think I might make a donation to the East Bay Bicycle Coalition in honor of sydney

Over the years I'd occasionally pull syd's chain over on C&V, and despite his reputation as a curmudgeon, he'd at least respond with humour and rarely missed my intent. On occasion he would be wrong, he wasn't infaliable, but he was generally at least interesting, sometimes grating, and usually fairly spot-on. In all, he was a good asset to the boards, and every time some one types out "gaspipe" or "Boatanchor" I'll probably remember him with a grin.

No carpet to smoke, but I'll pour some Jameys on the ground for him.

Wow, I haven't been on BF in a while, and this post immediately caught my eye.

It's always sad and really hard to hear about a cyclist's death. May he rest in peace.

a little more from his daughter:
http://www.cyclingforums.com/t-301831-15-3.html

"My dad picked up the hobby of cycling back in 1997 while in Houston. About 5 years ago (about a year after he retired and moved back to Denver) he really got into rebuilding and maintaining bikes. He had a freakish talent for retaining everything he read, especially things he loved. You should see the basement...bikes, parts, magazines and books everywhere. He had 18 completed bikes out in the garage...He was a bit of an obsessive personality, if he was going to do something he did it all the way, and never the easy way. And all this is in addition to his hunting and camping things as well. But cycling was the one thing he could do everyday, be it riding or working on his bikes.

Kimberlee
txstevens@cox.net

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drm...267820,00.html

Rocky Mountain News

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URL: http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drm...267820,00.html
Cyclist hit by teen dies
Riding had become Highlands Ranch retiree's passion

By Tillie Fong, Rocky Mountain News
November 26, 2005

HIGHLANDS RANCH - A bicyclist hit by a teenage driver earlier this week died early Friday morning.

Jim Price, 63, of Highlands Ranch, was pronounced dead about 1:30 a.m. at Swedish Medical Center.

Although the investigation continues, the driver, a 17-year-old Highlands Ranch boy, may be charged with careless driving resulting in death.

"We do not believe it was an intentional act, but it was inattentiveness to the roadway," said Lt. Alan Stanton, spokesman for Douglas County Sheriff's Office.

"The investigation showed that he was text-messaging on his cell phone" at the time of the accident, Stanton said.

The boy was not identified because he is a juvenile.

The accident happened about 1:30 p.m. Wednesday. The teenager was driving a newer model Chevrolet car, going east on Wildcat Reserve Parkway, just west of Summit View Parkway, when he apparently crossed into the bicycle lane and hit Price.

Price, a native of Mannington, W.Va., and a retired geologist for Texas-based Huber Corp., was an avid bicyclist. He took up riding while living in Houston in 1997.

"He was able to ride in Houston where there was nice weather," said his wife, Shirley Price, of Highlands Ranch, whom he married in 1966.

After he retired and moved to Colorado in 1999, riding and building bicycles became his passion.

"When he got to Denver, he saw all the bike paths and he found it was a good hobby to occupy him when he retired," she said. "He liked to build his bicycles inside the house, and he liked to go on the computer and get bicycle parts. He also liked helping people who had problems with bicycles."

Jim Price would usually ride for several hours every day, starting around 11 a.m. and usually returning home by 3 p.m.

Wednesday's accident wasn't the first for Jim Price.

Two years ago, about a half-mile from where this week's accident happened, he was hit by a driver while riding along a bike path. He suffered a broken ankle and became more mindful of motorists.

Shirley Price said Friday she doesn't feel anger toward the driver in this latest crash.

"I feel sorry for the teenager," she said. "It was a stupid mistake."

In addition to his wife, Price is survived by daughters, Kimberlee Stevens and Jessica Price, both of Lubbock, Texas; a brother, Tom Price, of Procterville, Ohio; a sister, Janet Cain, of Mannington, W.Va.; and three grandchildren.

Copyright 2005, Rocky Mountain News. All Rights Reserved.

Rest in peace, fellow cyclist.

Reading the news about Sydney's death really angered me; how someone could be so irresponsible while driving a vehicle. :mad: I for one believe that motorists (myself included) should always give consideration to cyclists, since bikes are certainly no match with vehicles. His passing has affected us all; may God watch over him wherever he may be.

Keep on riding.

Well that's a damn shame. I had many a tussle with sydney/Jim over many things mechanical, and indeed, even though he could be very abrasive, his facts were always right and I can't say he ever gave bad advice. Even though we never met, I will definitely miss him (including his smart-ass comments) around here.

RIP, sydney.

oh man that's awful.

I really hope they would put some law (like the rest of the world) against cell phones and driving...

:(

Such an awful shame for this to have happened, but in an attempt to try and turn it into something positive - I used to have my cell-phone switched on in the car, and yes I used to make and receive calls (but I did use a headset…) - but as from today, the phone is switched off when I'm driving - perhaps if we could get everyone to do the same - 1, 2, 4, 16, 256, 64k, 4B3…

…it sounds stupid, I know - but it's a start…

- Wil

Today I took my new bike out, complete with the parts from sydney. It wasn't a long ride, and it was pretty apparent that my time off the bike and too much food the last 4 days had set in. But it felt good to get out on the road and finally get a ride in on the bike that he helped make exactly the way I'd always wanted it to turn out. I can only imagine if this beautiful Shimano group was just sitting in his garage for all these years, carefully packed away, what other wonderful equipment he must have owned and rode. Nineteen bikes, wow, I hope one day my wife will have the sanity to let me indulge in that many beautiful rides and that I can take in as many miles.

