I am deeply saddened to read that Sheldon Brown, the doyen of web bike mechanics, has recently passed away. Sheldon's wonderful site is the antithesis of the surly condescending guy in the LBS. It answers every question you've never asked about crazy Italian bottom brackets, how to weld your own tandem and, of course, how to build the now de-rigeur fixie. He managed to do this with the delightful, easy wit of your favourite uncle.

Tributes have been rolling out like roadies in summer and you can read many of them here. Even the bikesnob was able to put his cynicism aside for a whole post (!) in honour of Sheldon. I went on a ride for the sheer pleasure of it today and made a point of fixing all the little niggles on my commuter, which I probably wouldn't be in a position to do without Sheldon's help.

Anyway, I could go on forever without saying anything that hasn't been said better already. What I will say is that anyone that loves bikes should go lose themselves in his site. Check out his zany bikes, marvel at his encyclopaedic knowledge and enjoy his generosity and warmth. Most of all though, go out and ride, I think he'd like that.