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Tribute to Burry


mrbaker

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Wow, so sad... What really got me is the scenes of him training...

 

So much effort and dedication goes into what he managed to accomplish... He was a true South African cycling hero....

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I only learned of Burry's death towards the end of the weekend after returning from our family farm near Sutherland in the Karoo where we spent the holidays. On Thursday afternoon, at around the time when Burry's accident must have happened, I was out riding one of my favourite routes on the Nuweveld Escarpment towards the town of Fraserburg when the skies opened up to a majestically surreal sunset.

 

I was standing there, Mumford & Sons’ "Awake my Soul" playing on the headphones, absorbing this wonder. And I can distinctly remember this unexplainable feeling of emptiness and overwhelming sadness, to the point where I was left teary eyed (which I then attributed it to the richness of the moment). Only now do I realise that, perhaps in all that beauty I somehow unknowingly sensed something of the tragedy of my greatest cycling hero's death…or so I prefer to believe. Heading back to Gauteng yesterday, alone in my car and the endless plains of the Free State around me, I cried unashamedly about a guy I never knew, never spoke a word to and sadly will never know. Call me a big sissy...but the loss that I feel is as vast as the unexplainable sadness and sorrow that twists my guts every time my mind returns to Burry, Cherise and the Stander family.

 

I took this picture of that Karoo sunset on the afternoon Burry passed. In my mind I can’t help but see him ride this dirt road, gracefully disappearing into the sunset…

 

post-36036-0-15189700-1357561326_thumb.jpg

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Karoo

 

Nice post, I was out hiking with my kids that afternoon,I was on edge the entire time, having a wife a little scared of heights and my two kids climbing a mountain and walking some treacherous paths.

 

We sat at the top of the Golden Gate and I took some pics and for some reason unknown I starred feeling rather sad and became overprotective of the family on the way down.

 

As we walked back in to the room at our chalet, I received the text thumbdown.gif thumbdown.gif

One of the pics I took as I sat there thinking of the world and all it's splendor.

 

 

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8192/8347674455_78f5fe0e14_b.jpg

Golden Gate 7D-19 by OddPix1, on Flickr

Edited by Dangle
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I didn't know you Burry, but your death has touched me. I really want something positive to come of it, but I don't think we're going to change motorists' behaviour - at least not for the better - with protest action. It'll just make things worse.

 

My concern is that every driver sees us flouting the law, and yet we demand that they don't do the same. So I've decided that I will never again ride through a red light, or cruise through a stop street, unless the roads are closed for a race.

 

Yeh, it's a major ball-ache. I am a roadie, and I can't remember the last time I stopped at an intersection - unless I was forced to by traffic. I don't expect my mates to do the same, and I'm one of the weakest members of the bunch, so this is going to hurt!

 

I know that failing to stop at an intersection didn't kill you, Burry, and that my little gesture won't bring you back. It probably won't make much of a difference in motorists' attitudes, even if they notice an old guy on a Colnago stopped at an intersection.

 

But I don't want your life to pass without making a difference to mine. And, who knows, maybe a few other hubbers will take a New Year's resolution to change their behaviour in some positive way, and to dedicate it to you.

 

RIP, Burry.

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just been on my first ride since getting back from holiday and hearing the news. Despite the heat, the hills seemed to be easier and the downhill faster. From this day forward I will cherish and enjoy every ride just that little more than I used to

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Bettet to get on your bikes and ride it hard like Burry would and consider every km ridden a tribute in his honour.

 

That is what I am doing.

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Here's a proper tribute...not that attention seeking David Moseley nonsense...

 

http://www.ride.co.z...-burry-stander/

 

DAmn!! All teary eyed again!! I just can't get over this...dammit.....grown men don't cry!!

 

@Karooryder & @DAngle......I know your feelings all too well....something in binding us together here - we haven't event met in person (yet!!)

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