The Passing of Eugene Sloane
Renowned cycling how-to author Eugene Sloane passed away this past weekend at the age of 91. Back in 1970 he published “The Complete Book of Bicycling,” a book on the leading edge of the cycling boom that inspired and empowered countless cyclists to take to the roads and service their own machines. Plenty of bike-nerds look back on his words as the ones that solidified their path on two-wheels.
The Urban Velo Store has a few used copies of Sloane’s Handy Pocket Guide and Eugene A Sloane’s Bicycle Repair Manual. While the technology within is long outdated, his wisdom shows through.
April 3rd, 2008 at 3:26 am
That is bad news. I’ve got his 1985 guide to mountain bikes, it was a valuable source of knowledge and inspired me to take the plunge into the fat-tyred world.
Ride on forever, freed of the treacherous husk of flesh our souls briefly inhabit…
April 7th, 2008 at 6:57 am
Eugene Sloan’s repair guide was the first bike maintenance book I added to my collection — I think it was 1987 or ‘88. Great stuff…I’m sorry to hear of his passing!
April 15th, 2008 at 10:27 pm
As his grand daughter I will miss his smile and silly jokes. I beleive I was his biggest fan as a child knowing my very own grandpa was an author. Especially being that he even put a picture of 7 year old me in one of his books. It fills my heart with joy to read the stories on line of his inspiration to others. Thank you all for sharing.
April 18th, 2008 at 7:05 pm
I still have his Guide to Bicycling from the mid-seventies. Many an hour spent reading it as a youth.