Re: [CR] Eugene A. Sloane

(Example: Racing:Jacques Boyer)

Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 07:00:55 -0700
From: Jerome & Elizabeth Moos <jerrymoos@sbcglobal.net>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>, Amir Avitzur <walawalaoxenfree@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [CR] Eugene A. Sloane


Here is a pretty good brief biography, published at the time of his recent death.

http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2008/apr/01/news/chi-hed_sloaneapr01

He was neither a framebuilder nor a racer, but a Public Relations guy who had taken up cycliing for fitness in middle age, and talked his way into a gig writing a book about it. He was a self-taught mechanic, what we Americans call a "tinkerer", who disassembled bikes in his basement to learn how they were build, then illustrated the disassembly and reassembly in his books. He did ride extensively around the world, but mostly after his first book came out.

His personality and his story were uniquely appealing to Americans in the 1970's, sort of living evidence of the cherished American belief that a "regular guy" with a keen interest, energy and perservance could accomplish anything he set his mind to. He was obviously quite a good writer as well, who could make seemingly complicated subjects understandable.

His books remain remarkable even today.

Regards,

Jerry Moos
Big Soring, Texas, USA


--- On Tue, 6/16/09, Amir Avitzur wrote:


> From: Amir Avitzur <walawalaoxenfree@gmail.com>

\r?\n> Subject: [CR] Eugene A. Sloane

\r?\n> To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org

\r?\n> Date: Tuesday, June 16, 2009, 6:53 AM

\r?\n> Help, I'm confused.

\r?\n> Was Eugene A. Sloane

\r?\n>

\r?\n> 1. a rider

\r?\n> 2. a racer

\r?\n> 3. a mechanic

\r?\n> 4. a builder

\r?\n> 5. an event organizer

\r?\n>

\r?\n> or just a writer who who could recognize a good thing when

\r?\n> he saw one?

\r?\n>

\r?\n> Amir Avitzur

\r?\n> Ramat-Gan, Israel