For those who never met Don, his involvement with the Seattle International Randonneurs (SIR) dates back to the origins of the club.  He attended the meeting Jon Wagner held to gauge interest in putting on a series of qualifying brevets for PBP-95.  He was known as Don Harkleroad then.  He’s the only guy I’ve ever known who changed his name when he got married. 

He finished Paris-Brest-Paris in 2003, and with his wife, Elaine, on tandem in 2007, and in 2011.  He received Randonneur 5000 awards in 2004, 2008, and 2011.  He finished the Rocky Mountain 1200 in 1997.  He finished the Fleche Pacifica with me 16 times between 1997 and 2015.  He logged an additional 20,000 kilometers with SIR in his career before dementia prevented him from riding in 2017.

He was a good riding partner. He was even tempered, if outwardly grumpy. He was kind and generous.  He was quick to laugh at the dumbest jokes.  I can’t remember him ever wanting to abandoning a brevet.  He was always prepared for whatever mechanical calamity might happen, except for an especially rainy 400k where he had an absurdly high number of flats.  He went through all of his tubes, most of Bill Dussler’s, and all but one of mine (that I was hiding from him).  What makes the story bizarre is that I rode the whole way right next to him and didn’t have a single flat. 

He was inexplicably fond of using Ensure as an energy drink.  He thought jo-jo’s and corn-dogs were the perfect rando meal, complete with carbohydrates, electrolytes, and fats for long lasting fuel, and available at most convenience stores even at 1:00 AM.  He always loved Campagnolo components.  He hated Continental tires, then he loved Continental tires.  He learned to love Brooks saddles and Carradice saddlebags, probably from me.

RIP indeed, Don.  You deserve it.

- Ron Himschoot (RUSA #679)