More than any other athletic pursuit, cycling is inherently social. Whether you ride with a group from one coffee stop to the next, race down country roads or aggressively spin around a velodrome, the social bonds that result from the shared cycling experience are strong and unique. Within each of our cycling tribes there are always one or two folks who have a cohesive effect on the rest of us. For many members of the Seattle bicycle racing community, Jerry Shafer was that guy.
Last night Marymoor Velodrome celebrated Jerry’s life–and although there was time set aside for sharing memories about Jerry–the emphasis was on racing bikes, which is no doubt the way he would have wanted it. I only knew about Jerry through through his philanthropic efforts toward ending a rare form of eye cancer, retinoblastoma, but as I chatted with folks after the formal ceremony and got some deeper insights, I felt the strong connection so many felt with Jerry, and the significance of losing him.
The evening was about Jerry, but it was also about racing bikes:
Rest in peace, Jerry Shafer. They are racing their legs off at Marymoor Velodrome.
