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?
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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.
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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