Sheldon Brown (bicycle mechanic)
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| Sheldon Brown | |
 Sheldon Brown and "Igor" while icebiking
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| Born | July 14, 1944 Boston, Massachusetts |
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| Died | February 3, 2008 (aged 63) Boston, Massachusetts |
| Cause of death | Heart attack |
| Residence | Newtonville, Massachusetts |
| Nationality | American |
| Other names | Christopher Joyce (nom de plume); Carapace Completed Umber (alter ego) |
| Occupation | Bicycle mechanic, Webmaster, Writer, Photographer |
| Employers | Harris Cyclery |
| Home town | Marblehead, Massachusetts |
| Spouse | Harriet Fell |
| Children | Tova and George |
| Parents | George Matson Brown and Madalyn Joyce Brown |
| Website http://sheldonbrown.com |
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Sheldon Brown (July 14, 1944 – February 3, 2008) was an American bicycle mechanic and technical authority.[2] He maintained an extensive website containing detailed articles relating to bicycle mechanics and maintenance, as well as a thorough glossary of bicycling terminology. His trademark beard and plastic helmet-mounted eagle,[3] Igor, were matters of frequent comment.
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[edit] Biography
Sheldon Brown was employed as the "Parts Manager, Webmaster and general Tech Guru" of Harris Cyclery, a bike shop in West Newton, Massachusetts. He was an enthusiast for many old and unlikely forms of bicycles and cycling including Raleigh and their English three-speed bicycles,[4] the Sturmey-Archer hub in general, tandems, and in particular fixed-gear cycles. He repaired cameras, and was an accomplished amateur photographer and his site is well illustrated with his own work.
[edit] Online
Sheldon wrote a well-regarded guide to wheelbuilding, available on his website. He also established the mirror sites of the technical work of Damon Rinard and others.
With the assistance of Galen Evans and Osman Isvan, Brown developed a new method for determining and comparing bicycle gear ratios. His method, which, for any combination of front chainring, rear cog, wheels size and crank length, results in a pure ratio that Brown terms the "gain ratio." This method purports to be the only formula that takes into account crank length in addition to the more commonly considered chainring, cog and wheel size factors. [5]
Sheldon was a frequent participant in online cycling forums such as the rec.bicycles.tech Usenet newsgroup and bikeforums.net. His April Fool's Day articles[6] were eagerly awaited by the online cycling community. On some groups, links to his site in response to technical questions were flagged with the abbreviation AASHTA (As Always, Sheldon Has The Answer).
[edit] Overseas
In 2004, Sheldon was recognized for his contribution to cycling by the UK's Cyclists' Touring Club (CTC). Sheldon Brown wrote the "Mechanical Advantage" column for Adventure Cyclist magazine. His site is referenced in the technical library of the CTC.[7]
[edit] Illness and death
Sheldon Brown developed a nerve deterioration over the last few years of his life. After losing his ability to balance an upright bicycle to the disease, he was able to continue pedaling by using a recumbent tricycle.[8] In August 2007, Sheldon was diagnosed with primary progressive multiple sclerosis. Sheldon died on February 3, 2008 after suffering a heart attack.[9][10]
[edit] References
- ^ Brown, Sheldon. Sheldon Brown's Home Page. Sheldon Brown. Retrieved on 2008-02-04.
- ^ Kerber, Ross (2008-02-08). Homespun wisdom. The Boston Globe. NY Times Co.. Retrieved on 2008-02-08.
- ^ Brown, Sheldon, About My Helmet, <http://www.sheldonbrown.com/eagle.html>. Retrieved on 24 May 2007
- ^ Brown, Sheldon. Servicing English Three Speeds. Sheldon Brown. Retrieved on 2008-02-05.
- ^ Brown, Sheldon. Gain Ratios. Sheldon Brown. Retrieved on 2008-02-08.
- ^ Brown, Sheldon. Bicycle Humor. Sheldon Brown. Retrieved on 2008-02-05.
- ^ Juden, Chris, Cranks & Bottom Brackets Q&A, <http://www.ctc.org.uk/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabID=3807>. Retrieved on 24 May 2007
- ^ Brown, Sheldon. The Bright Side of MS by Sheldon Brown. Sheldon Brown. Retrieved on 2008-02-05.
- ^ Sheldon Brown: 1944 - 2008. Retrieved on 2008-02-05.
- ^ Boulanger, Gary. "Sheldon Brown: 1944 - 2008", BikeRadar, Bath, England: Future Publishing Limited, 2008-02-04. Retrieved on 2008-02-04.
