Tim Neenan RIP
08-30-25 | 02:56 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Full Member
Joined: May 2023
Posts: 367
Likes: 2,283
From: Big Sur California
Bikes: 1946 Holdsworth Cyclone, 1969 Cinelli SC, 1972 Raleigh Pro, 1973 Merz road bike, 1974 Alex Singer Sportif, 1974 Merz track bike, 1975 Teledyne Titan, 1976 Ritchey road bike, 1977 DiNucci built Merz track bike, 1977 (?) Exxon Graftek, many more!
Tim Neenan RIP
https://buymeacoffee.com/clri4kldp4/tim-neenan-rip
Tim built frames using the Lighthouse name. He worked at Specialized Bicycle starting about 1980, designing the first Sequoia, Allez and the first Stumpjumper bikes. The above link is a obit of Tim by Maynard Hershon. Jim Merz
Tim built frames using the Lighthouse name. He worked at Specialized Bicycle starting about 1980, designing the first Sequoia, Allez and the first Stumpjumper bikes. The above link is a obit of Tim by Maynard Hershon. Jim Merz
08-30-25 | 03:04 PM
#2
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 5,368
Likes: 5,254
From: Central Virginia
Bikes: Numerous
Sad news. Thanks for posting. I hope a friend writes a nice obituary like that for me one day …
__________________
N = '96 Colnago C40, '04 Wilier Alpe D'Huez, '10 Colnago EPS, '85 Merckx Pro, '89 Merckx Century, '86 Tommasini Professional, '04 Teschner Aero FX Pro, '05 Alan Carbon Cross, '86 De Rosa Professional, '95 Gios Compact Pro, '95 Carrera Zeus, ‘81 Masi Gran Criterium, ‘81 Merckx Pro, ‘89 Cinelli Supercorsa, ‘83 Bianchi Specialissima, ‘VO Randonneur, Ritchey Breakaway Steel, Rivendell Rambouillet, Heron Randonneur, ‘92 Ciöcc Columbus EL
N = '96 Colnago C40, '04 Wilier Alpe D'Huez, '10 Colnago EPS, '85 Merckx Pro, '89 Merckx Century, '86 Tommasini Professional, '04 Teschner Aero FX Pro, '05 Alan Carbon Cross, '86 De Rosa Professional, '95 Gios Compact Pro, '95 Carrera Zeus, ‘81 Masi Gran Criterium, ‘81 Merckx Pro, ‘89 Cinelli Supercorsa, ‘83 Bianchi Specialissima, ‘VO Randonneur, Ritchey Breakaway Steel, Rivendell Rambouillet, Heron Randonneur, ‘92 Ciöcc Columbus EL
08-30-25 | 03:16 PM
#3
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 16,174
Likes: 9,549
From: PDX
Bikes: Merz x 5 + Specialized Merz Allez x 2, Strawberry/Newlands/DiNucci/Ti x3, Gordon, Fuso/Moulton x2, Bornstein, Paisley,1958-74 Paramounts x3, 3rensho, 74 Moto TC, 73-78 Raleigh Pro's x5, Marinoni x2, 1960 Cinelli SC, 1980 Bianchi SC, PX-10 X 2
Tx Jim,
RIP Mr. Neenan, Godspeed.
RIP Mr. Neenan, Godspeed.
08-30-25 | 04:01 PM
#4
Thread Starter
Full Member
Joined: May 2023
Posts: 367
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From: Big Sur California
Bikes: 1946 Holdsworth Cyclone, 1969 Cinelli SC, 1972 Raleigh Pro, 1973 Merz road bike, 1974 Alex Singer Sportif, 1974 Merz track bike, 1975 Teledyne Titan, 1976 Ritchey road bike, 1977 DiNucci built Merz track bike, 1977 (?) Exxon Graftek, many more!
08-30-25 | 05:14 PM
#5
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 16,174
Likes: 9,549
From: PDX
Bikes: Merz x 5 + Specialized Merz Allez x 2, Strawberry/Newlands/DiNucci/Ti x3, Gordon, Fuso/Moulton x2, Bornstein, Paisley,1958-74 Paramounts x3, 3rensho, 74 Moto TC, 73-78 Raleigh Pro's x5, Marinoni x2, 1960 Cinelli SC, 1980 Bianchi SC, PX-10 X 2
Way too small Stumpy I bought mostly for the signature, Mafac tandem canti's and bullmoose.
08-30-25 | 11:51 PM
#8
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Joined: May 2019
Posts: 961
Likes: 734
From: Santa Rosa, CA
Bikes: Bianchi Campione d'Italia, Lemond Poprad, Kona Hei Hei (converted to drop bars), Felt F1PR, Specialized Sequoia, various other projects
Sad to hear. I happened to meet him out on the roads in the Santa Ynez valley when I was living down there and he was friendly and gregarious.
08-31-25 | 12:50 AM
#9
Steel is real
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 4,554
Likes: 2,633
From: Not far from Paris
Bikes: 93GiantTourer,92MeridaAlbon,96Scapin,98KonaKilaueua,93Peugeot Prestige,05CasatiClipper,98Jamis Dragon,95Tange Prestige(to be built),98VettaTeam,95Coppi,93Grandis,Daccordi x3(in build),98Piton(in build),99Trek SLR2300
Sad news. Condoleances go to his family and friends. May he rip.
