February 4th, 2008 by 
Gregg
The cycling world has lost a true legend.
Sheldon Brown: 1944 - 2008
“Dear Harris Cyclery friends and customers,
It is with heavy hearts that we convey to you the news that Sheldon Brown has passed away. Our thoughts go out to his family at this time. The cycling community has lost one of it’s most passionate members.”
source: Harris Cyclery website
Sheldon’s personal home page:
http://sheldonbrown.com/home.html
Harris Cyclery website:
http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/index.html
Please leave comments and condolences here.
February 4th, 2008 at 8:47 pm
I just got into biking and whenever I went to the web for information, Sheldon Brown had the answer. I didn’t know him beyond that, but am grateful for his contributions. Condolences to his family, and God Bless.
February 4th, 2008 at 8:53 pm
What an outstanding man! Thanks for the visit Sheldon, you’ll be missed by our community, have a great ride!
February 4th, 2008 at 10:31 pm
The community will miss you.
Thanks for answering all my questions that no one else had answers too.
February 4th, 2008 at 10:54 pm
Godspeed, Sheldon! You will be missed. See you on the other side, bro.
February 4th, 2008 at 11:00 pm
God’s speed
February 4th, 2008 at 11:24 pm
I will miss him terribly. He brought me back to bicycling, and made my life richer. Because of that I am forever grateful. I will always admire his insight and vision. Thank you Sheldon, thank you. God Bless you and your family. Rest in peace, Sheldon.
KT
February 5th, 2008 at 12:48 am
What would I do without your website Sheldon. Thank you for your everlasting contributions!!
February 5th, 2008 at 12:58 am
RIP Sheldon Brown. You will be sorely missed.
February 5th, 2008 at 1:37 am
bro, thanks for the website. my homebuilt wheels are still going strong.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:07 am
He was my inspiration to try single speeding. You will be truly missed, Guru Sheldon.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:11 am
I wish Sheldons Family all the best. Even when it hurt he would ride just to feel free.
Your free now Sheldon….Ride On…
February 5th, 2008 at 5:09 am
On behalf of the Dutch online cycing community, I’d like to send a salute to a man who’s been a big inspiration, to us all. Even here in The Netherlands, some 8 time zones away and an ocean away, his relentlessly helpful sharing of information has touched many of us.
Sheldon took the internet, and used it for it’s ultimate and most important purpose : sharing of information and knowledge, to a large audience with the same interests. He kept no knowledge behind, and thousands of riders were able to learn from his, and right the first time.
We’ll dearly miss him, but feel privilegded to have known him still by life. We can all learn from his attitude to cycling, and life in general.
On a personal note, I am glad his suffering didn’t last too much longer. He’s given enough to the world already, more than anyone could ask for, from anyone.
I hope you’re in a better place now Sheldon, and that I’ll be able to meet you there some day.
J
February 5th, 2008 at 7:27 am
The cycling community has lost one of the true icons.
May the Brown Family and friends find peace and the assurance that they will once again ride free together.
February 5th, 2008 at 7:30 am
I’m sorry. This is sad news.
Sheldon showed the world how the internet could be used and that everyone has a right to do it. I believe that he has a place in history, not just for bikes but something bigger. I would like to believe that I am a deciple of his.
Below is a portion of a letter that I wrote to Sheldon about a year ago after I heard how poorly he was doing.
Sheldon-
I was shocked and disturbed today to hear about your illness. I read your journal and felt horrible. I really do wish you the best in finding some way to overcome what is ailing you.
I felt that I needed to let you know what an inspiration that you have been for me over the last 8 or 10 years. The amount and the quality of the information that you managed to get online in the early days of widespread internet use has been so precious to an uncountable amount of bicycle enthusiasts.
I didn’t always agree with your take on things, but I could not argue two things that are always present in your articles, rigor and detail. You always cover the subject fully and present as many facts and numbers as can be done.
I took your example to heart and went down a different route…
Again, without knowing about your work, I may not have felt that I could or should have pursued these ends. I thank you. You gave me the gift of challenging me- “Do it, I did.”
-pvd
February 5th, 2008 at 8:02 am
RIP Sheldon. I can’t count the number of times I visited your site just to find more and more info. First it was old bikes, then drivetrain stuff, single-speed, and now wheel building. Your presence will be missed.
Condolences to the family.
