When respected bike information guru and global Internet ambassador Sheldon Brown passed away back on February 3rd, the cycling world lost one of its most cherished assets.
In addition to the invaluable resource his website was for thousands (if not millions) of people, many also remembered him as a brilliant humorist who had a tradition of publishing hilarious April Fools Day spoofs.
For example, last year he introduced us to “The ShelBroCo Bicycle Chain Cleaning System”.
In honor of his death and his Aprils Fools hijinx, Portlander Hollie Teal has organized an April Fools Day ride, “in the spirit of Sheldon Brown.”
In an email announcing the ride, she explains the details:
“In the goofy, wonderful spirit of Sheldon Brown, we ask that you bring your craziest bike and a helmet. The first 30 people will get an Igor the Eagle to tape to their helmet! This is a family friendly ride, and kids are welcome.”
- April Fools Day Ride for Sheldon Brown
Tuesday, April 1st @ 6pm
Meet at Col. Summers Park (SE 20th and Belmont)
Ride Distance: 12 miles through inner southeast on low-traffic streets, the Springwater on Willamette, and the Eastbank Esplanade. Ride map here
Cool! I will be there.
I\’m there, also. Will our craziest helmet and a bike do?
Thanks, Hollie. Maybe there should be April Fool\’s jokes perpetrated in SB\’s honor, too.
Like it\’s really a 112 mile route! Surprise!
AWESOME. I\’m there.
Hey Gang, I\’m a co-conspirator on this project. Hollie and me tag teamed the concept into existence right after we heard about the untimely passing of SB and we actually got a few other cities to think that April 1st would be a great day to do this – so when we\’re riding around Portland, honoring the trickster Brown, who helped me and so many of us in our knowledge base and love for all things on two wheels, folks in Denver and Boston and eslewhere will roll out with eagles strapped to their heads! Look forward to seeing you on the 1st!
Thanks, Jonathan!
Hmm, I\’m liking this April Fools joke idea. I might have to cook something up as part of the ride!
I saw a post about a April fools day naked bike ride, and I asked them if it was an April fools day joke.
I don\’t know how long spring break runs until, but if the next term hasn\’t started yet I\’m there(also, if my tiny 81 Civic can fit the recumbent…Amtrak won\’t let me bring it.)
When I read that Sheldon Brown was diagnosed with ALS (aka Lou Gherig\’s Disease) I was overcome with sadness. It is a horrible disease that steals the body away bit by bit. To learn more, or donate go to http://www.als.org
Over a decade ago I built my first set of wheels using the instructions that he posted online. Since then I\’ve regularily used his site for research.
I didn\’t know that so many people on the Internet were fans of his. I\’m glad to see that so many others were also touched by him.
Thanks for everything Sheldon, we\’ll all miss you.
Hi Glen,
Thanks for that link. A good friend of mine died of ALS a year ago and his deterioration from a marathon running, business owning, kind and loving father and friend was heartbreaking.
Sheldon had multiple sclerosis (MS). It also causes a gradual deterioration in physical functioning, which is why he couldn\’t ride a standard bike for the last year and a half of his life.
I hope you\’ll come to the ride on the 1st!
Awesome this sounds great Sheldon will be missed by all who knew about him. His family and Harris Cyclery just held a memorial service for him and we sent out 350 RIP Sheldon Brown stickers to hand out to all his friends and family at the service! I still have stickers available for free @ http://www.bikepunk.com . Sheldon\’s wife is planning on contacting us soon to print t-shirts in his honor with profits going to Sheldon\’s favorite charity. See you at the ride I will have stickers there too. Mike & Sonja @ bIKE pUNK
Rock on!
SB was Da Man!
RIP.
Dallas will be having a ride 04/01 for Sheldon. At least my club (RBENT) will be having a ride, if anybody else wants to show up, feel welcome.
Opus
When we started planning this, Hollie and I both struck on the idea that this, while a memorial ride, should be festival and celebrate the quirky, prankster human and humane sides of SB. So the more goofy jerseys, one of a kind bikes, fun and funny accessories you bring to this ride the better. I\’ll never forget reading a reply to one of SB\’s picture posts something like \” does he have to resemble a hippie on a recumbent? – SB\’s reply back \”But I am a hippie on a recumbent!\” God love you, Shel! Hope to see everyone at the ride.
Ride something with an internally-geared hub if you\’ve got it. Sheldon was maybe the top SA guru in North America.
I\’ll spin my cranks for Sheldon that night for SURE!!!!