Mysterious Disappearance of my Friend

[vibratoking]

A lengthy, but interesting article about my friend:
http://www.bicycling.com/culture/people ... ain-biking

And a movie trailer:
http://vimeo.com/71929947

Just trying to put the word out. He had the spirit of a builder, much as many of you guys here.

edited the first link since it became obsolete

[Structo]

Man, I hate it when I read a story like this.
Of a giving man that was selfless and willing to help just about anybody.

Doesn't matter that he was contentious or cranky about newcomers.

(my grandkids call me Grumpy Grandpa, but I would do anything for them and they know it).

Sure he might have been eccentric or strange to most people, but most innovators are.

I hope they nail the bastards that did this, robbing the world of a true pioneer.

[Bob S]

Wow - that's a loss.
I wish I'd known him.
Guys like him mean there's hope.
The toe rags who did this don't deserve life.

[M Fowler]

Such a waste Mike was a true pioneer and very hard for you to loose your friend.

Mark

[sepulchre]

Ditto what the guys say here. I await the film.

[Reeltarded]

Wow. Anything I'd have to say would sound pretty harsh, probably.

[cbass]

Sounds like a really cool guy.all of us could've learned something from.
Sorry about your loss

[Blackburn]

A sad story. Sorry to hear, VK. He sounded like a great, interesting guy.

[ER]

Bummer. Mike seemed like a real kindred spirit.

Were you around in the Klunker days? We probably know a lot of people in common. The nor-cal dudes would go do the pearl pass every year back in the day.

Here's a pic from 1980;
[img:740:975]http://www.ibiscycles.com/images/upload ... posite.jpg[/img]
My old boss Scott is the shirtless beardo sitting in the left center front (#2), Joe Breeze is right behind him in the cycling cap(#3), also sitting, and then there's Mike Rust right behind him in the front standing row also wearing a cycling cap (#16). My buddy Wes also worked at Ibis and was one of the Crested Butte guys way back when and moved back there after he left Ibis.

Lots of good memories from those days, your friend lived quite a life. We need more people like that in the world.

-ER

[vibratoking]

Small world and thanks for the pic and link. Yeah, I was around in the klunker days, although I was living in Telluride. I met Mike in Colorado Springs around 1981. We worked together and I formed a friendship with him and quite a few of his brothers. I still hang with two of them till this day. I supplied Mike with some stuff and he built me a high wheeler which I still have. It's a fun ride. We did a high wheeler competition in Palo Duro, TX and other 'events' in Colorado. Those were some good days.

[randalp3000]

What a sad loss of a great pioneer. Thanks for sharing this great story. Really looking forward to the movie.

[kkregsg]

I'm saddened to read this. I have a very soft spot for the innovators who created the off road bike segment. I'm originally from Colorado Springs, but as the clunker revolution was happening, I was living in Breckenridge, CO, and have often said if they had come out with mass produced mountain bikes 1 or 2 years earlier, I may never have left there.

I hope they eventually identify the scum who did this, and can successfully put them under the jail.

[Gibsonman63]

I ran across this today. The story caught my attention the first time through and stayed with me.

http://www.grindtv.com/bike/human-remai ... BWwttdK.97

[vibratoking]

I ran across this today. The story caught my attention the first time through and stayed with me.

http://www.grindtv.com/bike/human-remai ... BWwttdK.97

Thanks for posting that. I haven't been around here much lately. I am a bit late. An alleged perp(loser) has been charged.

http://www.themountainmail.com/free_con ... 91a88.html

A tragedy, but it seems to have been solved. This brings closure to family and friends.

[dorrisant]

A lengthy, but interesting article about my friend:
http://www.bicycling.com/news/featured- ... n?page=0,0

And a movie trailer:
http://vimeo.com/71929947

Just trying to put the word out. He had the spirit of a builder, much as many of you guys here.

First link is busted...