Tom Bruni was killed.
Chris Dorn
know tom just thought that some people on this group may want to know.
Chris
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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 dela with the small things that really count, those =
tiny
things that don't generate profits.=20
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.
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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 beter.
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An unparalleled wealth of knowledge, Bruni was frequently called
upon by fellow dealers and customers of all shops for
answers to plaguing issues.
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His innovations included one of the first and most interesting
leading link front fork uspension 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..=20
Among his noted sp[ecialties and passions were tandem bikes, triplet
bikes (for three people)Special needs, women, custom
fits, and travel bikes.=20
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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.
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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.=20
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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.
=09
Tom was local bicycle advocate in a city that has had its challenges
for our sport.
=09
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.
=09
I'll miss Tom and I'm sure we will be getting together to remember
him now and forever more.
=09
Ride On, Tom, we'll miss you.
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Larry Black
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following is an official News Story some of you might have already
received
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Baltimore Man Is Killed in Bicycle Crash
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By Martin Weil and Clarence Williams
Washington Post Staff Writers
Sunday, July 10, 2005; Page C05
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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.
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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.
=20
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.
=09
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.
=09
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.
=09
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.
=09
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."
=09
--=20
Alice S. Filemyr <alice....@gmail.com>
Rockville, MD
mstuartev
when it happens on their cycle. Tom sounds like he was a well loved and
respected member of the cycling community.
Barring some sort of mechanical failure, this accident does shine a bright
light on all-too-common scene on the road with cyclists: running red lights
and stop signs. I have been riding for over 45 years. I have been road
riding and touring for about 35 of those years. I have seen too many bikers
ignore the rules of the road, e.g. Running stops. Two cyclists in my town
have passed when they did the same and ran into the side of vehicles. If we
ride like cars we will be safer and get home to enjoy the day with our
families.
Life is too short to try to cut a few seconds off of it by running stop
signs or stop lights and risking injury or death. That's why we have gears,
to down-shift, stop, and then upshift on our way.
On 7/12/05 6:43 AM, in article 11d7b74...@corp.supernews.com, "Chris
Wayne Pein
> It is always tragic to read about the death of an avid cyclist -- especially
> when it happens on their cycle. Tom sounds like he was a well loved and
> respected member of the cycling community.
>
> Barring some sort of mechanical failure, this accident does shine a bright
> light on all-too-common scene on the road with cyclists: running red lights
> and stop signs. I have been riding for over 45 years. I have been road
> riding and touring for about 35 of those years. I have seen too many bikers
> ignore the rules of the road, e.g. Running stops. Two cyclists in my town
> have passed when they did the same and ran into the side of vehicles. If we
> ride like cars we will be safer and get home to enjoy the day with our
> families.
>
> Life is too short to try to cut a few seconds off of it by running stop
> signs or stop lights and risking injury or death. That's why we have gears,
> to down-shift, stop, and then upshift on our way.
>
Before passing judgement, you should consider that he simply may have
missed the stop sign. People sometimes genuinely do make bad mistakes.
Several years ago I was working on a project in which I examined 400
heavy truck/other motor vehicle related fatalities. I was astounded at
how many motorists pulled out at a stop sign only to be plowed by a
crossing heavy truck that they apparently simply did not see/register.
Wayne
Zog The Undeniable
> Several years ago I was working on a project in which I examined 400
> heavy truck/other motor vehicle related fatalities. I was astounded at
> how many motorists pulled out at a stop sign only to be plowed by a
> crossing heavy truck that they apparently simply did not see/register.
Well, it's always the one you DON'T see that gets you, in the same way
as whatever you've lost is always in the last place you look.
(PeteCresswell)
>I was astounded at
>how many motorists pulled out at a stop sign only to be plowed by a
>crossing heavy truck that they apparently simply did not see/register.
That's almost happened to me twice in my 40+ years of driving.
Once I was pulling out of a parking lot onto a side street. Looked right,
looked left, looked right again; then proceeded to gently drive into the side of
this guy's car at about 1.3 mph.
Another time I was stopped at a red light. Light turned green. Looked left,
looked right, pulled out and WHOOOOOOSH! A tractor trailer that ran the red
light at about 50 flashed past my bumper. I think part of the rig was actually
over part of my car.
Ever since then, my SOP for making a right turn has been to turn onto the
shoulder and then ease into the traffic lane as I accellerate and check the side
mirror.
--
PeteCresswell
Wayne Pein
> Several years ago I was working on a project in which I examined 400
> heavy truck/other motor vehicle related fatalities. I was astounded at
> how many motorists pulled out at a stop sign only to be plowed by a
> crossing heavy truck that they apparently simply did not see/register.
>
> Wayne
>
Let me also add that many motorists simply blast through stop signs in
rural areas, blissfully unaware that they did it and got away with it,
or suddenly met their maker.
One totally sunny summer morning in Fairbanks, AK I was riding to work
at about 5 am when seemingly "nobody" else was on the road. Enjoying my
ride immensely on the empty roads, I spaced out a red light and was
almost hit by the only other person out at that time, who came skidding
to a halt.
Wayne
d...@topowest.com
Very sad to hear. Condolences to Tom's family and friends.
C.J.Patten
3-ways had stops and were roads I drive on with my car and bike regularly -
about 500meters from my house.
Suburban, 40km/hr (about 25mph) SCHOOL ZONE.
The 4th way, a school bike/walk path - which I was approaching from - has NO
stop.
I slow up (doing about 20km/h) and stop as I see 40-something guy in a new
Buick ROLL RIGHT THROUGH from my left (EG: even if I had a stop, I had right
of way) all the time, looking to his left as if my path wasn't even there.
Yelling, dinging... nothing got this guys attention. Next time, I'll throw a
water bottle at him and see if he notices me.
*** *** ***
"There's such a thing as being dead right."
"(PeteCresswell)" <x...@y.z.invalid> wrote in message
news:cbh8d11k8esng3k80...@4ax.com...