The following discussion is an archived debate of the proposed deletion of the article below. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review). No further edits should be made to this page.

The result was keep. Non-admin closure.  JUJUTACULAR | TALK  01:35, 23 September 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Sheldon Brown (bicycle mechanic) (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) – (View log)

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Seems like a great guy and all, but how is he notable? I'm not seeing it. This isn't even a matter of BLP1E. It's a matter of BLP0E. Joke doesn't work when there's a death date. My bad. Guy fails WP:GNG. Lara 20:16, 16 September 2009 (UTC)[reply]

He got an obituary in The Times [1], . Brown had a huge presence online.-Dhodges (talk) 23:09, 16 September 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Absolutely. Also got an obit in The Boston Globe [2]. Moxfyre (ǝɹʎℲxoɯ | contrib) 00:13, 17 September 2009 (UTC)[reply]

• Keep: As mentioned by Dhodges and Moxfyre above, had major obits in major newspapers in two countries. A google books search shows that he has been mentioned in The Complete Idiot's Guide to Bike Maintenance and Repair and in Bicycling magazine at least 3 times. J04n(talk page) 01:36, 17 September 2009 (UTC)[reply]

• Keep: This man is almost a deity in the cycling community, and his informational pages and editorials on http://www.sheldonbrown.com/ from the Harris Cyclery are the starting point for any research on bicycle mechanics.

• Keep: He was an important part of the on-line cycling scene, outspoken and well known. His cycle mechanics articles were used by many as reference, and he is a published author. As said above, obituaries in major papers demonstrate that he was notable. Thaf (talk) 08:21, 17 September 2009 (UTC)[reply]

• Weak Keep - apparently very notable within the cycling community. It would be good to find some reliable sources about him during his life though - an article sourced purely from obituaries looks a bit like a memorial. Robofish (talk) 22:59, 17 September 2009 (UTC)[reply]

• STRONG Keep - Very prominent authority in fixed gear bicycles, especially messengers in any metro area, his current website is somewhat of a bible to anyone entering the field. Plus awesome beard.

• Strong Keep - As noted by Dhodges and Moxfyre, Brown rated obits in major newspapers -- one in Boston, the other in London. His encyclopedic bicycle-repair information site is still the best starting point (and often ending point) for do-it-yourself bike mechanics. Moreover, as The Times put it, "because of the selfless use to which he put the internet, regret at his death has been felt across the world....The website he built, sheldonbrown.com, has attracted millions." Indeed, I came to this discussion by way of his site; I was looking up derailleur adjustment, got to wandering about the site, and soon wanted to know more about this guy who knew so much and had such interesting opinions, and my next stop was Wikipedia. If I hadn't found this article on WP, I would have felt compelled to write it myself. (Jmkelly)

• Keep - He was hugely influential in the bike world during his life. We have also referenced him on many wikipedia bicycle articles, enough that readers who are not familiar with him may find the existence of an article about him helpful. --Keithonearth (talk) 04:11, 20 September 2009 (UTC)[reply]
• Delete I know this article wont be deleted, but he seems to be non notable --NotedGrant Talk 08:42, 21 September 2009 (UTC)[reply]
• Keep: Brown was an authority widely respected in the bicycle community (not just fixed-gear afficianados), and a pioneer internet publisher, with an extensive amount of material that will be consulted for years. As noted by others here, obits appeared in multiple major newspapers, not just in his hometown Boston Globe. Articles about him had appeared in other publications during his life, including a profile in Bicycling magazine. — Preceding unsigned comment added by JCavilia (talk • contribs) 14:36, 21 September 2009 (UTC)[reply]
• Keep Notable in the serious cycling fraternity. His online articles and technical reference manual are very helpful for those who want to know a bit more about bicylce components etc. Murray Langton (talk) 20:55, 22 September 2009 (UTC)[reply]

The above discussion is preserved as an archive of the debate. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review). No further edits should be made to this page.