Randy Clark passed away yesterday (8/9/2009).
I met Randy when he started working at B&L Bike and Sport, one of my favorite bike shops. When I first met him, it was around the time that I bought my Specialized E5 frame and had B&L build it up with Campy Record parts. My first impression was that he didn't really fit in at B&L. B&L is a bit of a hip, fast moving place. Randy was an older (59 this year) guy with frizzy hair and an unpolished look. When he offered to do my fitting, I was kinda thinking to myself, sure I'll let you, but I'm not sure I have a lot of confidence in what's about to happen. Randy proved to be the best guy I've ever met in the world of San Diego cycling.
For my fitting; I got on my bike, pedaled for a while on the trainer, Randy felt my back and hips as I spun, he made a few quick adjustments, and I left with the best bike fit I've ever had. I soon came to respect Randy as one of the most knowledgeable, honest, earnest, inspired, and enthusiastic people I've met. When I first got on my bike after my accident, I again had Randy do a fitting for me. He could see for himself first hand just how sad a state I was in, yet he came right out and asked me if I wanted to come out and ride with his Big City Velo team as they rode up the coast.
Big City Velo was a local San Diego cycling team that Randy put together and backed. He had some help from some local sponsors like Canari and Leader Bikes, but at the end of the day; Randy was the guy who made it all happen.
Less than a month ago I got an email that the San Diego velodrome was putting on a benefit race for Randy. That was when I first learned that he had cancer. It started only a few months ago when he had a melanoma removed from his nose. A couple months later he wasn't feeling well, went to the doctor and discovered that the cancer had spread to his liver. And a month or so later, he's gone.
I know that there aren't too many people who read this blog, which is kinda sad, not for me, but for Randy; because I don't see too many tributes out there to him right now. He's a guy who deserves to be recognized as one of the truly good people who made this world a better place. Randy was the sort of person there aren't near enough of on this planet. He will be missed big time.
4 comments:
Wow, I'm very sad and will miss seeing his big smile.
I just found out just today that Randy Clark passed away from cancer.
I've known Randy off and on for almost 30 years. Most recently he volunteered to provide a "fix a flat" clinic at the first Kimberlee's Bikes for Kids bike giveaway at the National City Boys and Girls Club this past June. It was a Saturday and Randy took off work from the Trek Store to help out. The clinic didn't work out well because it seemed the 150 1st-3rd graders who were getting their free bikes wanted to ride those bikes instead of listening to some guy talk about fixing a flat. Randy didn't care, he just wanted to be a part of the day. But that was Randy, always willing to help out.
The San Diego cycling community lost a great one with Randy's passing. I''m still in shock that he's gone.
I am so sorry to hear this news. I have known Randy since 2003 when I went to get a bike fitting at the Trek Store in SD. We struck up a great friendship as I ended up becoming one of "his" riders on Big City Velo. I was in the Marines and either training for or deploying the whole time I lived in the SD area so my racing was spotty at best. That never bothered Randy as he was the most supportive guy I've ever met.
I retired and moved to Tampa in 2007 and, unfortunately, didn't do as good a job keeping touch with him. In April, I was diagnosed with Esophageal cancer and wanted to wait until I had turned a corner toward beating this thing before I decided to tell Randy -- I didn't want him to worry. Two days ago, I sent him an email to tell him about my cancer only to receive a response from his brother regarding Randy's passing. Unbelievable. The San Diego Cycling scene truly lost one of its most passionate advocates. God Bless You Randy.
Somehow I completely missed the news that Randy had passed. I will miss Randy. He got me on my first road bike at the Trek SD store and I have been a fan of his ever since. He is an amazing guy, with a cycling history most don't know about. Thank you Randy!
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