Sheldon Brown (bicycle mechanic)

Sheldon Brown ( * July 14, 1944 in Boston, USA, † February 4, 2008 in the State of Massachusetts) was a bicycle mechanic who was known because of its various publications, most notably the World Wide Web world.

Brown is considered a pioneer of publishing on the Internet. Very early on he used this medium to make his extensive technical knowledge of the bicycle technology publicly available. He pursued the open source principle: He put his knowledge free of charge and extended through the rain international exchange also his own knowledge.

Many nowadays tacit knowledge collections in the field of bicycle technology were first collected and published by Brown: For example, he worked as so far only a table comparing the different scales and labeling systems for tire sizes. The necessary measurements before he took himself. Along with Galen Evans and Osman Isvan he also developed a system for determining and comparing translations. The overviews and comparisons for circuits whose translations and unfoldings he also created according to your own measurements. Many of his works are still regarded as a reference.

Since his publications had great influence on the world of cycling, he was often revered by many amateur and professional mechanics as their guru. So he devoted next to the Boston Globe in his home, the renowned British newspaper The Guardian, a detailed obituary. He died of a heart attack. His death was in numerous publications that deal with bike, especially in the blogosphere, discussed.

After announcement of his death commemorative events were organized in the form of "Memorial Rides" world. The proceeds benefit many charitable organizations that are dedicated to the fight against multiple sclerosis, also attended Brown suffered.