jbrians

I have been reading a lot of comments from angry members about the driver and how the careless lack of judgement contributed to OUR (yes, we have all lost someone here) senseless loss.
I have to point out that even though a cell phone seems to be at the root of this accident, I expect there have been a lot of accidents caused by inattention due to drinking/eating, radio/CD/tape changing, smoking, smacking kids, or talking to another occupant in the car while we are behind the wheel. Let's face it, cars are full of distractions and the manufacturers are hell bent to put more in every model year. I have been guilty myself of failing to pay %100 attention all the time when I'm behind the wheel and at 52 years of age I've got well over 1,000,000km of pilot in command driving. How can a kid be expected to have the wisdom of some of us older guys? Maybe locking him up for 50 years isn't the best choice.

I miss sydney's dry wit immensely.
I hope his family takes comfort in his popularity amonst us cyclists.

jfmckenna

I liked sydney. I liked his style. He helped me out a few times. I will miss him...

cycle17

Very sad indeed. My thoughts ar ewith his family. He will be missed.

d_monie1

Although I didnt know him, I am very sad to hear this news. I hope he didnt suffer much. Hopefully, his spirit went to a better place. What suggestions do the forum members have to prevent incidents like this from happening again. I somtimes think that I am gonna go out the same way.

neil0502

I don't intend to hijack this thread unnecessarily, but ... I do think the issue of the driver is relevant ... and I imagine sydney may have, too.

I, for one, am not advocating hanging this kid by his toenails, but I agree with the notion that this was only an accident in the strictest sense of the word (no intent). The death, however, was entirely foreseeable and entirely preventable. Eyes (mind) on the road. Period.

The concept that "it could have been any one of us driving that car" does nothing for me. If I'm inattentive behind the wheel (as, of course, I have been), and I kill somebody, I don't have much expectation of compassion or leniency. I expect to accept the consequences of my actions ... and I expect them to sting. Look, we don't know this kid, but it's just as likely that he's a narcissistic teen as it is that he's a highly-sensitive, contemplative, thoughtful kid who will relive this day for the rest of his life. If he's the former, a wrist-slap serves no end. If he's the latter, then a judge can do what's best.

I'm not particularly concerned what form of distraction this driver chose. I am particularly concerned that there is a new generation of drivers entering the roadway with two-ton missiles during the age of DVD, GPS, cell phone, text messaging, MP3, Blackberry, etc., etc.

While I seek no "revenge" here, I do believe that the message needs to start somewhere. "Making an example" of this kid does not imply capital punishment or a draconian sentence. It could imply years of community service, revocation of driver's license with requirement that he commute by bicycle, monetary damages paid to the local advocacy group, time spent repairing bicycles for needy kids, lectures at local high schools, etc., etc.

Come on, y'all: we've all had too many run-ins with distracted drivers. How, and when, does it end?? I don't believe we're talking about "taking another life" here re: this 17 year old kid. If done right, we're saving another life ... and maybe countless more in the process. A strict, but extremely creative/unusual punishment would merit national media attention. Make the kid wear a sandwich board and stand on the corner in downtown Denver every day for a while ... or something....

Making the streets safe(r) for cyclists will help the obesity crisis, the energy crisis, urban sprawl ... well, you know the drill. I'm preachin' to the choir.

'nuf said....

Pedal Wench

sydney's wit, honesty and expertise will be missed. His input to some of my questions over in the Road Cycling forum were invaluable.

Tailwinds and sunshine to you sydney. I can't believe we've lost one of our own.

A nationwide ride in his honor wouldn't be a bad idea.

Leslie

ofofhy

I came in this morning after being away for five days, and it really brought me down to hear this. I know that I always pictured him as a cranky loner, but I am glad that the posts from his family have proven me wrong on that account. He brought a lot of laughs in this forum, and he dispensed a lot of knowledge. A true asset to the forum. Thankfully, some of his words and advice will preserved here for a long time to come.

Quickbeam

Like some others here have mentioned, I knew sydney better as boudreaux over at Cyclingforums. He was a great source of knowledge and wit. My sincere condolences and deepest sympathy go out to his friends and family. He will be missed.

Sunny skies, tailwinds, and smooth pavement Jim. We muppets, nose pickers and carpet smokers will miss you. We'll try to set 'em straight as best we can without you.

Steelrider

This is really an unbelievable and terrible tragedy. My heart goes out to Jim's family and to all those who were in his life. I'd be lying if I said that I had no ill will toward the teen who visited this tragedy on Jim's family, but ill will only in the sense that I hope he does not just wallow in the guilt that any person of conscience would feel, but that he could intimately know the person he killed and fully understand just how many people were/are affected by his foolish actions.

sydney's posts were always informative, made me laugh and/or shake my head. Curmudgeon didn't even begin to describe his writing style, but if you didn't take it personally, you just had to laugh.

