Comments on Rough Riders: Any Bike, Anywhere: Home of the Classic Cyclist: Jim Swarzman, RIP: My Kind of Guy, and Cyclist

I WAS NOT NOTIFIED THAT JIMMY HAD PASSED AWAY AND ...

2011-06-23T08:22:24.512-07:00

I WAS NOT NOTIFIED THAT JIMMY HAD PASSED AWAY AND AM VERY SAD. WHEN WE WERE STILL LIVING WITH OUR PARENTS, APPROX. 18 YEARS OLD, WE TRAINED HEAVILY ON OUR RACING BIKES INCLUDING A CENTURY WE FINISHED IN 8 HOURS. I WANT TO SEND MY CONDOLENCES TO HIS PARENTS.
Dr. Harry P. Torossian

Jim, Thanks for letting me ride your wheel on so m...

2011-04-18T20:11:31.096-07:00

Jim,
Thanks for letting me ride your wheel on so many Brevets and Nicole we are all thinking of you.

Jim you will be with me in my heart on all my rides.

RIP Jim.

Willy, Long Eared Jerboa, Nevin

Wow, I'm completely blown away by this news. ...

2011-04-15T16:02:49.308-07:00

Wow, I'm completely blown away by this news. I met Jim last year while riding the Devil Mountain Double. We just happened to be hitting the same pace, so we rode together for a good while on the road to Mt. Hamilton. I saw him again at the Central Coast Double a few weeks later.

What a terrible tragedy. He was riding one of his old-school bikes at DMD, I can't remember exactly what it was but it was clear he was happy with it, despite it's difficult gearing and weight. It was NOT his climbing bike.

We had to cross a stream and he slowed way down and said something about protecting the property, something like that. I thought he was talking about the bike. Turns out he was talking about his Furnace Creek 508 jersey that he didn't want to mess up. We talked a little bit about that experience.

He had no real reason to remember me, but at Central Coast he was at the finish when I rode up and he gave me a hearty "hello", remembered me from DMD.

This is so sad. My heart goes out to all that grieve for him.

Chris, I'd just like to say that this tribute ...

2011-04-13T22:04:47.776-07:00

Chris, I'd just like to say that this tribute is a class act ... I think Jim would have liked it. He was proud of his accomplishments on some of your events, and justly so.

I was introduced to cycling when Jim and I first l...

2011-04-13T12:48:09.782-07:00

I was introduced to cycling when Jim and I first lived together in 2000, after 2 back surgeries, he got us a tandem and off we went every weekend. That's when he returned to cycling, after finishing his MBA and rediscovering his passion. He spent hours in front of the computer figuring out routes and by accident he came across something callet "brevets" and the "PCH Randos.". The rest is history. I know how much I am hurting so I know Nicole must be devestated. I am glad the man that hit Jim has turned himself in but am shocked his bail is only $50,000. I will definitely be following this case and fighting for the rights of cyclists. Thank you Chris for your kind words. I know his parents appreciate it.

I didn't know Jim, but he was a cyclist, and I...

2011-04-13T10:44:34.133-07:00

I didn't know Jim, but he was a cyclist, and I'm a cyclist, and that alone is a strong bond.

We are all diminished by his loss.

Now is a good time to channel some of the energy generated by this tragedy into making the roads safer for all cyclists.

What Chris has done here is outstanding. But even something as little as a letter to a local newspaper and your congressional representatives lamenting the senseless loss of cyclists' lives on the roads will have an effect.

The website deadlyroads.com has great advice about what to do next time a hit-and-run happens. It is terrible to think that this will be very soon.

http://www.deadlyroads.com/whatcanIdo.shtml

I just read Chris’ account of Jim’s accident. So u...

2011-04-13T10:01:57.700-07:00

I just read Chris’ account of Jim’s accident. So unfair and so unjust. I am really, truly, and deeply sorry that this has happened. My most sincere condolences to Nicole, and Jim's family and friends. Everybody who knows Nicole/Jim and who is involved in cycling feels some degree of pain as a result of this tragic incident.

I’m not a religious person but I do have faith, and will pray for Nicole and the rest of Jim’s family and friends during this time of loss and suffering.

This is very, very sad. What's most sad it tha...

2011-04-13T09:39:25.854-07:00

This is very, very sad. What's most sad it that we are so helpless to prevent these things. Don't know what to think. All I can think is that we must really have a passion for this to take these risks. Thanks for the info.

Justice is going to be very difficult to realize. Police and prosecuting attorneys' offices are short staffed. Jails are underfunded and overcrowded. In some areas only severe felonies are actually prosecuted and result in serving substantial time. On top of that, these kinds of cases go to juries who may not understand or sympathize with cyclists, and may be more likely to identify with the drunk driver. Money doesn't do any good, either. I think we need to emphasize that despite this, we can't let it get us down too much or deter us from doing what we love to do.

Do(u)g

Chris--I totally agree with you about the crowed, ...

2011-04-12T16:06:35.589-07:00

Chris--I totally agree with you about the crowed, narrow roads. Riding the JMO back in '83-84, the roads were still narrow, but it was much more quiet. Flash forward to riding the Borrego Double in '09.. busy casinos, same narrow roads, all in all too many dangerous miles. I am simply heartbroken about Jim. We rode many great miles together.

I totally agree it's time to look at night tim...

2011-04-12T12:09:58.186-07:00

I totally agree it's time to look at night time routes for brevets and other distance events. For instance the 2009(?) Grand Tour where the cyclist was struck and killed by a drunk driver and his son was injured. A lot of routes are designed for convenience and don't take into consideration holidays, road conditions, traffic, etc.
Wade

this article re Jim Swarzman, really hit home. I r...

2011-04-11T14:38:04.060-07:00

this article re Jim Swarzman, really hit home. I ride many 50-100 miles alone in south jersey. I never think it could happen to me, well that is wrong, i very well could and here it did. I am so sorry. God Bless this soul. may he rest in peace. my deepest sympathy goes out to his loved ones, fiance, etc. i wear 6-8lights blinking at night but even that apparently doesn't help in a situation like this with a disturbed driver loose.

Great post Chris. I didn't realize that Jim wa...

2011-04-11T12:00:10.362-07:00

Great post Chris. I didn't realize that Jim was on that Rough Riders ride. That was before I knew him. We are standing next to each other in one of the pics though.

He was very enthusiastic and supportive of every cyclist. He will be missed.