http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Charlie Cunningham (RIP) en Tue, 25 Aug 2026 16:03:28 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15606#post-385590 Tue, 25 Aug 2026 14:09:38 +0000 chdot 385590@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“</p> <p>Charlie Cunningham was a pioneer of mountain bikes, an expert builder of illegal trails, and a modifier and tinkerer of all things. After a life of brilliance, he had a bad accident and traumatic brain injury ten years ago that curtailed his work and constrained his life. He passed away in June. </p> <p>Charlie’s memorial was held on Saturday August 8th, at the Marin Museum of Mountain Biking in Fairfax, or as my friends call it, “The Museum.” August 8 is 38 years to the day from when Charlie married the love of his life, and fellow Hall of Famer, Jacquie Phelan. </p> <p>A range of Charlie’s friends gave tributes and shared memories, including Chuck Ibis, Mike Sinyard, Steve Potts, and Charlie’s oldest friend, a compact man with a resplendent white beard, who described meeting Charlie in the early 70s, and visiting his house where Charlie was watching motorsports on a small TV, and changing the channels with a 15 foot length of aircraft tubing he’d attached to the knob. “It was all there at the outset, even before the bicycles: racing, aluminum tubing, out of the box thinking, and unfortunately the fear of cathode ray tubes and radiation that would pay him back so poorly later on.” That refers to Charlie refusing an MRI after his accident, which allowed his hematoma to swell unseen and damage his brain. </p> <p>“</p> <p><a href="https://cyclingindependent.com/charlie-cunningham-remembered/" rel="nofollow">https://cyclingindependent.com/charlie-cunningham-remembered/</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15606#post-385046 Sun, 12 Jul 2026 12:10:59 +0000 chdot 385046@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“</p> <p>Mr. Cunningham “had a strong belief that the bicycle has a role in saving people and the planet, health-wise and mentally, too,” Ms. Phelan said. “Everybody that rides a lot knows it’s hard to maintain a bad mood on a bike.” </p> <p>“</p> <p><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/10/sports/cycling/charlie-cunningham-dead.html?unlocked_article_code=1.wlA.98Rb.igl3_2GbeONP&amp;smid=url-share" rel="nofollow">https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/10/sports/cycling/charlie-cunningham-dead.html?unlocked_article_code=1.wlA.98Rb.igl3_2GbeONP&amp;smid=url-share</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15606#post-384979 Sat, 04 Jul 2026 13:09:18 +0000 chdot 384979@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“</p> <p>If you are unaware of his contributions, please check it out, do a search. Hard to name another designer/maker who was so far ahead of their time. For me, the thought of Charlie’s ingenuity and style brings a flood of memories.<br /> • Shots of him in his creative cave embody so much of what we sought in that age: hands on, low budget, rules free, artistic passion for the bicycle, and love of making things. Seemed a lifestyle that would never end. </p> <p>“</p> <p><a href="https://wheelfanatyk.com/blogs/blog/no-joy-in-mudville/" rel="nofollow">https://wheelfanatyk.com/blogs/blog/no-joy-in-mudville/</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15606#post-384586 Thu, 04 Jun 2026 10:11:09 +0000 Arellcat 384586@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Aww no! :-( </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15606#post-384585 Thu, 04 Jun 2026 09:57:35 +0000 chdot 384585@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="https://www.pinkbike.com/news/mountain-bike-pioneer-charlie-cunningham-passes-away.html" rel="nofollow">https://www.pinkbike.com/news/mountain-bike-pioneer-charlie-cunningham-passes-away.html</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15606#post-380447 Sun, 03 Aug 2025 09:47:35 +0000 chdot 380447@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="https://dirtdrops.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-godfather.html" rel="nofollow">https://dirtdrops.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-godfather.html</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/charlie-cunningham-medical-and-rehab?modal=updates" rel="nofollow">https://www.gofundme.com/f/charlie-cunningham-medical-and-rehab?modal=updates</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15606#post-364573 Thu, 03 Nov 2022 19:16:49 +0000 chdot 364573@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The latest news on Charlie is not good. </p> <p>I’ve been in sporadic contact with Jacquie Phelan since I met her in Edinburgh about 15 years ago</p> <p>An email today says “He broke three bones last week…<br /> and i can’t care for him here. but they’r releasing him to our home!”