In Memoriam: Jon Lennard, aka @itburns

In memory of our lost friend, Jon Lennard aka @itburns.

Each of us throw a leg over our top tubes and submit ourselves to the open road in recognition of the risks involved. These risks include those of a puncture, crash, damaged equipment, disability, and – ultimately – death. We try to be vigilant, we ride assertively yet defensively, and we hope for the best. We take every reasonable precaution to ensure we return home to ride again another day.

Longstanding community member Jon Lennard, known here as @itburns, will sadly not have that opportunity. Jon lost his life on August 12, 2013 at approximately 7:30pm while riding his bike in Houston, Texas. As of this writing, details are sparse, but the Houston Chronicle reports that he was hit in an intersection by a vehicle, and thrown violently from his bicycle.

People say online interactions lack a personal connection, and for the most part, they are right. But Velominati somehow seems to bridge that gap. We rarely meet one another, but somehow we bond, and we become what can only be characterized as friends. The loss I feel – and that I know Brett, Gianni, and Marko each felt as the news spread amongst the Keepers – suggests that this bond of friendship truly exists. We have lost not only a community member and Velominatus, but a friend.

Jon was what we characterize as a Pedalwan. He was relatively new to Cycling, and lapped up the knowledge, wisdom, and lessons that this community has become so good at providing. He asked questions, gave advice, and always delivered everything he said with a fantastic sense of humor. He was the picture-perfect example of living La Vie Velominatus. I am proud that our community appealed to him because he was exactly the kind of person we want to appeal to.

A few additional words:

@Bretto:

Although I never met Jon, he was a huge part of our community and this news has left me feeling sick to the stomach. I can’t begin to imagine how devastated his friends and family are at this time.

Jon, under his moniker @itburns, always seemed upbeat and positive with valuable input to any and every topic he participated in. He was a true Velominatus and will be genuinely missed around here. When I look at his palmares, the similarities between Jon and myself are many, which makes me think we would’ve gotten on famously; it also reminds me how very mortal each and every one of us are.

My condolences go out to his loved ones, and while this is a tragedy of terrible proportions, it is some small consolation that he died doing what he loved. RIP, VLVV Jon.

@Gianni:

This is sad and strange. We have lost a fellow Velominatus. He died in the saddle. We all have made friends on the site, most we have never met. How is that possible? We have conversations and arguments about bikes, cycling and life yet we don’t ever see each others faces, but we are still friends. If any of us had ever been stranded in Houston, @itburns, Jon Lennard, would have helped us out. To us he will always be known as a friend and Velominatus. Rest in peace. VLVV.

@Marko:

If I were to rattle off the first five or so community members that spring to mind, @itburns (Jon as we’ve come to know him now) would most likely be one of them. He’s an old timer around here and has been posting long enough to have become part of the ether of Velominati. His contributions were thoughtful, pleasant, supportive, and always furthered our discussion. I wish his untimely death wasn’t the impetus for us to learn more about him. Turns out he and I would have surely had other fun discussions about guitars, Metal, and kayaking as well. Maybe Jon’s passing will encourage us all to appreciate each other a bit more and know that there’s much more than cycling than we all have in common. Go with Merckx, brother, and thank you.

His childhood friend, Ron Willis, who kindly made us aware of the news:

Jon was smart as fuck and wasn’t kidding about the OCD… dude had his way (the only way) of doing things! Used to laugh my ass off watching him dick with his snowboard bindings EVERY day for half an hour on our ski trips. Can’t imagine what that bike went through.

Our biggest argument about things cycling – he thought “Dutch hill” work was the same as hill work (gravity bitch!)

Our second biggest argument – buy some fucking Zipps you cheap bastard!

Really gonna miss him.

Our deepest, heartfelt condolences go out to his family, friends, and loved ones. We have marked the date of his death on the Velominati Cogal Calendar. Let us take a breath and acknowledge it could just as well have been us. Be safe, and always come home to ride another day.

We’ll miss you, Jon.

Jonathan King Lennard

Dec 24, 1965 – Aug 12, 2013

Single, no kids

BS Aerospace Engineering, Texas, 1988

Part owner of Software company that does contract work for Shell Oil.

Musician (bass and guitar)

Walking encyclopedia of all things rock ‘n roll

Avid reader (a lot of science fiction, Asimov, etc)

Beer/Spirits/Coffee – no expense spared for the best.

Early on: skate, surf, kayak

Later: cycling and snowboarding

Update: Some community members have been sharing photos. We’ll keep updating this as we get more.

[dmalbum path=”/velominati.com/content/Photo Galleries/frank@velominati.com/Jon Lennard/”/]

frank

The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking. As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it. Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen. Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.

View Comments

  • Hello to all, what a great tribute for our cycling friend.

    At this point I am not sure if I have met Jon but have certainly shared the same pavement.

    i was at the scene Monday about 30 seconds after this trajic accident! I immediately went to Jon to assist him but he was gone....

    i want those who knew Jon to know that I believe he did not suffer. It was instant.

    For those who need answers, at that moment the visibility was very very bad. The sun was perfectly horizontal and contributed highly to the accident. i think its highly unlikely the motorist could see Jon or the stop lights. I also think the driver was speeding and not driving to the conditions... It will probably come down to no fault and just a terrible accident that took Jon.

    Bob Martin

    texascyclist@hotmail.com

    Prayers for Jon , it does burn! Ride on Dude...

  • Saw this terrible news on Facebook and just wanted to pay my respects. Jon seemed like a top fellow and it's very sad to see he was cut down like this. RIP, @itburns.

  • Don't think I can add much to what has already been said so well But I think its really cool how much we actually do know about our fellow Velominati by virtue of their posts. @itburns was a cool dude and always had interesting things to say... He will be missed. I'll make sure to put in some proper reflection time for him on my next ride. VLVV

  • "To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield"

    Ulysses - Lord Tennyson

    This phrase seems to embody the Velominati, and @itburns in particular.

    Fair winds, my erstwhile companion of the road. Fair winds ...

  • @Skip

    @MMinSC

    RIP Jon. Didn't know you, but if you rode a bike, you were my friend.

    +1 - I was trying to think of what to say in response to this sad news, and you've summed it up perfectly.

    +2 I agree that @mminsc sums this up perfectly.

  • No light can be made of such sad news, I hung my head on reading this. It is a strange thing, never meeting but feeling like you know someone. I will pay tribute on my next ride @itburns, just know that you are missed. And to Jons family, we are all feeling for you too.

  • Awful news. Rest in peace @itburns. My condolences to all those who loved him. His avatar and handle always made me smile.

    Thanks for the keepers for gracing this page with this sad news, as said above, this site is the link for many of us. Thank you.

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