|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Industry Leader-NBG Sponsor Killed in Bike Crash
Baltimore NBG Day Sponsor, Tom Bruni, of Bruni Bicycles
http://brunibicycles.com , was killed in a bike/car accident Saturday afternoon. And as fellow Baltimore NBG Sponsor, Larry Black of Mt Airy Bikes, shows in his words below, Tom was a man filled with love. This makes me feel so sad.. And yet, instead of accepting horrible loss at face value in the way the Washington Post does in the news article at the end, Kathy Keehan of the San Diego Bike Coalition helped me to see how this may not have even been Tom's fault. That there is a very good chance that the mini van he hit turned left or right in front of him. Does anyone know if there is there any way this can be proven? ======================================== Tom Bruni was killed in a bike/car accident Saturday afternoon. New Story follows after my intro and thoughts as tears too powerful to hold fall before me. For those who may not have known Tom, hew was about as kind as any man could be. He had a home-based but highly popular machine shop, frame and bike shop in his Baltimore home, and a very dedicated following of customers in the region. His following approached that of a cult. Among the things that set Tom apart from any other dealer and many fellow men was his generosity. Not just a volunteer at charitable events, not just his ability and willingness to aid other dealers who knew far less, but his ability to jump into any situation and make it better. A former professional jeweler and industrial consultant, Bruni's love and passion for bicycles and those that love them, along with encouragement from those who knew Tom could truly 'build the better bike' drove him to start expanding his craft of building his own bikes to help others get more out of their lives. While many of us 'mainstream' dealers bought and sold goods for our mainstay, there are many who just didn't have the time nor the desire to deak with the small things that really count, those tiny things that don't generate profits. Tom liked those challenges. It could be midnight or 7 AM and if a customer or dealer was stuck or in trouble, Tom might just have to roll out of bed, go to the shop, and help someone out. Tom's artistry was unprecedented in the area, and his innovations were numerous. He was never afraid to try new things or re-invent old ideas to make them better. An unparalleled wealth of knowledge, Bruni was frequently called upon by fellow dealers and customers of all shops for answers to plaguing issues. His innovations included one of the first and most interesting leading link front fork suspension systems, a special system to take bikes apart for travel, a swing arm that pivited around the bottom bracket, and others too numerous to mention.. Among his noted sp[ecialties and passions were tandem bikes, triplet bikes (for three people) Special needs, women, custom fits, and travel bikes. Tom Bruni was an avid participant in the Baltimore Kinetic sculpture races and shows, an extremely time cunsuming devition that serves to help bring the sport of bicycling and the art and science of bicycle engineering to the attention of the public. Tom was an avid bike tourist that generously donated his time and effort to organize rides for local, regional, and national clubs, and to host special events to make the world a better place for cyclist and non-cyclist alike. Tom and wife Theresa Spadaro were advocates for a healthier and more sustainable planet and had an uncanny ability to keep people awake in the current events and area of national, local, and global politics. Tom was a local bicycle advocate in a city that has had its challenges for our sport. The only family member i know is Tom's dear wife Theresa Spedaro, a cyclist, advocate, supportive, dedicated, and loving wife. Theresa's an accomlplished graphic Artist whose work appears on the bodies of thousands of cyclists who wear the T shirts, Jerseys, and patches she has designed for many years. Her artwork and illustrations have appeared in cycling publications and she is a dedicated cycling advocate and rider. I'll miss Tom and I'm sure we will be getting together to remember him now and forever more. Ride On, Tom, we'll miss you. Larry Black following is an official News Story some of you might have already received ======================================== Baltimore Man Is Killed in Bicycle Crash By Martin Weil and Clarence Williams Washington Post Staff Writers Sunday, July 10, 2005; Page C05 A Baltimore man who built his own brand of bicycles was killed yesterday in Carroll County while riding one of them, Maryland State Police said. Thomas Bruni, 54, who operated Bruni Bicycles in Baltimore, ran a stop sign at an intersection near Westminster and crashed his bicycle into the side of a van, said state police Trooper Kenneth Cain. Free E-mail Newsletters At 2:54 p.m., Bruni was riding south on Halter Road, approaching Stone Road, Cain said. A Pontiac minivan was going through the intersection on Stone Road as Bruni approached, he said. Cain said Bruni failed to stop and ran into the side of the van. His speed was not known, but Cain said some of the van's windows were shattered. Five of the six occupants, ranging in age from 3 to 80 years old, were taken to a hospital for treatment of scratches and abrasions, Cain said. Cain said Bruni had been touring the area with his wife and a friend. He said the others were not close enough to see the crash. Bruni designed, built and sold custom bicycles. His Web site said his products included tandems, sport-touring models and suspension tandems. Articles linked to his site called him a former ship welder whose "suspension bicycles" rode unusually smoothly, making bad pavement and even train tracks "almost cease to exist." -- 54% of New York City households do not own cars M A R T I N K R I E G : "Awake Again" Author http://www.bikeroute.com/AwakeAgain Bent Since '83, Car Free Since '89, '79 & '86 TransAms******** Coma, Paralysis, Clinical Death Survivor* Can You Change it with Love?* N A T I O N A L B I C Y C L E G R E E N W A Y |
Ads |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Cycle America wrote:
That there is a very good chance that the mini van he hit turned left or right in front of him. Does anyone know if there is there any way this can be proven? Seems to me that if he had stopped for the stop sign, he wouldn't have had much momentum going into the intersection, so he wouldn't have hit the van that hard. Art Harris |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Autofaq now on faster server | Simon Brooke | UK | 216 | April 1st 05 10:09 AM |
19 Days to go: NBG Mayors' Ride Excitement #5 | Cycle America | Recumbent Biking | 0 | March 30th 05 07:32 PM |
Bike crash insurance questions | SuperSlinky | General | 229 | September 27th 04 02:33 AM |
Still Looking for a bike | [email protected] | UK | 19 | September 5th 04 10:25 AM |
Who is going to Interbike? | Bruce Gilbert | Techniques | 2 | October 10th 03 09:26 PM |