Tyrone van Posted December 17, 2009 Posted December 17, 2009 Hi All' date=' Yes there will be mass ride for him Early nexy year. The family will be getting through the tough time and we will arrange it after the December break. I will keep you all up to date. Tyrone van Heerden (His Son)[/quote'] ? What about some local guys organising their Ride' to start, finish, or run-by' the? Fourways Memorial Garden on Saturday the 19th of Dec 09 at 10am-12pm? ? ? ? ? Yes we will be hoping to get involved in this as well. We will be hopefully raffeling/auctioning off the last bike he rode (The GT) for an academy in his legacy. It was his dream to do this. Please note any donations on Saturday will be appreciated to contribute towards the academy. He was a great man and loved helping whoever he could out. Thanks for all the support. Tyrone van Heerden (The Idols son)
shaunvh Posted December 17, 2009 Posted December 17, 2009 Hi Would you be willing to sell me his C40? Shaun van Heerden
Tyrone van Posted December 17, 2009 Posted December 17, 2009 Alan was a huge part of me and my family's life for many years and we are deeply saddened by his sudden departure. May his soul rest in peace. My thoughts and prayers are with Wendy' date=' Shaun and Tyrone through this difficult time. Romy Schneigansz [/quote'] Hi Romy, Thanks so much, He really had a special part for you and your sister. We love and miss you guys. Tell Your mother I say Hi.
Tyrone van Posted December 17, 2009 Posted December 17, 2009 Hi ? Would you be willing to sell me his C40? ? Shaun van Heerden Yes Please, Myself and my Boet are trying to get back all the family memories, We have found the bike he won the Giro on and we would love too beable to make a shrine for our father. This will require the C40 for it to be complete.
RooiMan Posted December 18, 2009 Posted December 18, 2009 To the press he was Alan van Heerden , to the public he was the absolute darling of South African cycling , to all of us who raced with and against him he was the ? Idol? , both on and off the bike , to those of us fortunate to race on the same Team as the Idol we knew him as Van or Al , the good guy who always wanted to win . To the European cycling media and press he was Alain Vanherden , the rider with bundles of talent and pure class just waiting to be let loose and win . Due to the political era at the time , we ( South Africans ) raced and competed in Europe with false id?s and Nationality?s ., hence Alain?s 21 second places in a single season in the Professional pelaton and a Paris Roubaix podium . To win the risk was arrest and deportation . Van didn?t give away the wins , no never - in Europe he was not permitted to win . Second place was simply not good enough for Van , he always gave credit to those who beat him , not that he got beat often , but arriving second was considered the first looser and totally un acceptable . Al negotiated my first ever Professional cycling contract ,with Team Highway Electrical , from then on we were team mates for the best part of ten years with Professional teams Southern Sun , Southern Sun Peugeot , M Net , Imperial , Snowflake Blue Ribbon and AVH ( Alan Van Heerden Cycles ) . Fantastic years . Al - many many thanks for all the fun times , from the Dunlop days in Rhodesia , The many Rapport Toers , Springbok teams and the adventures of living and racing in Belgium and France - fond memories always . I will miss you , take care and may you rest in peace . Sincere condolences to Wendy , Shaun and Tyron . Allan Wolhuter Boulder Colorado USA RooiMan2009-12-18 18:15:27
CliveDs Posted December 19, 2009 Posted December 19, 2009 Wanted to share this image of the Idol the way I remember him, Front and Center. http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/glorycycles/crit.jpg Left to right: de Sousa, Oberholzer, Engelbreght(obscured), Beneke (obscured),Macintosh, Andrew.., Ribbens, "THE IDOL", Parsons, Cockerton, McClean, Wolhunter, Burgges(obscured), Duicker,Beneke(obscured) Duvenhage.
Sean Badenhorst Posted December 21, 2009 Posted December 21, 2009 I decided not enough is known about The Idol by today's cycling community. So I did some research and put together this tribute to a true cycling legend: http://www.sport24.co.za/Content/OtherSport/262/3a14cc8e588846ba84128f02caf40b15/21-12-2009-08-55/Tragic_loss_to_SA_cycling
Dirtbreath Posted December 21, 2009 Posted December 21, 2009 Nice tribute Sean. Very sad to hear about this news. Will always remember Alan as the man who put me onto my first mountain bike. My last road bike too.
Speed Racer Posted December 21, 2009 Posted December 21, 2009 Thank you, Sean, for an excellent article and moving tribute. His life is deserving of a book project. It would make fascinating reading, given that much of it is not well known, like the Giro stage victory and the many "seconds" in Belguim. I met the Idol on a number of occasions, and was always struck by his natural presence and humility. RIP, Idol.
Sean Badenhorst Posted December 21, 2009 Posted December 21, 2009 Thank you' date=' Sean, for an excellent article and moving tribute. His life is deserving of a book project. It would make fascinating reading, given that much of it is not well known, like the Giro stage victory and the many "seconds" in Belguim. I met the Idol on a number of occasions, and was always struck by his natural presence and humility. RIP, Idol. [/quote'] My pleasure. Thanks to Johnny Koen for checking the accuracy for me. Regarding a book, my good journo friend, Larry Lombaard, who knew Alan very well, started writing a book about Alan in the early 1990s. I worked with Larry at The Mercury newspaper in Durban and in 1993, I read the first 10 chapters, which he'd completed. I can't recall the exact reason Larry never continued with/completed the book. In 2005, Larry was viciously attacked and left for dead in Joburg. He survived, but sadly hasn't returned to full health (physically or mentally). I will check with him if he still has his notes or any other material gathered in his research for the book.
Jules Posted December 21, 2009 Posted December 21, 2009 A long time ago one of the cycling magazines (think it may have been Tri Cycling) did a two-part series on AVH. I remember them being very good articles. Went into some depth about his (tough) upbringing etc. As a laaitie I spent many a long afternoon at AVH's Bramley shop. He did an amazing job of importing Colnagos. I overheard him once explaining what he believed to be the secret to cycle retail success: lots of stock. In those days, all Colnagos increased in size in 1cm increments. I remember when I bought my Dream there, I specified the exact size and colour and he had it in a warehouse somewhere. My bike was in the shop within a week. Amazing He also had all the Sidi, Campagnolo, Colnago catalogues, posters and everything else that was necessary to get the customers drooling over Italian bike porn. RIP Alan
TNT1 Posted December 21, 2009 Posted December 21, 2009 Was any of the hubbers at the funeral ? I was unfortunately away, but my mom went to the memorial service.
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