I couldn't give a crap about Lance Armstrong or professional road cycling, but many seem to revere him. I prefer Sheldon Brown, honestly. So what do you fellow bike geeks prefer? Eccentric graybeard liberal types who know random crap about strange bicycles and ride them everywhere for everything? Or really fast guys with expensive gear who win races? I'd also include grant peterson and floyd landis, but that would be trolling. Or I could include Major Taylor, Eddy Merckx or Tulio Campagnolo, but they are dead.

So who is it?

Boy, that must have been a recent death.... he was just in France on the podium a week ago....

oh, my bad.

ditka

Neither. I revere no one.

I would lean more toward the eccentrics among us.
I don't follow racing.

- Sheldon is The Man... to me, he epitomizes the 'every man' cyclist ethic... although corporations would have you believe that the mechanics of cycling is rocket science, Sheldon proves that anyone with a will, interest, and love of craft can become more than just a recreational rider... he has done some amazing stuff, and i love his collection of rides...

- but even more important: he shares his information! this is the mark of a true aficionado and a gentleman in the best tradition...

- we need more people like Sheldon in this world...

Also.... Sheldon is a paid-in-full member and contributor to the BikeForums website. I'd not be surprised if he popped into this thread to say hello, though I think he mostly checks in over at the bike mechanics sub-forum.

There are many reasons to admire both of them in different ways.............

Both Lance and Sheldon have been inspirational to my returning to cycling in ways... However, Sheldon has been the greater influence.

Sheldon's web site was one of the early sites I ran into on the net when I was getting back into cycling. I was pleasantly surprised to see him in the forum after I joined in...

I like Sheldon because he has helped me to remember that I should do whatever I like to my bike and not necessarily just go for what pleases the masses... I love the creative things he has done to some of his bikes, and have decided to make my own creations (although not going to the extent he has in setting the example).

Most recent impact was in mounting the fenders on my commuter, I needed to fabricate drop bolts to clear the V-Brakes... I bought some aluminum stock, and even though the holes aren't centered the way I was trying to do it, I now am fully fendered, and have customized my bike. I could have brought it to the shop, but I wanted to put a little of myself into the project.

I am now in the process of gathering the parts to recreate a bicycle from my youth... A frankenbike like no others, that will handle poorly and not stop well, but let me ride with the wind in my face and laugh like I haven't laughed in a long time. (I will wear a helmet now though). A three speed monstrosity that only its creator could love. A bike I used on the road as a loaded tourer for one trip, keeping pace with a friend's store bought 10 speed (of course it is about the motor)... A bike I used to ride around the trails before there was such a thing as a mountain bike... And it will rise again!!! Sure, it will be slightly different based on available components, and inability to find the exact frame etc. But, I am different too... I may actually follow through and paint it this time instead of riding it for years with gray primer with rust coming through... I am thinking neon orange!

Thanks Sheldon, for giving me the desire to ride my bike the way I want to ride my bike... You have awakened a sleeping giant!

Darwin "I voted for Sheldon" Gregory

Sheldon OR Lance? Why not BOTH!



Actually I do monitor the Bike Mechanics forum, but i also do a regular search for "sheldon" on the whole site, egomaniac that I am...

Sheldon "You Called?" Brown

Sheldon. No contest.

-Psimet "Lance Who?" 2001

Sheldon.
To cycling what James Brown is to soul.....
The Godfather

wow, I was really expecting this to go the other way... and that picture will give me nightmares.

Both of them are positive role models in my opinion. Cheers to both Sheldon and Lance.

Sheldon answers my emails.

Lance doesn't.

Sheldon... the commonman biker for all of us.

I have yet to hear Lance support anything common about cycling... it is either TdF, Lance, or Cancer.

Let me know when Lance "bike commutes" to work.

Sheldon, no contest. He represents to me the cameraderie of cycling, not just the competitive aspect. The main reason I love riding old 3-speed crocks is that Sheldon made the knowledge so accessible.

Sheldon has been a great resource. Lance rides a bike real well, but he has never helped me fix my bike.

Sheldon, I fear that eagle is inhibiting the tan on your face.

I voted for Sheldon. But I like em both.

You rock sheldon!
I bought a pair of kneesaver adapters from harris about a week ago so I could put egg-beaters on my '77 schwinn. All the LBS's in town told me there was no possible way to put clipless pedals on a one piece crank, thanks to you the next time I ride in, I'll get to see one more astonished face as I did something someone told me wasn't possible.

I was up in Brockton last weekend for a wedding, and thought of heading over to Newton to go shopping at Harris, but I just didn't have the time. (The groom and I did however, catch as much of the tour as we could, sadly the last stage was on oln at the exact time of the wedding)

Lance, not because of anything cycling related, but because he's trying to fund a cure for cancer.

SB is an old fart.

I WILL KILL YOU!

haha, ive learned more from sheldon than anyone else. i also do a search for "Sheldon Brown" but that's just so i can read his post to learn more (i have too much time at work)

The day Lance publishes a free "wattage" calculator that is as useful as SB's gear inch calculator, I'll give a nod to him.

Lance may be funding a cure for cancer, but SB is funding a cure for ignorance.