The other thing that I was wondering is if there is someone who could be sent or forwarded emails at AP or a TV/news station in Colorado. As I was reading the posts and the fact that this was picked up by AP and some other news organizations, I was thinking that it would be a great thing if this could also become a human interest story that puts a face on something that is (unfortunately) just another news story.

It could tie into any specific target for donations, but it would be nice for people to understand that there are no anonymous/faceless cyclists who get killed - that it shouldn't have happened and we all have some responsibility in trying to make sure it happens less or not at all.

genericbikedude

On a somewhat lighter note, has it occured to anyone that sydney was always VERY protective of his secrecy and identity, and is now looking over at us from whereever he is, VERY PISSED OFF that we FINALLY FOUND OUT WHO HE IS?

moxfyre

Apparently, sydney was willing to mail parts to another forum member with his real name + return address on them (see cuda2k's posts above). I always thought that sydney's anonymity was of a rather playful nature... he seemed to enjoy being the "nameless, omnipresent, omniscient curmudgeon."

Guest

If you do the Good Morning America thing, if you could take the time to look up the Ken Kifer website and read about him here and mention him when you do the story, that would really be an impact. Ken was so important to the cycling community, and he too was killed unnecessarily by a car. Why must we accept it when cyclists are killed "accidentally" by motorists and given a light sentence and a half-hearted prosecution?

Koffee

oscaregg

This is on topic, honest. We just ordered a new front door and storm door for our house. The sales babe from the door company rolled up our driveway with the phone still stuck to her ear, finished her call and got out of her car. She had just driven from a Portland suburb to our rural home north of Woodland in a, we shall say, Danica-like time for the distance. I kidded her, "What, they see a big SUV driven by a blond talking on the phone behind them and get the f$%# out of your way?" She did the measurements, showed us the door and hardware choices and left. When I called later to confirm our choice I spoke to the company manager and asked that they back the time pressure off of their sales people so that they do not feel compelled to practice the inexcusable habit of yacking on a telephone while driving. I did let the company manager that we'd just placed an expensive order with what I think of phone- using drivers. Recognize the times when you have leverage, and use it!

cruentus

This really sucks, but I can't say that I'm surprised. Life in these United States seems to get more nasty and brutish by the day. Our fellow Americans are becoming self-centered cretins, with little regard for the wellbeing of the people around them.

Sydney, from one miserable curmudgeon to another:

In Pace Requiescat.

spinerguy

I just found this out after a long week out. OMG!
This is terrible!
My condolences to the Price Family.

Portis

I don't know if he was any more protective of his identity than the average member on here. Either way, remembrances like these are often as much if not more about the living than those that have passed. This thread has showed a high level of regard for a man known to all of us here as sydney. I think most of us would be happy to be regarded so well by so many. Somehow, i think he would too.

Bike_13

Sitting here at work, tired after the Australian SS National Champs, I can't help but feel a great sadness today.

I posted last, on Thursday 24th.

It was a usual day. When I found a moment in the office I'd search the Bicycle Mechanics threads for interesting topics.

On Thursday (as is often the case) nothing seemed particularly interesting. When this happens, I'll usually search and see what Sydney posted last. He's always been entertaining, matter of fact, and he knew his shlt. Certainly made me think twice about what I'd posted (on more than one occasion)!

Today, I nearly did exactly the same thing, but then I saw the sticky.

Sydney, I miss you already.

I have nothing more to say.

top506

As my great-grandmother would say:
"May God rock his soul to rest in Glory this tide".
never met the man, or knew him, but learned a bunch from him.
Top

jbrians

well said neil0502.
I wasn't implying a get off scott free option. A lesson really must be learned here.

531Aussie

another pic:

https://www.serotta.com/forum/attachm...tid=7644&stc=1
https://www.serotta.com/forum/showthr...741#post145741

freeranger

I will miss his style and contributions to the BikeForums. My condolences to his family and friends.

MMACH 5

Pissed, mortified and saddened. Such a shame.

RIP sidney.

mrballistic

a total shame, this.

i'm sure that it's been said before in previous pages, but, if that kid hit another car, and someone died in that car (crossed center line, etc), he's be up for vehicular manslaughter. heck -- if he rear-ended a car and /that/ caused a death, he'd get some hot court action as well.

since it's a biker, he's looking at a slap on the wrist?

what a strange country this is.

jeff williams

What sad news to come back to. The loss compounded by the fact he was so helpful to many cyclists with mechanical questions -on several sites.

To the Price family -My sorrow at your loss, respects to Jim.

Jim seemed a great fellow, a real character and very popular poster. Our little bike site will not be the same, he will be missed very much.
Our cycling community has indeed lost a valuable contributor.
I enjoyed the conversations I had with him on this site, he did help me with several problems -sage advice.

Goodbye sydney.

TheDTrain

Wow, why didn't I read this until now?

I've always heard of drivers running down cyclists. But I'd never think it would occur to a member of this forum. sydney was a great poster who always gave advice and tried to help others. Well, at least he's with God now, riding the carless open roads of heaven.

I guess it goes to show, the threat is pretty damn real.