There's not much more to say other than to say what a shame it is. I had noticed the lack of posts from sydney starting Thrusday evening, I'm on here far more than I should and usually will hit any thread that had a reply from sydney in it. Just to soak in what he had to say about a topic. There's already a host of threads in this forum that are just begging to have the final word said in them. A spot now left vacant and many people just wondering and guessing. Of course there are many others who will answer the questions, thats what this community is all about. Helping each other in many different ways. But as many have said there just aren't that many people out there who can be counted on to know the answer with very little room left for doubt once they have spoken. I plan to ride many miles on the bike that sydney helped me build, both with his advice and his parts. Just wish I could tell him thank you just one more time. :(

Thanks OboeGuy for adding the link to this thread in your SIG. I wouldn't have known to look here.

Coincidentally, in the "BikePirates" LiveJournal community, the incident involving sydney was mentioned the other day. I was angered when I first read about it - now I'm saddened to learn it was one of our own here on BF.net.

I personally benefitted from Jim's advice and enjoyed reading his posts and replies. Many thanks to him and condolences to his family. He'll be remembered fondly.

My deepest sympathy goes out to sydney's family. We have truly lost a wise and caring man. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Christ...can't believe this...I thought it was a joke at first, and expected sydney to post "stop smoking carpet" in this thread, or something of that nature.

A great loss to BF and the entire bicycle community.

Damn.

I actually did take a ride to where Jim was hit today because of all this - guess what? There *is* a bike lane along the street - if you take Broadway allllll the way South to where it ends, you get to Wildcat Reserve Parkway - right near the sign that says you gotta go right or left (kinda looks like this <- ->), are two bike path signs, one pointing East, one pointing west.

In Colorado at least, there's a few grades of bikepaths, from full on dedicated paths that meander their way through the city, under bridges, with mileage signs, rotaries (I kid you not!), speed limit signs, etc, to designated lanes on the side of the road - the kind with a picture of a bicyclist. The one on Wildcat Reserve Parkway isn't designated that way, but the shoulder for this road is immense (4 feet?) - that's basically what you're supposed to ride your bike on - it's more than adequate - I road it just fine; no honking, no nothin'.

I was looking for the place he got hit, but, surprisingly, there were no flowers or memorial or anything. Either that, or it wasn't on Wildcat Reserve Parkway and Summit View Road, as the news reported.

Or I'm completely blind.

Anyways - had flowers for you Jim! Still do! I'll get'm to you one way or another...

Consider the mercy and understanding these folks have at a difficult time when you call for this kid's head on plate.

For a long time I had been scared off by aluminum frames. Last one, a Bianchi EV3, rode like a pencil sharpener. sydney always said, you don't ride materials, you ride frames with varying geometries and tubing. I took a plunge an an alu/carbon frame recently. Built it up this weekend.

Used another tip gleamed from a biting remark sydney laid on me a while back. Someone asked about poor shifting, and I suggested he fiddle with the limit screws on the derailleur. sydney launches in calling me a muppet and suggests that cable tension is likely to blame. So during my build up, I paid particular attention to the cable tension when I set up the derailleurs.

Went for the first long ride on this bike tonight, and sure enough, the shifting was super crisp and spot on. Not bad for someone taking this stuff up as a hobby eight years ago. I'd still be putzing with limit screws now.

I am a muppet.

I've only been a Member of Bike Forums for a short while after being introduced by a Friend of mine, but I "knew" sydney as boudreux on another Forum and was stunned to hear what had happened, It bought back the feeling I remember having when I got the call that my Dad had passed away...a feeling I can't explain, but I'm sure his Family are going through this right now, so I wish them the strength to get through this....and of course my sincerest condolences go out to them...
I will be happy to contribute to any kind of fund you Guys come up with in his name.
Jim was quite a Celebrity in a lot of Forums, he helped many, including myself...

It's such a shame, may he rest in peace.

This is so sad. I just came back from a nice, peaceful, 4-day, no-computer vacation in San Diego and was looking forward to checking in on the forums. This news just shook me. I can't believe this happened to sydney. In fact, it would sadden me if anything similar happened to anyone from BF :(

Let's all remember to always ride with caution and to drive with complete attention and consideration of others.

The next time I get on a bike, I'm going to look to the skies and say a prayer to sydney before riding off.

RIP sydney

A very nice guy and my condolences to his family....

So sad! sydney knew his stuff and was always willing to share. RIP :( This just totally sucks!

:cry: If that is him I am sorry. This forum has lost a wonderful contributor and this world has lost a great cyclist and a great man.

I wish that every single person that has told me it is okay to talk on the cell phone or do other stuff while going through an intersection or driving knew syndey and could see this post. When you are driving you are driving.

setup a memorial for him :'(

so depressed now :(

Several years ago, when Cece Krone was killed by a drunk driver in Marin County, I traded cordial and consoling emails with her mother, I asked the judge to be hard on her killer, Michele Young, and I doubled my normal annual contribution to MADD, in her memory.

I appreciate and understand your post, bostontrevor, but as a pragmatist and activist, I need to celebrate the life of a fallen comrade and to deal with a senseless, tragic loss by doing some small thing to make the roads safer for all of us. For sydney's killer, I advocate a lengthy driver's license suspension and a life of modest monthly memorial payments to a reputable cycling advocacy organization, coupled with extensive community service, including speaking in public and in high schools about the dangers of inattentive motoring. If we can raise John Q. Public's awareness of the need for responsible motoring, then our friend sydney shall not have died in vain.

Holy ****. I was in Denver over the weekend visiting my brother-in-law and expressed outrage to anyone in the room when I heard that the kid that did this is facing a maximum of one year in jail on a charge of reckless driving. Brings it much closer to home when the rider hit was sydney. I can't say that I didn't get into it with him a bit, but I can certainly say that he was a tremendous source of great information. He'll be missed here, and I'm certain moreso IRL. RIP sydney, and peace to your family and loved ones.

beautiful idea.

Much love to your father, you and everyone close to him.