Sheldon Brown has passed away.
From Harris Cyclery
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..
A inspirational bloke, Sheldon always had the time and patience to share his vast knowledge and expertise. The cycling community has lost a great personality.
Read below for a small example of Sheldons unselfish attitude and wonderful knowledge (12 Sep 2005 via aus.bicycle)
cfsmtb wrote:
> Ok, peruse this faded beauty. We thinks it’s a Lawrencia (circa 1940/50’s) road bike, that we retrieved via the annual Boroondara Hard Waste collection. With a GC1 quadrant shifter and GH-6 Front Dynohub. Wait ’til you see closeups of the post-modernist paint jobbie!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/51035538080@N01/sets/908569
We wish to restore this lovely rig, any positive suggestions welcome!
Sheldons response:
Lovely indeed! I’ve never heard of Lawrencia…is that an Aussie marque? Love the paintwork!
I suspect that this is a converted track frame, with atavistic parts.
The TCW rear hub has a coaster (back-pedalling) brake, quite unreliable unlike most older Sturmey Archer stuff. There should be a two digit year date on it. (In the ’30s they used one-digit years, but I don’t think the TCW was made before WW2. On the other hand, the quadrant shifter is rarely seen on bikes made after WW2. My guess is that whoever did the “road” conversion chose that to leave the handlebars trackish.
The front is a GH6 Dynohub see: http://sheldonbrown.com/dynohub. It might also have a year code on it.
The chainset is Williams, I’m pretty sure, formerly very common on good quality British bikes.
It is a very good thing that you saved it from the tip, it would have been tragic to have such a lovely machine trashed.
Sheldon “Envious” Brown
Newtonville, Massachusetts, You Ess Ay
In Sheldons memory, that lovely Lawrencia frame will be restored.
And we’ll charge a glass or two tonight in his honour.
