5/6/15 1:55 PM

Apparently He And Sheldon are jawing on the same plane again...


I hate doing the so and so RIP thing. Swore each time our parents would do it I would never...


oh well...

5/6/15 4:26 PM

I've always liked this photo of him cornering - I think it was for a tyre ad:

5/6/15 5:03 PM

I have his book and used it to learn to build wheels. RIP

5/6/15 5:22 PM

Thanks for posting that. I don't think I've seen his picture before despite reading lots of things he wrote.

What a super endorsement for a tire!

5/6/15 5:59 PM

How tall was he?

That's a huge head tube, like for a 27" bike.

I seem to recall the photo was for Avocet tires, ca. 1977.

5/6/15 6:03 PM

Back in the good old days, he would write up his trip report of his annual Alps ride.

It inspired me to no end, great stuff.

I was saddened to read on the Velonews link that due to injuries and illness he had not ridden in 4 years. Sad thought to be so immersed in cycling and to not be able to continue a passion.

No doubt he was a cantankerous SOB (as I recall from some of his typical posts) that earned that title, but then he was usually right. Still is about a lot of things related to wheels that spin. I well recall that I paid attention when he and Sheldon chimed in on a subject.

RIP Jobst, you will be missed.

5/6/15 6:29 PM

Has anyone come up with conclusive evidence against Brandt's analysis of "spoke in tension" type wheel construction?

I buy into his analysis absolutely, if for no other reason by the utmost simplicity of his proof.

I'm also being vague because of the vehemence of the arguments his analysis stirred.

If you do not know what I am writing about, read his book "The Bicycle Wheel."

5/6/15 9:42 PM

I also bought his book - more out of respect than actual understanding. I pretty much stopped reading R.B.T. after his accident and Sheldon's passing.

5/7/15 6:48 AM

I also have his book and concluded his description of how a bicycle wheel is supported (stands on vs hangs from the spokes) to be more a matter of semantics than physics. In any event, the wheel works no matter how you visualize the "support".

I'm sorry to read of his passing and I also recall the photo Nick posted was from an Avocet tire ad.

5/7/15 10:50 AM

I had the opportunity to attend 2 of his "talks" on wheels at Palo Alto Cyclery back in the late 90's. I was taken aback at first by his shortness in his responses to questions, but, more often than not, he was spot on. I happened to purchase his book as I was just starting to build my own wheels; he was nearby and offered to autograph it. I took the book down from the bookcase yesterday after seeing the announcement of his passing on the BRAIN news feed. Started re-reading it again last night....

The posted photo is from an Avocet tire advert; the owner of Palo Alto Cyclery also owned Avocet at the time.
YMMV
-dg

5/7/15 12:06 PM

He fought the good fight against lore and european tradition. I really enjoyed rec. bicycles.* He had no patience for those who espoused tied spokes, tread patterns on tires, or incorrect ways of leaning into a turn etc. He was rude to them. And he was always right about the physics.

5/7/15 12:39 PM

"And he was always right about the physics."

The usual genius socialization conundrums perhaps. ;)

5/8/15 5:39 AM

...with him years ago. He was generally rude, cantankerous and correct...in short, everything I aspire to be. ;-)

RIP Jobst; I'll think of you every time I build a wheel.

5/9/15 5:44 AM

I built my first set of wheels reading his book. I also enjoyed his rec bike Usenet posts.

Rumor has it that he has a love child, Sheldon Cooper, named after his good friend Sheldon Brown.

5/11/15 9:18 PM

Daddy-O.................

To answer your question........... No, only some new age dilettante who knows nothing would - of course - refute what Brandt knew, what he was taught and proven as handed down by "the masters".

Over the past three decades, especially the past two as you v. well know there has been such a righteous push to throw out all proven standards regarding bicycles, wheels and the like and concoct all this nouveau trendoid nonsense. There is no substitute for strength and that which is proven but, alas, same is heresy in this righteous nouveau world where lighter and stiffer, oh, I almost forgot, "aerodynamic" is all the myopic rage.

Of the three or four times I saw him I would peg him around 6'8" or so. He was tall.

5/12/15 5:38 AM

What planet do you live on?