Richard Ballantine RIP

[compo]

The death has been announced of Richard Ballantine, author of Richards Bicycle Book which has sold many thousands of copies. For many years it was my "workshop manual" when working on bikes of the era, and I still occasionally refer to it now.

RIP Richard.

 

[TheJDog]

I was just thinking of trying to find my copy yesterday. No mention of how old he was, but if that picture of him on the cover was taken in 1972, he must have been in his 80s. RIP

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Got a copy on the bookshelf, book must be 30 odd years old now, about the same age me

 

[classic33]

"His later championing of the new-fangled mountain bike is the stuff of legend. He imported the first commercially-available mountain bike to the UK (20 Richey Montares), helped to create the famous Fat Tyre Five mountain bike ‘race’ series, and the rest, as you all know, is history."

 

[wheeliebin]

He was a big inspiration to my Dad, and then me. I particularly remember a chapter near the end of the book about design of cycle-friendly towns, and Stevenage was touted as being a shining example. Little did I know I would end up working there (here) and doing much cycling along the cycle paths.

 

[byegad]

Yes, it is all Richard's fault that I got back into cycling. I'm sad he's gone, because like another left-ponder, Sheldon Brown, he's irreplaceable!

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

RIP. That book brings back memories. Mine got so covered in grease (an episode with a bottom bracket, I seem to remember) I ended up throwing it away.

 

[Crackle]

It was his book which opened my eyes to what cycling was about, I think I read it in 1979 and embarked on my first tour after reading it. It, the Freewheel catalogue and a certain naivety are fond memories and moments never to be re-captured. RIP.

 

[byegad]

Yes I bought my first of three copies around that time and hankered after a 'Speedy' thereafter. I now have three recumbent trikes! Thanks Richard.

 

[Amanda P]

He's gone? Almost unthinkable. He was one of the movers behind Bicycle magazine in the 1980s, which made me enthusiastic about cycling. And Richard's Bicycle Book - I have the edition with him fiddling with a Galaxy's front brake on the front cover, and he and Mrs Ballantine on a tandem trike on the back....

A sad loss, but a great life.

 

[PpPete]

Very sad.

 

[ufkacbln]

Yes I bought my first of three copies around that time and hankered after a 'Speedy' thereafter. I now have three recumbent trikes! Thanks Richard.

Same here, I have one of each publication of his book and fond memories of many happy times reading and acting on the content.

One of my favourite memories was Richard pulling alongside my Trice when I was crossing London and passing the time of day.



An inspiration, and someone who overcame the handicap of profound deafness as well.

Apparently there is a procession for the funeral with a bicycle hearse. Somehow appropriate

 

[RecordAceFromNew]

It was his book which opened my eyes to what cycling was about, I think I read it in 1979 and embarked on my first tour after reading it. It, the Freewheel catalogue and a certain naivety are fond memories and moments never to be re-captured. RIP.

Fond memories here too, Richard's book and Freewheel catalogues. I ended up buying another copy of his book secondhand from Amazon a couple of years back for old time's sake since the original had long gone, and found there remained much to be learnt from it. A pioneer and an inspiration indeed.

 

[byegad]

I only met him once, some 5 or so years ago and was very pleasantly surprised at what a personable chap he was.

 

[mickle]

I was lucky enough to spend a lot of time in Richard's company in the 80's and 90's. I'd already read his book cover to cover several times when I became a member of the Bluebell Human Powered Vehicle Racing team (of which he was a director) which held (and quickly lost!) many British and European records and competed all over the world - when we could find the sponsorship. We beat the dominant German Vector team in Germany in 1985, came second in the World Championships in Vancouver 1986. And it was through my connection with him/ membership of the team that I got to meet many of cycling's legends: Charlie Kelly, Jackie Phelan, Alex Moulton, 'Fast' Freddy Markham. I've got so many happy memories of that time that I struggle to know where to start..

After I had my beloved Saracen Conquest stolen in 1985 he loaned me his cherished Ritchey Mk1, one of the first two mountain bikes to enter the UK (and the bike upon which Specialized based their Stumpjumper and built their empire). Which I promptly got nicked. I felt so bad. Mortified. And I offered to pay for it, but, whilst he was obviously upset at it's loss he forgave me and let me off the hook. He later wrote a piece in Bicycle Action magazine about it, how bicycles - whether they are sold, gifted or stolen - go on to have long and happy lives with other owners. I also wrecked one of his bikes, having offerd to build up a custom Pedersen which had been painted to match its white Shimano Sante groupset, I tweaked the back end to get the wheel in and managed to rip the stay bridge off the chainstay. It was a wonder he ever let me touch his bikes after that - but he did. Later I worked on the full glossy edition of Richard's Ultimate Bicycle Book. I model some of the bikes and I'm named in the credits. Made I well chuffed.

He was a lovely, lovely man.