</p> <p>Of course America and healthcare…</p> <p>The fundraiser is still running </p> <p><a href="https://www.gofundme.com/w85tn3dg" rel="nofollow">https://www.gofundme.com/w85tn3dg</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15606#post-280126 Fri, 13 Apr 2018 08:20:04 +0000 chdot 280126@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="https://m.pinkbike.com/news/charlie-now-that-was-a-bike-charlie-cunninghams-prophetic-cc-proto.html" rel="nofollow">https://m.pinkbike.com/news/charlie-now-that-was-a-bike-charlie-cunninghams-prophetic-cc-proto.html</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15606#post-246167 Thu, 06 Apr 2017 09:40:27 +0000 chdot 246167@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"</p> <p>Update 96 </p> <p>Posted by Jacquie Phelan 1 day ago</p> <p>"</p> <p><a href="https://www.gofundme.com/w85tn3dg#updates" rel="nofollow">https://www.gofundme.com/w85tn3dg#updates</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15606#post-246164 Thu, 06 Apr 2017 09:24:43 +0000 chdot 246164@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="http://cunninghambikes.com/bio/" rel="nofollow">http://cunninghambikes.com/bio/</a></p> <p><a href="https://jacquiephelan.org/category/charlie-cunningham/" rel="nofollow">https://jacquiephelan.org/category/charlie-cunningham/</a></p> <p><a href="http://mombat.org/MOMBAT/BikeHistoryPages/WTB.html" rel="nofollow">http://mombat.org/MOMBAT/BikeHistoryPages/WTB.html</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15606#post-204078 Mon, 09 Nov 2015 12:47:53 +0000 chdot 204078@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Latest info</p> <p>"CC going up stairs (shaky but doable)" </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15606#post-203225 Fri, 30 Oct 2015 09:15:20 +0000 Tulyar 203225@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Ally Tannahill who turned around the Southhwest Community Cycles (SWCC) centre based in Pollokshaws West had a similar brain trauma out of the blue, and was last check still (very) long term convalescing.</p> <p>Anyone got updates there? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15606#post-201952 Thu, 15 Oct 2015 07:13:04 +0000 chdot 201952@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"</p> <p>Phelan said: </p> <p>“We decided, Caroline and I, that CC has to learn to accept help, after 67 years of impressive self-sufficiency and mastery. Gonna be a wild ride for him.”</p> <p>"</p> <p><a href="http://www.bikebiz.com/news/read/500-pledge-cash-to-help-charlie-cunningham-s-post-crash-rehabilitation/018506" rel="nofollow">http://www.bikebiz.com/news/read/500-pledge-cash-to-help-charlie-cunningham-s-post-crash-rehabilitation/018506</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15606#post-201948 Wed, 14 Oct 2015 22:54:26 +0000 Arellcat 201948@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Oh no, that's awful news! I'd noticed JP's blog had gone a bit quiet. She had to deal with breast cancer herself not so long ago, too. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15606#post-201937 Wed, 14 Oct 2015 20:34:07 +0000 chdot 201937@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Perhaps not a well known name in the UK, but a genuine Mountain Bike pioneer and bicycle inventor/innovator. </p> <p>His wife (Jacquie Phelan) is better known and has visited Edinburgh and met several people on this forum. </p> <p>"</p> <p>In early August, 2015, Charlie Cunningham, bicycle builder, inventor and all around amazing person, fell off his bike and sustained several serious injuries. </p> <p>Charlie suffered broken bones, bruises, and trauma to his head. At the time, he didn't feel his head injury was significant. Unfortunately, six weeks later, the head injury manifested into a subdural hematoma, a life threatening condition that resulted in emergency brain surgery. </p> <p>"</p> <p><a href="https://www.gofundme.com/w85tn3dg" rel="nofollow">https://www.gofundme.com/w85tn3dg</a></p> <p><a href="https://changingpace.wordpress.com/2007/09/14/jacquie-phelan-blogs" rel="nofollow">https://changingpace.wordpress.com/2007/09/14/jacquie-phelan-blogs</a></p> <p><a href="https://bikeweekfilmfestival2008.wordpress.com/2008/06/09/jacquie-phelan-gets-ready/" rel="nofollow">https://bikeweekfilmfestival2008.wordpress.com/2008/06/09/jacquie-phelan-gets-ready/</a></p> <p><a href="http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5bdsXCVyfUI" rel="nofollow">http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5bdsXCVyfUI</a> </p>