Peter P.
07-06-2011, 09:19 PM
I met John in June 1985, when I started my new job. He had a bachelor's degree in something which could buy you a cup of coffee with a dollar, and worked in our shipping department. He played bagpipes, loved foreign films and was incredibly well read. He had the NY Times in his hands every day.
He was about 40 years old at the time and had just gotten into cycling.
Almost immediately after joining the company I started commuting to work. Thus began my friendship with John. I became his coach/mechanic/mentor even though he had 15 years on me, for while he was smart, he was all thumbs and understood little about the sport.
When I met him he was riding a lower end Raleigh but had an itch to upgrade. I helped him select an aluminum Nishiki with Suntour parts, which he bought through Colorado Cyclist.
After a few years, the Nishiki cracked at the chainstay which I discovered while addressing some complaint he had about a creak on the bike. CC was generous in their warranty because they no longer sold the Nishiki-they gave him a great deal on a Bob Jackson frame, on which I threw all the parts from the dead Nishiki.
I think just about the time I was laid off from the company (5 years; the recession of '90/91) John had a hankering for a new bike. He wanted something custom. He wanted a Serotta. I offered to go with him when he was to get fitted, but I guess he felt it was his time to leave the nest; he went on his own.
He selected a Colorado III with Mavic wheels and an a Shimano 105 9 speed triple group, in red.
I got John into riding centuries and time trials. I was his coach, his drill sergeant, and his wrench. Even after I left the company, I remained in touch with him till this day, retaping bars, replacing cables, adjusting the bearings on his hubs most recently.
The company was having a massive layoff what with the 2008 recession and, at retirement age, John took the buyout of something like a full year's wages.
He now spent his free time with a personal trainer at a gym and of course, riding.
John's wife called me today; John died.
He had a massive heart attack on Sunday while riding his Serotta on a personal time trial route near where he lived. It was likely a route I showed him years ago, when I taught him what time trials were all about.
Doctors found two fully blocked arteries in his heart.
When he had the heart attack, there were three witnesses but I guess they didn't do CPR or couldn't. He was without oxygen to his brain for 30 minutes, so he lost a lot of brain function. Things went downhill from there. Gail told the doctors to pull the plug today.
At least he died doing what he loved-on his Serotta.
I didn't see him often after I left the company but I was thrilled he continued to call me whenever he needed his bike worked on. I'd do anything to keep him on the road because he had the passion. It's like losing a protege, a student.
He was about 40 years old at the time and had just gotten into cycling.
Almost immediately after joining the company I started commuting to work. Thus began my friendship with John. I became his coach/mechanic/mentor even though he had 15 years on me, for while he was smart, he was all thumbs and understood little about the sport.
When I met him he was riding a lower end Raleigh but had an itch to upgrade. I helped him select an aluminum Nishiki with Suntour parts, which he bought through Colorado Cyclist.
After a few years, the Nishiki cracked at the chainstay which I discovered while addressing some complaint he had about a creak on the bike. CC was generous in their warranty because they no longer sold the Nishiki-they gave him a great deal on a Bob Jackson frame, on which I threw all the parts from the dead Nishiki.
I think just about the time I was laid off from the company (5 years; the recession of '90/91) John had a hankering for a new bike. He wanted something custom. He wanted a Serotta. I offered to go with him when he was to get fitted, but I guess he felt it was his time to leave the nest; he went on his own.
He selected a Colorado III with Mavic wheels and an a Shimano 105 9 speed triple group, in red.
I got John into riding centuries and time trials. I was his coach, his drill sergeant, and his wrench. Even after I left the company, I remained in touch with him till this day, retaping bars, replacing cables, adjusting the bearings on his hubs most recently.
The company was having a massive layoff what with the 2008 recession and, at retirement age, John took the buyout of something like a full year's wages.
He now spent his free time with a personal trainer at a gym and of course, riding.
John's wife called me today; John died.
He had a massive heart attack on Sunday while riding his Serotta on a personal time trial route near where he lived. It was likely a route I showed him years ago, when I taught him what time trials were all about.
Doctors found two fully blocked arteries in his heart.
When he had the heart attack, there were three witnesses but I guess they didn't do CPR or couldn't. He was without oxygen to his brain for 30 minutes, so he lost a lot of brain function. Things went downhill from there. Gail told the doctors to pull the plug today.
At least he died doing what he loved-on his Serotta.
I didn't see him often after I left the company but I was thrilled he continued to call me whenever he needed his bike worked on. I'd do anything to keep him on the road because he had the passion. It's like losing a protege, a student.