Wileyone 

RIP Mr. Barry you will be missed. Condolences to family and Friends.

https://cyclingmagazine.ca/sections/...nPtZhleC6EFsss

EddyR

Looks like Mr Barry was a interesting guy
EddyR

markk900

So sad, but not unexpected. Many of our heroes of the past are reaching that age where they must inevitably pass on. I bought my first "real" racing bike (frame only) from him at Bicyclesport around 1975. It was a Wes Mason frameset, and I built it up from the parts I could afford at the time. Mostly mid-high end Japanese (First gen Crane, SunTour, Sugino) with red label rims and tubulars. I was pretty excited though when I got "real" campagnolo shift levers - the only Campy that was in my price range. Mike's shop was a cool place to go even if it was almost an hour away....

RIP.

Dan Burkhart 

I had the great pleasure of meeting Mike on a couple of occasions. His shop is more like a museum than a bike shop.
Production companies use his shop as a resource for props when they need period correct bikes.
Like this one that Sean Connery rode in Finding Forrester.
I hope Mike Jr keeps it going.

clubman 

Mike fitted me on my first quality road bike at Bicyclesport and introduced me to vintage bike collecting and riding. He used to host after-hours vintage cycling discussions in his shop, usually with a theme and guest speaker. It was C&V before the internet. His legacy as a gentleman and superb craftsman is assured. RIP Mike.

Ex Pres 

conspiratemus1

Missing him bitterly. Bought from him my first decent touring bike (Jeunet Cyclotouriste, which I still have), my first Pinarello, (which my son now rides), and my wife and I have two of his Mariposa bespoke bikes. In a nice little coincidence, his wife was a colleague of my wife-to-be, which neither of us knew until, early in our new relationship, we went bike-shopping at Bicyclesport together. Later, making a heroic effort he wrestled a Santanta tandem's rear triangle into submission, getting it spread enough to take an 8-speed cassette . And yes, @Dan Burkhart, his son and daughter-in-law do seem to be making a go of the business. We just placed an order for a new fork, having got the heebie-jeebies about an aging CF AlphaQ. Steel is real, and so was Mike. The photo of him in the magazine article at the start of this thread says it all.


The celebration of his life is being held this Saturday Jan 5 at 11 am in Rosedale United Church (159 Roxborough Dr, Toronto, ON M4W 1X7) with a reception following.


Requiescat in pace, ...although I don't think Mike will be doing much resting, as long as there's a gravel road (preferably covered with frosty mud) and a silver-brazing set-up wherever he is now.

Les

exmechanic89

Cool story.

Dan Burkhart 

Here's Mike showing off the track bike he built for my friend the day we went to his shop to pick it up. Mike was admiring the wheels I built for it.

mikemowbz

Saw this sad news earlier today.

Surely the only Canadian frame maker to have an example of his work (well, a lively and colourful - and fastidiously technical - depiction thereof) hanging in the National Gallery of Canada. 'Mariposa 10 Speed', by the London, ON, artist Greg Curnoe:

Dan Burkhart 

A few more shots from around Mike's shop.

d_dutchison

Such sad news. Back in the mid ‘70‘s, Bicyclesport was my Mecca, and I probably visited Mike (& Mike’s) shop at least once a week -he was very patient with kids like me, and the place was a wonderland. A Mariposa randoneur (preferabley in BRG, with red box and lug lining, with a brazed-on Campy shifter on the seat-tube to activate the Sanyo Dynapower generator) remains my holy-grail bicycle. RIP Mike Barry

steelbikeguy

I had the pleasure of meeting Mike and his son Michael at the 2016 Classic Rendezvous gathering. Managed to get a shot of them riding together too....




Steve in Peoria

Dan Burkhart 

Wow, what a great picture. Would you mind if I repost in on FB?

steelbikeguy

It was a lucky "under the armpit" shot. I showed it to Michael later, and he liked it enough to ask for a copy, which I e-mailed to him.
Feel free to share it on FB. I'm just happy to help share/spread his legacy in a small way.

Steve in Peoria

Dan Burkhart 

Thank you. Just verifying that this ride was in North Carolina? That's what my search turned up.

steelbikeguy

yep... it was the gathering that Dale Brown organized in Greensboro. Quite a collection of amazing people and bikes!

Steve in Peoria