09-02-25 | 11:48 AM
#11
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 16,174
Likes: 9,549
From: PDX
Bikes: Merz x 5 + Specialized Merz Allez x 2, Strawberry/Newlands/DiNucci/Ti x3, Gordon, Fuso/Moulton x2, Bornstein, Paisley,1958-74 Paramounts x3, 3rensho, 74 Moto TC, 73-78 Raleigh Pro's x5, Marinoni x2, 1960 Cinelli SC, 1980 Bianchi SC, PX-10 X 2
This has to be a very rare bird.
09-02-25 | 02:39 PM
#12
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 2,031
Likes: 1,067
From: Toledo Ohio
Bikes: 1964 Huffy Sportsman, 1972 Fuji Newest, 1973 Schwinn Super Sport (3), 1982 Trek 412, 1983 Trek 700, 1989 Miyata 1000LT, 1991 Bianchi Boardwalk, plus others
I have a couple frames built by an obscure gent from Scotland. One isn’t perfect, but a quote from someone said a lot: “I would rather have a frame from a craftsman than a perfect frame from a big manufacturer”. I bring this up as it is nice to remember that there were actually people that were craftsmen involved in this discipline and it is nice to honor them as they were individuals too.
09-03-25 | 08:00 PM
#15
Senior Member
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 961
Likes: 734
From: Santa Rosa, CA
Bikes: Bianchi Campione d'Italia, Lemond Poprad, Kona Hei Hei (converted to drop bars), Felt F1PR, Specialized Sequoia, various other projects
09-06-25 | 06:22 AM
#16
Full Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 474
Likes: 8
From: Pacific Northwest
Bikes: 1975 Eisentraut Ltd, 1995 Trek 7000 MTB, 2007 Masi Vincere, 1974 Masi GC, 1981 Specialized Allez, 1984 Specialized Sequoia
This is very sad news. I plan to ride my Lighthouse in the SLOBC Lighthouse century in September. I have admired Tim's bikes (and other achievements!) for a long time now. He will be missed.
RIP Time Neenan. I'll be remembering you while I ride my Lighthouse of the Lighthouse Century on the Central Coast.
RIP Time Neenan. I'll be remembering you while I ride my Lighthouse of the Lighthouse Century on the Central Coast.
11-03-25 | 01:19 PM
#17
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 19
Likes: 6
Jim, I just now today stumbled on this thread, as I took my lighthouse Sequoia out for a ride this morning.... And a search turned up this sad news. The CR list pointed me to Tim when my my original specialized Sequoia was stolen, and Tim offered to build me a custom replacement. I rode up to Santa Ynez to meet with him at his home shop. I'll never forget how we rode together, and he skillfully watched me ride my old mondia to get some specs and design ideas. The design and the build and the bike all really impressed me..... I feel very fortunate to have had this great experience with Tim
Rich Pinder
Sherman Oaks, CA
https://richpinder.smugmug.com/Bikes/LighthouseSequoia
(One of those first pictures in this gallery are of my original stolen white sequoia.)
Rich Pinder
Sherman Oaks, CA
https://richpinder.smugmug.com/Bikes/LighthouseSequoia
(One of those first pictures in this gallery are of my original stolen white sequoia.)
11-03-25 | 02:32 PM
#18
Senior Member
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 2,687
Likes: 3,409
From: Greenwood SC USA
Bikes: 2002 Mercian Vincitore, 1982 Mercian Colorado, 1976 Puch Royal X, 1973 Raleigh Competition, 1971 Gitane Tour de France and others
I've been buried by household projects and only now have I seen this thread. I am sad to hear Mr. Neenan is gone, as I never successfully found a way to contact him to tell him how amazing Lighthouse no. 1 631 has been for me. I guess the best way to honor him is to show his work in its proper environment, so here is Ruby on a fire road jaunt returning from Promised Land, SC -
Nimble and delightful no matter how bad the road.
Fortunately, there is no prohibition of riding lovely fillet-brazed 531!
This bike is a keeper, forever. I know I have said that of other bikes, but this is an amazingly frisky bike that works with 32mm tires and fenders, and manages to look elegant and refined at all times - like if Shakers had built bikes. Godspeed, Tim Neenan!
Nimble and delightful no matter how bad the road.
Fortunately, there is no prohibition of riding lovely fillet-brazed 531!
This bike is a keeper, forever. I know I have said that of other bikes, but this is an amazingly frisky bike that works with 32mm tires and fenders, and manages to look elegant and refined at all times - like if Shakers had built bikes. Godspeed, Tim Neenan!
11-03-25 | 03:14 PM
#19
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 16,174
Likes: 9,549
From: PDX
Bikes: Merz x 5 + Specialized Merz Allez x 2, Strawberry/Newlands/DiNucci/Ti x3, Gordon, Fuso/Moulton x2, Bornstein, Paisley,1958-74 Paramounts x3, 3rensho, 74 Moto TC, 73-78 Raleigh Pro's x5, Marinoni x2, 1960 Cinelli SC, 1980 Bianchi SC, PX-10 X 2
In honor of his passing, this early Stumpy will be next, a bit small and has been mainly a donor up until now it will get some upgrades and more once the the big nasty one is sorted and its close for the first mockup before I decide what to do about paint, PC, or?
Glad I have a good stash of parts for one like this.
Glad I have a good stash of parts for one like this.
