cyclist funeral

knedlicky

When one of the cycling club has married, some of the group have usually stood outside the church in cycling gear, each holding up a front wheel, so a tunnel is formed through which the newly-married pair have had to pass.

One of the club members has just committed suicide. We’d like to show our appreciation of and respect for him at the funeral, but also clearly demonstrate our cycling connection to him. Any ideas how to do this best?

SteveR_100Milers

Personally I'd forget all connections to cycling, its a little too serious for that maybe?

Slow Downcp

As SteveR_100Milers said, it's not really the occassion for a pump archway for the coffin to go through. How about a floral tribute in the shape of a bike, or wheel?

bagpusscp

One I attended a lot of riders wore their club shirts and another was more formal followed by a celebration of the departed's achievements on a bike. Check with the family .

Red Rock

As bagpusscp said, check with the family. They may be delighted that all his cycling friends would like to do something special, but may also want a very formal and quiet funeral.

The floral tribute is nice idea.

Probably would be nice to do a club ride in his/her memory, their favourite route maybe.

PostieJohn

Probably not the not PC thing to say, but you could get a fair few drafting a herse.

tyskie

Was he was suffering from depression? If so you could do a club collection or sponsored ride for an appropriate charity.

Cunobelin

I am all for a cycling funeral, showing an appreciation of their life, achievements and popularity is a good aim,.

A bike cortege is a way of doing this, however.......

A cycle cortege is an unusual event and will probably attract publicity and even press coverage.

This would highlight the death and the cause, which may cause further grief to the family.

Perhaps in this tragic case a good attendance would be sufficient, and perhaps a memorial event, cup or award would fit the bill?

As suggested above - a chat with the family is probably the best way forward.

knedlicky

Thanks for the replies.
I'm sorry I couldn't get to respond to them earlier but I did glance at them at the time, without logging on.

He was suffering from depression, and the family welcomed our involvement, perhaps because they were pleased to see there was a group of people who appreciated him, despite how he perceived things.

With their agreement, we removed the front wheel from his bike and had a 3" wide black ribbon about 4 ft long threaded through some spokes, the two ends in a small bow. In the centre we attached a small floral display, of 3 black-petaled flowers with some greenery. And as a symbolic gesture, we cut one of the spokes and pulled them out of line so the break was noticeable.
The wheel was then put beside the coffin at the funeral service, along with donated flower bouquets and some of his simple personal belongings, like his favoured baseball cap and a garden shovel he always used in his job (he worked for a tree nursery).

geoff_ss

knedlicky wrote:

Thanks for the replies.
I'm sorry I couldn't get to respond to them earlier but I did glance at them at the time, without logging on.

He was suffering from depression, and the family welcomed our involvement, perhaps because they were pleased to see there was a group of people who appreciated him, despite how he perceived things.

With their agreement, we removed the front wheel from his bike and had a 3" wide black ribbon about 4 ft long threaded through some spokes, the two ends in a small bow. In the centre we attached a small floral display, of 3 black-petaled flowers with some greenery. And as a symbolic gesture, we cut one of the spokes and pulled them out of line so the break was noticeable.
The wheel was then put beside the coffin at the funeral service, along with donated flower bouquets and some of his simple personal belongings, like his favoured baseball cap and a garden shovel he always used in his job (he worked for a tree nursery).

What a lovely idea. I hope it helped his family, at least a little.

Geoff

chronyx

Geoff_SS wrote:

What a lovely idea.

Agreed!

Mark Alexander

SteveR_100Milers wrote:

Personally I'd forget all connections to cycling, its a little too serious for that maybe?

I agree Steve