search. There's a lot of information about his bike innovations, particularly in the early days of the mountain bike.

I won't go into the history here. I'm sure others will cover that better than I could. I want to talk bout the man himself. I knew Charlie as a fellow cyclist but I knew him better as a member of a circle of friends, including his wife Jacquie, who played music together. Charlie and my late wife Nanette were our faithful audience. Charlie was a quiet man, modest and shy, but passionate about his many projects to improve both mountain and road bikes, always striving to find that point where as-light-as-possible was strong enough. His basement workshop included everything from massive welding clamps to tiny jewelers files, reflecting the broad range of his curiosity.

It was hard watching his slow decline. I'm rambling a bit so I'll stop here. I'll miss him.
Brent