Long-time bike industry friend John Pavlat took his own life a week ago inSan Francisco. Several readers have written in and offered thoughts on hislife.

If you would like to offer your own personal remembrances, photos or anythingelse, please visit www.JohnPavlat.com

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Christmas 2002 delivered more than a sleigh full of sorrow for many as itbrought the untimely passing of industry veteran John Pavlat. The task ofwriting words to remember a departed friend, words that pay adequate respect,and do justice to a fine man is difficult. A closer friend or member of thefamily would do better.  However, a simple, more pedestrian remembranceof John Pavlat is appropriate because John’s path touched so many people.

Cycling enthusiasts, industry members, and punk music fanatics from Detroitto New Zealand will mourn and remember John in many ways. For many he was:John Pavlat, Gets Things Done. Perhaps the best job title ever created and Johnworked to fill its promise every day. From his early days in the bike shop,to Ibis and VooDoo, to Interbike and Cadenza International, John was a criticalfixture in the cycling industry.

For others he was John Pavlat, skinny-guy-on-a-bike-that-can-crush-me. John’sskill and passion for riding and all the wonder that a bicycle could bringtook him all the way around the globe to ride, explore and enjoy. John thecyclist enlisted like-minded friends on every continent. This was never more evident than in the endless stream of emails coursing the web from every corner since his passing nearly a week ago.

But JP the cyclist was also JP the advocate. John was a champion for someof cycling’s more important if less than glamorous causes including the AmericanCyclo-Cross Foundation, the International Mountain Bicycling Association(IMBA), the San Francisco Bike Coalition and the USAC Junior Cycling DevelopmentFoundation. A powerful voice, John’s pen was as mighty as his cycling prowess,writing on behalf of IMBA, Cars-r-Coffins, The Ride magazine and more.

The world will be a lesser place without John Pavlat to be sure. John’s quick wit and quicker smile will be missed at cycling venues from L'Alpe d’Huez to Zolder. We may all be heavy of heart for having lost John, but we areall richer for having known him.
Chris Zigmont
New Hampshire

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Dear Friends and Family of John Pavlat,
This is a list of organizations that were near and dear to John's heart.If anyone would like to make a donation honoring John, please make your checkpayable to the organization of your choice and mail it to John's family incare of

Jerry Pavlat
6383 Elsey Dr,
Troy, MI 48098-2063

so that the family can acknowledge your gift. The family will forward alldonations to each organization in one envelope so that they are all receivedtogether. The following organizations are listed alphabetically, not necessarilyin order of importance:

American Cyclo-Cross Foundation
International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA)
Kiron Group (2003 SuperCup or World Cup Cyclo-Cross Series)
San Francisco Bike Coalition
USAC Junior Cycling Development Foundation

We are overwhelmed with the thoughts, support and love of John that has beensent. You will never know or understand how much it means to us at this difficultmoment. Please keep them coming. Also, it would mean the world to John'sniece, Mickey Kwapis, to receive email from any and all of you. Maybe a funnystory or just a note to let her know that he talked about her and that heloved her. She really needs to hear from you. Mickey's email address is:equineluvr247@aol.com (think shelikes horses?). As John would say "Right On".

If anyone would like to contact John's parents, Jerry and Sue or his sisterJennifer their email addresses are as follows:
Jerry & Sue: pedalpetal@aol.com
Jennifer: jlpavlat@yahoo.com

Thank you,
Jerry, Sue, Jennifer, and Niece Mickey