February 5th, 2008 at 9:39 am
Over the last few years it seems like every time I needed information on upgrading my bike I always ended up back at Sheldons website. Such a wealth of information! Thank you to his family for allowing him the time to devote to cycling for all of us.
February 5th, 2008 at 10:10 am
To his family and close friends,
Sheldon Brown inspired me to ride more, ride happy, ride honestly, ride with passion, and ride free. His digital words helped me in so many ways. If I’m feeling his loss I can’t imagine what those of you who were close to him are feeling right now. I imagine where ever Sheldon is right now he’s working at a small reputable bike shop spending time looking after his family and disseminating wisdom.
One love!!!
February 5th, 2008 at 11:14 am
I never met the man but… he is a force in this close knit industry and will be missed by all. His knowledge and insight are timeless. The thousands of web pages he documented will be used for decades to come! My heart goes out to his family.
February 5th, 2008 at 11:50 am
Sheldon’s opinions and comments regarding cycling have been invaluable to making both mountain biking and road cycling FUN for my wife and I. He will be missed by a couple in Georgia that made cycling fun.
February 5th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
I hope someone keeps his website going. It was a fantastic resource. I never met the guy, but I don’t think you could have gone wrong by having him as a cycling buddy, friend, and shop guru.
February 5th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
Your passion, knowledge and sense of humor will not be forgotten.
My first (and only) wheel was built using information from Sheldon’s website about four years ago. It’s still going strong, and now has even more sentimental value.
Thanks friend.
February 5th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
I gain’d some fab info from Mr Browns web site. I built my first wheels and gained a huge leep into fixing my own bike from there. Freedom in my book.
If everyone could give freely what they know as much as Mr Brown did the world would be a better place!
We have all lost out on this one!
My feelings sit with His family and friends that knew him!
February 5th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
As Sid just stated … he gave so freely. In so many ways his life embodies (present tense - he is still helping and teaching!) the essence of bicycle culture and community: Open to everyone and nurturing of a learning spirit. Like so many others I got answers from his website… tried it out… got in over my head .. went back to the website… fixed it only to have more confidence to try new things and experiment.
I am starting a new bike build later this week… (a Single Speed 29er) it will be dubbed “SB” in his memory.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
We (your fans from Brazil) have no words to express our gratitude to your knowledge, sharing and sense of humour, so we´ll keep on riding as you´d like us to.
Our sport is a little more sad now, but your genuinely elevated spirit shall remain among us, inspiring us, in the form of both your work and your soul.
R.I.P. - In your case, Ride In Peace, Sheldon!
February 5th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
I never had any contact with Sheldon, but I’ve learned a lot from his articles, starting from his Usenet posts in the ’90s, and laughed my head off at some of his “spoof” products. It’s a sad day for cyclists everywhere. My deepest condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues.
February 5th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
The cycling world lost a great man.
Condolences to the family.
February 5th, 2008 at 7:12 pm
Adios to a one who made a difference. Thank you sheldon, may we all find strength in your example.
February 5th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
bye sheldon… thanks so much
February 5th, 2008 at 11:55 pm
So sad to hear of his passing…
What a great, playfully helpful, joyful man. I hope his family finds some comfort in the respect Mr. Brown has earned in the cycling community.
I’m glad his suffering is over, but I’m sad he’s gone.
Rest in Peace, Sheldon.
February 6th, 2008 at 12:10 am
I recently started riding a bicycle. Sheldon’s website is a fantastic collection of excellent information. His enthusiasm for cycling and confidence in his well researched opinions was inspiring. I was truly shocked to hear the news. Ride on Sheldon.
February 6th, 2008 at 12:17 am
Godspeed Sheldon. You were in my mind one of the greats of cycling. You gave with nothing expected in return and left the world a better place. My deepest condolences to your family.
February 6th, 2008 at 1:47 am
Farewell Sheldon.
You will be sadly missed by a whole lot of people just like me who never spoke with you but respected your advice, good humour and sense of fairness.
My sincere condolences to your family and friends.
February 6th, 2008 at 10:37 am
Ride on wherever you are Sheldon. Even in small and faraway places your contribution has been a great help to many.
The many others who are saddened in Singapore
http://www.togoparts.com/forum/showthread.php?fid=8&tid=53724&loc=active&cb=showforum.php%3Ffid%3D8%26page_id%3D1&highlight=
February 6th, 2008 at 10:51 am
To me, this poem epitomizes Sheldon’s invaluable contributions.
