Dan Crain, A Truly Accomplished Long Distance Cyclist
Chuck Bramwell
Dan Crain on the 1996 Eastern Sierra Double
Photo by Robert Freed
“Enjoy the ride, and share the experience with others. Life is better experienced as a shared journey rather than as a race to beat others.”
Dan Crain at his induction into the California Triple Crown Hall of Fame in 2001
The California Triple Crown family lost one of the Most Accomplished Long Distance Cyclists in California when Dan Crain passed away last Sunday, August 15, 2010.
Let's celebrate Dan's life!!
Dan's Sister, Sandy, wrote: "Dan's Memorial Service, or the celebration of his life, will be this Saturday, August 21st, at 11:00 a.m. at Harbor Christian Church, 2401 Irvine Avenue, Newport Beach 92660. I know that I originally thought the service would be several weeks away, but this Saturday worked out better for Dan's daughter and son, Danielle and Alan. I do hope that his bicycle family will be able to attend. There will be a time of open sharing of memories of Dan from everyone, as well as a light lunch provided afterward. Please pass the word on to all of Dan's bicycle family."
I’ve added a Memorial for Dan with lots of great photos at
http://caltriplecrown.blogspot.com/2010/08/dan-crain-you-will-be-missed.html
which is a place where people who loved Dan may feel free to write a memory they have of him, a story, or to say goodbye to a good friend. Please share your thoughts by clicking on the "Comments" at the bottom of the tribute. You need not be a cyclist to share a memory there. Please send photos of Dan to me so I can include them there.
Dan and Anny Beck on the Grand Tour Staff Ride Highland Double
Photo taken July 24, 2010 by Steve Meichtry
Dan loved to ride a bike. Any bike. Any time. And he always made it fun no matter how hard the ride was!!
Dan completed an amazing 106 California Triple Crown Double Centuries including many of the most difficult ones in California as shown on his California Triple Crown History report at
http://caltriplecrown.org/DoublesbyName/RiderHistoryReport.asp?RiderID=1137
In 2000, Dan rode every Double Century in the series ... all 18 of them!! In 2001, Dan and Anny rode the 1st Place Tandem in the 2001 California Triple Crown Stage Race. In 2004, Dan and Anny rode the 2nd Place Tandem in the 2004 California Triple Crown Stage Race. Amazingly, Dan was a Solo Finisher of the brutally tough California Triple Crown Stage Race in 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2005, 2006, and 2007!!
Yet, he gave back BIG TIME to the sport ... as shown on the report, he supported 21 of these Double Centuries!!! He was a Gold Thousand Mile Club Finisher in 2004, 2006, and 2007 by completing 5 Double Centuries and volunteering at more than one of them those years!!
Charlie Irwin, Dan Crain, and Chuck Bramwell
2001 California Triple Crown Awards Breakfast
Photo from Chuck Bramwell's Archive
Dan Crain was inducted into the California Triple Crown Hall of Fame in 2001 after riding 50 Doubles starting back in 1996. When he was inducted into the Hall of Fame, Dan gave these tips to new Double Century riders:
- Don't accept pain from riding long distances … work on the problems.
- Don't try to make up time on descents. The risks aren't worth the rewards.
- Enjoy the ride, and share the experience with others. Life is better experienced as a shared journey rather than as a race to beat others.
Dan told the audience: my personal philosophy is to celebrate life and share the celebration with others.
Dan and Lynn Katano wearing their 2004 Davis Bike Club March Madness Jerseys
Photo from Lynn Katano’s Archive
I believe Dan logged the most miles of anyone in that 2004 Competition
Dan loved challenging himself on the Furnace Creek 508 course. In fact, he was inducted into the Furnace Creek 508 Hall of Fame in 2007 as shown at
http://www.the508.com/hof/craindan.html
Dan competed in this 508 Mile Non-Stop Race a total of 8 times!! Jim Cook wrote about his favorite memories of crewing for Dan on his Furnace Creek 508 adventures at
http://caltriplecrown.blogspot.com/2010/08/memories-of-dan-crains-furnace-creek.html
Bill Osborn was Dan's Furnace Creek 508 Teammate in 2002 and he wrote up a beautiful report at
http://homeandtravels.com/blog/2010/08/19/dan-crane-thank-you-for-the-memories/
with some great photos.
