Peter Johnson, one of the great ones, has left us
01-16-22, 11:09 PM
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Peter Johnson, one of the great ones, has left us
Bike builder, racer, and master craftsman Peter Johnson has passed.
he was on a trip to Bern, Switzerland and had a stroke about 4 weeks ago.
There was a question of evacuating him to the US, but after being taken off life support, he passed.
For those who remember him, and his wife Jan, you have memories of the bay area cycling scene in the formative years of the early 70s.
He will be well remembered. A lucky few own frames built by Peter, two of which are shown in this pic from 2003
/markp
he was on a trip to Bern, Switzerland and had a stroke about 4 weeks ago.
There was a question of evacuating him to the US, but after being taken off life support, he passed.
For those who remember him, and his wife Jan, you have memories of the bay area cycling scene in the formative years of the early 70s.
He will be well remembered. A lucky few own frames built by Peter, two of which are shown in this pic from 2003
/markp
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01-17-22, 12:31 AM
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Riding with the Gods now, RIP Mr. Johnson.
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01-17-22, 09:17 AM
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Very accomplished.
Very sad.
He and his wife appeared to be a dynamic duo.
Going to be tough.
Very sad.
He and his wife appeared to be a dynamic duo.
Going to be tough.
01-17-22, 09:52 AM
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01-17-22, 10:08 AM
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01-17-22, 05:16 PM
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Ray Hosler's remembrance: https://rayhosler.wordpress.com/2022...chinists-soul/
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01-18-22, 04:23 PM
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Tom Ritchey is the other one.
01-18-22, 09:20 PM
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TR "before mustache", apparently. 
So he may be another of the few who could ride with Jobst!
I know (or believe based on observation) there was some shared framebuilding "cross-pollination" between TR and Peter J.
It's remarkable how much TALENT and SKILL there was between those 2 in that tiny speck of land and tiny slice of time in San Mateo/Santa Clara counties: you might swear there was "something in the water"!
So he may be another of the few who could ride with Jobst!
I know (or believe based on observation) there was some shared framebuilding "cross-pollination" between TR and Peter J.
It's remarkable how much TALENT and SKILL there was between those 2 in that tiny speck of land and tiny slice of time in San Mateo/Santa Clara counties: you might swear there was "something in the water"!
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01-19-22, 02:11 AM
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Plenty of stories how Jobst influenced Ritchey and how he leaned in when Jobst offered his wisdom, add Mr. Johnson and you have a literal Trifecta that still influences cycling today.
01-19-22, 11:24 AM
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I only met Peter a couple times. He was friendly, maybe a little shy, and self-effacing. Mark Dinucci told me "Peter Johnson is who I want to be when I grow up." When I told Peter this his response was "Mark is who I want to be when I grow up."
I like the "something in the water" theory. There was a lot going on in those two counties at that time. Besides Brandt, Ritchey, and Johnson there was Hugh Enochs and his Jevelot frames, Frank Spivey and his incredible drillium, Wheelsmith, Palo Alto Bikes and their Avocet line of computers and saddles, Mike Sinyard and the beginnings of Specialized, Dean Hovey who built a few very nice frames and went on to be one of the developers of the computer mouse, Phil Wood, and Spence Wolf who was importing Singers and Cinellis into his Cupertino Bike Shop and making cage extensions for the Nuovo Record derailleurs.
I'm sure I'm forgetting someone but that was a long time ago. I think I'll go on a nice long ride and dredge up a few old memories.
Brent
I'm sure I'm forgetting someone but that was a long time ago. I think I'll go on a nice long ride and dredge up a few old memories.
Brent
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01-19-22, 12:31 PM
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I just clicked on that "Ray Hosler" pic (missed it completely before now) and his recollections of Peter, Jan and Jobst in both local settings and in Tuscany and the Alps!
Wow!
Wow!
01-19-22, 07:02 PM
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I only met Peter a couple times. He was friendly, maybe a little shy, and self-effacing. Mark Dinucci told me "Peter Johnson is who I want to be when I grow up." When I told Peter this his response was "Mark is who I want to be when I grow up."
I like the "something in the water" theory. There was a lot going on in those two counties at that time. Besides Brandt, Ritchey, and Johnson there was Hugh Enochs and his Jevelot frames, Frank Spivey and his incredible drillium, Wheelsmith, Palo Alto Bikes and their Avocet line of computers and saddles, Mike Sinyard and the beginnings of Specialized, Dean Hovey who built a few very nice frames and went on to be one of the developers of the computer mouse, Phil Wood, and Spence Wolf who was importing Singers and Cinellis into his Cupertino Bike Shop and making cage extensions for the Nuovo Record derailleurs.
I'm sure I'm forgetting someone but that was a long time ago. I think I'll go on a nice long ride and dredge up a few old memories.
Brent
I like the "something in the water" theory. There was a lot going on in those two counties at that time. Besides Brandt, Ritchey, and Johnson there was Hugh Enochs and his Jevelot frames, Frank Spivey and his incredible drillium, Wheelsmith, Palo Alto Bikes and their Avocet line of computers and saddles, Mike Sinyard and the beginnings of Specialized, Dean Hovey who built a few very nice frames and went on to be one of the developers of the computer mouse, Phil Wood, and Spence Wolf who was importing Singers and Cinellis into his Cupertino Bike Shop and making cage extensions for the Nuovo Record derailleurs.
I'm sure I'm forgetting someone but that was a long time ago. I think I'll go on a nice long ride and dredge up a few old memories.
Brent
Pretty sure Jim built a frame for Peter too.
Last edited by merziac; 01-19-22 at 07:50 PM.
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01-21-22, 04:51 PM
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Some very kind words from Grant Petersen: https://www.rivbike.com/blogs/grant-...2-garvelle-etc
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