An old man, going a lone highway,
Came at the evening, cold and gray,
To a chasm, vast and deep and wide,
Through which was flowing a sullen tide.
The old man crossed in the twilight dim;
The sullen stream had no fears for him;
But he turned when safe on the other side
And built a bridge to span the tide.
“Old man,” said a fellow pilgrim near,
“You are wasting strength with building here;
Your journey will end with the ending day;
You never again must pass this way;
You have crossed the chasm, deep and wide—
Why build you the bridge at the eventide?”
The builder lifted his old gray head:
“Good friend, in the path I have come,” he said,
“There followeth after me today
A youth whose feet must pass this way.
This chasm that has been naught to me
To that fair-haired youth may a pitfall be.
He, too, must cross in the twilight dim;
Good friend, I am building the bridge for him.”
February 6th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
Godspeed Sheldon, from someone you helped
February 6th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
I hope that wherever You are now, the wind is on your back, the sun is shining, the surface is smooth and the pedals turn easy and fast.
You will be missed Mr. Brown.
February 6th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
R.I.P. Sheldon
You will truly be missed, I have gotten more use out of your website than any other cycling related site I can think of…
February 6th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
Thanks for all hard work you put into the website and cycling in general buddy!
February 6th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
for three years i have worked at harris cyclery: mr brown always had time to answer questions and enlighten. he is a true inspiration, a man of knowledge and conviction.
when i got into the shop this tuesday i immediately brewed up some coffee and filled his favourite mug half way, a la half mast.
fare thee well, sir.
February 7th, 2008 at 7:58 am
I never met Sheldon. However, we traded emails a few times and he was on a few of the email lists and forums that I frequent.
He always struck me as someone who loved life and the people that surrounded him in ways that I can only imagine.
Sheldon, thanks for having all the answers for us and putting them somewhere where we could easily access them. Also, thanks for being available to us when we needed your help.
You’ll be missed. Thanks again.
February 7th, 2008 at 8:50 am
I just remember using his wheel building tips that have never failed me yet. I didn’t know Sheldon personally but you can tell he was very intelligent and passionate about life.
We are very lucky to have people like him on are side.
February 7th, 2008 at 11:23 pm
My bike and many of my friends are rolling because of Sheldon…
Your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
TD
February 8th, 2008 at 9:16 am
I just found out today about the passing of a legend in the cycling community.
I found Sheldon’s site about the same time as I found MudSluts (my pre-MTBR days) and found his grasp of cycling and his PASSION for the same inspiring.
Ask a question and you’d get more than an answer, you’d get an education. He never spoke (sic) down to anyone, but would point out (with wry humour) the faults with your position or your conclusions about things.
I would ask that those of you who were educated, inspired and/or enlightened by Sheldon’s writings, please take a moment out of your busy day to reflect on the enrichment he brought to our community.
Roll on…
February 10th, 2008 at 11:48 am
Truly one of the great personalities in cycling. With him, we lose one of the most diverse knowledge bases the sport has known. He’ll be missed more than he would have ever imagined, I’m sure!
February 10th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
I too just found about Sheldon’s passing. We never met, but his advice and knowledge of anything bike related has helped me so much and many others as well. This man truly used the internet to help others with their technical bike issues, and I will always remember him that way.
I have perused his site many a time, and the information he provided was always correct and complete.
My most sincere condolences go out to his family and friends.
February 10th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
Oh, what a loss!
Sheldon helped more of us than he could ever have imagined.
My heart is heavy. Peace to his family and friends…
February 10th, 2008 at 6:43 pm
Although I have never personally met Sheldon I know I have lost a dear and valued friend.
His articles and treaties on bicycles were always informative and more often than not contain a tidbit of humor just so you wouldn’t take the subject, the author or yourself too damn serious - a simple rational viewpoint, we don’t experience enough these days.
All of us felt a closeness and kinship with Sheldon and will miss him so greatly.
February 11th, 2008 at 12:44 am
With knowledge builds confidence, and Sheldon Brown certainly allowed me to enhance both. I thought I had passion for cycling until I read his articles, and it was inspiring to read his articles online day after day after. He definitely helped this cyclist, thanks. You did the sport proud, Sheldon. God bless.
February 11th, 2008 at 10:11 pm
My deepest sympathy for a great American and family, I salute you Mr. Sheldon Brown. Thank you for all the help and detailed articles you wrote.
SSG Ortiz,
US Army Ordinance Corps
Kirkuk Iraq