Frank Berto RIP
12-17-19, 09:16 AM
#1
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Frank Berto RIP
https://www.renehersecycles.com/fran...will-miss-you/
Sad news from Bicycle Quarterly. Frank was one of those writers who broke things down in a way that was easily understandable.
Sad news from Bicycle Quarterly. Frank was one of those writers who broke things down in a way that was easily understandable.
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12-17-19, 10:17 AM
#2
feros ferio
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Thank you for posting. I have always been a big fan of his work.
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"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
12-17-19, 10:30 AM
#3
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A true legend. He will be missed.
-Kurt
-Kurt
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12-17-19, 04:10 PM
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I have to admit, I never really read or got into Frank Berto's writings but I certainly consider his very recognizable name, to be a fixture in the bicycling culture and industry for the last generations.
With much respect and many thanks, Rest in Peace Frank Berto.
With much respect and many thanks, Rest in Peace Frank Berto.
12-17-19, 05:12 PM
#7
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Ah man, so sad to hear of his passing, I had no idea. 
I learned a lot from Frank Berto. Read The Dancing Chain when it first came out. He really had some serious moxie, to go and self-fund the publication of the first edition. I owe to him more than anyone my first interest in old derailleur gears and vintage cycling in general. I remember going to the Nationaal Fietsmuseum in Nijmegen and seeing for the first time the stuff I'd only read about in his book. What a thrill.
Raising a glass in his memory.
I learned a lot from Frank Berto. Read The Dancing Chain when it first came out. He really had some serious moxie, to go and self-fund the publication of the first edition. I owe to him more than anyone my first interest in old derailleur gears and vintage cycling in general. I remember going to the Nationaal Fietsmuseum in Nijmegen and seeing for the first time the stuff I'd only read about in his book. What a thrill.
Raising a glass in his memory.
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Owner & co-founder, Cycles René Hubris. Unfortunately attaching questionable braze-ons to perfectly good frames since about 2015. With style.
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12-17-19, 05:43 PM
#8
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An engineer's engineer, will be missed.
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If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
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12-17-19, 06:06 PM
#9
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So sad to read about his passing. I learned so much info about derailleurs, gearing and other components from his writings in Bicycling Magazine during the 70s. Helped me to understand things that were mysteriously complicated. Bicycling Magazine really tried to help people learn about mechanics and bike maintenance during that time. Now all they're interested in is promoting the most expensive, elitist, top shelf high performance bikes money can buy. Which is why I no longer subscribe.
RIP Frank Berto.
RIP Frank Berto.
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12-17-19, 07:28 PM
#10
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Having only learned of Frank Berto's existence through this forum, I ordered The Dancing Chain a few years ago, and got what turned out to be one of my all-time favorite books. Thanks, Mr Berto, and RIP.
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12-18-19, 01:32 PM
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-----
Thank you for sharing this sad news.
I used to have a bike rebuilding friend in San Francisco who was into hybrid gearing. He would modify SA systems to three cogs and than add a derailleur. (not Benelux)
He knew Frank because the two worked at the same Standard Oil of California (Chevron) facility.
He used to give me update reports on Frank's work toward the completion of The Dancing Chain.
Always enjoyed Frank's drive train articles published in Bicycling! Magazine.
His series on triples was most memorable.
Wonder how many members here hold copies of The Dancing Chain...
Thank you again Frank Berto!
-----
Thank you for sharing this sad news.
I used to have a bike rebuilding friend in San Francisco who was into hybrid gearing. He would modify SA systems to three cogs and than add a derailleur. (not Benelux)
He knew Frank because the two worked at the same Standard Oil of California (Chevron) facility.
He used to give me update reports on Frank's work toward the completion of The Dancing Chain.
Always enjoyed Frank's drive train articles published in Bicycling! Magazine.
His series on triples was most memorable.
Wonder how many members here hold copies of The Dancing Chain...
Thank you again Frank Berto!
-----
12-18-19, 02:32 PM
#13
aka Tom Reingold
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A friend bought me a subscription to Bicycling magazine starting in around 1976, and I stayed subscribed for years. I liked Berto's articles more than anything else. I always read anything he wrote that I could find. I think his sign-off was:
Gears to you!
Gears to you!
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12-20-19, 08:18 AM
#15
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This book is a gem, and has a bunch of information that's still pertinent today. Everything you need to know about gearing strategies of the day (crossover, alpine, half-step, etc.) is explained in easy-to-understand detail.
It also has great sections on choosing the right bike, and compares the performance of components from all the manufacturers of the period.
This book is an invaluable resource for any C&V fan.
RIP Frank Berto - High Priest of Gear Freaks
Last edited by SuperLJ; 12-20-19 at 08:21 AM.
12-20-19, 09:15 AM
#16
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RIP Frank, greatly appreciate all your work. Visiting my wife yesterday, noticed this on a nearby headstone "See you soon" Don
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12-20-19, 12:09 PM
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Wow, a name with fond memories of a time when Bicycling was a smart, informative publication.
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