RIP Lyli Herse

[merckx]

A giant has passed. RIP Lyli.

[witcombusa]

A nice write up here;

https://janheine.wordpress.com/2018/01/05/happy-90th-birthday-lyli-herse/

[merckx]

A nice write up here;

https://janheine.wordpress.com/2018/01/05/happy-90th-birthday-lyli-herse/

Indeed. It is where I learned the news.

[johnmdesigner]

“I am 18 years older than you, and I am riding with you, not following in a car behind. If I can do it, so can you!”

Beautiful words to live by. A life well lived.

[fiamme red]

She passed away two days before her 90th birthday. :(

https://janheine.wordpress.com/2018/01/05/happy-90th-birthday-lyli-herse/

https://www.lequipe.fr/Cyclisme-sur-route/Actualites/Mort-de-lily-herse-90-ans/864105

https://medias.lequipe.fr/img-photo-jpg/herse-lyli-fra/1500000000894954/35:165,2495:1805-665-0-70/221e9.jpg

[54ny77]

That was a beautiful story. What a classy lady. A champion in every sense.

She passed away two days before her 90th birthday. :(

https://janheine.wordpress.com/2018/01/05/happy-90th-birthday-lyli-herse/

https://medias.lequipe.fr/img-photo-jpg/herse-lyli-fra/1500000000894954/35:165,2495:1805-665-0-70/221e9.jpg

[bob heinatz]

Good read.Thanks!

[witcombusa]

Can one of the mods merge the two threads?

[rwsaunders]

That was a very nice story...thanks for posting.

[witcombusa]

“I am 18 years older than you, and I am riding with you, not following in a car behind. If I can do it, so can you!”

Beautiful words to live by. A life well lived.


Yep, that says a lot.

[thwart]

The way we all want to go... active until a very short time before her death.

A life well lived. RIP.

https://www.compasscycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Lyli-Herse-1960s.jpg

[AngryScientist]

threads merged, and agreed, quite a story. thanks for posting this guys.

[Keith A]

threads merged, and agreed, quite a story. thanks for posting this guys.https://forums.thepaceline.net/images/icons/icon14.gif

[witcombusa]

Another perspective from someone in the loop with the Herse saga.
Mike Kone from Rene Herse Bicycles/Boulder Bikes posted this on the CR list.

"I am quite sad to hear of her passing. Lyli's accomplishments were many
but I think she also had a hard life. She grew up in a difficult time, and
her countless hours on the bike and in the family business meant sacrifices
to her personal life. In fact, it is rumored that her family controlled
her choices in this regard. Perhaps if things were different, maybe she
might have married younger and raised a family. While this is just
speculation, I've heard it from others as well.

What is nice is that Jan Heine was able to bring Lily back into contact
with the family of cyclists that were part of the Rene Herse shop/team back
in the day. For a period of time, Lily was known to shy away form contact
from the cycling community. I knew of people who reached out to her, but
were rebuffed. But for whatever reason, Jan was able to forge a bridge to
her and rekindle connections from years ago. This seemed to make her
happy.

Lily was certainly a very strong presence and had incredible energy even
into her 80's; which she needed as she also expended considerable efforts
caring for her husband, Jean Desbois, who had difficult health issues.
She was a sweet soul who worked tirelessly. Her contributions on and off
the bike will be cherished by many and add to the rich texture of cycling's
ongoing history."

[93KgBike]

Thanks so much for linking me to this woman's life. WONDERFUL.