Laurel Klein has passed on

[ERT - Mike Breiding]

Yesterday we received this email message from local cyclist Susan Pallotta.
"It is with a heavy heart and great sadness that I must tell you that Laurel passed last night. She went through so much and fought so hard, but her heart gave out. I can't come to grips with it. I will miss her terribly."

Laurel was a longtime member of HCBA/CRC and my cycling mentor when I joined the club in the late 90s (?).
She participated and led many rides and went on a number of bike tours over the years. Laurel was always lots of fun to ride with, and I particularly enjoyed her dry humor.

At one time, Laurel had a touring bike she called "The Green Devil." She was convinced the bike didn't like her and kept throwing her. She ended up parking it in her garage for a period of time. When I was looking for a road bike, she offered to sell it to me at a bargain price. I rode it for many years before recently retiring it and donating it to a Tucson community cycling group. The Green Devil lives on!

Thank you, Laurel.
-Mike