We just attended a zoom memorial for the most wonderful human: Dan McGuire. Dan is pictured here with me in 1991 in Paris at the 100th year anniversary of the 1200km-90hr time limited Paris-Brest-Paris.
Dan called Karen Smith and I in dismay when he heard we were going to attempt PBP on mountain bikes. He warned us of our folly. I told Dan: “We’re students, it’s all we have.” And off we went on our memorable ride of folly.
Shortly after PBP 1991, Dan reached out to me. We had a connection that felt almost like he placed me under his wing like a father-like figure. He told me I needed a more suitable bike for randos and he happened to have an old Cannondale he wasn’t using. I told him I couldn’t possibly take it. He said, consider it a long-term loan. The only condition was that I not ever sell it, which I never did. We made the arrangements. Soon after a letter arrived in my mailbox: inside a note from Dan: “Sold for $1 to Judy Morrison. I’ll front you the loonie, I know you’re good for it.”
I put many happy miles and kms on that bike. Thanks to Dan. Some of them with him and many common friends. It was only just today at his memorial that I discovered Dan was born in 1932. The same year as my Dad.