Fred Boethling, the President of the Race Across America, wrote in the Race Across America newsletter: "Dan's cycling palmares were significant. He finished the Furnace Creek 508, a RAAM Qualifier, seven times and completed 106 California Triple Crown double centuries, earning 13 Triple Crowns. In 2005, he and Fred Boethling established three 2-person 60+ team records ... the Davis 24-hour Challenge, a RAAM Qualifier, a UMCA Utah S-N Cross-State record and the Race Across America. All three records still stand. According to Fred Boethling, "Dan was a horse. He did all the work. I was the supporting cast." Dan gave back to the sport as well, having volunteered at nearly two-dozen double centuries.
Dan is survived by his two children, other family members and a great many cycling friends. Dan, we'll miss you greatly."
Dan also was a legendary cyclist on Randonneur rides which are long-distance unsupported endurance adventures. Dan was amazingly tough on these rides and he completed the 750 Mile Non-Stop Paris-Brest-Paris in 1999. He also completed the 750 Mile Non-Stop Davis Gold Rush in 2001 on a tandem with Anny Beck. Dan went on to be awarded The Randonneur 5000 award for those riders completing at least 5000 kilometers of brevets (including a Paris-Brest-Paris, a full ACP series of 200 km, 300 km, 400 km, 600 km, and 1000 km brevets, and a Flèche team event) within a four-year period. Few Americans have ever earned this award as shown at
http://www.rusa.org/cgi-bin/awardlist_GF.pl?award=r5000
Roland Hoffman wrote: "Dan was a true emissary to the sport of endurance cycling! I'm in a total state of shock as I was planning to make my visit with him tonight after work! It's certainly a blessing to ride with a true "legend" of the sport on many occasions during my 15 years of ultra endurance cycling! A courageous, adventurous, and caring person . . . and well loved by us all!”
Dan and Anny at the start the Davis Gold Rush 1200K in 2001.
Photo taken by Chuck Bramwell
Two days and over 500 miles after the above photo was taken, Tom Reynolds and I were fortunate enough to find Dan and Anny. Unfortunately, by that time, I was out of film in my old camera. We must have ridden 200 miles with Dan and Anny coming back into Davis that awesome night. We were plenty tired by that time but the miles just flew by. And how could we have been flying like that after riding 500 miles the prior couple of days? Dan was just motoring with Anny on the tandem and I remember working real hard keeping up with them and Tom.
For me, it was beyond epic.
It was beyond hard.
It was one of the best long distance pacelines I’ve ever been in.
It was a time I will always remember as being the best of times.
And that's how I'll long remember my buddy Dan Crain. Flying at full speed on his tandem with smoke coming off his Rear Derailleur!!
With a big smile on his face.
I’ll miss you Dan. I'll miss your help. I'll miss your big smile going ear to ear.
Chuck Bramwell
California Triple Crown Guy
“My personal philosophy is to celebrate life and share the celebration with others.”
Dan Crain
Please share your memories on Dan’s Memorial Page.
Larry Parker
paper, a new online auction site for cycling gear, and charitable donations.
http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20100819/BIZ01/8200356/1001/biz/Web-site-aims-to-sell-bicyclists-gear
Or the "mobile" version:
AND money to extend one of the little bike trails in the area. Maybe one
day they will all hook up? as it is we can go from Cincy to Dayton or
nearly to Columbus, all on a trail. Can't get around much in town, yet, but
this is one of the little pieces that is bringing that closer!
http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20100819/NEWS01/8200324
It is tough to type with an 8 month old in your lap!
Larry "grandpa" Parker